Photo courtesy of CAB

Many months are used to commemorate events and cultural groups, the month of May being no exception. Originally there was an Asian-Pacific Heritage week in July, however this national recognition expanded into the entire month of May. This month celebrates Asian Pacific Heritage, and Bellevue College seized the opportunity to have a good time with a band and fashion show on May 7 from 10:30 a.m. -12:45 p.m.

The event, called Asian-Pacific Heritage Celebration, began with BC students performing; however, the main event was a reggae band from Seattle, Kore Ionz. Kore Ionz has performed with bands like The Wailer, Steel Pulse and Third World. The featured band just released its second album, “World War Free” in August of 2011. Its lead singer, Daniel Pak, is Hawaiian-born.

“The intention of the music and the message is to give people a glimpse of the truth in a way such that it just might uplift them to go do something to change it,” said Pak in an interview with the Honolulu Weekly. The band’s main focus is to encourage its fans to choose love.

“We know them [Kore Ionz] from the Asian Pacific Heritage Celebration in downtown Seattle. [We] chose Kore Ionz because their music is very inspire[ing] and unique,” said Zeta Chik, Lecture and Awareness Coordinator at BC. “Their songs are very good and educational because one of their music concepts is ‘world war free’. It actually shows the Asian cultures in the music and they have a worldwide group.”

Chik and Nora Lance organized the Asian-Pacific Heritage Celebration. Chik was also the emcee for the event.

“We are glad that [we] can get Kore Ionz, a Seattle local band, to perform in [the] cafeteria…We also found some students …to perform right before them, and [the] Fashion Club help organized and planned the Asian-inspire[d] street fashion show, by Michael Yoon, after the band performed. The whole event last[ed] two hours,” said Chik. The fashion show, headed by Yoon, featured models from different countries and styles unique to the Asian-Pacific culture.

Another event, hosted by Multi-Cultural Services, is coming up on Tuesday, May 15. Titled “Experiences of an Asian American Civil Rights Activist,” this event will feature guest speaker Robert “Uncle Bob” Santos. The son of a Filipino father and a Native American/Filipino mother, Santos grew up in Seattle’s Chinatown in the 1930’s. He became involved in civil rights after returning home from the Marines, and became a spokesman and leader of the movement to save Seattle’s Chinatown and International District in the 1970’s.

Santos has served as the Executive Director of the International District Improvement Association and co-founded the Minority Executive Director’s Coalition. Santos will be speaking in D106 from 9:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m.

Officially known as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May recognizes more than 24 ethnic groups from countries such as China, the Philippines, North and South Korea, Singapore and Japan. Among these countries, more than a dozen different languages are spoken.

Photo by Amy Leong

On a sun-chalked Monday afternoon, the Bellevue Bulldog men’s baseball team vanpooled up I-5 to Mount Vernon to face Skagit Valley in a double header in the regular season finale. Just one day earlier the Skagit Valley Cardinals had made an identical trip to Courter Field for a double header, which Bellevue swept.

With first place in the North region already locked up, Bellevue had only pride and the desire to increase their winning percentage left to play for.

Matt Cooper, a 6’1 right-hander from Marysville, got the start for the Bulldogs and pitched a complete game gem, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out nine.

Bellevue jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first with an RBI double from first baseman Colin Hering. Bellevue proceeded to play add on, increasing their lead with one run in the third and three more in the fourth.

In the seventh, with the bases loaded, a pitch hit catcher Brady Kerr, forcing in a run. One batter later, a wild pitch by Cardinals freshmen pitcher Nick Rothermel allowed another run to score. Before it was all said and done, Bellevue had amassed nine runs to Skagit Valleys zero, and took game one 9-0.

Game two was a different story but same results. The Bulldogs struck first again, this time with three runs in the top of the third. The scoring got started when Marc Dickerson grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Jerad Casper. Right fielder Nick Lombardi followed by ripping a double to the outfield scoring Alex Ross. Tyler Baumgartner, who is hitting an astronomical .425 for the season, then followed with a single that scored Lombardi, resulting in an early cushion for Bellevue starting pitcher Jeff Gonzales.

The lead was short lived as Gonzales allowed one run in the fourth and four runs in the sixth before being pulled for reliever Jonathan Humphrie. Gonzales finished with a stat line that read five innings pitched, five runs on seven hits with two base on balls.

The score remained 5-3 going into the ninth inning. Bellevue centerfielder Dickerson led off the top of the ninth with a solo homerun, trimming the deficit to just one run. Max Brown followed with a single, and it appeared Bellevue was in business as their best hitter Baumgartner stepped to the plate. Baumgartner sacrificed Brown to second, bringing third baseman Nate Litka to the plate. Litka looked at ball one before grounding out to the second baseman. Bellevue’s last hope for victory rested on the shoulders of Dustin Breshears, and after working a 2-2 count Breshears smacked a double, scoring Brown and tying the game at 5-5. Hering grounded out to the first baseman to end the inning. Humphrie pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning to force the game into extras.

After a scoreless tenth, the Bulldogs led off the eleventh with an explosion of offense. Walked batters, hit by pitches, a flurry of singles and doubles, a homerun by Hering, and before you knew it, the Bulldogs had put up seven runs and taken a commanding 12-5 lead.

Willy Reel came in to pitch the bottom of the eleventh; shutting down Skagit Valley and securing the road sweep in Mount Vernon.

The Bulldogs finished the season first in the NWAACC north region ahead of second place Everett, with a record of 33-8, winning their last eight consecutive games.

Bellevue will next play in the North Region Tourney Friday through Sunday May 18-20, followed by the NWAACC Championships at Lower Columbia College May 24-28.

Photo by C Hayley Halstead

Approximately two weeks ago, the first ever WeCar in Washington was introduced to a college campus. That college campus is BC. Resting on the first floor of the parking garage and in lot 14 are a Kia Soul and a Fiat 500 waiting for a driver.

Similar to the concept of the Zipcar, the WeCar is a company owned by Enterprise that makes it easy to rent out vehicles at an hourly rate. An annual cost of $35 is required, but the money will go directly back to driving credits. Each hour the car is rented is $8. The cost of overnight rental is $35. While the initial rates may seem a bit pricey, these costs include fuel. Up to 200 miles per car share period will be paid for by WeCar. The Kia Soul gets 27 miles to the gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, while the Fiat 500 has 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

The best deal in these rates is the weekend rate. From Friday night to Monday morning, a car can be rented for $55. This in itself could be a more affordable way to go on a small weekend road trip because of the program’s fuel coverage.

While rental cars require drivers to be at least 25 years of age, the WeCar’s eligibility is open for any BC student, faculty and staff at least 18 years old, but anyone 20 or under must have a parent/guardian consent form signed before membership is approved.

Another perk to this rental program is that international students are eligible for membership if they possess a license from another country. This is appealing because purchasing a car while abroad is not always financially probable, but by renting a car for short periods of time, international students have more options in the event they need their own transportation.

WeCar is even dedicated to providing accessibility to its members by installing mobility devices such as left hand controls with spinner knobs, left foot accelerators and pedal charge. Members must reserve the car 48 hours ahead of time, and installation of these tools is complementary.

“I think it will help students either not have to drive to campus and also maybe not even have to buy a car at all,” stated the smiling Deric Gruen, BC’s Sustainability and Resource Conservation Manager. He has been working on starting a car-sharing program to BC since July of 2011.

To sign up for this program, go online to www.wecar.com/bellevuecollege. After registering, a card that is similar to a credit card in appearance will be mailed to the new members. Making an appointment to rent the car is all done online, and to access the car, members will need to hold their cards in front of the censor located at the front of the car. This will unlock the car. Located in the middle console will be the keys to the vehicle as well as a gas card.

Because the cars are owned and maintained by Enterprise, BC does not profit from the rates. However, the school does benefit by having the additional option for its students.

For now, BC only has two cars on campus for students to use. “Depending on interest, more cars will be added,” shared Gruen. Gruen also persuaded students to utilize www.rideshareonline.com. This is a website where BC students can find carpool buddies and people to split the cost of WeCar rental.

Becoming a member of the WeCar program will reap benefits such as not having to pay for a car, having fewer vehicles on campus and having more transportation options available.

Photo courtesy of Peer to Peer

Potatoes. Baked potatoes, toasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, potato chips, hot potatoes. Potatoes are a staple in most households, and at BC, there’s an entire event about them.

The 5th Annual Spud Olympics will be happening next week, Monday, May 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in  Student Programs, C212. Everybody’s invited for an afternoon of potato games and a potato buffet.

The potato-themed games are called Facial Chips, Discus Throwing, Target Potatoes, Potato Word Search and, of course, Hot Potato. There may also be potato trivia.

Potato Word Search will be, as its name suggests, a word search with only potato-related words. Target Potatoes will be a test of aim in which contestants throw potatoes at a target. Facial Chips involves contestants balancing a chip on their face and trying to keep it there. Hot potato, of course, everyone is familiar with  – the potato version of musical chairs.

“We have a baked potato buffet, where you can make your very own personalized toppings for your baked potato,” said Divya Nair of Peer to Peer, the sponsors of the event. The potato buffet is a big crowd-pleaser every year; the potato is an incredibly versatile food that can taste great with or without toppings.

The Spud Olympics began five years ago. “Nora and Jenny (one of the precious social coordinators) came up with the idea five years ago,” said Nair. “They wanted something fun, but at the same time, not so expensive.”

Nair is speaking of Nora Lance, the faculty advisor for Peer to Peer and Student Programs, and a student named Jenny Lina who worked for Peer to Peer.

Peer to Peer is the sponsor of this event, as they sponser many events that happen all the time on campus.  They host the popular monthly Ice Cream Social, but they do more than that – they are also the ones who call new students to welcome them, the volunteers at New Student Orientations and the volunteers at campus events for clubs, programs and departments.

Their Bellevue College Program page says, “Peer to Peer is designed to provide an environment where students are empowered to create opportunities meant to enhance their learning beyond the classroom, develop their personal leadership style and build a strong foundation for success in life after college.”

Peer to Peer is only half of the equation – the other half is Tiered Mentoring, the drop-in tutors in Student Programs. Anyone interested in helping Peer to Peer or Tiered Mentoring is encouraged to check out their Facebook page.

The Spud Olympics will happen on Monday in Student Programs. Any student who has an affinity for potatoes would enjoy this event.

Photo courtesy of users.skynet.be

Bellevue College’s Autism Spectrum Navigators Program is hosting a video game tournament (YES, a video game tournament!) on Friday May 18 at the cafeteria from 3:20 p.m. until around 7:00 p.m. The event will be a fundraiser in which students can contribute to the program by paying a $10 participation fee. Awards will be handed to winners and a silent auction will take place as well. Key speakers will be present at the event throughout the day.

The tournament will consist of playing “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” on the Nintendo Wii. Only players ages 13 and up can participate in the gaming challenge. The winner will receive a collector’s edition of “Guild Wars Nightfall,” the runner-up, a coveted “Portal 2” gift box, and the third prize will be a signed copy of “Guild Wars Factions”.

Thirty Nintendo Wii’s will be available and 60 people will be able to play at a time. The event is organized so that about 250 players can compete throughout the entire day.

Players under the age of 13 will have a separate room set up for them with Xbox Kinect consoles.

The event, however, will not consist of the tournament alone. Entry without competing is free and Dr. Hilarie Cash, who is the Co-founder of Internet/Computer Addiction Services and co-developer of the Gaming and Internet Treatment Program will be speaking at the event at 3:30 p.m.

Bellevue College students who are part of the Autism Spectrum Navigators Program will also be speaking at the event at 4:30 p.m. Lynne Banki, founder and Executive Director of Autism Day WA, will discuss how to explain autism to different audiences at 5:15 p.m.

Jane Meyerding, Program Coordinator of the International Studies Program at the Jackson School of International Studies, and author of “Mapping Charlie,” a book about autism, will also be present to discuss her book at 6:15 p.m.

Finally, Benjamin Wahl, director of the Aspiring Youth program, will be present to discuss how to prepare students for college and independence at 7:00 p.m.

A silent auction will also take place throughout the event. Items on auction will consist of various theme baskets, including Starbucks’ Coffee, a Starcaster Acoustic Guitar by Fender and Gold and Diamond Earrings donated by Palace Jewelry and Loan. There is no age limit to participate in the auction.

The money raised at the event will benefit the Autism Spectrum Navigators Program in many ways. Donations, for example, will help expand the club both student-capacity-wise and space-wise. They may also contribute to the program’s aspiration to create a bridge program for high school students to prepare for college.

“This tournament is a great way to get the word out that there is support for students with autism,” said Sara Gardner, the Autism Spectrum Navigators Program Coordinator, in a Bellevue College news release. “The more people who come and contribute, the more autistic students Bellevue College will be able to serve.”

The Autism Spectrum Navigators Program is one of Bellevue College’s 63 programs. It was created last year and according to Gardner “provides a way for students with an autism spectrum diagnosis to access college classes, programs and services.” The students meet each week with experienced mentors who help them overcome issues like anxiety, social communication and self advocacy.

Why would the Autism Spectrum Navigators Program choose video games, of all things, over more traditional events like 5K runs or Autism walks? According to Gardner, the group did think of those but then decided otherwise. “So many of our students have a high interest in video games that we felt a video game tournament would be a good fit,” she said.

A lot of work went into the organization of this upcoming event. “This event has definitely been a collaborative effort among many campus programs,” said Gardner. “Our biggest supporter has been Student Programs, most notably Faisal Jaswal and Nora Lance. We couldn’t do it without them!”

Other contributors include Multicultural Services, the Office of Equity and Pluralism, Public Safety, Tom Pritchard of Student Services, Dominic Tran of the Rotaract Club and Peggy Strader of Events Services. Local businesses have also donated items to the silent auction and families of the program’s students have helped collect donations and contribute to the event. Nintendo America will be lending the Nintendo Wii’s and Ray Salas the Xbox Kinects for the game room.

Photo by Rachel Burch

The welcome sunshine this week has brought an early whiff of summer into the air, and the TRiO Student Support Services program at Bellevue College recognized the quarter’s coming close with the tenth anniversary of their TRiO Academic Awards Ceremony.  The members of the TRiO program gathered together with their friends and loved ones last Thursday, May 10, to formally recognize the academic achievements of their students and to celebrate the accomplishments of their 2012 graduates.

Certificates in bronze, silver and gold were awarded to the students based on their grade point averages from last quarter, along with a special award presented to two exemplary graduates for their commitment to academic excellence.  The students present also expressed their gratitude to the TRiO staff for their continued commitment to their success and their appreciation for the close bonds they had formed within the TRiO community.

The TRiO program located at Bellevue College Student Services provides a wide array of academic and personal support to first generation college students with a limited income and/or disabilities.  Their services include study skills development, tutoring, academic and personal advising, the renting of school supplies, scholarships, and assistance in transferring.

Their goal is to further the Bellevue College Mission of educational excellence and equal access, an aim which seems to be successfully applied according to TRiO members.  “TRiO has provided me with support in all areas, personal as well as academic,” Jenive said, a former TRiO student now studying at Seattle Pacific University while serving as Scholarship Advisor at TRiO, “I knew I could always come to them for direction during the difficult times in my life.”

The ceremony was opened by Barbara Brodsky, director of the TRiO program at Bellevue College, who took the time to personally thank the students for the returning support she had received from them before introducing two student speakers from the Class of 2012.  She also acknowledged the future plans of TRiO’s graduating students, who had been accepted to a long list of schools, including all three University of Washington campuses: Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Western University, Eastern University, Central University, as well as UC Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Irvine.

Two TRiO graduates, Zukhra Siddikova and Dale Griffith, were then each invited to give a brief testimonial, in which each of them gave a personal look at the challenges they had overcome with the help of TRiO programs and the impact TRiO had made in their lives.  “Luckily, I met TRiO in all the right places,” Zukhra said while explaining how TRiO had turned her dreams of entering medical school into a reality.

After their testimonials Brodsky revealed that these same students had also won this year’s Mary Chambers Award for Commitment to Academic Excellence, an award dedicated to the now retired organizer of TRiO’s Academic Awards Ceremonies. The certificates in bronze, silver and gold were then presented to the students by Tom Pritchard, the Vice President of Student Services.

The award ceremony ended with restated thanks to everyone involved in TRiO, marking the step for TRiO’s newest graduates to a future as bright as the uncommon Seattle sunshine that was outside.

Illustration by Brandy Pickering

“Did you hear anything from anywhere yet?”—This is the most asked and answered question I have come across since mid-March.

Sure, a lot of you out there are getting this same inquiry, or at least that is what I would like to believe–that I am not the only one suffering. For those of us who are transferring, putting the application packet together may be one incredibly painful procedure, but the pain does not end there. Transfer applications have a lot more ways of torture, and among the long list is the wait for admission decisions.

The most annoying and wearing part now is really about two things: Waiting to hear from schools you are dying to get into that don’t come out with admission decisions until June and the art to disclose just the right amount of information to everyone you know (and don’t know) who are suddenly curious about your future. While there really is nothing we can do about the former, all sorts of awkward moments can certainly take place when it comes down to the latter. Here’s one I have had.

Scenario: When you talk to friends who are also transferring. 

You have shared all sorts of information with them, from how to write the best personal statement to who to ask for a letter of recommendation to which way you should mail your application. You vented to them when you were fed up with your never-good-enough personal statement. At the time, they were the only ones who understood what you were going through and all your conversations revolved around college transfering. Now that many schools have already sent out admission notifications, you just can’t help but want to know if they got accepted, and that is the trickiest part.

Of course, the ideal case is that he/she is accepted and you congratulate them, leaving your curiosity satisfied. But if he/she hasn’t heard back, you can either sound concerned (if phrased nicely) or borderline nosy. It depends a lot on the personality of the person you ask. Finally, if you are not so lucky and he/she is rejected, be prepared for the awkward dead air and try to switch the topic as quickly as possible. It is one thing when they bring it up themselves and the complete opposite if you are the one venturing that question.

College transfer is irritating in every way and sadly, we have no choice but to deal with it. While the wait for the bulky packet (and not a flimsy letter) is hard, you can always look forward to the three-month summer vacation when you spend two-thirds of the time lying on the couch with all your gadgets, snacks and TV remote within reaching distance. So until that much anticipated offer comes through, happy waiting and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Illustration by Brandy Pickering

Paperclips, Band-Aids, coffee mug, salt and pepper shakers. What do all these things have in common? At first glance, probably nothing, but they are all the little things you need to bring when transferring but are most likely going to forget.

As if the transferring process wasn’t excruciating and meticulous enough, it pretty much doesn’t end till you’re done unpacking that last box on moving day.

It’s easy to remember all the basics like clothes, a computer and bedding, but what about all the other items that probably never crossed your mind? They are the things that seem so trivial but once you’re without them, you feel incomplete.

The upside, though, is that you can pretty much break up everything you need into four categories: Wardrobe, room, cleanliness and school.

Wardrobe 

Of course you’re going to remember to bring your clothes, but make sure you remember all the different types of clothing you’ll need for all seasons (or just in one day if you’re staying in Washington).

▪Lazy/comfort clothes and shoes: Used for either going to class or working out. Slippers are also a must for hanging around the house.

▪Dressy outfits: For if you are invited to a formal event.

▪Winter wear: Different types of coats, from a heavy winter one to a light jacket.

Also mittens, hats and scarves.

▪Rainwear: Rain jacket, rain boots and an umbrella.

▪Swimwear: Swimsuit, beach towels and sunscreen.

 Room 

You will already have a bed, dresser and desk, but do you have all the things you’ll need to put in them?

▪Bedding: Pillows, comforter, sheets, blankets.

▪Closet: Clothing hangers, shoe rack, mirror and jewelry organizer.

▪Food: Small refrigerator/microwave, Tupperware, coffee mug, drinking cups, silverware, salt and pepper, napkins and plates.

▪Decorations: Posters, pictures and decals. This includes poster putty and tacks.

▪Electronics: Batteries, Computer, camera, headphones, MP3 player, TV/DVD player, radio and alarm clock.

▪Sewing kit: Scissors and safety pins.

Cleanliness 

Don’t forget the things that will keep you and your room fresh all day.

▪Bathroom: Bathrobe, towels/face towels, soap, tissues, toilet paper, razors and a bag to carry it all in.

▪Hair care: Conditioner, shampoo, blow dryer and straightener.

▪Aid: Band-Aids, medicine/aspirin, Neosporin and a first-aid kit.

▪Clothes: Laundry detergent and a laundry basket.

 School 

All the little things necessary to get the best grades possible!

▪Memory: USB drives and CDs.

▪Organization: Folders, binders and planner.

▪Writing utensils: Pens, pencils, highlighters and sharpies.

▪Class: Backpack, calculator, dictionary and thesaurus.

There are a ton of random things that can make your move a little less stressful if you remember them. Whether you’re transferring or just moving to a new location, don’t forget all the little things that really do matter.

Source: hiddensparkles.files.wordpress.com

Source: yorktown.lohudblogs.com

With the first year of two cheer tryouts happening on May and October, the Bellevue Bulldogs Cheer Squad prepares for a year full of special events, community services and school events. “This is the first year we will have two tryouts, one in May and one in October. By having a partial squad when we start the new school year we will be able to help welcome new students to campus,” said advisor Barbara Brodsky. With another tryout in October they are hoping more underclassmen will try out for the team. “By having another tryout in October we will have our full squad and it will give freshmen an opportunity to try out. We usually have 14 members on the squad.”

With no real coach to train them and teach them new tricks, it’s all up to the captains on the team to keep the ideas flowing and make sure everything is organized. “Our cheer squad has two captains who run all practices, choreograph and teach routines, and lead all activities during games,” said Barbara. It’s all up to the captains to figure out what is going on and what cheer they want to do next. “I don’t ‘call the plays’, they do.”

With no real coach, Brodsky is there to help keep everything in order, almost as if she was mediator of the team. “The women who are the captains are experienced cheerleaders, and they know what needs to be done to lead their team. As their advisor I offer support, guidance, and assistance as needed,” explained Brodsky.

Cheer is a very hard sport and it takes athletic ability to do what this team does. Brodsky explains how she feels when people say that cheerleading isn’t a sport. “It depends on the type of cheer squad. Many are sport-like and many are not. In high school cheerleaders tend to be in  better physical shape than all of the other athletes. It is a year-round sport with extensive conditioning, practices   and competitions. I don’t think ESPN would be televising National Cheer Competitions if it wasn’t a sport.”

For incoming freshman, the team isn’t like the big drama fest that high school cheerleading is. “That is what makes cheer at Bellevue College so much fun; there isn’t any drama! Cheer at BC is a great activity, something designed to make college life more enjoyable while doing something that connects you with others at BC,” said Brodsky.

It’s a great way to meet people and take the stress off the college life. It’s there to connect people to other people and just enjoy what you’re doing. “When you go to college on a commuter campus/community college, most students come to class and leave right after. That makes it very difficult to get to know other students and to feel a part of the college.” With the cheer team you will feel connected with not only the school but with the people cheering around you.

When the season starts to pick up, cheerleading becomes a full time, committed sport. “The cheer squad practices twice a week, usually Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. They cheer at all women’s and men’s basketball games, both at home and away,” said Brodsky. But that’s not all; they do even more. “They will do performances at each halftime during home games. They also go to the NWACC basketball championships to cheer on the winning Bulldog teams.  During [the] basketball season we cheer two days a week, two games each night.” With that being said, spread the word for tryouts happening in October for upcoming freshman.

Photo courtesy of http://27.media.tumblr.com

One of the most significant changes from BC to a four-year university will be the campus housing. If you have never had a roommate before, this could either be a blessing or a nightmare. While some colleges offer a form of “roommate matchmaking,” others will require for you to know exactly who you want to room with. There’s also the risky random roommate assignment that many students end up trying out. The type of roommate you will end up is the luck of the draw, and there are tons of roommate personalities you may encounter, but here are some of the ones that are common.

The hoarder delights in giveaways, whether it is a free Frisbee, T-shirt or sticker. Typically, the hoarder will reside in a pigsty and will stuff their beloved items below their bed, in drawers, in the closet and sometimes under the bathroom sink. If you recognize your roommate as a hoarder, establish rules. Share your desire to live in a clutter-free environment. Even suggest helping them get rid of things they no longer need. In the event they refuse to give up their packrat habit, declare where your space is and prohibit them from placing any of their things within your area.

If you are the hoarder, pack only what you really need when it is time to leave for college. Try to schedule monthly cleanings to get rid of your clutter. If you aren’t going to remember it when it is gone, you will probably not need it. Also, be considerate of your roommate. While they may not seem annoyed at your clutter, it can be an unpleasant atmosphere. Do your best to clean up after yourself and dispose of unnecessary things.

The gossip enjoys being a social butterfly and will try to get to know you, your friends and practically everyone they interact with. They enjoy asking questions, talking in general, tagging along and talking about their friends to you. The gossip can be described in one word: Nosy. If you are uninterested in their blabber, share with them your need to study and to focus. Politely show them you are uninterested in sharing information about yourself and listening to the lives of others.

If you are the gossip, take a step back and look at yourself. You are projecting a high school-like demeanor that is often perceived as being immature. There is such thing as too many questions, so do your best to not swamp someone with whatever your mind desires. Pay attention to discrete hints, as some people may not be interested in hearing you talk about people. Show your roommate you care, but watch how much you communicate with them if they are backing away.

The stink may come home after a day at the gym and crash without a shower. There’s nothing worse than a warm room filled with human body odor. Maybe they shower regularly, but it’s evident that they do not shower well. Set up small air fresheners throughout the room. Give them friendly clues.

If you are the stink, then you most likely are not aware of the discomfort you are causing others. In this event, look at what your roommate is doing. Are they lighting candles or opening windows when it is cold? Take a look at why they may be doing that. See where your bathing has gone wrong. If your roommate smells you, then your classmates probably smell you too.

The partier loves guests and having a good time. They like loud music, party games and crashing in the a.m. If you are not a partier, then there will be many potential conflicts with this roommate. Again, it is important to set up rules that both will abide by. Ask your roommate to respect your study/sleep time as well as your space.

If you are the partier, know your limits. If you don’t know your roommate well, don’t pull them into your own personal drama. Try to quietly sneak back into the room without waking your roommate. The more you show courtesy to your roommate, the less they will resent your love of partying.

In the event you move in with your current friend, the dynamics of your friendship are bound to change. College is a transitional period, and you will probably walk out of college as a different person. Make sure that you and your friend are compatible sleep-wise. See if your bedtimes, volume level, wake up time, drinking/smoking habits are similar. Avoid future conflicts ahead of time before you’re stuck together.

There are endless types of roommates, and not all are created equal. Good luck with your roommate, and work together to resolve issues.

Graphic by Seth Walker

What comes up to your mind when you think of cavemen? Half-naked, muscular and leopard-skin-wearing? Perhaps the Flintstones?

We may have a clear image of cavemen in our heads but do you know that those are all just stereotypes made strong by the media?

To help us bust these misconceptions about cavemen, the Student Society of Anthropologists will be holding the Cavemen Night on May 18, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. in C140.

Cavemen, a comedy movie starring Ringo Starr and Dennis Quaid, alongside  a lecture given by the club advisor, Tony Tessandori, will make up the night’s program that aims at changing the conventional image of cavemen.

The plot of the movie revolves around cavemen Atouk and his friend Lar who are both bullied by their tribe’s leader Tonda.

After being exiled from their tribe, Atouk and Lar joined a gang of cave outcasts and went on an adventure with them. The group discovered all sorts of new skills in the journey and finally defeated Tonda.

This gag-filled comedy made in 1981 demonstrates precisely the long established image of cave people—the way they dress and the way they talk and interact with peers—and leads to the heart of the night’s lecture.

Tessandori explained in an e-mail that for the lecture, he will be discussing the cultural and social significance of cave people throughout time and the origin points for many of the things people relate to cave people. He will also look at what the “popular” caveperson does and how they look from a statistical level.

The discussion on cavemen, according to Tessandori, has been delved into in many anthropology classes but has never really fit into any particular class. He regarded this film and lecture night a good way to expand on the topic.

“This is going to be a fun evening but will also be very informative.

“Anthropology as a science is tasked with understanding people. What better way to arrive at an understanding than to take a preconceived notion and to shake it up, discover where it comes from and to see how it fit into the larger social and cultural contexts,” Tessandori commented.

The Anthropology Club has been putting on movie nights for over two years now. The club has also held Alien nights and fundraised for Heifer International.

On top of that, members have volunteered their time to bake cookies and popcorn to buy animals for people in need. Their most recent purchase is a cow!

“We hope that the cavemen night can bust those misconceptions [about cave people], and also celebrate their hilarity.

“Anyone who likes a good movie is welcome to come,” said Freyja Vining, president of the Anthropology Club.

Illustration by Brandy Pickering

After two years of asking your professor to “Wait, wait, don’t go to the next slide yet,” and “Wow, I never really needed to use my textbook this whole quarter,” both your educational and social life will be altered for the better or worse when it is time to transfer.

Be prepared for a step up in the amount of work you will be required to do. A three-page double spaced B.S. paper won’t get you far when you’re trying to get your bachelors. More effort must be imputed into the work you turn in. Leniency will be lifted, and fewer professor-student interactions will be likely.

While unemployment  is approximately 8.2 percent in the state of Washington, those with a Bachelor’s degree only have an unemployment rate of four percent. Studying to have a higher degree once you transfer will enable you to have more job opportunities. Those who hold an associates degree will typically earn 21 percent more than those with no college education, 120 percent more with a bachelors, 200 percent more with a masters, and a whopping 370 percent more with a Ph.D. than someone holding a high school diploma. You’re at BC now, so you should be proud of your current achievements. However, there are so many more potentials to reach.

One of the negative aspects of transferring to a four-year university will be the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree. Find scholarships through the school you plan to transfer to, search online for any type of scholarship option that applies to you and look into how FASFA can help. Do your best to try to pay for as much college as you can without having to deal with loans.

So here’s the good news: You will be in a new environment with new opportunities. Perhaps you can find an internship related to your field of study or network for future employment opportunities. This new environment can enable you to have a fresh start if you need a break from the constant drama back home. You will be able to make new friends, new relationships and maybe get away from that boss that constantly nags at you.

Another positive of transferring to a four year university is the possible offering of campus housing. Whether it is a fraternity, sorority, dormitory or an apartment, you may have to live with other people. With a huge variety of people living with or nearby you, you’ll experience more social interactions happening around you. This may be a great thing to those of you who feel contrained at home.  Maybe you’ve lived with your parents your whole life and had curfew. Guess what? You make your own rules.

Enjoy transferring, but remember you are there to get an education, not to party it up all of the time. Do your best to prioritize studying and getting your work done than participating in every social event.

Photo by Amy Leong

There is nothing like the cold slap of reality experienced by the average college student when forced to consider the unknown territory of life post-graduation.

The good news is that Bellevue College students and recent grads can breathe easy; their solution may be as nearby as their campus cafeteria.  May 2 marked this year’s Annual Job and Networking Fair hosted by the Center for Career Connections, a large-scale hiring event bringing the diversity of local employers directly to Bellevue College campus.  The Center for Career Connections at BC is tailored specifically to assist students with their transition into the workforce, whether it is by connecting them with a job or internship, narrowing down a career path or merely developing a likely interest.  This year’s Networking Fair provided a perfect example of what Career Connections does best.

Over 40 different hiring companies were represented throughout the school cafeteria, handing out brochures and engaging students in easy conversation as they passed by.  Everyone from serious job applicants in business attire to casual bystanders in denim was invited to pick up a map of the event at the cafeteria entrances along with a directory of the various organizations present.  They were then free to browse the tables and talk to the representatives about different hiring positions ranging from marketing and sales, software development, healthcare and community service.  Nearly every employer present offered both part-time and full-time positions, entry-level work with opportunity for advancement, and the flexibility in working hours so precious to the busy college student.  It would have been difficult to leave the Job Fair without at least one new idea in mind for future employment.

For those who came away from the Job and Networking Fair still contemplating on whether or not to apply, the prospects are hopeful. Many of the employers were regulars at Bellevue College’s hiring events and expressed their interest in hiring from the student community.  “This is my fourth time recruiting here on campus,” said Sandra, the representative from Snoqualmie Casino, “I enjoy the networking and always meet a lot of new people.”  Snoqualmie was just one of the many companies offering a wide array of administrative positions, hiring an average of 1150 people every year.

Other companies such as CampusPoint and Amerishore were present not to recruit directly, but to span the bridge between interested students and their best-matching employers.  CampusPoint serves as a free resource for students and recent graduates across all majors by connecting them with local jobs and internships in the Puget Sound area from Tully’s to the Seattle Times.  Amerishore is another networking company that partners with colleges like Bellevue College and the University of Washington to build teams of IT students who then provide cost-effective staffing for local companies while gaining experience in the field of information technology.  Tracy Derr, the founder and general manager of Amerishore explained further saying, “We group motivated students together and provide them with the necessary training to tackle big projects working for our local customers like Microsoft and Boeing.”

Though Bellevue College’s Job and Networking Fair comes only once a year, the Center for Career Connections encourages students to follow up by checking out CONNECT!, their online job board, or by visiting www.bellevuecollege.edu/careers to learn more about the different workshops, counseling and career-related classes available to all students throughout the year.  Why wait? Dream jobs are out there.

Graphic by Seth Walker

The search for a new president  for Bellevue College has been an ongoing process since Jean Floten moved to Western Governor’s University last year. The search was supposed to end this February, but an announcement from the Board of Trustees has declared the search to continue at least into the next year.

An open forum was held on Wednesday, May 2 that offered employees a chance to discuss the search with BC officials. The information session updated employees and faculty on the process of finding a president so far, what needs to be addressed right now, and the process of moving forward.

Many questions from the faculty revolved around why the presidential search is taking so long – so long, in fact, that a candidate named Cheryl Roberts dropped out. The two spokespeople, Vicki Orrico, Chairperson of the Bellevue College Board of Trustees and Paul Chiles, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, explained that the position is simply too big for a single president to handle.

“We have really grown since the last time we hired a president, and the job is just too big for one person,” said Oricco. “We’re looking at Executive Vice President and Provost models.” These models are very similar and assign the role of academic supervision to someone serving under the president.

The trustees had previously created a Presidential Search Advisory Committee. In the beginning, the Board hoped to find a new president by February. On Jan. 12, the Advisory Committee announced to its colleagues that it had “completed a thorough review of all applications and met on Jan. 9 to narrow the candidate pool.” The committee was preparing to interview the candidates.

Three candidates were eventually chosen by the Committee and forwarded to the Board of Trustees – none of these candidates were brought to campus due to the Board not coalescing around them.

In a recent letter to the Board of Trustees on April 23 from Orrico, it was announced, “We agreed beforehand that a candidate would need broad support from the board to be chosen.  Unfortunately, while several candidates had strong support, no one candidate could garner broad enough support from the board…a subcommittee of the board, consisting of Paul Chiles and me [Vicki Orrico], the outgoing and incoming chairs, will be meeting over the course of the next several weeks to discuss the process for continuing.”

It was also in this letter that the Board declared it would extend interim President Laura Saunders’ term of office to June 30.

Several teachers also brought up the fact that the Board had mentioned rewriting the president’s job description, but Oricco contradicted the idea, saying that the Board was looking at “redefining the job parameters of the president.”

Eva Norling, professor of World Languages expressed her opinion about the process and her doubts about the Board. “My confidence in the Board has been extremely shaken.” She said that everybody (speaking of the faculty) was confused on why the Board hasn’t come farther since the fall, and why the Search Committee was dissolved in January after forwarding three candidates. “It’s not good enough for me,” she said. At this point everyone in the room started clapping.

One man responded to the trustees’ call for advice by saying, “If the job description is going to be the same then it’ll still be too big next year and the year after. We need a person with the communications skills to put together a leadership team.”

Laura Nudelman, who teaches group communications, then stood up. “Hearing this story, my impression is that this is a dysfunctional group. The Board of Trustees is a dysfunctional group…I don’t think the Board understands what this lack of a decision has done to the college.”

She asked if the Advisory Committee ever had a direct meeting with the Board of Trustees, and found out that they never had. She said, “Wow. That is problematic!” to a huge round of applause.

Another teacher, Dale Hoffman from the Math Department, said, “You’ve burned through 50 candidates who are not likely to reapply – so where is this super-person going to come from? Where are you going to find them?”

“We’re going back to the drawing board on all of this,” said Orrico.

Added Chiles, “We don’t want to leave any stone unturned when it comes to finding the right fit for our college.”

Faculty asked how much longer this was going to take – Chiles answered, “We’re moving with all deliberate speed.” When that answer did not satistfy the faculty, Orrico elaborated, “I hope to have a working plan submitted by the time we break for summer.” She later clarified that this plan would contain steps to move forward, not actually a new president.

The Board plans to extend Laura Saunders’ term of office to tide them over during the continuous search. “We have been extremely blessed to have Laura,” Chiles said. “We hope to continue to be blessed.”

The forum ended with Orrico and Chiles acknowledging that there might potentially be another year without a president. “We take this very, very seriously,” said Orrico.

For more information about the search process, e-mail presidentialsearch@bellevuecollege.edu.

Photo by Amy Leong

Seattle Artist Peter Millett paid a trip to the Bellevue College Gallery Space on May 2 for the opening reception of his latest collection of abstract steel sculptures—Presence/Absence.

The reception began at 3:00 p.m. and attracted a large crowd that included faculty, interior design students, art appreciation students and more. Instead of giving a short lecture and a tour of all the pieces shown, Millett invited everyone to raise questions, thereby starting an interactive discussion on the process of creation and the themes Millett was exploring with these sculptures—age, time and transition.

The first thing viewers noticed when they entered the BC Gallery Space ought to be the meticulous lighting that took Millett and Ross Brown, Director of the BC Gallery Space, hours to set up. “Although all the sculpture is made of metal, what I’m really exploring is light. I’m interested in the way rust sucks up light and the galvanized steel throws off a heavy dull reflection. I like the weightlessness of transparency. And how a soft reflected light can make you think of someone you miss,” Millett articulated in his exhibition statement.

Apart from a sculptor and a painter, Millett has a “little day job” as a freelance news artist for TV stations. He has been doing courtroom sketches for 10-12 years now and being able to experience firsthand cases that are heavily involved in war inspired Millett to put together Presence/Absence. “War is an abstract thing [to many people]. But when you hear people who have been in it talk, it becomes personal,” said Millett.

If you are planning on visiting the BC Gallery Space, be sure to go all the way back and look for the piece named The Presence of Your Absence. This wall piece created in 2008 is made out of mirror and steel is deemed the essence and the “vocal point” of the exhibition. The oval mirror installed reflected light to the wall and fully conveyed the message of Presence/Absence by showing an image that is thought to be unseen.

Another interesting piece shown at the exhibition is The Big Cake. The galvanized steel piece located near the entrance resembled the shape of, as stated in the name, a tall cake and can be interpreted in many ways. On one hand, the vibe this piece gave was so silly and joyful that Millett jokingly said one would expect a bunny in a tutu to pop out from it; on the other hand, Millett viewed The Big Cake in an entirely different light and saw it as a tower in a battle, relating it to toughness and architecture.

“I make sculpture in wood or metal from simple geometric shapes. This language allows me to render experiences I’ve had in a visual and tactile way. With form I search for the essence of the experience. In an abstracted way I can revisit places and reference objects… In some ways my work is like writing music, trying to evoke a feeling from a melody. I constantly rearrange shapes until I find some kind of surprise, something I never expected, some chord that resonates,” Millett explained his artistic concept in an interview with art blogger Lynette Haggard.

Finally, when asked how non-art students can better grasp the meaning behind such abstract art forms and his advice for aspiring art students, Millett’s response to the first question is simple: Be open to how it affects you and always ask yourself one question, “How does it make you feel?” As for the latter, Millett’s personal attitude said it all—“I create to express who I am, I do not create for the critics… I work for myself.”

PRESENCE/ABSENCE is shown at the BC Gallery Space (D271) from May 2-30.  Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact Ross Brown at ross.brown@bellevuecollege.edu or call (425) 564-2788 for an appointment or special accommodations. Free to the public.