OFFICIAL STUDENT-RUN PUBLICATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OVERLAND PARK, KS

VOL 35ISSUE 04

OCT 04, 2012

four-legged family membersHow our pets keep us healthy and happy

PAGES 8-9

2  NEWS the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04

Increased thefts in the LibraryLibrary staff aware of the situation

Since the beginning of the semester, there have been 12 reported

thefts. Half of those occurred in the Billington Library. According to Judy Korn, manager, Library Access Services, the issue of theft is on the minds of the Library staff.

“The staff knows about it,” Korn said. “We have signs pasted everywhere, ‘Do not leave your items unattended.’ We have little signs that sometimes we’ll stick in someone’s book if they walk off and we see it.”

Korn said the staff is trained to curb the occurrence of theft by taking actions to prevent it.

“If we see someone that just goes off and leaves their things, we will either try to catch them and say, ‘Don’t do that,’ or what we’ll do is take it and hold it at the desk because students will walk off and 20 minutes later, they’re still not back,” Korn said.

Four thefts occurred at the library in one day back on Sept. 4, a third of all thefts reported for the semester. Korn believes it was more than coincidence.

“So it was either someone who had

come planned to do that or just saw the opportunities,” Korn said. “One, I believe, was a young woman who was asleep and she just had her purse on the floor. Somebody ran off for a few minutes and left their backpack and when they came back, it wasn’t there.”

Korn said it is important for students to use common sense when it comes to leaving their belongings out in the open.

“We want people to feel safe in the library, but not that trusting,” Korn said. “You have to be smart.”

According to a crime report compiled by the Campus Police, there were 79 incidents of larceny on campus property in 2011. That number is more than all other incidents of reported crime combined. That number is an increase from 2010 when 55 larceny reports were made to the police.

Despite the recent increase of thefts, Jacob Beck, student, feels safe leaving items unattended. He said that he does it all the time and has yet to have anything stolen.

“I feel most people don’t do it to each other out of fear that they don’t want it done to themselves,” Beck said. “Unless it’s something extremely valuable, like a tablet or something, I’ll leave it out. If it’s keys or something, I’ll just leave it.”

Joey Beeler, student, said he feels the opposite and is reluctant to leave his belongings out of sight.

“If I’m at the library and I need to go to the printer, I’ll leave my stuff there,” Beeler said. “But I won’t if I have to go really far away.”

Korn said that people need to always be cautious when leaving their items behind, even for a second. She said that mid-terms and finals are popular times for thieves due to the increased opportunities for theft.

“I think people feel too safe here to really think that something’s going to happen,” Korn said.

CONTACT JON PARTON, MANAGING EDITOR, AT JPARTON@JCCC.EDU.

By JON PARTON

POLICEBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFSCOLLEGE TO HOST JAPAN FESTIVAL

The college will host the 15th annual Greater Kansas City Japan Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 in the Carlsen Cen-ter. Tickets are $10 for adults and the general public, $5 for students and children and free to children under 5.

Various performances highlight this year’s event; including three sumo wrestling performances in Yard-ley Hall, traditional Japanese drum band Denver Taiko! and vocalist Aya Uchida. Cultural displays with various souvenirs and demonstrations will be available all day.

For more information, visit http://www.kcjapanfestival.com.

OVERLAND PARK CITY COUNCIL APPROVES OPEN CARRY ORDI-NANCE

A new city ordinance allowing individuals to openly carry holstered handguns with the safety on went into effect Tuesday, Oct. 2. It was approved 11-1 by the Overland Park City Council at their meeting Monday, Sept. 24.

In accordance with Kan. Attor-

ney General Derek Schmidt’s legal opinion, the ordinance allows for open carry in city parks, at various attractions such as the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, the Overland Park Soccer Complex and on public sidewalks.

Open and concealed guns are pro-hibited in government offices, private buildings and businesses that display a state-approved placard forbidding guns.

COLLEGE, ESU SIGN REVERSE TRANSFER AGREEMENT

Emporia State University President Michael D. Shonrock met with college president Terry Calaway Thursday, Sept. 27 to sign a reverse trans-fer agreement that will allow ESU students to continue pursuing their degrees at JCCC while enrolled there.

The agreement allows students who have completed at least 45 credit hours to achieve an associate degree while enrolled at ESU. It is also in-tended to benefit JCCC by increasing completer rate.

COMPILED BY MACKENZIE CLARK, MCLARK68@JCCC.EDU

BANSHEE BATHROOM

Campus Police were called to the Library’s second story bathroom Sept. 17 after reports of hearing an unknown female screaming inside. Upon arrival, the subject did not open the door but said she had not been screaming. Police informed her they needed to see her identification and ensure she was safe. Upon seeing her identification police informed the female she was put on interim sus-pension that morning due to previous disruptive behavior. She was then escorted to the police department and advised to leave campus.

“LUCKY FIND”

A campus police officer found a vehicle parked with no handicapped permit in a handicapped spot in one of the Carlsen Center’s parking lots Sept. 19. Upon further investigation the officer discovered a marijuana pipe in view near the center console. When the subject returned to his car, the officer questioned him and asked about the pipe. The subject then said the pipe and three partially used marijuana cigarettes were not his, but that he picked them up from the

center of the road and forgot to throw the paraphernalia away. The subject was placed under arrest and upon further investigation the officer found another marijuana cigarette along with what looked like marijuana seeds in the front of the car. The subject then stated he had been lying and was released after being cited for unlaw-ful possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

LET ME IN, I SAID!

Campus Police were dispatched to the second floor of the Library Sept. 20 because a computer lab supervi-sor stated a student became loud and began using profanity when asked to sign in to the lab. The subject denied using profanity or raising his voice and said the supervisor exagger-ated the story. The subject seemed agitated at being stopped and was asked by police to lower his voice in the hallway. He was advised to control his behavior or not return to the lab and to not approach lab personnel negatively. The report was forwarded to Paul Kyle, dean, Student Services.

COMPILED BY TASHA COOK, TCOOK15@JCCC.EDU

Playing it safeThere are simple steps students can take to prevent theft:

1. Leave your valuables at home. Only take with you the items you need to study or work with. Textbooks are some-times just as valuable as personal electronics.

2. Take an inventory. Keep a list of the valuable items you keep and use at school. By keeping track of what you use, it will be easier to notice when something might be missing.

3. Don’t leave your belongings unattended. A few sec-onds is all a thief needs to swipe your stuff. If you want to keep it, take it with you.

4. Keep important financial documents in a safe place. You are not doing yourself any favors by keeping credit card, bank information or other sensitive information in your purse or backpack.

5. Look at your financial statements. A lot of people throw out or just skim through their statements. Make sure no unexplained charges are appearing on your paperwork.

6. Use caution on public computers. Logging into Facebook in the library might be all it takes for someone to gain information you do not want getting out.

COMPILED BY JON PARTON, JPARTON@JCCC.EDU INFORMATION COURTESY AMY HOAK OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 NEWS  3

What’s your #JCCC problem?Twitter account anonymously mocks various students, faculty

If you frequently sleep in the hallways or hang out in

the Fountain Square, you may unknowingly become an instant campus celebrity.

Two female sophomores are behind the Twitter account @JCCCProbs, which has more than 250 followers since its inception at the beginning of September. The creators of the account did not want to share their names.

The first creator said she noticed tweets from other schools such as KU and Wichita State University and started using the hashtag “#JCCCprobs.” After asking some friends their opinions, she decided to create the account and then invited a friend to participate.

“All I’m taking is stuff that people are actually saying about this school and I’m just putting it all in one place,” the account creator said. “I’m not asking people to say these things, I’m

mainly retweeting everybody. So it’s stuff that they would have said whether I had this account or not.”

Tweet topics range anywhere from rolling backpacks and longboarding to photos of students sleeping outside classrooms. The women said they are not “making fun of anybody,” and they try to hold content to certain standards.

“People tweet us a ton of pictures, but if it’s a straight-on face shot I won’t put it up,” the creator said. “I find that really rude.”

Both accountholders agreed if anyone ever complained about something they tweeted they would “absolutely” take it down, but so far the response has been good and they have not received any complaints.

“I think it’s a way for students to bond, for people with the same interests on campus to bond,

because when you walk around campus there’s some weird things that go on,” said freshman Jacop Freitag. “It’s pretty hard to find a lot of friends, or people you know or relate to on campus, so I think it’s a way for people just to connect with other people who may see something the same way.”

Freitag said he is not offended by any of @JCCCProbs’ tweets.

“I find it entertaining, and part of it’s weird but I can relate to it because everything they post, I see the same stuff every day,” he said.

Asked his opinion of the account, student Seth Kern tweeted, “#IllMarryIt [sic].”

Last November an account with the username @JCCCProblems was created but the women in charge of @JCCCProbs said they did not create that one.

The women said they do not target anyone specific with their tweets and try to be

sensitive about what they post. However, sometimes identifiable descriptions of various people are posted.

“We make fun of ourselves, too,” the creator said, citing a time when someone tweeted about her and she reposted it.

Although the women said they don’t feel they have violated any policy nor done anything punishable, they are concerned about making their identities known.

“I’ve been waiting to get a tap on the shoulder,” the second accountholder said.

The two said in the future if they have to take down the account they will, but “right now it’s just fun,” the creator said.

CONTACT MACKENZIE CLARK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, AT MCLARK68@JCCC.EDU.

By MACKENZIE CLARKSOUND

OFF

WHAT DO

YOU THINK?

TWEET US @CAMPUSLEDGER

4  NEWS the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04

Students urged to stand up and be heardBy NATALIE GOODWIN

IT’S NOT JUST DOING HOMEWORK.IT’S DOING WORK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, TRANSFORMING AMBITION INTO ACHIEVEMENT.

umkc.edu/choose

American voters have advertisements coming at them every day, trying to influence how they vote. Both

endorsements and attack ads run nonstop in the media. Signs are practically in every other yard.

Along with the encouragements that bombard us from signs, television and radio, persuasion and perception have an impact on how we vote.

According to a US Census Bureau report, 49 percent of voters aged 18 to 24 exercised their right to vote in the 2008 elections. Sophomore Shelby Wheat said she does not support either party or presidential candidate so she is choosing not to vote in the upcoming election.

“It is not the party I would vote for, it is the individual, what I think of the candidate themselves,” Wheat said. “I pay close attention to their platforms and what issues they claim they will address while in office. I do not let slanderous commercials weigh much on my opinion. I think politics should be more about the people and less about mudslinging.”

Wheat said the low voter turnout in her age group in 2008 would not affect her decision.

“I still feel my voice will not be heard,” she said. “Any party besides the Democrats and the Republicans do not get the same amount of media attention. Parties that do not have enough money to campaign or compete will not win, pretty much David versus Goliath, but in America the little guy, or the one with less money, cannot win.”

Wheat said she feels her vote will be “lost.”

“However, I do feel since my generation will soon be the adults of the world that maybe, in the future, my peers will have more say-so, with a viable, independent candidate,” she said.

Freshman Ashley Jagow, 18, will be a first-time voter in the 2012 elections.

“This is the first year I can legally vote, so I feel that I need, as a young American, to cast my vote on the future of the country I live in,” Jagow said. “I feel society encourages people who become of age to vote.”

Jagow said she believes it’s partially an obligation to vote but more importantly she should have a say in who runs her country. She has already decided who she plans to vote for but is not supporting a specific party.

“I have not chosen a permanent party affiliation; I intend to always vote for the individual and not a specific party,” she said. “My vote will go against my entire family, at least in this election. Who knows how I will vote next time? It will all depend on the nominees as a person, what each of them stands for.”

Toby Klinger, professor, Psychology, made several observations about what impacts our vote.

“It seems as though you’ve got to have an enemy,” she said. “You are more than likely to get people to vote if they think one’s the bad person and the other one is a nice one.”

Klinger also said even though there are negative ads, “if you have already made up your mind it would take an awful lot of to change your mind between candidates. It

would take a lot of smut to make you alter your point of view.”

She continued, “In several lines of research you will find the neurocognitive people pointing out that people do not vote necessarily out of logic or reason but gut reactions or how it emotionally triggers off parts of the brain.”

67%24%

9%

Will you vote in the 2012 election?

Yes (74) - No (26) - Undecided/Unable (10) -110 students polled

SEE BE HEARD ON PAGE 10

the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 NEWS  5

WHAT MAKES A HIGH-PAYINGCAREER COMBINATION?

Apply todayat stmary.edu/him

Join us for a Health Care Career Expo9:30 a.m. Saturday, October 20

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Those with the advanced data skills to manage electronic medical

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Find out how you can enroll in this new degree program at USM led by a

YOU & H.I.M.

The University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth is one of only two schools in theKansas City metro earea to o�er one of today’s hottest degrees - H.I.M.(Health Information Management). This bachelor’s degree can lead to a career in high demand with a sizeable starting salary to match, so you can pay your student loans back with ease.

Left: College president Terry Calaway gives his annual State of the College address Fri-day, Sept. 28. His message focused around the college being a “first choice” rather than a “last resort” and stressed that lawmakers value the college in He shared a personal story about he and his wife, Marlene Calaway, adopting a healthier lifestyle and encouraged the audience to do the same. Photo by Mackenzie Gripe

Right: Campus Police officer Woody Hersey sneaks up on the Cavalier at his debut on the COM plaza Friday, Sept. 28. The Golden Girls invited students and faculty to submit their suggestions for names for the new mascot. Hersey said he thought the mascot looked “dashing,” so his name suggestion was “Dash.” The name ideas will be narrowed down to the top picks and students will have an oppor-tunity to vote between the top selections. Photo by Mackenzie Clark

Conductor Terri Teal leads the Chamber Choir in their performance of “The Higher Path,” composed by Geoff Wilcken, adjunct professor, Music, at the State of the College address Friday, Sept. 28. Photo by Mackenzie Gripe

Changing state, face of the college

What name did you suggest? Go online to

CampusLedger.com to see more suggestions and other

web-exclusive content accompanying this issue.

6  FEATURES the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04

Jet Set Radio leaves its mark on the gaming worldThe Sega Dreamcast cult classic makes a glorious high-definition comeback

The Sega Dreamcast is a video game system that never gained popularity like the PlayStation did in the late 90s.

The Dreamcast still had many amazing games and one of the most beloved of all the games is Jet Set Radio. Released in June of 2000, the game was called Jet Grind Radio and introduced people to cel shading. Cel shading is what gives a game that cartoony and almost Pixar like feeling in a game. This has been used in Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Borderlands and the new Walking Dead game.

Jet Set Radio is still unlike any other game to this day. Even though the game never sold well the series gained quite the cult following and now Sega has re-released the game in HD as a downloadable game for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

The game has an extremely minimalistic approach to the story and how it portrays its characters. The story follows main character

Beat as he starts his skate gang, the GG’s, as they take over all of Tokyo-to, which is based on real life Tokyo. You will encounter many other skaters who can join your gang as well as other rival gangs who will try and stop you from taking over their turf. The city also has an oddly obsessed police department that will stop at nothing to keep these gangs from tagging the city with their graffiti.

The characters you play as the GG’s give little to no information about what they are doing in the gang, but that doesn’t matter in the game. The characters all look so different visually and have such personality with the tricks they do and the way they skate, which leads to a very diverse gang at the end of the game.

Unlike other alternative sports games of the era, such as Tony Hawk, Jet Set Radio takes a very simplistic take on how the game plays. You skate around the city tagging wherever you can and pulling off tricks as you grind all

over the place. Tagging a wall with graffiti can be done with the press of a button, but bigger tags will need some finesse. This leads to a series of analog movements until your art is all sprayed on perfectly.

The controls are nowhere near perfect and are one of the most dated aspects of play. The controls can feel unresponsive at times, normally when it really matters and this can lead to an unnecessary moment of rage. After a few hours of playing you get used to it, but that doesn’t excuse the controls not being fixed when other aspects of the game, such as the camera, were greatly improved.

Presentation is where this game holds up the best and what keeps it a timeless classic. It is only too bad that the slowdown from the original game is still in this HD version and it really takes you out of the experience.

This is such a great visual style that is not used enough in today’s games. Art direction really shines

in this just from looking at the city and all the different graffiti designs. The re-release also includes fan-submitted designs to use as your tags around town, which was a nice touch for diehard fans of the game.

Visuals don’t make this game alone, the other half of what made this game a classic is the soundtrack. Many different genres are represented here such as J-pop, rock, hip hop, acid jazz, funk, electronic dance music and Trip Hop. Playing this game with headphones on and turning background music up all the way makes you feel immersed in the experience. There are not enough good things to say about the wide variety of songs and even though they seem to be a mix of completely different genres, it works.

The game is nowhere near expensive and it is extremely convenient to download and start playing. The $10 price point is a good fit for the amount of content

in the game. The story mode will not take you more than a weekend to complete. There are a lot of side missions to complete and trophies and achievements to unlock when it is all said and done.

Sega truly did a great job by re-releasing this game for fans new and old to enjoy once again. Even with its few problems, the game holds up as the classic people talk about 10 years after its original release.

So if you are a fan you probably don’t need any more convincing to pick up this game. Thankfully there is a demo you can play to check out the game if you are still unsure if this will be the right fit for you.

CONTACT SPENCER PRESSLY, STAFF REPORTER, AT SPRESSL2@JCCC.EDU.

By SPENCER PRESSLY

BecauseHeCan7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5, 6, 12 and 13; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Oct. 6, 7, 13 and14 in the Bodker Black Box Theatre

BecauseHeCan is the chilling and suspenseful tale of a newlywed couple who become the targets of a sinister computer hacker. Once you’re in his sights, there is no escape. Performance by the Music and Theatre Department. Cost: free.

Circus of the People’s Republic of China

8:00 p.m. Friday, Oct.12 in Yardley Hall

Do you like watching Jugglers, trapeze artists and contortionists? These and other feats of endurance are a few of the acts that will be presented by The National Circus of the People’s Republic of China. Cost: $37, $46, or $5 for students the week of the performance

Cross-Cultural Health Symposium

8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9 at KU Edwards Campus

The Cross-Cultural Health Symposium seeks to prepare local healthcare providers and community leaders to close cultural barriers in providing healthcare to the culturally diverse populations located in the Greater Kansas City area. Cost: free.

Fall Blood Drive

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.17, SC first floor

Lend a hand to people in need of blood transfusions by donating blood or plasma to the Community Blood Center.

Kusi Taki 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 in the Polsky Theatre

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, experience the cultures of Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Peru through the acoustic talents and storytelling of Andean music group Kusi Taki. Cost: $5 or free at workshops throughout the day. Contact Mindy Kinnaman at mkinnam1@jccc.edu.

COMPILED BY DAVID HURTADO, DHURTADO@JCCC.EDU

CAMPUSCALENDAR

REVIEW

the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 FEATURES  7

Hole in the wall review:San Nicolas Super Mercado

Good food cannot be found at a drive-through window. At 2 in the morning,

after a night of social activity, fast food is passable cuisine. However, there are better options available if you’re willing to look. In the hidden corners of Kansas City, tucked away in dark recesses of urban life, there are places with some pretty damn good food.

One such place is San Nicolas Super Mercado. Located at 964 S. Harrison in Olathe, this Mexican grocery store houses one of the better taquerías in Johnson County. As soon as I entered, the sounds of Mariachi could be heard playing over the loudspeakers. The first thing I noticed was the size of the building. It wasn’t that big.

The taquería itself only occupied one-fourth of the building, but they had comfortable booths and a friendly wait staff eager to seat us. It was a little before noon, but the tiny place had a good amount of customers there.

My eyes couldn’t help but wander to the meat counter where fresh chorizo, espinaso (pork spine) and arrachera (flank steak) were on display. Near the door, they had a small table set up filled with salsas, peppers, and other condiments for your meal.

This humble little place had a humble one-page menu, with one side in English and the other in Spanish. The staff didn’t speak much English, but you don’t need to share a language to understand food. Tacos only cost a buck, while entire plates can be had for $6: less than the price of a combo meals at most fast-food restaurants. We were served warm tortilla chips alongside salsa verde and salsa roja. The salsa verde had a good kick to it and had me begging for a glass of water.

Selections of meat included steak asada, cheek meat, and even beef tongue. I ordered the pork with pineapple plate and my dining companion ordered the chorizo with potatoes. I enjoyed my Tamarind (a Mexican orange soda) while admiring the piñatas hanging from the ceiling. No more than five minutes after ordering, our food arrived at our booth. I was surprised and just a little nervous about how quickly we were served.

Was the food going to be cold? Did they keep a bunch of the meat on a warmer until someone showed up to eat it? My fears were put aside when I tried the first bite of the pork. The flavor of the pineapple blended well with the texture of the meat. Our plates came with small flour tortillas wrapped in warm tin foil. They were light and flavorful; a welcome change from the dry, pasty tortillas found at Mexican fast food restaurants.

Our plates included rice, beans, lettuce, and tomatoes. The ingredients were simple but fresh. Good food doesn’t always have to be fancy; it just has to be delicious.

I sampled a bit of the chorizo and was taken aback by the mixture of chorizo and red potatoes. Red potatoes are more common in South America because they can be grown through all seasons, rather than other varieties that can only be harvested a couple of times a year.

The final bill was less than $20, which is pretty good for two people. The next time you think about where to go for lunch, drive past the fast food and chain restaurants and look for the hole in the wall. CONTACT JON PARTON, MANAGING EDITOR, AT JPARTON@JCCC.EDU.

By JON PARTON

RSVP Today! iStart2Finish.org

Start your degree at JCCC.Finish it at KU Edwards Campus.

Information SessionThursday, Nov. 1Noon or 5 p.m.Craig Community Auditorium - GEB

Earn a KU degree right here in Overland Park.Start. Finish. It’s as simple as that.

REVIEW

San Nicolas Super Mercado houses a taquería in the back of the building where customers can enjoy authentic Mexican food. Photo by Daniel De Zamacona

8  IN FOCUS the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04

Getting a guard dog for your home is never a bad idea, but what about one for your mental and physical well-being?

According to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, pet owners are more likely to lead longer, healthier lives than non-owners. In three different studies, strong correlation was found between feeling happy and healthy and owning a pet. The studies were headed by Allen McConnell, social psychologist, Miami University.

Ashley Flores, personnel training coordinator at Wayside Waifs, a local no-kill shelter, said this was because pet owners tend to have different feelings toward animals. She said animals make pet owners feel good about themselves and provide a source of unconditional love.

“Most dogs and cats don’t get past the level of a 4-year-old child,” Flores said. “In that mindset of a 4-year-old child, where they need you to do things for them, they appreciate the things that you do. I feel like in a sense they are very young and they need us and we like to reciprocate and do things for them and it makes us feel good. And it positively reinforces that communication and behavior that we’re giving to each other.”

The research found the type of pet had no bearing on the social and psychological benefits their owners received. People were able to bond with dogs, cats, lizards and a goat

in the studies. Flores, however, said she believes the preferences

of the individual would have an effect on the type of pet best suited for them. She said someone who is looking to nurture animals is more likely to have a pet such as a horse rather than a deer.

“I actually had an uncle who had a pet deer and they liked watching him,” she said. “However, someone in my family came up and tried to pet the deer and he got kicked, because the deer was not socialized or positively reinforced to accept that behavior of petting. It depends on what the people want; if they’re there for watching or if they’re there for interacting or if they need that touch, then it really depends on what type of animal you get.”

Flores also said there have been studies that showed introverts are more likely to have cats as pets while extroverts are likely to have dogs as pets. A study conducted by Sam Gosling, psychologist, University of Texas, found people who own dogs tend to be more outgoing while cat owners are more reserved.

Brian Colbert, student, said his cat comforts him whenever he is feeling upset.

“Cats can sort of sense when their owned is stressed,” he said. “Usually she’ll come to me and start nudging me in a playful mood, trying to get me to play with her and that helps me a lot. [She] gets rid of some of the stress and

replaces it with happy thoughts.”Ashleigh Board, student, said her cat plays a prominent

role in her life and provides comfort when she is feeling stressed or under the weather. Board also said she felt pets are a great source of comfort.

“When people say, you know, ‘My cat or my pet is my best friend,’ it’s true,” Board said. “They can’t say ‘Shut up, I don’t want to hear this today.’ You talk to them and they listen, or at least you pretend they’re listening.”

In the first study pet owners exhibited greater self-esteem, were less lonely and more socially outgoing. At the same time, pet owners reported receiving an equal amount of support from their pets and family members and were just as close to their pets as they were to other humans.

The second study found people benefited equally in terms of happiness and health from both human and pet sources. No evidence was found that people look to their pets when social support from other humans is lacking.

In the third study, thinking about one’s pet and best friend provided equivalent defense from the negativity that accompanies social isolation.

CONTACT DAVID HURTADO, FEATURES EDITOR, AT DHURTADO@JCCC.EDU.

By DAVID HURTADO

Less stress with petsStudy correlates owning pets to leading a longer, healthier life

Faculty’s furry friendsMeet the pets behind the people on campus

HUMAN: Jason Kovac, executive director, Academic Initiatives

OWNED BY: Cash, 12, male black cat

“He's a very forgetful cat; every night, after we go to bed, we can count on him mewing loudly, like he's lost in the woods. Eventually he finds us, and all is well.”

HUMAN: Barry Bailey, librarianOWNED BY: Cooper, 5, a Labrador retriever, and Calvin, 6, a brown tabby

COOPER: named after Agent Dale Cooper from “Twin Peaks”CALVIN: once defecated in a White Sox hat and still hasn’t been forgiven

COMPILED BY MACKENZIE CLARK, MCLARK68@JCCC.EDU

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THEIR OWNERS

COVER PHOTO BY TASHA COOK

the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 IN FOCUS 9

Georgie on top of the refrigerator. “She likes heights,” Haas said.

Doug’s sister Trudi passed away last summer but still holds a

warm spot in Haas’ heart.

HUMAN: Julie Haas, associate vice president, Marketing Communications

OWNED BY: Doug, 12, a male tabby, and Georgie, 13, a female calico

“I had always had dogs up until 12-13 years ago, when I lost my Shih Tzu. And with my crazy schedule, cats seemed so much easier. So I made the switch and am so happy I got to know cats – it’s like learning a different culture.”

HUMAN: Irene Schmidt, adjunct professor, SpanishOWNED BY: Kaiser, 7, a rescued schnoodle (schnauzer-poodle)

“BEST FEATURE: He loves us unconditionally. He’s my shadow.WORST FEATURE: He hates dog food and goes on hun-ger strikes (frequently).HIS BEST TRICK: gnawing through a wood baby gate to

get out! But, also a thing I call ‘Timber!’ where he sits with his back against me, looks over his shoulder, and lets himself fall backwards onto my lap! It’s too cute!”

HUMAN: Mindy Kinnaman, manager, Student Life/Leadership DevelopmentPROUD PARENT OF: Nevaeh, 8, calico

“She is evil, but she’s an awesome pet.”

This photo “perfectly showcases her demanding personality,” Kinnaman said.

Petrie gives advice to his great niece, Ayanna, as Frankie stands by.

HUMAN: Joe Petrie, co-adviser, JCAVOWNED BY: Franklin Jay, 12, dachshund

NICKNAME: Frankie. Only called Franklin Jay when Petrie comes home to find surprises on the floor, “which is frequent.”

HUMAN: Rae Power, assistant, Dining ServicesOWNED BY: Carley, 1, Shih Tzu

“Carley loves people and loves to play in her backyard. She goes to work with my husband every day and loves it!”

10  OTHER the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 4, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04

STAFF

MACKENZIE CLARKEditor-in-chiefmclark68@jccc.edu 913-469-8500 ext. 4297

JON PARTONManaging Editorjparton@jccc.edu

TABI SECORNews Editortsecor@jccc.edu

DAVID HURTADOFeatures Editordhurtado@jccc.edu

MORGAN DAIGNEAULTProduction Designer Illustrator Correspondentmdaignea@jccc.edu

TASHA COOKPhoto Editortcook15@jccc.edu

Copyright © 2012 The Campus Ledger and/or its freelance contributors. All rights reserved. Content

appearing in The Ledger’s print or electronic media may not be reproduced, published, broadcasted or

redistributed without The Ledger’s prior written permission.

The Campus Ledger publishes biweekly during the fall and spring semesters. Issues are free

and available campus-wide. Additional copies, including back issues, can be obtained from the

Student News Center (COM 260) while supplies last. Online-exclusive content is published at

http://www.campusledger.com.

The Campus Ledger welcomes all readers to submit letters to the editor, which can be sent via email to

Mackenzie Clark, editor-in-chief, at mclark68@jccc.edu. Letters for publication may not exceed 250 words.

Letters are selected for print publication at the discretion of the editorial board. The Ledger reserves the

right to request revisions or clarifications. Contributors may not submit more than two letters or one guest

column per academic semester and must include the writer’s name, title and contact information with

each submission, and valid photo ID must be presented upon request in COM 260. No libelous content

will be accepted, and letters are not edited for length or grammar.

The Ledger accepts advertisements suitable for its student body. Contact Gabrielle Fitzgerald,

advertising manager, at gfitzge1@jccc.edu.

The Campus Ledger is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers, the

Kansas Press Association and the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press. The Ledger endorses the Associated

Press Stylebook.

GABRIELLE FITZGERALDAdvertising ManagerCirculation Managergfitzge1@jccc.edu913-469-8500 ext. 3193

AARON FITZGERALDCirculation Assistant

ERICA ALDRIDGEDesign Assistantealdridg@jccc.edu

SARA SCHERBAIllustrator Correspondentsscherba@jccc.edu

EDEM ELESSESSOWeb Managereelesses@jccc.edu

SPENCER PRESSLYStaff Reporterspressl2@jccc.edu

JAMES RUSSELLSports Columnistjrusse24@jccc.edu

NATALIE GOODWINReporting Correspondentngoodwi1@jccc.edu

DANIEL DE ZAMACONAStaff Photographerddezamac@jccc.edu

ANDREW SHEPHERDStaff Photographerashephe5@jccc.edu

KELLY DANIELSPhoto Correspondentkdanie20@jccc.edu

MACKENZIE GRIPEPhoto Correspondentmgripe1@jccc.edu

CORBIN CRABLEFaculty Adviserccrable@jccc.edu

Editorial Board

Production

Adviser

Reporters and Photographers

Across 1 Director Roth 4 Biblical word on

a wall 8 Something

hidden, perhaps14 Edna Ferber

novel16 Multitude17 Effrontery18 A speedster may

do it19 About 20 Lug22 N.L. East city:

Abbr.23 Bat wood24 AOL, for one27 Mères’ charges31 Buddyroo33 Gossip35 Still37 ___ sleep39 Fails to be40 Title on certain

language videos … with a hint to entering six answers in this puzzle

43 Digging44 Cuisine whose

staple food is sticky rice

45 Competition for truckers

46 Butterfingers48 Walk-___

50 Liquid fat51 Gift that’s hard

to believe52 Kind of card54 Slalom path56 Offer unwanted

advice58 “Now!”62 So very very66 Shoot the breeze68 Genre for Q-Tip69 Bubble makers70 Size up71 Concordes, e.g.72 Lick, say

Down 1 Parrot 2 “A ___ should

have a good memory”: Quintilian

3 Some World of Warcraft figures

4 Villain player in “Rocky III”

5 Go off 6 Worthless, as an

assistant 7 Abbr. on a

business letter 8 Smart ___ 9 Woman with

many fans?10 Item in a spoon

race

11 Fed. research org.

12 Modern address feature

13 “___ advice?”

15 Kind of dye

21 ___ Joel Osment of “The Sixth Sense”

22 Part of A.M.A.: Abbr.

24 Like some pitched balls

25 Martial arts instructor

26 Popular programming language

27 Locale of some Mayan ruins

28 Caterers’ bookings

29 Ragged30 Sign up32 .93% of

the earth’s atmosphere

34 Like some pools36 It may be struck

in a field38 It spent 5,519

days in orbit41 Biblical woman

who changed her name to Mara

42 Ski-___47 Buzzers

49 Grabs53 Sporty car roofs55 Article of female

tennis attire57 Arthur and

Benaderet58 Qty.59 Look pregnant60 Israeli port61 “Hey you!”62 Cry made with

a raised index finger

63 Fleur-de-___64 CD predecessors65 Café alternative67 Alliance created

in ’48

AnswEr To PrEVIoUs PUZZLE

puzzle by mark feldman

8/23/12 (No. 0823)

A S S A D D S T M A M E TL O O F A E T E A M A R EG O L E M S O T R O X I E

W A T E R R A T SC M D G E R M A N Y I D SH E R B E R T P E R A T I OA L A E I S A O S T H A NS T U R M U N D D R A N G

G R O U N D S P E E DJ O H A N N G O E T H EO S T D O G S T A R O E NI M B U E R T E O R B I TN O O N M A R C O H E R EE S A I I D E A L O Y E RD I R T R E S T E M O S S

S D S O A S E S B U S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18

19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42

43 44 45

46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55

56 57 58 59 60 61

62 63 64 65 66 67

68 69

70 71 72

Crossword edited by Will Shortz

For answers, call 1-900-289-CLUE (289-2583), $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5550.Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 5,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS.Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

BE HEARD, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Klinger suggested negative campaign ads may work because of that reason and feels it is an interesting line of research. Some literature makes the point that it is not necessarily rational reasons why we vote but may be part of egocentrism.

Klinger said she feels family definitely plays a role in a voter’s point of view.

“Especially family culture;

there is something about personality and how we are brought up that may affiliate us with a party,” she said. “People tend to go with what they were raised in.”

Klinger said she intends to vote, and people should know they do have a voice and can create change.

Come November, some voters will choose to go with what they have learned at home. Some might just go by campaign ads,

signs, or what they learn from the media. Some will not vote at all, feeling their vote won’t matter because they are not supporters in the major parties.

For more information or to register to vote in Johnson County, visit http://www.jocoelection.org.

CONTACT NATALIE GOODWIN, REPORTING CORRESPONDENT, AT NGOODWI1@JCCC.EDU.

the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 4, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 OP ED 11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

What do you think of The Campus Ledger?Tell us!

Submit letters to the editor to Mackenzie Clark at mclark68@jccc.edu.

Go online to CampusLedger.com and comment on articles.This is your newspaper. Tell us what you want to see.

Guest column: ‘Are we our brother’s keeper?’

Concerning recent thefts (5 in one day) that the college has experienced on the second floor of the library on September 4th of this year, I am wondering if some of our library personnel would have spoken up if they witnessed the actual crime. As you read further ask yourself the same question.

Today (September 24, 2012), I was studying on the 2nd floor in the library, when I needed to go to the bathroom. Since I was only a short distance away from the library attendant’s desk I thought perhaps, she would not mind keeping an eye on my school bag for a few minutes. So I casually walked over to her sitting comfortable at the main desk and politely asked her if she would not mind doing me this favor.

She replied, “Nope, you will have to take responsibility, but if you want to take a chance and leave it that is your choice.”

I thought to myself, WOW, is this what this world is coming to? A nation full of weak people who cannot look after one another? As I strolled back to my study area my mind drifted back to the articles that I read in the JCCC newspaper last Friday concerning the

string of thefts on the second floor of the library. If this woman would have witnessed one of the crimes on that particular day would she have been a leader and reported it, or would she (out of fear) look the other way? I say she would have done the latter. How do I know this? Keep reading folks and I will prove my point.

Thirty minutes before I asked her to watch my school bag there was a tall, white male that was climbing up the stairs from the first floor of the library to the second, whom was having a conversation on his cell phone in a loud, audible voice. His vocal chords echoed throughout the library floor without constraint or reservation. I glanced behind me at the same library attendant waiting for a demonstration of her leadership abilities. Is she going to react, I asked myself, and approach the student about the “quiet area, no cell phones,” policy rule on the second floor or sit still and do nothing? Reluctantly, she did not care or was not even concerned for she did not even budge from the chair. What a shame.

If I had witnessed her getting robbed by someone in the parking lot at JCCC late at night would I be brave and diligently fight for her safety? Yes, I definitely would. To

borrow the words from a former Alaskan Governor, “YOU BETCHA.” I would not hesitate, but would spring into action and put her safety before mine. Not only would it be ethical and serve me good to do so, for I would have to answer, not only to myself and my peers, but also to my leaders, (thank you Charles Adcox and Mark Johnson) whom inspired, guided and taught me to be accountable for my actions throughout this journey we call life.

In Dave Krug’s accounting one class, we are learning it is all about balancing the books. In this book of life it is full of checks and balances that we continually make every day. Our character is what defines us and every choice, decision or road we choose to take, either increases or decreases the accountability in our books. My friends, being held accountable to the highest regard is doing the right thing.

We, the students at JCCC have a duty and a moral responsibility as future leaders to stand up for what is right and shun that which is wrong. It is called, “balancing the books.” Responsibility and a moral obligation is just a few of what the Cavalier Leadership program here at the college teaches us students about “always doing the hard right over the easy wrong.” We are

taught that integrity is a personal choice we all have to make. It is one of those many characteristics that helps balance our life book.

If we, the students at JCCC would actively get involved by volunteering to watch their classmate’s belongings, while they go to the bathroom or local vending machines when asked, then all would benefit and therefore decrease the thefts on our campus. By doing this you will gain respect, honor, courage and a selfless personal duty to one another that will define your character resume for many years to come. We all know that the campus police cannot be everywhere at any given time, but WE ARE EVERYWHERE and WE CAN help them by being a watchful eye and stop these thefts from increasing.

On a final note let me say that integrity, is something that former presidents, congressmen, senators and Hollywood actors have been trying to buy for years thinking morality has a price tag and that it can be purchased. Folks, please don’t be deceived. They can hire the best attorneys, doctors or psychiatrists that money can buy, but let me tell you folks integrity cannot be bought. Either you have it or you don’t. It is your choice.-Steve Gochenour, student

Letter to the editor: Columns on Affirmative Action and the failure of the Obama presidency

Just read your column from 9/6/12 on affirmative action. It’s not often I see someone your age able to see the truth/facts through the fog of affirmative action policies—especially someone on a college campus. Although I think many of the principles of affirmative action were/are well-intentioned, what has been unleashed over the years has often resulted in perverse incentives for minorities and disincentives for “non-affirmative” individuals. Instead, let’s go back to the old idea of evaluating people based on their accomplishments, abilities, and potential.

Also, regarding your column on the failure of the Obama presidency, I am in agreement with you. Any other president – especially one with an R after his or her name – would be held to a much higher standard by the mainstream/lamestream media than Obama has been. High unemployment for a record period of time, record deficits, an unpopular health care plan, slow economic growth, and record high prices for gasoline are just some of the issues the major media would be hammering any other president over. If this is as good as it gets with President Obama, it really is time to move on with someone else. As a bonus, maybe then the media will get their “mojo” back and hold the new president accountable.

Keep up the good work.

-Graham MacCallum, JCCC community member

The first day I started working for The Campus Ledger,

I learned that people like to complain about the parking. It doesn’t matter what time I show up to school, I’m always able to find a spot. Why are there so many people complaining about the parking?

We don’t have a parking problem at the college, we have a walking problem. Even the furthest parking spot only requires a five minute walk to the campus. I know because I’ve timed it.

I see them everyday I’m on campus. I call them parking buzzards. They’re students circling around and around until the perfect opportunity arises. I stare in puzzlement as I watch them do laps around the parking lot, waiting for a car to leave. Never mind the fact that if they had parked further away, they would have been on campus already. No, no, no. They must wait for the perfect spot to appear.

It’s absolutely ridiculous to hear people complain about parking, as if it were a brand new problem for the school. There are more people going to this college than there are at

KU. Anyone with half a brain can figure out that parking is an issue, just by noticing how many parking garages are on campus. It’s like complaining about summer having hot weather. Is this your first day on Earth?

Maybe it’s a Johnson County thing where people have a false sense of entitlement. People somehow think that walking is beneath them. One of my co-workers goes out to their car to smoke, only to have one or more buzzards wait nearby. They usually fly off after a few minutes, but it’s very entertaining to watch.

What I really don’t understand are buzzards who circle the parking lot over and over again, following any pedestrians that might look like they’re leaving. I had one classmate show up half an hour late for class, blaming it on the parking problem. Like I said,

it’s not a parking problem, it’s a walking problem.

Why is it that no one has a problem with the amount of walking they do from class to class, but when it’s from a car to the campus it becomes an issue? I’ve expended more energy walking up and down stairs on campus than I have walking to and from my car. By the looks of some of you, you could stand doing a bit more walking.

It’s time we stopped making parking an excuse. There are more than enough parking spaces available. If you spent more time walking and less time circling the lot like a bird of prey, you might actually get to class on time. Better yet, wild idea incoming, try coming to school earlier. Did I just blow your mind?

CONTACT JON PARTON, MANAGING EDITOR, AT JPARTON@JCCC.EDU

COLUMN

By JON PARTON

No one cares that it took you 30 minutes to park

Web-exclusive content will be available online at

CampusLedger.com:-Election 2012: Immigration by

Tabi Secor-Columns by Natalie Goodwin and

Mackenzie Clark-Point/Counterpoint on Plan B to high school students by Tabi Secor

and Mackenzie Clark...and more!

12  OP ED the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 4, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 STAFF EDITORIAL

Recent findings of Allen McConnell, a social psychologist from the University of Miami (see page 8), hold true with many other similar studies that find what we at The Ledger already knew to be true: our pets make us happy.

Crazy cat ladies and sane dog enthusiasts can agree on one thing: whether it’s a friendly lick on the hand when we get home from a long day or a rumbling purr winding between our ankles, our pets never cease to make us smile and relieve our stress.

Pets, animal lovers: this one’s for you. Meet some of The Ledger’s furry friends.

Crazy cat ladies and…dog people

MACKENZIE CLARK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I never knew one creature could bring so much joy and so much annoyance at the same time until I got this beautiful cat, Delilah. Then again, I never knew one creature could encompass so much personality.

Rirah Racka-da-disciprine just turned 3 and she’s the light of my life, even though just last night she bit through the plastic of my pepperoni pizza Lunchables container. Despite her occasional snarky attitude, midnight opera-singing and carpet-clawing, I love her more than words can express.

Anyone at The Ledger can tell you I have no pictures of my family members surrounding my desk, but this little punk is featured prominently. When we met it was love at first sight, and I am so proud to call this fatty my own.

GABRIELLE FITZGERALD, ADVERTISING AND SALES MANAGER

It was a snowy Thanksgiving Day four years ago when we heard a whine on our front porch. My mom opened the door to find a shivering scraggly mutt on our welcome mat, looking at us with sad Basset-like eyes. My dad insisted that we only give it some turkey and water; absolutely no getting attached to the dog or keeping it. Chances are it would just go home.

Naturally, Dad’s plan didn’t come to fruition. We fell in love with the little guy and put him in our garage surrounded by food, water and blankets. Four years later, Albert is my best buddy. I lost my own dog two years ago, and both Albert and I loved him more than anything else. I like to think we helped each other get through that tough time. That scraggly little mutt turned into my quirky and endearing best friend, and maybe it was both of us who got rescued that snowy Thanksgiving night.

Do you have a cute pet? Share with us! Submit your photos to

mclark68@jccc.edu, tweet them to @CampusLedger or post them to our

Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CampusLedger and we’ll run them at CampusLedger.com.

the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 4, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 OP ED 13

JON PARTON, MANAGING EDITOR

Before my parents divorced, I received a Shetland pony for Christmas. For a 5 year old, it was the best thing that ever happened in my life up to that point, or so I thought. The pony we named Buckshot would constantly jump the fence, requiring some or all of my family to track it down. I wound up being afraid of the thing. It never wanted to move slowly, it always wanted to gallop at a breakneck pace.

While feeding it one early morning, I moved around to the back of Buckshot when our other horse, Toby, started to whinny. Buckshot was spooked and promptly kicked me in the head. That was the first time I was ever knocked unconscious. I hated that damn horse.

TASHA COOK, PHOTO EDITOR

My story is about my fluffy little best friend, Chloe, also referred to as “Bacon,” “Foof,” “Nerdling,” “Peanut,” etc. Chloe is a small long-haired cat and the story of acquiring her is somewhat amusing.

One night my mom heard a tiny mewing outside that was hardly discernible. We both went downstairs and saw the indiscriminately tiny fuzzball floating around between cars. We tried to catch her for several hours, chasing her from the porch to the parking lot and back again until we were both exhausted. The kitten crawled up into the grill of one of the cars and walked back and forth behind the bars. Finally we were about to give up. I decided to go for one last attempt, letting her crawl toward the kibbles I put on the ground. She got close enough for me to throw a towel over her and I finally snagged the brat and brought her inside.

It took a few days to get her to warm up to me completely, but now she is my best friend and I don’t know what I’d do without her. We sleep together at night and she follows me everywhere I go around the apartment. I’m so glad we didn’t give up on her that night.

SARA SCHERBA, ILLUSTRATOR CORRESPONDENT

I have two Hairless Chinese Crested dogs, brothers named Ben and Miles. They are considered a primitive breed as they are supposedly related to the African Hairless dogs that are extinct and they are still considered relatively rare. Their behavior is definitely odd, unlike a normal dog, and it is sometimes a challenge to get them to mind. Ben and Miles are so docile and love to be messed with. The best part is that I don’t have to worry about shedding or brushing, but them being cold is a concern so wearing clothes is a necessity to keep them warm in the winter.

I always get a good laugh out of them because they both have very distinct personalities. They are very expressive little clowns. It’s relaxing after a hard day to just have them be in the moment by my side cuddled up while I’m doing homework or relaxing while watching TV.

MORGAN DAIGNEAULT, PRODUCTION DESIGNER

I’ve generally been a cat person all my life. Often I would joke about “adding to my collection” and dying alone in an apartment squirming with felines, Hoarders style. I liked dogs, sure, but I never thought I’d be able to take one on by myself. Not with my schedule; not with my insurmountable laziness.

One day, though, I started thinking about what it would be like to have a dog. I become preoccupied with the idea, spending my free time browsing Craigslist and Petfinder.com, scouring through hundreds of pictures and profiles. Eventually, on a whim, I decided to drop by a nearby Petco and look at the adoptable pets. As soon as I saw this little black pup wagging her tail at me, I knew I had to meet her. They told me her name was Panda, and I adopted her that same day. She doesn’t allow me to be quite as lazy anymore, but so far having her has been one of the most happy and rewarding experience of my life... although we do still need to work on this “chewing socks” business.

14  SPORTS the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04

Bump, set, spike: dominating the court Volleyball team continues to power through successful season

The Lady Cavaliers volleyball team is continuing a successful season with recent victories against

Jefferson College on Sept. 28 and Illinois Central College on Sept. 29.

Head coach Jennifer Ei said the season has been going well for the team. As of press time, the Lady Cavs stand at 18-2.

“They’ve been progressing nicely, getting better each match and each game, learning a little bit more about each other, about the chemistry and about the discipline that they need,” Ei said.

She said the most challenging aspect has been the tough schedule the Lady Cavs encountered at the beginning of the season.

“We had an opening weekend with nationally ranked teams and then we played [Independence Community College] and turned around and drove twelve and a half hours to Ohio and played really good teams,” she said. “Then we came back and we played Butler on the road. Our two losses were back to back, but they learned a lot from it. I think that they’re seeing some good teams and they’re learning how to adjust.”

Ei said camaraderie has been strong between the women this season.

“This year they have 15 players, so that’s a lot of girls with a lot of different personalities,” Ei said. “And you would think that they would not mesh very well, but this group of girls, they love each other. They truly consider each other family. Of course they’ll have their tiffs, but they do a nice job of supporting and encouraging one another and their chemistry is great.”

Although the team has many talented players Ei said two in particular, Allison Ewing and Preecy Seever, have stood out this season.

“[Ewing] is a left-handed hitter and she’s hitting on the left side,” Ei said. “She comes with a lot of energy, power and excitement. [Seever] is super quick, she plays in the middle and she is very athletic, quick, lanky and great jumping ability. She beats a lot of team because of her quickness.”

Ewing, sophomore, said she felt she has improved greatly from last year.

“I think this season is definitely a bigger improvement from last season,” Ewing said. “This year I’m way more focused, I’m more mentally tough. I still have long strides

to go with where I want to be. I’m not necessarily satisfied, but I just want to keep on going hard from here.”

Seever, freshman, also said she has seen herself improve as the season continues on.

“I’ve been getting some solid blocks and my hitting average is going up,” Seever said.

In professional sports, teams often have celebratory traditions that are well known to their fan base. The Lady Cavs volleyball team is no exception. Every time a point is scored in a game, the players take part in a dance called “the Bernie.”

Ewing said the tradition began during a game against Highland Community College, between her and teammate Shannon McCarty. The Bernie is based on the 1989 movie “Weekend at Bernie’s.”

“Shannon and I love to dance and I’ve known Shannon

since I was about 16 or 17,” Ewing said. “We’re always dancing and having fun on the sidelines and I believe it was the Highland game that we were like, ‘We’re doing good out there, let’s just point at each other and Bernie, just to loosen up and have fun.’”

Ei said while the team was having a successful season, fine details could still be improved upon.

“Just getting more in the flow of the game and wanting to dominate early,” Ei said. “I think that they need to have more of a drive, an intensity to beat a team. They’re extremely competitive in practice, but they need to transfer that into a match.”

CONTACT DAVID HURTADO, FEATURES EDITOR, AT DHURTADO@JCCC.EDU.

By DAVID HURTADO

WHO IS YOUR TEAM’S

BIGGEST RIVAL AND WHY?

COMPILED BY SPENCER PRESSLY, SPRESSL2@JCCC.EDUPHOTOS BY KELLY DANIELS

“Cowley is a pretty close match up and they intimidate and cheat sometimes.”

-Max Fil, sophomore, men’s tennis

“KCK because we played them a lot in summer league and lost to them. They talk trash on Twitter before games.”

-Nick Boehler, sophomore, men’s basketball

“Cowley because they cheat, are rude and not very nice people.”

-Shannon Beck (left), freshman, women’s tennis-Erika Castillo Lopez, freshman, women’s tennis

The Lady Cavs volleyball players do the “Bernie” dance during practice inside the gym on Sept. 27. Photo by Andrew Shepherd.

the CAMPUS LEDGER / OCT 04, 2012 / VOL 35 / ISSUE 04 SPORTS  15

A letter to Matt Cassel

Mr. Cassel,I was at Arrowhead for this

game against the Chargers. Fairly cheap tickets, as it’s all that our family could afford currently, but I was there. I took my 14 year old daughter – something I’d been waiting to do for a long time, as she’d never before been to a Chiefs game.

I can’t say the outcome was what I would have liked, especially as it was her first time seeing you guys play live, but that isn’t what I’m writing to you about. She got to see one of the most beautiful stadiums in the country and interact with one of the best fan bases in the entire NFL.

Or at least I thought our fan base was one of the best, and that brings me to the point of a letter that you, personally, will likely never read: I’m sorry for the conduct of an entire stadium of assholes. I’m sorry Chiefs fans don’t have the capacity to understand that while there seems to be something wrong with the entire team right now – something that not a single person outside of your locker room can truly know the reason for – that making a scapegoat of one of the few players that actually looks to give a shit when

things go bad is not right.We have extremely selective

memories, it seems, and for that I also apologize. You had a bad game. There’s no sugar coating that or pretending it didn’t happen, but so did the entire team. The play overall Sunday was inexcusable. We as fans expect to see you guys win, or at the very least remain competitive.

But I heard no ‘boos’ for Charles with his 2 fumbles. I heard no ‘boos’ for the defense when they failed time and again to keep San Diego from spanking them like unruly children. I only heard ‘boos’ for you, and I refuse to accept it as something Chiefs fans of years past would have allowed.

Kansas City has been a long time without a team that we feel is a legitimate powerhouse. We’re approaching nearly 20 years since a playoff win and it’s been

over 40 since our last Super Bowl appearance. That can be a pill that gets just that slight bit harder to swallow with each passing season.

But time-grown angst over lack of wins is not an excuse for the way you have been treated in this city. It is undeserved, unwarranted and unreasoning. I remember 2010, even if no one else does, and personally I am sick of how many people lay the current state of an entire franchise at your feet.

Maybe people just need a scapegoat. The media loves to hate you for some inexplicable reason. Or maybe this city is just so frustrated that they will lash out at whoever they’re told to (it’s my personal opinion that Jason Whitlock started this whole mess). Whatever the reason, it’s not a good enough one.

This Sunday I found myself

ashamed to be a Chiefs fan, and not because of the numbers on the scoreboard.

Again, even if I am the only one, I apologize on behalf of not only a city, but an entire kingdom, for behavior that belongs in Oakland among the Black Hole dwellers, not here in a city with such a great and rich football tradition.

We have been rude, demeaning, unreasoning and just plain stupid. And, unfortunately, the majority will likely continue to their own shame.

I look forward to you proving these classless assholes wrong.

Sincerely,James Russell

CONTACT JAMES RUSSELL, SPORTS COLUMNIST, AT JRUSSE24@JCCC.EDU.

SPORTS COLUMN

By JAMES RUSSELL

SPORTSBRIEFSMEN’S SOCCER TRIES TO SHORE UP SOME WINS IN OCTOBER

The Cavaliers will face off against Dodge City Community College in a home game at 3 p.m. on Oct. 7. The team will then take on Allen Community College with home field advantage at 4 p.m. on Oct. 10. As of time of printing, the men’s soccer team has a record of 4-6-0 and is trying to shake off a two-game losing streak.

WOMEN’S SOCCER SEEKS ANOTHER WINNING SEASON

The Lady Cavs play host to Iowa Western Community College at 2 p.m. on Oct. 5. The team then plays at home

against Dodge City Community College at 1 p.m. on Oct. 7. The Lady Cavs are 7-5-1 for the season and are less than a month away from the first round of NJCAA Regionals.

STUDENT ATHLETES HONORED WITH AWARDS

The college had 15 student athletes win 2011-2012 Academic Student-Athlete awards handed out by the NJCAA. Winners included Mary Pat Specht, Jessica Andersen, Elisabeth Barnes, Evan Brummett, Jessica Jacob, Maisha Mitchell, Javier Segura, Hayley Wagner, Luke Arnold, Kylie Cooper, Chad Shannon, Katherine Sharp, Crystal Simon, Jordan Slater and Elizabeth Walters.

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