MCC-Longview held SafeZone workshops for individuals seeking to learn about the lives of gay people and acceptance of the gay culture.

SafeZone is a nationwide program consisting of hundreds of colleges participating to fight homophobia and improve any negative connotations associated with homosexuals.

History instructor Angela Bahner and Campus Life and Leadership coordinator Kim Prosak instructed these workshops, held in the Private Dining Room in the Campus Center November 18 and 20.

According to Prosak, two smaller courses were offered: 101 and 102. Course 101 dealt mainly with the vocabulary affiliated with gay people. Course 102 discusses the complete understanding of the lifestyle and how to be an ally. This workshop is a condensed version of these two courses.

“This is the first time this has been offered to faculty and staff,” Prosak says. Students were also welcomed.

Mako Blevens, admissions coordinator at Longview, said she was interested in attending one of the workshops. She used to be involved in QSA, which meant “Queer-Straight Alliance.”

“I got involved because of friends and professors involved in the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community,” she said. Her main motive in attending the course is to learn more about the community. “If people attend, they are open to the idea of LGBT,” Blevens says. She also stated that the success rate of these workshops depend on attendance. She describes herself as “all about diversity.”

Bahner said the program uses visible symbols to be easily recognized. The symbol used most often is an upside-down rainbow triangle. “It comes from Nazi concentration camps. Instead of the usual yellow star, they would give the gay Jews pink stars.” The star symbol is used to represent oppression.
Bahner said that the workshop’s goal is to promote “equal rights for everyone.”

Christmas break is approaching, and students are ready to break free from classes and homework for three weeks of calm and holiday cheer.

Bailey Swanson, Caitlyn Minick and Jessica Tryon are ready to escape campus and have rest and relaxation at home.

“I have had so much to do this semester. I cannot wait for it to be over and go home and sleep in finally,” Swanson said. “I am pretty excited to see my boyfriend for the holidays since he lives three hours away.” Her family has the typical American tradition of making and decorating cookies for the occasion as well, she said.

Minick has other plans besides staying at home in Kansas City.

“I am going on a ski trip to Colorado with my family,” she said. “We will be in-town for Christmas but will leave shortly after. Whenever I leave town and get away from all the chaos, it feels like a breath of fresh air.” She also said she feels like the break is long enough.

Tryon plans to work, but still enjoy the holidays.

“I will at least be saving up money for next semester during the off-time,” she says, “but I will make the best of the time I have with my family and not being in school.” She plans to stay at home as much as possible.

Classes officially end on December 15 and next semester begins on January 7.

Justin Kincaid, an automotive student at Longview, said he visits the gym regularly, but overeats during the holidays, like most Americans.

“Although I do watch my health and weight,” Kincaid said, “I do gorge on Thanksgiving dinner. It is worth the extra calories.” He said he is interested in attending a course like this to help rid him of the Thanksgiving calories.

Stephanie Sytkowski, a new student at Longview, is a self-proclaimed over-eater who said she does not work out.

“I basically eat whatever I want and sleep on Thanksgiving. It is kind of a tradition in my family to do that,” she said. “I would try to go to the course if I had time or energy.”

Layman offers advice to those not able to attend the event. According to Layman, there are goals to have good habits. These include creating a plan for yourself, which means determining goals and thinking of ways to achieve them, and rewarding yourself with a “cheat meal” every now and then.

The instructor and fellow attendees hope for good attendance.

“This may be a good option for students to try, as we intend on continuing to run Boot Camps throughout the winter months,” Layman said. He hopes to “create awareness for health and wellness and help the student body live healthier lifestyles.”

The cost of the 45-minute workout is $5.00 for each participant. Membership to the Recreation Center is not required for the course.

“Saw VI” is the latest film to come to theaters filled with horror and suspense, perfect for a viewer seeking gore in any way, shape or form.

The movie is the conclusion of the second trilogy of the series, continuing the story of Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and his motives for killing his hostages.  He creatively decides the way the individuals who have done others wrong will face death, although he is already dead himself.  This movie focuses on employees of a health insurance agency who seek errors in applications in order to deny them service.

When the boss, William Easton (Peter Outerbridge), is captured, he must travel through each deadly contraption in order to save himself and those who work under him at the agency.  Some are sacrificed and others escape alive.  The fate of these individuals lies in the hands of the boss and his willingness to experience pain to save his workers’ lives.
The film is allusive to our present issue regarding healthcare.  Because it ties in occurring political issues, it is one of the best of the series.

Because Jigsaw is dead, Tobin plays his character in flashbacks.  “Saw VI” also includes Tanedra Howard, who plays an opening character named Simone.  Howard was the winner of the 2008 VH1 reality show “Scream Queens,” landing her the spot on the film.  Director Kevin Greutert puts these characters into motion.

“Saw VI” provides audiences who have been fans of the series thus far reasoning and understanding of Jigsaw’s motives, making the film worthy of viewers’ time.

For a short time every October, the four main haunted houses in Kansas City open their doors for all local adventurers to explore. The Beast, nicknamed “Kansas City’s most elaborate haunted house,” is celebrating its 35th anniversary. The Beast offers great entertainment to adrenaline junkies, and the intensity of being frightened is present.

Navigating through dark passageways, ghouls are in every nook and cranny. Visitors may occasionally feel as though they have gone behind the scenes from wandering in different directions. Each part of the building contains different themes, ranging from an old-time saloon to a tropical rainforest.

All spook characters creep along with guests, entirely submerged in their frightening roles. Some are comical while others are strictly meant to scare. Their strategic use of fake weapons as props, spectacular special effects, and unique costumes and make-up all contribute to the effect the attraction has on its visitors.

The Beast is advertised as a pair with the Edge of Hell, which is located directly opposite The Beast. Joint tickets are available for an increased price.

Joel McHale stars (MCT Campus).

by Dalton Gossett

NBC’s newest sitcom “Community” offers comedy-seekers a hyperbolized chance to scope into the life of a community college student.

The show stars Joel McHale as humorous Jeff Winger, a lawyer forced to attend Greendale Community College as a result of his “non-legitimate” college degree. He is willing to go to any extreme to gain a college degree again as easily and quickly as possible. 

As Jeff’s time at Greendale lengthens, the more experience he gains through his courses andpeers. His main effort in the pilot episode is to win the heart of an attractive female, Britta, who’s in need of tutoring in Spanish. The study pair rapidly evolves into a massive band of misfits seeking assistance.

The group consists of individuals of all races, ages and intelligence levels. They steadily grow closer following the discovery that Jeff actually has no knowledge of the Spanish language. Jeff titles the diverse bunch “a community.”

The cast includes Chevy Chase as an older character named Pierce, Yvette Nicole Brown as sassy Shirley and John Oliver, the overjoyed dean. Chase is well-known from “Saturday Night Live” and many movies through the 1980s and 1990s. Brown has been on numerous sitcoms and made an appearance on the recent “500 Days of Summer.” Their acting makes the storyline flow smoothly.

Many community college students will argue the show clearly does not depict their actual daily lives, yet it does not cross boundaries that would be considered offensive to viewers who attend community college. The scenario of a lawyer returning to school is not practical, yet the perfect schema for a sitcom. This show addresses negative connotations associated with community college, such as lack of intelligence, a high enrollment of older adults and less strenuous classes than a regular university.

The writers have exaggerated community college stereotypes to create a humorous effect on their viewers.