The Current Online

by Rachel Madearis and Antoinette Bradley
Missouri College Media Award: First Place, Newswriting

The diversity data released by MCC this fall parallels the accusations made last spring by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The report, compiled as part of regulatory compliance and internal consideration, discloses the racial and gender makeup of the college’s employees.

According to the report, only 152 of 999 employees at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) are African-American. Eleven are American-Indian, 17 are Asian, and 32 employees are Hispanic. Racial minorities, as a whole, total 212, only 20 percent of MCC’s employee base. [...]

by Carol Gatlin

In the recent local elections, MCC Trustee Richard Tolbert was re-elected to the Board’s Sub-district 3.

“I take my reelection as a vote of confidence from the average citizen. I thank the people of Kansas City for giving me another opportunity to do the work on a Board that I very much enjoy,” Tolbert said. “Although Trustees do not receive salaries, this position is the most rewarding work I’ve enjoyed. The role of Trustee is so important to the well-being of our community.” [...]

by Carol Gatlin

The end of the school year is near, and MCC students are preparing to take their long and stressful final exams. Students are anxiously compiling last minutes projects and assignments. 

“These last two weeks have been very stressful and challenging to us,” said Jamal Wade, a Penn Valley student. “We cannot let the stress beat us. To focus on our exams, we have to take time out from hanging out with our friends and our girlfriends, and put more effort into our assignments.” [...]

by Rachel Madearis   

Kimberly Swanner in the Carter Art Center painting a picture of a snow-white eagle. Kimberly works part-time in the Carter Art Center (Rachel Madearis/The Current).

Gallery assistant Kim Swanner enters the darkened gallery at the Penn Valley Carter Art Center and locks the double glass doors behind her. She is surveying each artwork one last time disappearing from the entrance and returning to open the doors and lock them behind her once again.  

After filling out a flurry of W-9s for each student artist, Swanner gears up for the next leg of the exhibit preparations: labeling and ceramic installations.  

“Ceramic people work on a different time schedule [than everyone else],” she says, noting the ceramic pots and pieces huddled beneath the rows of paintings, photography, and drawing.  [...]