2 .¾ews '!he <Pofemic/(})ecem6er 11, 1996 ,SBDC names new director e Bourdelais returns. to ACC BY DONALD s. FILARSKI STAFF WRITER brought much of ACC's cur- rent internet capacity to campus. The Michigan Small Busi- ness Development Regional Center, located at Alpena Bourdelais has 30 years of business experience, an MBA degree in general manage- PHOTO BY POLEMIC STAFF Carl Bourdelais (above) was recently named director of the Small Business Development Regional Center, located on East Campus. Bourdelais takes over from co-directors Bob Munroe and Dr. Dacia Denton. Community College has a new director. The new direc- tor is Carl Bourdelais. He will replace current co-directors Robert Munroe and Dr. Dacia Denton, who will both be cut- . ting back on hours as they :seek to more enjoy their re- :tirements. Both will remain on :duty in part-tin;ie capacities. ment with an emphasis on in- ternational business, and an undergraduate degree in gen- eral management with a minor in accounting from New Hampshire College. Michigan's SBDC centers prov~de counseling, training, research and advocacy for Michigan's small busii;iesses that exist or that are in the initial stages of development. , Bourdelais has worked for ;the ACC before as director of :project CONduit, which When asked how he felt ilLSSU Add to your skills with classes offeredfrom Lake Superior State University at Alpena Community College! Collective Bargaining This course will address: Major Subject of Negotiation Collective Bargaining • Arbitration of Grievances The Process of Dispute ~ettlement , This course includes theories of bargaining, strategies and negotiation tools available to both parties. It also examines collective employee-employer relationships in the public • sector and tactics of public employee gro,up_s and agencies. ' '. The class will meet Fridays from 6-10 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on January 24/ 25; February 7/8 & · 21/22; and March 7/ 8 & 14/ 15. Crintlnology A study of the nature and causes of crime and the results of various attempts to reduce crime. This class will meet Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m., January 15 - April 30 (ITV). Tuition for each three-credit course is $441.75 plus text costs. You may elect to audit the classes for half of the tuition fees. NOTE: If enrollment reaches capacity, credit students will be considered first. . . Register Now! For information or to register call Kelly Smith, Director LSSU- Alpena 517-356-9021, ext. 302. It is the policy of Lake Superior State University that no person shall be discriminated against. excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in employment, or in any program or activity for which the University is responsible on the basis of race. color, national origin or ancestry, sex. age. disability. religion, height, weight, marital status or veteran status. to be back at the college Bourdelais stated, "I'm thrilled to be back at the college. It's a great place to work, wonder- ful people here, excellent programs in place. Regardless of what function anybody has coming out of the school, it serves the community in a very valuable fashion. So it is really great to be a part of this again." According to Munroe, the SBDC is funded by the fed- eral government. He also explained that a small busi- ness is defined as a business with under 500 employees. He brought attention to the fact that they try to concentrate on businesses with under 50 em- ployees. However, this will not disqualify anyone who has more than 50. Dr. Denton explained the choice of Bourdelais. "We looked at the various appli- cants and Carl seemed to have the best background, experi- ence and education to fill the position of director." There are 13 SBDC odices in Michigan with the main of- fice being located at Wayne State University. · This SBDC office serves 11 counties in Northeast lower Michigan: Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Otsego, Mont- morency, Alpena, Crawford Oscoda, Alcona, Roscommon, Ogemaw, and Iosco. If you require assistance with your small business, the people working for small businesses in this region would like to hear from you. Please feel free to call and set up an appointment at 356- 9021 ext. 296. If you would like to be- cbme involved as a volunteem prbfessional, they would ap- preciate your support. Most volunteer professionals are c;:urrently working but retired professionals are also appre- ciated. SBDC offices provide cer- tified counselors to small businesses, retail, manufactur- ing, service, and construction companies. PHOTO BY POLEMIC STAFF Jane Briggs-Bunting (above), Department Chair in Journalism at Oakland University, was at Waldenbooks in the Alpena Mall recently for a book signing. Briggs-Bunting is helping the Polemic staff to prep~re for the Michigan Community College Press Associa- tion annual conference, which ACC will host April 11-12. Suicide Characterized By Many Misconceptions (NSNS) - Suicide ranks eighth as a cause of death ainong adults in .general; it ranks third after accidents and homicide among those aged 15 to 24. An estimated I 0.000 American college students attempt to kill themselves each year and as many as 20 percent consider suicide at least once during their college years. Here is a list of the many misconceptions ofsuicide: 1. People who discuss suicide will not commiJ the act. The fact is that up to three-quarters of those who take their lives have communicated beforehand. perhaps as a cry for help, perhaps to taunt. 2. Suicide is commuted without warning. The falseness of this belief is readily indicated by the preceding statement. The person usually gives , many warnings. such as saying that the world would be better off without him or her or making unexpected and inexplicable gifts to others. often of his or her most valued possessions. 3. Only people of a certain class commiJ suicide. Suicide is neither a curse of the poor nor the disease of the rich. People in all classes commit suicide. 4. The mqtives for suicufe are easily established. The truth is that we do n'ot fully understand why people commit suicide. 5. All who commit suicide are depressed. This fallacy may account for the fact that signs of impending suicide are overlooked because the person does not act despondently. Many of the people who take their lives are not depressed. In fact some people appear calm and at peace with themselves. 6. To commit suicide is crazy. Although most ·suicidal persons are very unhappy. most do appear to be completely rational and in touch with reality. 7. A tendency to commiJ suicide is inherited. Since suicides often run in families, the assumption is made to think in terms of self- annihilation .is inherited. There .is no evidence for this. 8. Improvement in emotional state means lessened risk of suicide. The fact is that people often commit the act after their spirits begin to rise and their energy level improves; this appears to be especially true of depressed patients .. 9. Suicidal people clearly want to die. Most people who commit suicide appear to be ambivalent about their own deaths. Others are suffering from depression or alcoholism. which. if alleviated. reduces the suicidal desire. For many people the suicidal crises passes. and they are grateful for having been prevented from self- destruction. I 0. Thinking about suicide· is rare. Estimates from various studies suggest that. among nonclinical populations. suicidal thoughts runs from 40 percent t~ as high as 80 percent; that is. these perce'ltages of people have thought about committing suicide at least once in their lives. 11. Asking a person, especially a depressed one, about suicide will push him or her over the edge and cause a suicidal act that would not otherwise have occurred. 12. People who attempt suicide by low-lethal means are not serious about killing themselves. This confuses lethality with intent. Some people. for example, are not well-informe_d about pill dosages or human anatomy. (Reprinted from The Prevenrion Researcher, a serv_ice division of lntegrared Research Services) "FIVE STAR" QUALITY SERVICE AWARD .DEALER, New Home Auto Program Multi-Policy Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ·from: LDUIS MDTDR SALES, INC. # $~ ~ ~ ~ /941~ B32 WEST CHISHOLM STREET PHONE 517•354••U54 ALPENA, MICHIGAN - 49707 Credit Discounts SINCE 1867 127 W River st• Alpena. Ml 49707 (517) 356-9058 Fax: (517) 356-1694 1-800-33-SKIBA THOMAS L SKIBA 'Jwrth£rn 'Ezyosure Photo & Custom !framing •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••• • • • •• • ••••••••••••••••••• • Inside • • • • • • Photo Processing • The Drug Store : : 12 EXP$ .99 : • • • • 2236 US 23 South • • • : 24 EXP $ 1.99 : • • • • 36 EXP$ 2.99 • • • • • Alpena, MI 49707 : Phone (517) 354-2171 / Fax (517) 3,56-6606 : : Next Day Single Prints : • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 'Ine !Polemic STAFF Editor - Deb Haske, News Editor - Kent Anderson Design - Rita Maciejewski Photographer - Debbie Parks Writers - Donald S. Filarski, Holly Mace, Kent Anderson, Charles K. Hurst, Joel Potrykus, Jeremy Williams, Nick Phillips, Sherrie Wable, Lyz Huffman, Leslie Male, Debbie Parks Advisor - DoN MACMASTER The Polemic is published monthly and is distributed free of charge. Opinions expressed are strictly those of the writ- ers. The Polemic welcomes all signed contributions al- though we reserve the right to edit 9r reject material. Ques- tions, concerns, or contribu- tions can be dropped off at The Polemic office in BTC Rm 106 or in our mailbox . Phone: 517 356-9021 Ext. 264. The Polemic 666 Johnson Street Alpena, MI 49707 {,