The Current Online

 The Current swept the Newswriting category in the two-year college division of the Missouri College Media Awards in May. Rachel Madearis and Antoinette Bradley took first place for their story ”Struggle to diversify workforce continues at MCC.” The Current also received the following awards:

News Writing: First, Rachel Madearis and Antoinette Bradley, “Struggle to diversify workforce continues at MCC.” Second, Rachel Madearis, MCC budget workshop considers tuition increase, cost cuts.” Third, Daniel Spaulding, ”Chancellor to retire.”

Sportswriting: Second, Josh O’Hora,  “XC runs with the sun.”  Regular Column: First, Callie V. Hanson, “Good times.” Sports Column: First, Josh O’Hora, ”Chiefs keep on rolling.” HM, Dani Post, ”MW women’s soccer is a bonding experience.”  Entertainment Review: Second, Louis Kemner, “‘Paranormal 2′ out-frightens its predecessors.”

News Photography: First,Louis Kemner, “‘Students protest puppy mills.”  Feature Photography: HM, Marcus Sunde, “Polar Bear Plunge raises funds for Special Olympics.”  Sports photography: Third, Marcus Sunde, “LV Lakers vs MW Monarchs.” Page One Design: Third, The Current, May 2010. Editorial Page: Third, The Current. Photo Page: HM,  The Current, “Cold.”

by Rachel Madearis

For low-income college students, federal food assistance is one option for managing living expenses while in school, but some students may not know that getting assistance is available.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), only 66 percent of eligible people participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the national food assistance program.

One possible reason that college students don’t participate is because they don’t know that they are eligible. [...]

by Rachel Madearis

During the 2010 budget workshop, MCC administrators introduced the implementation of a student fee to raise revenue for the district.

“We are looking at some type of general fee,” said Reinhard Weglarz, Director of Management and Auxiliary Services. [...]

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. [...]

Every year, per national policy, colleges compile and release crime statistics, numbers on the occurrence of reported crimes. MCC provides its report for the three previous years. District-wide, 17 instances of several tracked criminal offenses were reported in 2009, including burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, sex offense, and aggravated assaults. Two instances of burglary were reported at Longview. The report includes safety tips for students on campus. Some suggestions were to stay in well-lit areas, walk in groups, and carry a personal safety alarm device.

Students can report crimes at any Public Safety Office on campus. The report includes the location of MCC’s offices. For national college crime statistics, visit http://ope.ed.gov/security.

~Rachel Madearis