February 6, 2012

Vol 43 No 8The Student-Run Newspaper of Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL 60150

Four years after the Valentine’s Day shooting at Cole Hall on Northern Illinois Univer-sity’s campus, the NIU community and students finally have the chance to move forward after the hall has been renovated and reopened. On February 14, 2008, a man walked into Cole Hall and opened fire on a full auditorium injuring many and claiming the lives of five students and then claiming his own life as well. The Northern Illinois University community has had a difficult time coping and moving on from experiencing such a tragic event in a small college campus town. Cole Hall was shut down after the shooting for several years. For a couple of years, there was speculation that Cole Hall would just be torn down. On January 17, Cole Hall reopened after having a nearly $6 million renovation that took almost four years to complete. According to the NIU To-day information Web page, the improved Cole Hall consists of a new classroom, auditorium and anthropology museum. The class-room consists of 48 computer stations, which work very similar to touch screen Ipads. The new

audi tor i -um holds 351 students. The students are spread out so that small groups are able to interact and discuss their lesson. The anthropology museum. which holds more than 12,000 archaeological ob-

jects, is also located within the new Cole Hall. A granite memorial, that reads the words “Forward Together Forward Together Forward,” along with the names of the five students who

were killed etched into it, sits outside of Cole Hall. On February 14, there will be an event, “Presentation of the Wreaths” at the me-morial starting at 3 p.m., according to the North-ern Illinois University events website. This event

allows remembrance for the five students who lost their life as well as an opportunity to keep moving forward. Although most of the stu-dents who have classes inside of Cole Hall were not students at NIU, or even a local to DeKalb at the time of the tragedy, this is a huge step for the school, stu-dents, and community. It is a re-lief that the Hall has reopened so that the campus and community can finally move forward. This benefits the students at Northern Illinois University by giving them the quality and high-tech educa-tion that they deserve. After four years of coping from the tragic event that hap-pened at Cole Hall, the students and community are finally able to move on, “Forward Together,

Forward”.

Cole Hall renovations completeBy Jessica CrawfordStaff Writer

Photo from NIU Today.

Student Center on track for 2013 openingBy Grace Martin Managing Editor

A wall of glass windows is the highlight of the roomy new bookstore.

Above: A new Cafeteria will offer lots of comfy seating where students can relax, study, and eat lunch.

The new student activities area holds offices for the Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa, as well as for Allison Von Ende, whose of-fice is shown below.

The South Entry, made up almost entirely of windows, will offer lots of natural light and is close to college services, like Admissions and Financial Aid.

On December 12, 2011 the editors of the Kaleidoscope took a tour of the new Stu-dent Center, which is on schedule to open spring semester 2013. The approximately 81,634 sq. ft. building will feature an ex-panded cafeteria, bookstore, student activi-ties offices, new administration offices and new student services offices like the busi-ness office and counseling offices.

What are you most excited about in the Student Center? Email us your thoughts at kscope@kishwaukeecollege.edu. In the meantime, keep checking up here for more updates and photos of the construction.

KALEIDOSCOPE STAFF AND EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorial/Opinion2 KALEIDOSCOPE FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Congress shall make no law re-specting an establishment of reli-gion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peacably assemble and to petition the Gov-ernment for redress of grievances.--First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

StaffEditor-in-Chief.....Marissa Skonie

Managing Editor...Grace Martin

Adviser.....Melissa Blake

Staff Writers.....Valentina Andri-anopoulos, Jessica Crawford

Logo design by Devon Lovings at TwoFiveDesigns.com

Editorial PolicyLetters to the editor may be dropped off at the Kaleidoscope

office or put in the Kaleidoscope mailbox. The Kaleidoscope is pub-lished approximately eight times each semester by Kaleidoscope staff. If you wish to submit a letter to the editor, please do so, but un-signed letters will not be considered for submission. Anonymity can be requested by the author and will be granted at the discretion of the editor. All letters may be ed-ited for length, clarity or libel-ous content. Opinions expressed

on the editorial page are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the edito-rial board of the Kaleidoscope or Kishwaukee College as a whole. Stories marked (OMS) were pro-vided by the college’s Office of Marketing Communications.

The Kaleidoscope is a student operated newspaper serving the students of Kishwaukee Col-lege, Malta, Illinois. Opinions in

the newspaper do not reflect the views of Kishwaukee Adminis-tration, students or faculty. The Kaleidoscope is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

Marissa’s Musings: Abusing financial aid

What is The Secret?

I’ve Been Thinking...: Can you really just be friends?

Have you ever seen the show the Big Bang Theory? I love that show. Not only is it hys-terically funny, but from the first episode I felt like I could really relate to it. Why?

Because all through highschool, I felt like Penny. Penny is the ridiculously average girl who happens to live near geniuses Leonard and Sheldon. Through circumstances, she ends up being a part of their circle of nerdy genius friends, who all happen to be guys. In high school, most of my friends were super-nerdy boys. Half the time I didn’t know what they were talking about, but they were funny and I loved them just the same. Now if you have ever seen the show, you know that Leonard has a major crush on Penny.

For the longest time Penny and Leonard are just friends. Leonard has all this deep unrequited love for Penny, and she just doesn’t seem to know about it. To her Leonard is just a friend, and for most of the show, that is how she sees him. I know that I’m not the only girl out there who has guy friends. Just like I know there are all kinds of guys who have mostly girl friends. I also know that this unrequited love where one person (Leonard) falls madly in love with the other person (Penny) happens all the time. It has happened to me. It has happened to friends of mine who have come to me crying about it. There has also been a time or two where some-one who I thought was just a friend has told me they hoped for something more. It happens. This all leads to the million dollar ques-tion. Has there ever been a friendship between a boy and girl that has been strictly platonic? Where no romantic feelings have ever been entertained by either party? Or is it simply inevi-table that if two people spend enough time to-

gether and get to know each other well enough that at least one of them will fall in love with the other one? I used to think that the platonic relation-ship was completely possible. If you would have asked me this question in high school, I would have answered without a doubt. I could have even given you examples of guy friends that I had who I didn’t feel romantically towards at all. But was I really being honest with myself? Maybe I did have romantic feelings towards them at one time or another. Besides, who was I to judge if they had ever liked me? So now I’m lost. I used to be so sure of how I felt about this, and now I’m rethink-ing everything I already thought. Which means everyone should email me at kscope@kishwau-keecollege.edu and let me know what they think. Can guys and girls just be friends?

During the first week of spring semester, I went into Kish’s bookstore to help a friend pick out some school sup-plies. As I walked around the store, I noticed a bunch of random mer-chandise that had

nothing to do with the school: stuffed animals, camcorders, gaming systems, etc. However, I just brushed it off thinking that people could spend their money on whatever they want. As my friend and I stood in line waiting to make our purchase, I noticed the man in front of us was buying an Xbox Kinect. Again, I just blew it off; making some small comment to my friend about

how I thought it was dumb that they sold game systems in the school’s book-store. After waiting in line for about 15 minutes, the man with the Kinect approached the counter to make his purchase. I watched as the cashier rang everything up and came to a total of just over $300. I now understood why they sold the gaming systems; it must produce a lot of rev-enue, but I still scoffed at the idea of spending $300 on a gaming system. (Keep in mind, I’m not a gamer at all, and yes I know that gaming systems are extremely expensive.) Then the man did something that shocked me: He used financial aid to pay for his Xbox Kinect. How could that be possible? Isn’t financial aid meant to help pay for tuition and school supplies? When I questioned my friend on this, I was informed that apparently you can use your financial aid to buy anything you want

in Kish’s bookstore. Now, Kougars, I ask how is it fair to be giving students financial aid so that they can buy something like a gaming system that will in no way help them in school? I know plenty of other students who could use that money to actually further their education. I can give some justice to buying a single sweatshirt or t-shirt that says Kish on it; at least you’re represent-ing your school. But really, I can’t see why it is acceptable to spend financial aid on something that isn’t school related at all. Do you think students should be able to spend their financial aid on whatever they like or do you think the school should monitor and limit what that money can be spent on? Let me know your opinion by emailing me at kishks-cope@kishwaukeecollege.edu.

By Valentina AndrianopoulosStaff Writer

Despite everything we plan on doing when we grow up, life has twists and turns. Sometimes it can be really disappointing to learn that you did not score that perfect A on the test or that she just doesn’t have the same feelings towards you. I feel like in our day and age, people tend to dwell more on the bad than the good. There are a lot of things bringing us down on a day-to-day basis. It is hard finding the good in life when we find ourselves

struggling through it all. The economy has fallen, jobs are slim, money is hard to come by; but that can’t be what it’s all about, right? Lately, I have been look-ing for the answer. During my search, I happened to run by a theory that I found very intriguing. Philoso-phers call it “The Secret.” It is supposedly the secret to happiness or to a life of luxuries. What it entails is that every human being is able to get whatever their heart desires--simply by

wanting it. So if you want a million dollars, will hundred dollar bills start raining from the heavens? Not quite. It is a little more practical than that. This theory be-lieves that every person has his or her own attraction to the universe. And whatever he or she wishes for, the universe will respond and attract that certain thing into their lives. The theory puts it this way: if you have a mindset that is focused on wealth,

wealth will eventually find it’s way into your life. If you dwell on all the bad and focus on the negative, only negative energy will be drawn to you. It is all about attraction and what kind of impression you are making on the universe. Many people may be skeptical on this theory and, I must admit, I don’t agree with every detail. But what I do agree with is the abil-ity to change your state of mind. Perhaps even your way of life. If you are un-

happy with the road life has taken you down, only you have the power to change that. So instead of repeat-edly telling yourself that you “can’t do this” and you’ll “never get that”, try it the other way around. Give yourself some reasons to smile and look forward to your future. Who knows? The universe just might work in your favor.

By Grace MartinManaging Editor

By Marissa SkoneEditor-in-Chief

FEBRUARY 6, 20123 KALEIDOSCOPE Features

As of late, Congress has been attempting to pass the bills we have all come to know as Stop Online Piracy Act/Protect Intellectual Property Act (SOPA/PIPA). Over the course of a few months, the SOPA/PIPA bills have captivated the attention of almost every American. They spread like wildfire and led to a series of protests all across the Web. SOPA and PIPA are two separate bills that threatened to end the Internet as we know it. SOPA was led by the House and PIPA was led by the Senate. “No one wants their art and income stolen,” adds John Desjarlais, a journalism and creative writing teacher at Kishwaukee College. “However, the bills overstep a boundary by permitting the government to shut down any domain that has even one link to a foreign site that permits the down-load of pirated materials. This is a form of censorship of the Web and government intrusion into Web content that is unacceptable.” According to The Washington Post, Google and Wikipedia sponsored a petition on January 18 against SOPA/PIPA and collected more than 7 million signatures from the U.S.. With the enormous uproar of protests and millions of signatures against these bills, Congress decided to withdraw their attempt at SOPA/PIPA. CNN states that millions of dollars were spent lobbying against SOPA/PIPA and more than 300 companies and organizations rose up to fight the two bills. Although lobbying wasn’t what did SOPA/PIPA in, it was helpful and intends to continue. Then a new bill was brought into the public view. Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is the “new and improved” version of SOPA/PIPA. ACTA takes place in America, Europe, Asia and Australia as well. This act was agreed upon by many countries (including America) that have already signed the bill. According to ZDNet, ACTA will not become a part of the EU (European Union) if European Parliament votes against it in June. If this does happen, the 22 signatures of the EU would be worthless, and ACTA would not be permitted in the EU. While we were focused on SOPA/PIPA, ACTA was already going into effect completely out of the public focus. According to IBTimes, ACTA wasn’t even supposed to be released to the public, but Wikileaks released documents and draft versions of the treaty that exposed the bill. The Electronical Frontier Foundation states that the Fact Sheet published by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) together with the USTR’s 2008 Special 301 report made it clear that the goal is to create a new standard of intellectual property enforcement above the current interna-tionally-agreed standards in the Trade Related Issues of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Agreement and International Cooperation, including sharing of information between signatory countries’ law enforcement agencies. ACTA is trying to combine counterfeiting with piracy when they are, in fact, two very different issues. According to CNN, it will put Internet ser-vice providers in an untenable position, making them liable for their customers alleged actions and forcing them to comply with requests from copyright holders for user data, without due process. Citizens are wondering if Obama signing the pact without the consent of Congress was even legal. Even after 75 law professors sent a letter to Obama urging him not to sign, he signed nonetheless. “While it seems like these bills would hardly affect Kishwaukee students,” explains Dr. Anthony Thomas, philosophy instructor, “the probability that many students have downloaded material illegally or used copyrighted material without permission in various presentations, on Web sites, as desktop backgrounds on their phones and computers, etc., could put these students in violation of federal law should these bills be en-acted.”

ACTA takes the lead after SOPA/PIPABy Valentina AndrianopoulosStaff Writer

Here at Kishwaukee College, the students can take advantage of many great opportunities to help shape and brighten their futures. The school has a wide range of classes to choose from, and given the right amount of dedication, Kish can be a perfect starting point for any career. While on the path to success, students can further enrich the college experience by joining a campus club or organization. Being a part of a campus club is an excel-lent way to branch off in the community, meet people with similar interests and learn new things. On January 31 and February 1, a mini student activities fair was held in the main atrium. There was a variety of clubs welcoming the students who passed by and encouraging them to get involved. At the mini activity fair, not every club at Kish has a table set up, but those that do have a sign or an active member who explains what their organization is about and what they have planned for the semester so far. In most cases, it’s never too late to join. Keep an eye out for club posters around campus by taking a minute to stop and read the bulletin boards. If you’re interested in joining one, con-tact the organization’s president or advisor. You can become a member of more than one club, including Intercultural Student Association, Black Student Union, Black Male Initiative, Latinos Unidos, Business Club, Equality Club, Music Club, Horticulture Club, Criminal Justice Club, Forensics Team, Mud-slingers, i~Lead, Phi Theta Kappa, Student Government Association or even the Kaleidoscope. Let your voice be heard. They would all love to hear from you. For more information regarding a campus organization, visit the Student Activities Office located in room B-100. Each club has its own agenda and goals for the year, and you’ll likely see them advertising an event they plan to put on. “Sex Signals” is one of the many upcoming events at Kish. SGA will be hosting this on February 8 from 12:00-1:30 in the Jenkins Auditorium. “Sex Signals” is a unique combina-tion of improvisational comedy, education and audience participation. It will be using high energy and humor to communicate important messages about dating, sex consent and date rape on college campuses. The show will begin by having the audience guide the presenters through some pretty typical encounters that explore the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time. It then pokes fun at the social expecta-tions of how men and women are supposed to interact with each other and how those opinions can often affect the way we view sex. Immersed in the dialogue about the gender roles they can each play, the audience examines social scenarios they may find themselves in, which can become dangerous when alcohol is involved. “Sex Signals” offers a safe environment to freely talk about attitudes and understandings of sexual assault. Proactive respons-es to sexual violence are also explored by having the audience discuss ways they can positively intervene if they see someone in a vulnerable situation. All of the performers have extensive training in interactive theater and sexual assault education. This is an engaging show that anyone can attend.

Students participate in activities to kick off the new semesterBy Hillary MartinezGuest Writer

KOUGAR KORNERFEBRUARY 6, 20124 KALEIDOSCOPE Sports/Campus Life

Kougars hold Hoops for Hope

On February 9th at 5:30 p.m., the Lady Kougars will be hosting their annual Hoops for Hope/Play4Kay event at Kishwaukee College against Black Hawk College. The event shows support and awareness for those affected by breast cancer. “It’s bigger than just the game,” says Kat Martin, the women’s assis-tant basketball coach. Kay Yow, who became a mentor of Martin’s through-out the years, was diagnosed with breast cancer and went to a number of colleges asking them to participate in a breast cancer awareness basketball game, which Kish agreed to participate in five years ago. Kishwaukee College became the first community college to participate in the event. In the five years that the Play4Kay event has been going on, the teams have raised a little more than $7,000. There are many ways students at Kish-waukee can help show their support for breast cancer awareness. Students can drop off any monetary donations to the Wellness Center or make a dona-tion online at www.tinyurl.com/KishCollegeHoops4Hope. There will be a silent auction during the women’s game through half of the men’s game. Basket do-nations are also accepted for the auction. The auction will open around 4 p.m. and bidding will end around 8 p.m. After the women’s basketball game in the B400 Wing, there will be a survivors’ banquet with dessert and fellowship with the team. At the survivors’ banquet, all breast cancer survivors will receive a pink carnation. Come decked out in pink and show your support for breast cancer awareness and the Kishwaukee Kougars!

By Jessica CrawfordStaff Writer

With the spring 2012 term just getting underway, the Kishwau-kee Kougars Dance Team continues to dance during halftime of the men’s basketball games at Kishwaukee College. The dance team, also known as the Kougarettes, had an eventful first half of the year. In fall 2011, one girl was interested in starting the dance team back up after not having a team since 2008. When given permission, by head coach Cassandra Downs, to start the dance team up again and 10 girls were willing to try out to be a part of the 2011-2012 Kishwaukee Kougarettes Dance Team. The girls on the dance team choreograph most of the routines with some help from Coach Downs. This gives all of the girls an op-portunity to take on the role of a leader and teach all of the girls on the dance team their upcoming routine. Now that a new semester has started, a “new” Kougarettes dance team has started as well. The dance team has had three of the original ten girls quit the Kougarettes due to a variety of different rea-sons, putting the team down to seven girls. “It has made our team closer and stronger,” says team captain Katie Johnson. Although the girls seem close now, the dance team will take a couple more hits at the end of the year. Looking forward to the fall 2012 semester, the Kougarettes will be losing both of their team captains, due to them graduating, along with all but two of the girls on the team. The Kougarettes will be having another tryout at the end of the spring 2012 semester current students and another in the fall 2012 semester for any of the new freshmen girls who are interested in being a part of the Kougarettes Dance Team.

Kougarettes keep on

kickingBy Jessica CrawfordStaff Writer

In five years I hope... By Grace MartinManaging Editor

This semester many Kishwaukee College students have been attracted to an interactive art project on the back wall of the cafeteria. The project is titled “In five years I hope…”. Kishwaukee students have been encouraged to stop by the cafeteria and leave a message or a drawing on the wall that tells their hopes for the future. The wall is covered with not only messages of hope, but artwork as well. The goal of the project was “to cre-ate an inviting environment in the cafeteria, while engaging students, and we feel that we have accomplished this goal” said Kayte Hamel, Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “We have some very thoughtful and creative student on campus.” The idea for the chalk wall came from Evelina Cichy, Dean of Adult Education and Transition Program. The inspiration came from a news story about a community in New Orleans who did a similar project. “Several conversations had taken place during the fall semester regarding what to do with the temporary wall in the cafeteria, and this seemed like the best idea,” Hamel said. The project was sponsored by the Kishwaukee College Foundation Art Fund. According to Marshall Hayes, Executive Director of Kishwaukee College Foundation, “The purpose of the Campus Art Fund is primarily to put artwork on the walls of Kishwaukee College.” The current wall will be left up until spring break, when all the images will be erased to start over. However, that doesn’t mean that no erasing will occur before then. According to Hamel, “ We understand that this is a college campus and students are able to speak their mind and are encouraged to do so. So far students have been pretty respectful, but we are monitoring it for offensive language and those comment will be erased.” If you want your message to stay on the wall, make sure it is respectful. For more pictures of the wall be sure to continually check out Kishwaukee College’s Facebook page. Videos of the wall will also be placed on Youtube.