Friday, October 17, 2008

Student Senate Elections Announced

CCC students cast their ballots on Sept. 23 to elect members of the 2008-09 Student Senate.  Voting was held following a pep rally which was organized to recognize all athletic and academic  team members.
Students elected include Adrian Gonzalez (Groton, Conn.), Neal Jeffrey (Mankato), Ryan Baalman (Colby), Jessica Swanek (Doniphan, Neb.), Kimberly Kelly (Ada, Kan.), Levy Ryan (Russell), Ryan Edmundson (Brewster), Andrew Starns (Brewster), Jeffrey Heller (Beloit), and Alyssa Lambert (McCook, Neb.).  They join Student Senate President Kayla Dinkel (Hays), Secretary Kim Wessel (Dresden) and Treasurer Katy Hall (Rolla).
Student Senate sponsors a number of events during the school year including first-week activities, movie nights, dances and community-service projects. 
Advisors for the group are Crystal Pounds and Patti Albers.

Fred Spencer

Colby Community College has announced the selection of Fred Spencer as assistant coach for the Lady Trojan basketball team.  He will assist first-year head coach Brady Jasper.
Spencer coached women’s basketball at Riverview High School and Newsome High School in Tampa, Fla.  Prior to accepting the job at CCC, Spencer was Senior Program Manager at the YMCA in Orlando, Fla., which served 2,000 youngsters.
He began his college basketball career at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., and continued to play basketball at Troy State in Troy, Ala. 
“Prior to finishing my degree at Troy State, I returned to Tampa to assist my ailing grandmother,” said Spencer. “I completed my degree in Human Services at Springfield College while living in Tampa.”
After graduation, Spencer played professional basketball in Spain for four years.
“I really want to coach on the collegiate level,” said Spencer.  “People in the community of Colby have been very friendly. I am looking forward to assisting Coach Jasper this season and to recruiting for next year’s team.”
Spencer and his wife have three children ages 14, 12 and 7.

CCC Students Register to Vote

CCC students were given the opportunity to do more than just eat lunch when they visited the cafeteria last week.  A voter registration drive, jointly sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Kansas National Education Association-Student Program (KNEA-SP), enabled students to register to vote at a table set up in the Union.
KNEA-SP members also distributed “Register to Vote” reminders to all CCC students during the Wednesday 10:10 class period.
“Shannon Titus, KNEA-SP event planner, and I created the reminder forms and a cover letter to deliver to students,” said sponsor Carolyn May.  “The KNEA-SP members received very positive responses about this activity.  They encouraged others to register to vote but did not try to persuade anyone on how they were to cast their ballot.”
Approximately 25 students completed voter registration forms on that day.  Several others picked up forms to complete at a later time. The reminder forms included the web site to register on-line.  That site is www.kssos.org/forms/elections/voterregistration.pdf.
“Registration may be done online but the form must be signed,” said May.  “If the signed form is brought to us at the H.F. Davis Library, we will take it to the court house.  Shelly Harms, Thomas County Clerk, has requested that she receive the registration forms no later than Oct. 19.”
Additional blank registration forms are available at the college library.  The General Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM).  Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.  In recognition of this important initiative, members of the Colby Community College Lady Trojan softball team set up a table in the Student Union and distributed informational materials, pink bracelets and mints to students, faculty and staff members.
Although exciting progress has been made, there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.  Women age 65 and older are less likely to get mammograms than younger women, even though breast cancer risk increases with age.  In addition, women below the poverty level are less likely than women at higher incomes to have had a mammogram within the past two years.
Experts agree that if all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods–mammography plus clinical breast exam–breast cancer death rates would drop as much as up to 30 percent.
The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer.  Fifteen national public organizations, professional associations and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.

Phonathon

One of the most significant Colby Community College fund-raising events will begin Oct. 19 and continue Oct. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.  The annual Endowment Foundation Phonathon Scholarship Fund Drive will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each evening. 
“We raised approximately $50,000 last year for student scholarships,” said Foundation Director Nick Wells.  “The need is even greater this year with the addition of new programs such as Entrepreneurship, Feedlot Certification and Therapeutic Massage Therapy.  It is our goal to exceed the $50,000 the college received last year.”
CCC Presidential Scholars, Student Ambassadors and student representatives from clubs and organizations will be making calls to approximately 12,000 alumni and friends of the college.
“We have an increase in freshman enrollment numbers this semester” said CCC President Dr. Lynn Kreider.  “The completion of the new 160-bed dormitory, the new programs, and the increasing competition to attract the best students to CCC are all factors that contribute to the need for additional scholarships.”
Over 50 percent of CCC students receive a scholarship.  Eighty percent of full-time students receive some form of financial assistance.
Letters have been sent to alumni and friends of the college allowing those who prefer not to be called to send their donations in advance.

Cormier Story

Daniel Cormier has experienced tremendous success and devastating defeat on and off the mat during his career as a six-time time national champion and two-time Olympic wrestler.
Cormier, who was chosen as the team captain for the 2008 Olympic wrestling team, won six straight national championships and the Bronze Medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece.
“In recognition of Daniel’s contribution to the sport of wrestling and his success at Colby College and in the world arena, we have named the Nov. 1 wrestling tournament the Daniel Cormier Open,” said CCC Head Coach Steve Lampe.  “He will be attending the tournament with his wife Robin.” 
Cormier was widely recognized as the USA’s best hope for a Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.  However, his dream of winning came to an end when he was forced to withdraw from the competition at 96 kg (211.5 lbs.) because of health concerns.
Cormier will discuss details of the devastating decision to withdraw from the competition and his future plans during the 6 p.m. break in tournament. He will also be available to talk with and provide photo opportunities for those who attend the tournament
“Daniel has an unique and inspiring message,” said Coach Lampe. “I encourage everyone, especially young athletes, to attend this tournament and hear him discuss both the triumphs and tragedies that he has experienced,” said Coach Lampe.
The 29-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana native was a three-time state prep champion.  He led the CCC Trojan squad, coached by Steve Lampe, to the NJCAA championship in 1999 and was the national champion for two years.  After graduating from Colby College, he continued his career a Oklahoma State University where he earned second in the 2001 championships while receiving a degree in sociology.
Cormier has not lost to an American wrestler since 2003, earned his first World medal in 2007, and was honored with the John Smith Award, symbolic of the country’s top freestyle wrestler.
For more information about the tournament, call Head Coach Steve Lampe at 443-2220 or Rich Epp at 443-1994.

Procrastination: A Way of Life

Staying up late nights to finish the paper your teacher assigned to you a week ago, cramming in all the information you possibly can five minutes before the big final, and even putting off paying bills until they’re overdue are a few fine examples of a problem we all face as college students.  This is a problem that can cause anxiety levels and stress to sky rocket, making the simplest task seem like climbing a mountain.  The problem we’re facing now is procrastination. 
Everyone knows that procrastination is quite frankly a part of life.  There will always be that paper that you dread writing, or the book you intend to read but just can’t seem to open up. 
Procrastination has always been an issue, especially with students.  Everyone has had their run-in with it.  However, how people deal with it can either make or break their college career. 
There are many reasons why students decide to procrastinate.  Some people have the fear  of failure.  In other words, before they even start a paper, they are afraid it is going to turn out horribly.  Therefore they put it off.  Others reinforce procrastination by putting something fun in the place of doing something productive.  Rather than studying for a test, they sit in front of their computer and get lost in the world of Facebook and MySpace.   Before they know it, an hour has gone by and they can’t remember anything about the chapter the test is over.   Another reason why students procrastinate is because they’re simply too busy.  Work and other classes can become quite a burden on individuals and make procrastination the easy way out.  Although procrastination will always have an effect on our lives, we can step up and control it rather than just going with the flow.  There are many ways to avoid procrastinating. 
For example, find out exactly how you procrastinate.  Whether it be ignoring the talk, turning a short break into a long one, or telling yourself that how you perform in school today won’t matter in the future are some ways everyone procrastinates.  Once you find out how exactly you procrastinate, you’ll be able to catch it in the future and eliminate that obstacle. 
Creating a productive environment for yourself is a good way to keep focused on the assignment at hand.  If you’re in a room full of friends and television and music, how easy will that be to keep your nose in your book and actually understand what you’re reading?  Try to find a quiet space and avoid all distractions as possible. 
Some assignments require working on a computer, which we all know is a major distraction when trying to get something done.  There are endless possibilities as far as entertainment goes on the World Wide Web.  Some great advice on how to keep yourself away from that is to get yourself off Facebook, stop downloading music from Limewire, and get off messenger.  These are all just excuses to keep yourself from getting to the point. 
As I stated before, procrastination will always be a part of life.  But the main question I will leave you with is, can you control it, rather than letting it control you?

Young Voters Final

2008 is the year of the young voter. If you are over 18, I’m talkin’ to you!
A very important election is just around the corner. Opportunity for change, a new beginning, or whatever you wish to call it has arisen. My question to you is- What are you going to do about it? If you, like me, have been living the last eight years unsatisfied with any aspect of our government, you may want to listen to this. I celebrated my eighteenth birthday a few months ago and have since then experienced the fundamentals of “becoming an adult” in America. I bought my first lottery ticket, have received credit card offers via mail, and was even allowed to purchase air soft pellets for my little brother at Wal-Mart. All this seemed beside the point when compared to what I was most excited about though; gaining the power to vote. For me, the opportunity to vote empowers me to have a voice, and to be a part of the change I want to see in the future. Tuesday November 4th 2008 marks the date of the next presidential election, an election that is poised to be the most significant ever to take place in the United States. Time Magazine has noted that “the 2008 election will have an 83% impact on the country.” Being that it is so heavily weighted, I will be sure to take part in the result of the election. However small the percentage is, my vote will count on November 4th. Your vote counts. Statistics prove that 2008 is the year of the young voter. Expectations have been raised, and an emphasis has been placed on young adults age 18-24. “Commonly called the Millennial Generation or Generation Y, young voters rival the Baby Boomers in size and are the most diverse generation in history,”  according to YDA youth statistics. “Young people are voting in numbers rarely seen since the general election of 1972 — the first in which the voting age was lowered to 18.” The emphasis placed on young voters is there for a reason. We are the future. And have the ability to make it what we want it to be. If you don’t take the opportunity to change your future, you lose the right to complain about your present. So please, Vote on November 4th 2008 and let your voice be heard! If you are not registered to vote, visit http://www.studentvote.org/

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

PTA Club Schedules Three Evening Massage Clinics

Students in the Colby Community College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Club will offer a series of evening massage clinics in October on the college campus.
The clinics, which are open to the general public, will be held from 5-9 p.m. with the final appointment beginning at 8:30, on Oct. 6, 9 and 16 in room #804 located in the Health Sciences Building.
Two options will be offered--a 30-minute massage for $12 or a one-hour massage for $24.  All previously-sold massage coupons will be honored.
The PTA Club promotes professionalism among physical therapist assistants, providing lifelong learning opportunities and helping students identify potential career development possibilities.  In addition to the massage clinics, the club assists with community health fairs, campus activities and Kansas Physical Therapy Association conferences.
Those interested in scheduling appointments should contact Trudy Wildeman at (785) 460-4797 weekdays between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or email trudy.wildeman@colbycc.edu.

Dental Hygiene

In addition to two years of rigorous classroom instruction and weekly labs, students enrolled in the dental hygiene program at Colby Community College are required to complete many hours of clinical instruction to prepare them for the national board exam.  To comply with graduation requirements, patients are needed for the dental hygiene program.  Participants will receive an oral cancer exam, cleaning, and x-rays for a $20 discounted rate.   The downside of this reduced price cleaning is that is may take several appointments to complete the process owing to the time required for instructors to check the students’ work.
The dental hygiene clinic at CCC is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday from 1-5 p.m. each week.  To make an appointment with one of the student hygienists, call the clinic located in the Health Science Building at (785) 460-5438.
The nationally-accredited CCC program is unique in its method of instruction.  The classroom component of the work is delivered via interactive television equipment from Northcentral Technical College located in Wausau, Wis.  Lectures are reinforced with labs and clinics on the Colby campus.
Accrediting restrictions limit the Colby program to 12 first- and 12 second-year students.   This year the program has nine sophomores.  Ten hygienists graduated from the program in May 2008.  That group achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the national board examination.
Students enrolled in the dental hygienist program at Colby Community College will also host a Sealant/Fluoride Clinic on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.  They are applied on as a liquid and quickly harden to form a shield over the tooth.  Sealant placement is easy and painless.
Sealants, which can last up to 10 years, are suggested for children because the chewing surfaces of back teeth are rough and uneven.  Food and bacteria become trapped in these hidden areas because toothbrush bristles cannot brush them away, and eventually the tooth can develop a cavity.
Dental experts suggest that children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as teeth come in--before decay attacks the tooth.  Parents are encouraged to make an appointment for their children by calling 460-5438.
Program director for the CCC program is Becky Vollertsen.  Instructors include Sheri Martin, Bobette Maier and Dana Foss.  Dr. Jay Sekavec, DDS, serves as the supervising dentist for the program.

CLC welcomes new tutors

CLC welcomes new tutors
With two returning, the CLC welcomes eight new tutors. Here is an inside look at two of them.
Tim Howard is a freshman attending Colby studying general studies. As a new addition to the staff at the CLC, Tim will be tutoring English, Speech, Art appreciation and Art history. He was referred to the learning center due to his high test scores, and accepted the position for multiple reasons. “I love to meet new people and talk with them. Being a tutor gives me a great opportunity to learn about people and English at the same time.” Originally born in California, Tim moved to Colby as a sixth grader and has since then called this home. He admits that some of his tutoring techniques may be out of the norm…When asked how he gets across to students Tim replies jokingly “I beat the students” Of course he comes up with a real answer- He views himself as more of a guide to students, pointing out mistakes and going through the basic mechanics of an essay. He says “Everyone is a good writer; it’s just a matter of putting it down on paper.” Tim is available to tutor Monday and Wednesday from 1:00-3:00 and Tuesday 1:30-2:30.
Math, it comes easy for some. Luckily, one of those people is Jed Oesterreich. Jed, originally from Colby is a freshman majoring in general studies. After being recommended by his math teacher, Jed joined the team of tutors at the CLC. Hearing that the math department needed some extra help, he decided to give tutoring a try. Jed will be tutoring in all areas of Algebra. “So far it hasn’t been too busy yet, and I’m looking forward to experiencing what being a tutor is all about.” He finds the best way to help students with math is to let them work through the problems while pointing them in the right direction. Jed finds the most rewarding part about being a tutor is “that feeling you get when you know you’ve helped someone.” He is available to tutor in the CLC Monday 11:00-12:00 Wednesday 11:00-12:00, 2:00- 4:00 and Thursday 2:00- 3:30.

Rodeo results

Although Mother Nature created some challenges, the 11th annual Colby Community College Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) rodeo held over the weekend broke attendance and participation records set in previous years. 
Allen Russell, CCC rodeo coach, reported that this year’s rodeo was a big success with just a few minor problems.
“Although we were up against Colby High School homecoming and wet weather on Friday night, we still had a record-breaking attendance,” said Russell.  “We had 450 individual contestants who competed in multiple events during the three days.  Because the area south of the arena was so muddy, several of the contestants set up east and north of the fairgrounds.  However, with just a few exceptions, everything went very well. There were only a few contestants who withdrew because of the weather.”
Twenty-seven CCC students competed in the rodeo with several placing in the finals on Sunday.
Ben Robinson, a freshman from Brule, Neb., was 4th overall in steer wrestling after finishing 5th in first-round competition
Bret Spanel (Anselmo, Neb.) finished 7th in the steer wrestling.  His brother Ira, who was a past member of the CCC Rodeo Team, is a student representative on the National Rodeo Board.
Austin Carter (Beloit) and Chance Remington (Palco) tied for 7th and 8th in team roping.
Lane Wood (Imperial, Neb.) also did well in steer wrestling with an 11th-place finish.
For the women, Shea Henderson (Alliance, Neb.) finished 12th in barrel racing.
Panhandle State University finished first in the men’s team competition.  Rogers State University was second, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma State University in third.
For the women, Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) finished first.  Former CCC Rodeo Team member Brooke Inlow and her sister Jade are members of the NWOSU team.
The Fort Hays State University women were second with Oklahoma State University finishing third.
“This event would not be possible without the expertise and help of many volunteers including CCC faculty and staff members and numerous community members,” said Russell.  “This is a huge event to host in Colby and I believe it is a big boost for the area economy. I really appreciate all the support from everyone involved.”

Learning Center prepares for the New Year

Learning Center Offers Free Resources for Students
Located in Thomas Hall, you will find the CLC (Comprehensive Learning Center), with new hours, along with a new team of tutors. The CLC holds high expectations for this school year. “The students are awesome this fall, they make this a fun place to learn” says CLC supervisor Brenda Kinderknecht.
There is a wide range of resources available, with access to computers, tutoring, reference books and study guides and all of the services are free. Everyone is welcome in the CLC, and students do not need appointments. Just drop in, and you can get answers to quick questions, find a quiet place to study, or meet with a tutor to get help with homework. “We have a great team of tutors. And students are discovering how easy it is to drop in and get some help, use the computers or just hang out and study,” says Kinderknecht.
Here at Colby CC we are well equipped with the resources needed to help students be successful. Using the CLC is a great way to broaden your educational experience. The Learning Center can give students the extra support they need to develop study skills and test taking techniques, and to be prepared for class and complete assignments with confidence.
There are many resources that can contribute to a college student’s success, but many times we do not take advantage of the help that is available. Freshman Cassie Smatana says, “When I hear the word tutor I automatically think, someone who can help you with any problems you may run into with your school work.” This is a good description of the services available at the Comprehensive Learning Center, and one of the many ways in which a student can get the most out of his or her education.
The CLC warmly welcomes eight new tutors to the team, with two returning tutors Aylssa Lambert and Heather Sowers. New tutors include: April Brown, Eliani Waworundeng, Glenn Kaaz, Tim Howard, Katelyn Jones, Jed Oesterreich, Rachel Lamm and Sarah Borneman. All of which are highly qualified in a wide range of subjects, including writing, math, science, business, social sciences and humanities. The Center is open Monday through Thursday 8a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday 8a.m. to 5p.m and closed weekends.

Criminal Justice

The educational experience for many Colby Community College students is much more than face-to-face instruction in a traditional classroom setting.  One example of the new course delivery systems is the Wimba Classroom now being used to provide real time classroom interaction to CCC students enrolled in Introduction to Criminal Justice.
The Wimba classroom provides students with access to CCC instructors and lecture content available beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom door. 
Adjunct instructor Elisabeth Copeland, a 2004 graduate of the Colby College Criminal Justice program, is a former deputy sheriff and juvenile probation officer.  She currently is a Skills Development Specialist for the Department of Corrections (DOC) working out of the DOC central office in Topeka.  She is teaching the introductory criminal justice course to CCC students from her location in Topeka.
After receiving her degree from CCC, Copeland transferred to Washburn University where she received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. 
“The class is going very well,” said Copeland.  “I am usually providing instruction to corrections’ officers.  This is a different type of instruction utilizing a very unique delivery system.  I’m enjoying the opportunity.”
With the Wimba classroom, faculty connect to CCC students online through follow-the-speaker video, emoticons, and discussion-centered Voice-over Internet Protocol.  Students may participate anyplace they have an Internet connection.
“The Introduction to Criminal Justice class being delivered from Topeka is our first attempt with this concept,” said Dr. Michael Thompson, criminal justice program director.  “We have ten student in the class and it appears to be working very well.
“With the Wimba Classroom, we can capture our classroom activity, make it available for review and reuse, allowing for better student comprehension,” said Thompson.  “We can record the audio, video, chat, whiteboard and application sharing for a class offered at a remote site or capture the traditional classroom lecture environment.  With Wimba Classroom we have been able to bridge our students who are distance bound with the traditional student, allowing us to expand our learning programs and student base.”

Cindy Black

Cindy Black believes Colby is one of the best communities in Kansas.  She is a well-known advocate for the community who devotes countless hours to civic organizations including serving as a Board of Trustees member at Colby Community College.  In addition to owning and operating her own business, Black recently completed her bachelor’s degree from Friend’s University.  She is the recipient of a Kansas Community Leadership Initiative “Leader-Full” Community Award which is awarded to individuals who exemplify servant leadership in their daily lives.  Black was instrumental in the formation of the Thomas County Community Foundation and achieving the matching grant process offered by the Kansas Health Foundation.  She has served as co-facilitator of the Leadership Thomas County Program for many years and was a member of the CCC Endowment Foundation Board of Directors.  In addition, she has been a participant in KCLI Ambassadors for the Kansas Health Foundation since 1999.
Black recently completed Advanced Facilitation Training for Getting Results through Effective Teamwork sponsored by Contemporary Consulting of Richmond, Ind.  Working with real situations, Black planned and executed appropriate facilitation processes and experiences.
“I was invited to attend because of my previous involvement with the Kansas Leadership Initiative that the Kansas Health Foundation provided,” said Black.  “The training began in 1999 and has continued since that time.  It was a plan to make Kansas the best place to raise a child.  Colby was one of 17 communities invited to participate in the program.”
Mary Jo Clark and Pat Heiny, owners of Contemporary Consulting, organized the training workshop.
“Today teams from work departments to nonprofit boards to family groups are called on to work well together while accomplishing great results,” said Clark.  “Current facilitation practices require a willingness to help groups solve problems through discussion while simultaneously developing the abilities of the participants to lead and carry out the devised solutions.”
“The workshop was absolutely a worthwhile experience,” explained Black.  “It provided me with lifelong skills.  It was a reminder of the skills we use everyday as well as it taught a new way of working through difficult situations.  The workshop provided the necessary skills to ask the right questions when a group is in chaos.  The skills are learned to enable participants to facilitate a group from chaos, to unity, to becoming a performing community.”
Black offers a three-prong approach to facilitation: developing the skills and capacities of participants, creating a trusting and respectful team dynamic, and working toward innovative solutions.
“The workshop will assist in my role as a board member and community volunteer,” said Black.  “When the difficult questions need to be asked, it will give me the tools to do it in an unobtrusive manner.  This will enable the board to process through decisions in a different manner making sure we look at all angles and ask the hard questions to ensure a solid decision.  I will use these skills at work, home and with the Leadership Thomas County program.  Leilani Thomas and I are the co-facilitators for that group.”
Attending the workshop provided Black with an opportunity to talk with a diverse audience about Colby Community College.
“I shared information about the positive impact that CCC has on our community and in northwest Kansas.  I was able to share the challenges/opportunities we have living in a rural community.  Colby College is providing a strong education for our future leaders.  For this reason, it is of utmost importance that CCC is the leader in education and continues to be involved in the community as well as in northwest Kansas.”
The successful completion of the advanced training prepares Black to analyze groups and the root challenges they face as their team works together.  Black will assist groups with identifying diverse learning needs, engaging the participants in interactive learning activities with the goal that the participants will become the problem solvers.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Wanna Avoid the ‘Freshman 15’? Stop Eating Crap!

The number one fear of college students isn’t doing the walk of shame after a night of beer bongs and body shots. No, the real fear is the dreaded “freshman 15.” College can be one of the most amazing, invigorating, and freeing times in life. No one wants to ruin four years of fun by getting fat!

The good news? The freshman 15 is totally avoidable. Not by starving yourself. Not by taking stupid laxatives. Not by going on some dumb “all liquid” diet. It’s actually pretty simple: All you need to do is to stop eating crap.

Meat: The dead, rotting, decomposing flesh of a carcass—n-a-s-t-y. Chicken, burgers, and bacon are full of pesticides, steroids, and antibiotics—not to mention a ton of cholesterol and fat.

The Skinny Alternative: There are countless meat-free substitutes that have the same taste and texture of meat, sans the cholesterol, high-fat content, and other nastiness. Products like Boca “chicken” cutlets and vegan BBQ “riblets” can be found in every major grocery store, and most dining halls are bulking up their meat-free options in order to meet the growing demand.

Dairy: Got pus? Milk does. It’s also been linked to acne, allergies, asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and a slew of other things you don’t want anything to do with. We are the only species on Earth that drinks milk as adults. And we’re the only species on the planet that drinks the milk of another species. Would you breastfeed from your mom at this age? No! So why would you breastfeed from a calf’s mom? Gross! Worried about calcium? The dirty secret that the dairy industry doesn’t want you to know: Researchers from Harvard, Yale, Penn State, and the National Institutes of Health all studied the effects of dairy-product intake on bone health—not one of them found dairy foods to be a deterrent for osteoporosis!

The Skinny Alternative: Um, hello? Ever heard of soy milk, rice milk, hempseed milk, oat milk, or almond milk? Get with the millennium. Not only are these alternatives guaranteed to be pus-free, they’re also often fortified with calcium and vitamin D.
Eggs: Eggs are chicken periods. Think about it. If that doesn’t make you puke up your omelet, how about this: Many grocery-store eggs are infected with salmonella—bacteria that will give you diarrhea for days. Diarrhea in a dorm bathroom? No thanks! P.S. A single egg has as much cholesterol as three servings of beef tenderloin.
The Skinny Alternative: Replace your morning chicken period with scrambled tofu. And for baking cookies, brownies, or cupcakes, replace the eggs with bananas, applesauce, or commercial egg replacers (like Ener-G). The possibilities are endless.

Soda: There is nothing in soda, whether diet or regular, that’s good for you! But it’s like crack for so many, and people are downing it by the bucket. Ditch this liquid Satan and see the difference it makes.

The Skinny Alternative: Um, ever hear of water? Drink it! It’s vital for flushing toxins, staying hydrated, and eliminating garbage from your body.

The choice is yours: Four years of fun with good health, good skin, and a hot bod or the dreaded and inevitable freshman 15. You decide.

Need help getting started? Check out peta2.com/SkinnyBitch, where you can get the skinny on what to eat, how to get more vegetarian options in your dining hall, and dirt on the industries that sell you crap. Need a further kick in the ass? Check out Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bitch in the Kitch.

Rory Freedman is the coauthor of New York Times best-selling books Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, and her newest release, Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven.

We Want You!

The officers of the CCC Student Senate are looking for a few good women and men to be leaders of the student body. We need you to step up and make a difference. In two short weeks, students will vote for student senate representatives. They will elect four (4) sophomores and six (6) freshmen.

On the reverse side of this page is a petition you may use to start the process of becoming a student senate rep. When you have the fifteen (15) signatures, bring the form to Kathy Britton’s office in the Student Union. The deadline for submitting your completed form is Friday, September 19. The election is Tuesday, September 23. So, get it done today.

The purpose of the CCC Student Senate is to serve as the official represent-tative of all students in all matters concerning a student or students of this institution, and to exclusively conduct coordination of student organizations, while serving as the decision-making unit of the student body, being above all other student organizations.

Among the responsibilities of the student senate are the following:

* Establish and promote student activities
* The promotion of the interests of the student body and its members, including the review and the participation in making all College policies
* The promotion of communication and cooperation between students and the faculty, administration, staff, and the Board of Trustees
* To provide extra funds to worthy campus organizations
* Conduct all student government elections
* The communication with other student government organizations of other institutions, to investigate means of improving life for all present and potential students of CCC.

If you have any questions, please contact the Dean of Students in the Student Union or any of the student senate officers.

Wagoner awarded Firestone scholarship

Lady Trojan basketball players and fans could always depend on Jim and Betty Firestone to be in the stands near the front row cheering on the team.  The Firestones also served as host parents for many of the Lady Trojan players, inviting them into their home and helping whenever they could.
Jim, who died in 2006, was the first recipient to be awarded the CCC Honorary Degree posthumously in May 2006. He and his wife Betty were honored with the degree in recognition of their commitment to the growth and success of Colby and the college.
Betty and her family established the memorial scholarship to be awarded annually to a member of the Lady Trojan basketball team.
“Jim would be so pleased that the first scholarship was awarded to Tasha,” said Firestone.  “We have watched her play sports for many years and she’s the perfect recipient.” 
Wagoner is a graduate of Colby High School.  She is a freshman majoring in general studies at CCC.  Tasha is the daughter of Jeff and Lesley Wagoner of Colby.

“These Are The Best Days Of Our Lives”

Ah the college life. It can be defined in so many ways, with so many words, by so many different students. The lifestyle a college student lives varies from person to person, but one thing that is the same for everyone is all the new experiences that are thrown our way. There are so many aspects of the college life that require some major adjusting to. Whether it’s leaving home for the first time, living with your new roommate, or just dealing with the loads of homework coming our way, these things take some getting used to, and give us some huge opportunity for personal growth.
How do we survive all this change? For most, well at least for me, I’ve already run into some pretty significant opportunities for character building. The new dorms seem to have paper thin walls, and with that let me just say, that laying down listening to what sounds like an elephant walking directly above my head is not my idea of a party. My first thought went something like this, “curse these inconsiderate residents that I just happen to live below”, but on second thought, I decided this is college, and this is what it is all about. Living up the life we couldn’t have when we lived at home. No boundaries, no curfew, and the freedom!!! Don’t we all just love the freedom! With my new appreciation for freedom, I have to reach to find an equal appreciation of tolerance.
It has been statistically proven that the maturity level of a young male adult drops significantly during the first months of living the college life, and why not? After all, that is why it is called higher education. They leave the confines of parental control and enforced social behavior to set out to discover their own intelligence, maturity and social skills. Until then, I must choose to find a quiet and undisturbed place to study and or sleep, (which unfortunately cannot be my own little loft bed).
The best times of our lives, are just that because they are times of huge change, unprecedented freedom, mandatory tolerance, and unlimited choices. I guess the kicker is that the choices we make determine just how great our college life is when we look back someday. Make it count fellow Trojans!! Yeah, and can you keep it down up there?

The new dorms are up and running!

What started off as an empty lot now has been developed into the Living Center Northeast. The construction of the new dorms began last November 19th at the official groundbreaking, and kept rolling well into August. CCC attained possession of the building in the nick of time on August 15th. With residents arriving on the 17th, there was a lot to get done in two days. “Things still needed to be ironed out” according to Living Center Northeast dorm coordinators Jim and Kelli Gates who arrived on the 15th and started preparing for all the new students to move in.
Sunday Aug 17th came with unexpected weather. The rain and cold chill in the air didn’t stop these eager college bound students though. With the help of family and some friends most everyone was settle in by night time, with the exception of a few late comers. OPTIC Christian Club helped out on move in day, they were in and out all day well equipped with raincoats and dollies. “They were an exceptional help” says Kelli. Student ambassadors also got in on the action readily waiting to help any newcomers who were short a few hands.
There are currently 92 residents living in Living Center Northeast, including the dorm coordinators. The three story building can house up to 160 residents. There are approximately 26 units on each floor with two dorm rooms per unit. Each dorm room houses two students who share a Jack and Jill style bathroom with two suite mates. Rooms are equipped with loft style beds, a shared closet, and one dresser and desk per student. The LCNE accommodates special needs students as well, with five units; ten rooms are available for students who are in a wheelchair or who need special assistance.
Although some things got a little behind schedule they are slowly being completed. Washer and dryers arrived five days after move in day, but all the common areas are expected to be fully furnished within a month, with TV’s, couches, computers and possibly a Nintendo Wii.
There have been a few exciting occurrences in the new living center. Late night alarm pulls in the elevator led to police arriving on the scene, only to find out it was a false alarm. The fire alarms have been tested, and are in working order thanks to one hungry student who set the alarms off after burning his pizza rolls in his microwave. Aside from that incident, “Students are really taking care of the rooms” Kelly comments. With A new updated and more university style essence to them, the new dorms are sure to make a happy home for many.