The Current Online

by Gabrielle Hines

As a child, not a day went by without my parents nagging at me about something. Of course, their vocabulary was not so pessimistic—they preferred to call it “teaching” me. Of all of the lessons taught, I find only a few are still useful: never talk to Dad if he’s watching a game, put a piece of bread in with a batch of cookies to ensure moisture, floss, remember the golden rule. The nagging worked, and for the most part, I still live by these lessons today—especially during football season. The one thing learned that still seems to be the most important is to always be polite and courteous.

Recently, I can’t help but wonder whether others were taught this. It is rare for me to sneeze and receive a simple, “Bless you!” in return. I can’t seem to catch a break from the person only millimeters in front of me who refuses to leave the door open after walking through. By contrast, if I do something that comes completely natural to me and open the door for another, I’m lucky to receive a half-nod in response. It is a witnessed miracle if the person in the lane next to me lets me over without a frustrated finger flying in the air.

Did I miss the memo that said rude is the new nice? Apparently so, for if I go into a local convenience or grocery store and answer to the clerk, “Yes, ma’am” or “No, ma’am,” it’s obvious to everyone but me that I’m somehow being offensive. The response is usually something along the lines of an irritated grumble or an unappreciative “I’m not that old.”

I don’t know whether others are apathetic or our fast food, drive-thru wedding chapel, online shopping world just doesn’t have enough time for that nuisance called courtesy.

This fast paced world would be a better place if we all just remembered what we learned in kindergarten. Obviously, our busy days can no longer schedule 30 minutes out for nap-time, and cootie shots no longer heal broken hearts. But saying please and thank you will always earn you a cookie.

Three bodies found at Blue River Cleanup

by Gabrielle Hines

What started as an annual volunteering event turned into a crime scene when three dead bodies were found at the Project Blue River Rescue Cleanup Day on April 5. For the last 17 years, Longview students—along with other volunteers—have participated in removing litter from the woods surrounding the Blue River campus and have planted trees along the banks.

The 18th Annual Project Blue River Rescue Cleanup Day started out like any other day. Fifty-four Longview students arrived at the Lakeside Nature Center to sign in and receive a free shirt, donuts and coffee. Groups then disbursed over the area to begin their work. Trash, tires, basketballs, water toys, and a rusty oven were just some of the things collected in the woods.

“I thought it was pretty weird finding an oven. I had no idea how much weirder the day was going to get,” freshman Taylor Sebben said.

The day twisted when a backhoe operator at the event discovered what appeared to be a dead body. Biology instructor Keet Kopecky was the second person to see the victim and dialed 911. Shortly after, police arrived to the scene and secured the area. During this time, the police found two other dead bodies.

“I felt like I was watching an episode of CSI. We couldn’t see anything, but it was still scary to know that we were around a real-life crime scene,” sophomore Leslie Cruz said.

While there was a crime scene only yards away, Longview students and other volunteers continued working in an effort to make the Blue River a better, cleaner, and safer place.

According to the Kansas City Star, police have now released that the bodies found were two men and one woman. Because their bodies have decomposed, their identity remains a mystery at this time. Police have said that they hope to identify the bodies soon. The organizers of the event are scared that the family friendly reputation of the event may get tainted, the discoveries of the bodies are still extremely rare. Kopecky said that he has led student groups for 18 years and that this was the first crime scene they have encountered.

Considering that none of the students truly saw anything and no harm was done, Kopecky is certain that not much will change in the number of volunteers in years to come.

“I’m confident that we’ll have as many students participating next year as we had this year. I’ll talk to all of them tomorrow in class, but I think they’re all doing fine,” he said.

In elementary school, a friend meant someone who had the most creative bandaid on her knee, someone who reached out a helping hand after a traumatic fall from the monkey bars, and someone who had extra milk money. In middle school, a friend meant someone to write notes to, someone to experience many firsts with, and someone who had the coolest shoes. In high school, a friend meant someone to provide laughter at the lunch table, someone to ride with to football games, and someone who promised to be your BFF. In community college, a friend is someone who makes eye contact.

While Longview students struggle to balance class work and jobs, many find it difficult to make new friends. A community college contributes more obstacles, considering that classes are smaller in size and include students of all ages and degrees—and the fact that students don’t live on campus.

Such was the case for Longview graduate Andy Brock, who is currently attending the University of Central Missouri. Brock doesn’t think that students at a community college get the full college experience because they don’t expect to and therefore don’t actively contribute to the experience.

“At a university, you tend to have the same group of people in all of your degree-related courses, so you form tight bonds that just don’t happen with the strangers of Longview,” Brock said.

Since the standard 50-minute class period does not always suffice, Longview students take advantage of other options like study groups.

“I didn’t really talk much in my biology class until I started going to little study parties with a group of girls. We now hang out as much as we can,” sophomore Brandon Lingle said. While study groups are an easy way to make friends, nothing could be easier than connecting with someone on popular social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace. Sophomore Cierra Williams said she was part of a friendship which started out with having conversations on facebook and they ultimately met on the Longview campus. Williams said it was awkward at first but she now considers this person a friend.

While some resort to internet sources, other Longview students need no help in making new friends—for they attend school with people they have known for years. Sophomores Stacy McClaskey and Shelbi Lyons have held on tight to their best friends label since the seventh grade.

For the last four semesters, McClaskey and Lyons have kept their friendship strong while taking every class together.
by Gabrielle Hines

“If I didn’t have Shelbi in all of my classes with me, I would probably hate Longview just as much as everyone else seems to,” McClaskey said.

Most Longview students are not as fortunate though and must discover the resources available to make new friends. Driving to school, sitting in class and then going home is definitely not the best option. Students can take full advantage of study groups, extracurricular activities, and even the internet to make this task a whole lot easier.