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T H 9/lssue 8 Alpena Community College WHAT'S INSIDE POLEMIC CO-EDITORS SAY FAREWELL, PAGE 2 HAWKS FADES, PAGE 3 DRUMMERS DELIGHT AUDIENCE, PAGE 6 An ACC student keeps a watchful eye out for semi trucks (above). Students complain about having to wait for the traffic to clear before crossing Johnson Street. ACC Instructor Steven Lewis (left) waits for traffic to clear Students think crossing unsafe By Joshua Helsel Features Editor Many students have shown concern over the "speedy" traf- fic they have encountered while crossing the marked crosswalk connecting Van Lare Hall and the Besser Technical Center. Students are concerned not only with the time_ it takes them to wait for traffic, but also the danger of crossing the street. Traffic often fails to stop for waiting students and also fails to obey the posted 30-mph speed limit, which makes it ex- tremely dangerous for students crossing. While there have been no documented accidents, many students report near misses, which have caused many to label the crosswalk the "death trap" and "the valley of death." Even the enforcers of law have shown a lack of respect for stu- dents waiting to cros~. "I was waiting to cross the street and a local police car drove right past and did not stop," ACC student Richelle Sieland said. According to Michigan law regarding pedestrians right-of- way in marked crosswalks, when traffic-control signals are not in place or are not in op- eration, the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way slowing down or stopping if needed to be able to yield to a pedestrian crossing the road- way within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway on which the ve- hicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in dan- ger. But a pedestrian cannot suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the side of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible · for the driver to yield. Dean of Student Affairs Max Lindsay feels that a part of the problem is that "many people are not aware of the law and others just don't care to follow the law." Lindsey said that the college has made several attempts to make the walk safer for stu- dents. "We fought to get the speed · limit reduced from 35 to 30 and lost when we attempted to re- duce it to 25," he said. "A big part qf the Ji1fe>blem is the 'fa:6t f that we have so mucl;i industty on Johnson Street. Companies such as Besser don't want their truck drivers to have the bur- den of stopping." As Woodward Avenue con- tinues to develop with the World Center for Concrete Technology and other ven- tures, traffic along Johnson Street is only likely to increase. "I think that if there isn't See CROSSING, Page2 New Student Senate officers plan changes for ACC Meisen By Jennifer Werda ous senate experience to work .an effective communicator for Staff Writer next year. students' concern, goals and "I will lead the Student interests. After a three-day election, Senate to start to represent the ACC student elected new Stu- whole student body," she said. Jocelyn Haske will serve as dent Senate leaders. "I will help develop a plan to public relations manager for Beginning the fall 2000 resolve the parking problem at the group. She is eager to start semester, Kati Wiegand will Van Lare Hall." the fall with fresh ideas and serve as president. Wiegand Chris Sparling will serve as fresh faces. said that she was very pleased vice president. He believes "I plan on participating in to win and will 'put her previ- that the Student Senate needs all meetings and Student Sen- Polemic captures 11 awards for Heidi Skuse Co-Editor Polemic student journalists brought home 11 awards at the Michigan Community College Press Association's annual conference held April 15 at St. _Clair Community College in Port Huron. Competing against 13 of Michigan's 28 community col- leges, the awards were judged by professional journalists in Michigan. The Polemic's awards included: • Second Place to Jocelyn Haske 's photo essay "Through snowy cedars" • Second Place for the staff's editorial "ACC-SAC pro- gram needs attention" • Second Place for Jamin Trevarrow's graphic illus- tration "Local bands soni- cally spew" • Third Place for John Kissane's review "Oh · lardy mama mama" • Third Place for the Polemic's front page de- sign • Honorable Mention for Lauren Beckeney's feature story "Treating seasonal affective disorder as simple J as light and exercise" • Honorabl~ Mention . for Catherine Gilmet's analy- sis "Meningitis: A concern for students • Honorable Mention for Amy Wallot's commentary "Family Values - a preven- tative measure" • Honorable Mention for Caroline Carp's commen- tary "Smeared at the death trap" • Honorable Mention for Josh Timlick's cartoon "Superfluity" • Honorable Mention for the Polemic's advertisement placement. e activities, and will be ere- vides an opportunity to learn ive and successful in adver- more about leadership skills, t sing Student Senate events," according to outgoing Vice aske said. President Josh Helsel. Douglas Hibbs was elected "You get to meet new s cretary. Two other positions, people and you know what is s phomore representative and going on at school all the t easurer, ran unopposed. time," he said. "A big problem The Student Senate pro- is many people run unopposed v des tuition waivers to the stu- so there's not enough compe- d nts who participate and pro- titian." riting and design "What's really interesting about the judges' comments regarding our awards in edito- rial and commentary writing is that they recognized that Po- lemic staffers were not only presenting problems, but ex- ploring and suggesting work- able solutions," Polemic Advi- . sor Colleen Steinman said. "Anyone can whine and com- plain, but the Polemic's com- mentary pieces and editorial demonstrated the students' critical thinking skills. That's a reflection of the quality of their entire education at ACC." At the conference journal- ists were entertained by speak- ers in the business. Frank Shepherd, CEO of the 21 si Century Newspapers, talked with the journalists about his experience in the field. "You really become the heart beat and soul of the news- paper, the lifeblood of the in- dustry," he said . Shepherd stressed to be very active: "Nike got it right, just do it." Another speaker, James Voss, professor of speech com- munication, spoke about the See AWARDS, Page2 to give graduation · address AmyWallot Co-Editor. Park Arena will host this year's commence~ ment ceremonies .. This spring, 218 students are candidates . for gradua- tion, including fall gradu- ate. About 142 students plan. to participate in the ceremony. James Miesen, · a former ACC English in- structor, is scheduled to · speak as well as ACC stu- dent Anne Przykucki. Przykucki, an Alpena High School alumnae, will be graduating this spring. She plans to study meteorology at Okla"" homa State University. Commencement cer- emonies will take place Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in Park Arena.