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News Page 3 October 1, 2002 ACC Athletes Make the Grade SARALYON Managing Editor ACC students may not know about the college's strict rules and guidelines that ACC athletes must follow in order to stay on their team. Coaches work very closely with students to maintain good grades, relationships, and discipline. Cohort completion rates are organized every year to present how many student athletes have completed the program. The most recent statistics were from 1998-1999. It showed that38 outof50 (76%) scholarship athletes completed their programs. The chart also revealed that 20 out of30 (67%) new student athletes were completers. This information is used by coaches to evaluate their focus on education. ACC athletes must follow several guidelines to stay eligible. The ultimate guideline to stay on a team is to obtain at least a C average. Athletes are also required to agree to the drug-free campus policy. If the athletes cannot comply with this statute, they are off the team. Also, according to national guidelines, athletes must have a minimum of 12 credit hours for the semester, and they must have at least a grade point average of 2.0 or better the year before to remain eligible. To help athletes stay eligible, coaches keep a close relationship with their players. Women's basketball coach Mike Kollien looks at it as just being another class. Athletes are required to present progress reports to their coaches every couple of weeks. If a player is not meeting grade requirements, they have to make two visits to the learning center and work with a tutor. After improvement, they can play on the team again. 1n addition, coaches work with instructors to achieve completion rates. Volleyball coach Dana LaBar believes that the key to success is good communication with instructors. He provides his players with training on the Blackboard andPlaydo internet sites. To improve grades even more, Coach LaBar elected to have the majority of matches on weekends so his players would not have to miss school. Coach LaBar and Coach Kollien believe that their system works well, and that players try their best to maintain good grades. Basketball players Chris Dorsey and Justin Miller offered their opinions. The sophomores from Ohio agreed that the disciplinary system works. Justin commented that no one screws around and they get good grades. Both basketball players rem.arked that their coach is very concerned about their grades, and added that the coaches focus on both good and bad students all in the same respect. If a player is doing great in school, the coaches still keep on them. If a player is doing poorly, they put pressure on them. Both players thought the coaches are harder on them about their grades than their performance in a game. "When it comes to basketball and school, school comes first," Clnis added. Though both players would like to play professionally, they hope to use their education if they do not reach the pros. Justin feels that his basketball career comes first, but he also said, "You need good grades to play." He added that he wants to do his best in school. Chris agreed and added that to go to a good university and play, you need very good grades. Success is simple. If you do not get good grades, you do not play basketball. That should be enough incentive to do well in school. One reward for student athletes is the Academic All-American Award, which is given to any athlete who graduates witha3.5 grade point average or higher and plays two full seasons. Other awards are scholarships for exceeding in school and the sport. These rules and guidelines seem to be working. Not only are coaches thete to teach players the game, but they also work to shape an athlete into a better student and person. Photo by JoBetb Johnson ACC Athletes Take a Break from the Books Levin Takes Time for Northern Michigan MATT PETROVICH PO. V Editor On September Yli, 2002 U.S. Senator Carl Levin came home. The Democratic senator took time from his busy schedule in Washington D.C. to meet and greet the people of Northeastern Michigan. After spending the day in Posen and Alpena Levin arrived at the Alcona EMS Station. Following a brief introduction the senator opened the floor for questions. The talk covered areas oflocal and national politics. Levin gave precise answers to questions that clearly seemed to be bothering the people who were gathered. Speaking in regards to the President's proposed unilateral attack on Iraq, Levin stated, "Is Saddam Hussein a suicide bomber? I don'tthinkso. I think he's a survivalist. .. He has weapons of mass destruction and has threatened to use them, but he won't. He knows if he does, he is done." The senator Crave Pizza??? There is Nothing Like Pizza Hut For Lunch V $4.49 Ltmch Meal Deals Personal Pan, Stix, & Pop The Best Pizzas Under One Roof proposed a system of containment and deterrence rather than a unilateral attack. He went on to explain that he feels we need world support in this issue. To attack without it could be detrimental to the war on terror. As a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee senator Levin deals with immigration on a regular basis. His policy on immigration 1s clear, "Immigration is ok. Illegal immigration is not ok. It's that simple." Prior to the senator's arrival in Michigan a heating up the common view on the was held to determine how subject. the border control could do With chairs on both abetterjobatcurbingillegal the Armed Services immigrationintotheU.S.A. Committee and the in is outraged at the Permanent Sub-Committee c rre1tt policy of handling on Investigations the senator ill gal immigrants caught is a very busy man. Factor in sn aking over the border. the Intelligence and W en a person is caught Governmental Affairs trying to jump the border they Committees and one begins are detained and then towonderwhenhefindstime released with the to sleep. It's plain to see that understanding that they will the senator cares about his sb:ow up for a hearing to people in Michigan. Even deport them. "That's not a within the walls of the U.S. policy, it 's an absurdity." Senate, Levin still thinks of Levin proclaimed, summing Home. Michigan's Gubernatorial Race Preview KARAEUBANK Features Editor Attorney General Jennifer Granholm overpowered two far more experienced Democratic rivals to win her party's nomination for governor. The Democratic candidates were former Governor James Blanchard and U.S . Representative David Bonior of Mount Clemens. With 94 precincts statewide counted 491,624 votes (48 percent) for Granholm. Bonior tallied • 284,122 or 28 percent and Blanchardhad243,571 or24 percent of the votes. Boni or broke down after congratulating Granholm and pledged to help her win in the full. Among Democrats, Granholm was not only the overwhelming choice of female voters, she also drew more support form male voters than Bonior or www.michigan.gov/ag/ Blanchard did. Granholm, 43, is the first woman to win a major party nomination for governor in Michigan. Granholm's key issues are: education, crime, environmental protection, and families. Already she is an early favorite over Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus, 52, who claimed victory over State Senator John Schwarz for the Republican nomination. Posthumus took 81 percent of the votes with 472,330. Schwarz only had 18 percent with warning that .._ ..... ~, .......... ................... , ... .... www.dickposthumus.com Governor candidates Jennifer Granholm and Dick Posthumus his party was aligned too much with right-wing interests. Posthumus' key issues are: education, ~vironrnei1~jobs and taxes. The Democrats strongly believe they have an excellent chanceofregainingtheofficeafler twelveyearsofRepublicans. Tue Republicans believethatoncethe voters get to know Posthumus more, they will see how much good he can do for Michigan. Polls show that Granholmalready hasawidelead over Posthumus. But the Republicansarenota:lraid Tuey feel itis still early too tell who will prevail Political View MARCGAUZE Contributing Writer The political scene is very busy right now with the elections coming up on November 5th • The voters ofMichigan will be electing a completely . new government into office. It is importantthatyou, the young people of this state get to know who the people running for office are, and then vote on November 5th • I know, as young people you probably think, why should I care who is in office? I can tell you this: who ever holds the purse strings in Lansing and WashingtonD.C. will be the one determining the money and training you receive towards your career goals. Let me illustrate some of the choices that you will have on November 5th • The most important election in Michigan is for a new Governor. One of those running for that post is JenniferGranholm. Ihada chance to meet her this summer and I found her to be a very interesting person with strong views on education. Another position to be filled is in the Michigan State Senate. One of the candidates running for that spot is someone the people of Alpena know very well. That is State Representative Andy Neumann. He has proven over and over again that he is for the middle-class man on education and the rights of northern Michigan since he was once a fireman inAl_penahimself A young man from Alpena by the name ofMatt Gillard is running for the 106th House Seat. When I talked to Matt I found, that at the age of twenty-nine, he is rather busy. He is a lawyer in his fathers firm. He is very strong on education and he wants the state to do more to promote and help people to get into careers such as nursing and teaching for the future of our state and country. This summer I met Judge Maggie Drake, as well; she is a Circuit Court Judge mnning for a seat on the Michigan State Supreme Court. She has been one busy woman. She has been a Police Sergeant, a Registered Nurse, trial lawyer and for the last ten years a Judge. Now she wants to take on the Supreme Court Judgeship. Well those are but a few of the people running in this election that need you to get out and vote on November 5th• So, please do find out who is running and vote, it could mean your future!