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... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College Summer 2017 Rasheda Ali-Walsh to Address Graduating Class Antonia editor Florence, assistant Rasheda Ali-Walsh will be the featured speaker at Piedmont Virginia Community Colleges (PVCC) 44th commencement exercises, being held at the John Paul Jones Arena on May 12, 2017. Ali-Walsh is an international advocate for stem cell research. She travels the globe speaking to raise awareness and funding to find a cure for Parkinsons disease, the same disease which ravaged her father for the last 30 years of his life. Muhammad Ali, famed heavyweight boxer whose career spanned three decades, retired from boxing in 1981. He then bought a horse farm in Rockfish Valley, Nelson County, in 1982 and maintained a strong presence in the Charlottesville area. Ali died from complications of Parkinsons disease in 2016 at the age of 74. When her young son had questions about his grandfathers deteriorating condition, (during the elder Alis illness), Ali-Walsh wrote a book, Ill Hold Your Hand So You Wont Fall: A Childs Guide to Parkinsons Disease. Parkinsons Disease affects its sufferers in various ways. Some have balance problems causing falls, and some lose the ability to speak clearly causing miscommunication and are no longer able to visibly express emotions. The heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali wrote the foreword to the book. Ill Hold Your Hand So You Wont Fall is written for adults to read to children, the book encourages dialogue through the use of colorful illustrations, situations depicting symptoms, and interactive questions. Medical facts are provided at the end of each page to help readers answer childrens questions with greater ease and specific terms are explained in the margin on each page, according to Ali-Walshs website. In This Issue 2016 Graduation Ceremony. Photo Courtesy of PVCC. PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Awards Ceramics -pgs. 10-11 Basketball -pgs. 14-15 Clubs -pgs. 16-17 Fun -pgs. 26-27 -pgs. 4-5 DATES TO REMEMBER Annual Student Exhibition * April 14 Sept. 6, Dickinson Finals Week May 2-8 Anderson Music Studio Recital May 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dickinson The Violin & Piano Studios of Janice Mauroshadt Recital May 6, 2-4 p.m., Dickinson Best of Both Worlds Dance & Step Competition Youth Edition May 6, 7-9 p.m., Dickinson Class of 2017 Alumni Association Induction Ceremony* May 8, 6-7:30 p.m., Bolick Student Center PVCC Nurse Pinning Ceremony * May 12, 1:00 p.m., John Paul Jones Arena Graduation Ceremony * May 12, 6:00 p.m., John Paul Jones Arena Albemarle Ballet Theatre presents Little Red Riding Hood May 13, 6 p.m., Dickinson main stage Dance Club Showcase Skye Scott, assistant editor On April 27, 2017, the wings of the Dickinson theatre main stage buzzed with excitement as dance club members anxiously waited for their cue. These seven Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) students were about to participate in the first dance club showcase. Backstage, costumes and makeup covered the counters of the dressing room. Dancers encouraged each other before each performance. The showcase included solos and group dances, all choreographed by the dance club students. The final dance club routine, which included six of the seven dancers, combined musical theatre, Zumba, and hip-hop, styles the dancers had learned during club meetings. After the show, SGA volunteers helped to hand out refreshments to the friends and family of the performers. To join the dance club, contact President-Elect Michael Golez at mdg2944@email.vccs.edu or Faculty Advisor Michelle Cooper at mcooper@pvcc.edu. Summer Classes First 5-week/10-week May 22 Super Saturday FAFSA June 24, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Summer Classes Second 5-week June 27 Super Saturday FAFSA July 29, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fall Classes Aug. 21 *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available Dance Club Members Photo Courtesy of Michael Golez Page 2 Student Government Association News Olivia Stevens, staff writer On Tuesday April 25, 2017, the Student Government Association (SGA) sat in the North Mall Meeting Room for their last meeting of the year. The members listened one by one to the members who were running for positions for the upcoming year. At the end of every year, the SGA elects new members to be the executive board for the following year. Members are asked about how they will do their job. If there is more than one person running for a position then there is often a debate. Each member who was running for an office stood up and made a speech to persuade the SGA members why they were the best candidate for that position. They each said how long they had been at Piedmont and how long they had been in SGA. After they shared this information, they then went into work that they had done that is similar to the position they were running for. Candidates also talked about what makes them the best candidate. After hearing speeches, members then pulled out their clickers and voted for the best candidate for a position There were seven positions that needed to be filled before next year. The positions were president, vice president, secretary, director of public relations, director of student voice, executive Senator, and director of events. Each newly-elected member had something to say about their new role in the upcoming SGA year. They all were excited to work together and come up with great ideas for the new year. Waqas Al Mulhim, who was elected president, said, I am very happy for being elected as the President of the SGA. And I am so honored to be able to help other students, as well as hearing them, and make their voice heard. Michael Apgar, who was elected vice president, said, Im happy to have been elected the new SGA vice president and look forward to representing the student body. I plan to take the ideas of the students and work with the rest of the SGA to make the 2017-2018 school year a great one. Erin Sonnenburg, who was elected secretary, said, The Student Government Association was the first club I applied for when I joined Piedmont Virginia Community College. It will be the first club I apply for when I transfer to a four year college. The reasons for that are as follows. First and foremost, the SGA has shown me that good leadership inspires others to lead and that leaders do not find joy in self-achievement, but rather in the achievement of those they serve. Secondly, the SGA has been quintessential in the formation of who I am today. Through the SGA, I became interested in government, law, civil discussion, and the importance of being an active listener. To the SGA, I am entirely grateful. As a member, of the new executive board, I will recollect on what I learned, maintain my aptitude for learning, and inspire others to do the same. Skye Scott was elected director of public relations. She said, I was just elected as director of public relations, and I am so excited! I will be in charge of managing social media accounts, publicizing events, and advertising the SGA in general. Cambria Kowalzik, who was elected director of student voice, said, Being the director of student voice gives me the opportunity to connect with the student body in a new way. I am looking forward to seeing what we can all do to help the school, and the student body. Emily Sabin, who was elected executive senator, said, I feel very excited to be a part of something I believe in, and I'm looking forward to learning more about PVCC from different perspectives. John Linkous was elected director of events. He said, Im happy that I was elected to director of events as it will allow me to collaborate with others to create events that benefit our school. In addition, Im interested to see what ideas others will bring forward on creating events around our campus. The new year will bring on a new executive board that are ready for the opportunity to serve as the student voice for the school. To contact the SGA, follow them on Facebook at PVCC Student Government Association, email Waqas Al Mulhim at wa2810@email.vccs.edu, or email the SGA email at SGA@pvcc.edu and SGA2@pvcc.edu. Page 3 PVCCs Awards Convocation Olivia Stevens, staff writer On Thursday, April 20, 2017, in the Dickinson theatre, the rows of seats were filled with award recipients and their families. On the stage, seats were filled with faculty members who had nominated students for awards. The students, dressed in their best clothes, were excited and nervous about the awards they would receive. To begin the ceremony, President Frank Friedman went up to the podium and welcomed everyone in the audience and congratulated the students who had won their respective awards and scholarships. The receiving students had smiles on their faces and appeared ecstatic to be honored for all the work they had done for Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) and for their courses. One by one, students were called and to the stage to receive their awards and students shook hands with the faculty member that nominated them and then shook Dr. Friedmans hand. Some students gave the faculty member a warm hug; Abbi Traaseth and Steve McNerney did an elaborate handshake. Many students received multiple awards, and each time they came back on stage, their smile became larger and there was more vigor in their stride. Assistant Professor of Political Science Connie Jorgensen walked to the podium and began to give her speech; the audience listened attentively as she advised students. She reminded the audience of the things they learned in kindergarten, because those are lessons everyone PVCC President Frank Friedman Photography by Olivia Stevens still remembered and carried with them throughout life. During her speech, Jorgensen shared things from the work: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten: When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Brandi Rey, who received awards for her work in the French club, the Student Government Association, and for her academic work in French, said, It is an honor to be in the presence of the best of the best of PVCC. I'm so thankful to the faculty and staff here that push me to exceed my own expectations. For the first time in my life, I am confident that I am on the right track. Many students were grateful for the awards that they received. Skye Scott, who also received multiple awards including the awards for The Forum, dance club, and Whos Who award, said, Id like to thank Dr. Whyte for nominating me because she nominated me for the Whos Who award and also for the newspaper award. And also Michelle Cooper who is the Dance Club faculty advisor. Wadah Al Mulhim, who won the award for Student Government Association and received the highest award at PVCC, the Distinguished Student Award, said, PVCC is filled with outstanding and overachieving students. The award ceremony has shown the community what PVCC students are capable of. Receiving the distinguished student award encouraged me to work harder and give back Assistant Professor Connie Jorgensen addressing to the community. the students. Photography by Olivia Stevens Page 4 Kim Hoosier Talks Awards, Students, Sociology Joe Fowler, online editor Piedmont Virginia Community College Professor of Sociology Kim Hoosier won the Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence last week at the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) New Horizons Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony. On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, Hoosier met with a reporter from The Forum to discuss her award, along with several other subjects. The VCCS awards the Susan S. Wood Photography Courtesy of PVCC Office of Marketing & Media Relations Professorship for Teaching Excellence annually based on an extensive application and Additionally, she co-authored a journal article eligibility process. Through a competitive with former PVCC Professor Sam Pincus in 2014 selection process, a VCCS faculty member will titled Student Engagement and Professional be designated as the Susan B. Wood Professor, Development in an Innovative Learning according the VCCS website. Community, which can be found on the VCCS Hoosier said that she applied for a State Digital Commons website. Council of Higher Education for Virginia Hoosier spoke fondly of her students and (SCHEV) award in 2016 and was a finalist for teaching saying that its important to take the award. something away from the class, as opposed to Though she ultimately did not win the simply getting a grade and moving on. Its nice SCHEV award, Hoosier explained that she to be recognized. You dont always feel youre already had most of the key components for the making the impact you want to, she said. Susan S. Wood application process as a result of Speaking on her area of expertise, sociology, the SCHEV application process. Hoosier commented on the growing divide in the Its an honor to get the award. I feel humbled United States beyond the academic realm. The by it, said Hoosier. Plenty of other teachers trend that bothers me is the divide between the here deserve to be recognized. Though the haves and the have-nots, she said in regards to award process entails a great deal of feedback financial inequality. from VCCS directors and faculty, a large She said, Poverty and inequality are huge component of the award involves academic issues systemic to a lot of other problems. On leadership and dedication, according to the that point, Hoosier praised the teaching VCCS website. environment at PVCC in that and other regards. Hoosier received an overall 4.8/5-star rating I feel like its a gift to teach such a diversity of among 57 students during her time at PVCC, students from different backgrounds who are according to the Rate My Professors website. willing to engage in the class, she said. Page 5 Retired News Correspondent Imparts Wisdom Antonia Florence, assistant editor Joe Fowler, online editor Andrews, because nobody exerted any effort. To emphasize the importance of first-hand coverage, Andrews told the story of his time as Former CBS news correspondent Wyatt the CBS foreign correspondent to Asia, Andrews spoke with Dr. Tamara Whytes embedded in Tokyo when he received a call from journalism students April 20, 2017, to provide CBS telling him to get to New Delhi advice on how to improve their reporting skills. immediately. Once in New Delhi, Andrews Andrews obtained a Bachelor of Arts in reported on the Mahatma Gandhi assassination Government and Foreign Affairs from the and the ensuing discord between the Hindus and University of Virginia where he graduated with Sikhs. Andrews won a national Emmy award for honors in 1974. Throughout his career, he has his coverage. won many awards including two local Emmys On a smaller scope, reporters for The Forum and three national Emmys. adhere to the same principles His first words to the Andrews spoke about. Every journalism students of article involves a reporter Piedmont Virginia attending an event, visiting a Community College reflected locale or talking face-to-face a spirit of unity rather than with someone associated with pride in his many awards. or qualified to speak on the I am one of you. I grew subject. Though current up just as many of you, no Forum journalists have yet to money or privileges, said win Emmys or receive calls to Andrews. After a brief other continents, many introduction, Andrews sacrifice time from their opened the floor for evenings and weekends to discussion. attend events Students asked questions Andrews held the attention of Photography by Charles Stish about his experiences and his each person in the room. The perspective on the current students expressed state of journalism. In a appreciation for the gesture most journalists are familiar with, opportunity to be exposed to someone as Andrews took notes. He briefly responded to knowledgeable about the craft of journalism as each question, often revisiting previous questions Andrews is and having earned international and addressing the students who asked them by respect in the field. name, creating an atmosphere of familiarity. While a principal reporter for CBS Evening The interactive discussion included topics News segment Eye on America, Andrews pertinent to journalistic media and its recent returned to U.Va in 2006 as an adjunct instructor evolution. The media is changing rapidly, said teaching an undergraduate course, Journalism Andrews. Journalistic endeavors today can all be and the Media. done from a desk equipped with a computer and Andrews returned once again to U.Va as a telephone. Just because it can be done, does not professor of practice where he integrates mean it is the best way or even the most effective academic scholarship with practical experience way. You still need that face-to-face teaching in the Department of Media Studies. interaction, said Andrews. Body language and Along with Basic and Advanced Multimedia inflection gives just as much information as News Reporting, he teaches The News Media: a written words. real time look at how the news media functions The discussion continued to the current and the challenges it faces. quality of media coverage, Andrews said that not It is a privilege to be trusted to tell peoples every article a news outlet releases consists of stories, Andrews said. When it comes to a original journalism. Sometimes a news company journalist pounding the pavement hunting down picks original pieces off the wire and paraphrases facts for their next article, everything you survey them. This is not reporting, according to is your canvas. Page 6 PVCC Civic Leadership Conference Andrew Fletcher, guest writer issue. The problem we face in the current political climate is that sometimes people do not listen to understand; instead, they listen to respond. I believe this is the reason for the current polarized political climate in the United States. Verdis Robinson ended the Civic Leadership Conference with a discussion about how as community college students, we are able to enact real positive change within our communities. His main point was that because we are democracy students, we should be able to connect with the community around us more than a four-year institution might. He explained democracy students as all of us who have different backgrounds and experiences. It is because we have a diverse set of ideas that makes us democracy students; great things can blossom from people explaining and understanding their different viewpoints. As community college students, we can inspire others to be involved in our community, whether by running for local government offices, school boards, or volunteering. I am extremely grateful for being able to have a conference at PVCC that boosts the idea that all of us can be a positive influence on our community. If you are like me, the 2016 election was the first election that I actually paid attention to. With that being said millennials are the least likely to pay attention to politics. Because of the outcome of this election, I was driven to become more politically active; however, this seemed like a daunting task to take on. For this reason, I was excited to see that Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) was putting on a Civic Leadership Conference, with the sole purpose of informing students on the best way of being politically active with a civil demeanor. Knowing how many of the PVCC events go on campus, I was not sure how many people would show up; nonetheless, this conference was packed with a diverse crowd of students truly interested in being engaged in the community. The main goal of this conference was to teach PVCC students about how to enact the most change in our community. Conference speakers were carefully chosen to foster discussions about civil political discourse, religion in politics, issues regarding historical monuments, and news reliability. Of these discussions, I was able to attend the civil discourse panel and the news panel. The civil discourse panel was helpful in pointing out how to best approach a conversation with a person that has a different viewpoint than your own. One of Dr. JacksonBeckhams main points was that like in a classroom there are no bad questions; in a civics discussion, there are no bad reasons for believing what you believe. It is this idea that helps to mitigate the divide between liberals Assistant Professor of Political Science Connie Jorgensen offered and conservatives, and opening remarks at the second annual Civic Leadership Conference can help to come to an Photography courtesy of PVCC Office of Marketing &Media Relations agreement on a certain Page 7 Transferring Through PVCC Marlie Soderquist, staff writer Going to college can be a hard decision for high schoolers to make. Whether it is the cost, the distance, the commitment, or not being able to decide on what to study, there are many factors that go into the decision. Attending a community college for a few years allows students to decide on a perspective major, live close to home, and save some money along the way. Piedmont offers a guaranteed admissions agreement with most Virginia colleges and universities, including University of Virginia, William and Mary, and George Mason. A complete list of these colleges can be found on Piedmont Virginia Community Colleges website under Guaranteed Admissions & Transfer Information. Students must earn a transferable associate degree and maintain and meet other admission requirements, like GPA and course requirements. Most students who transfer from PVCC attend U.Va, VCU, Old Dominon University, James Madison University, and Liberty University. Connor McKinnis, who is transferring to JMU next fall, said, JMU's drive towards a balance of academic excellence and social construction is a big part of what makes me want to go there. I had a few friends who went there or worked in student organizations, and their stories of fellow students supportive and optimistic spirits was great. Also, as a chronically single dude, the 60 percent female population was definitely an upside. PVCC has two transfer advisors, Kristen Greer and Kemper Steele. Gabe Farmer, a freshman at PVCC, is transferring to Virginia Tech in the fall. He said, All my guidance (for transferring) was from Kristen; shes the best! Steele also got kudos from freshman Jacob Deloria, who said, Kemper Steele is an amazing guy, and everyone that has talked with him can relate. He does an awesome job at what he does. Both advisors offices are in the main building, and appointments can be made for students looking for transfer guidance. Although students do not have to stay two years at PVCC to transfer, there is no guarantee that the college will accept an applicant. Deloria explained that transferring after one year has been very stressful because he did not know if he was accepted until March. Transferring to an out-of-state school is similar. Students are not guaranteed admission to out-of-state colleges, and there is also no guarantee that courses will transfer. Different states have different class curriculums. Students can talk to the transfer advisors about which courses are more likely to transfer. The experiences students receive while attending PVCC can be unforgettable. Instead of treating the college as a punch in, punch out school, where you just show up for classes and get out ASAP, I got more involved with an organization at school called Cru, and made numerous great friends who I cherish, said McKinnis. Farmer enjoyed being a part of a small school and getting to remain friends with people from his high school, he liked being able to create more fun memories with them in college. Deloria explained his experience at PVCC as Accomplishing exactly what I desired. He was able to better himself as a student and finish his classes. These students experiences shows that PVCC stays true to their motto Opportunity. Access. Excellence. Page 8 Photography by Jake DeLaurier Project LIFE meets at PVCC Jake DeLaurier, staff writer On March 18 and 19, 2017, the youth advisory council for Virginia, called SPEAKOUT (Strong Positive Educated Advocates Keen On Understanding the Truth), held their second meeting to continue developing the foundation of the group. SPEAKOUT serves as a participant for the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and is comprised of youth and young adults in foster care from around the state who are passionate about generating change in the foster care system. The group plans to work on various projects and provide feedback on policies that impact young people in foster care throughout Virginia. Project LIFE, a partnership with VDSS and United Methodist Family Services, was also present at the meeting to provide support and guidance to the council members. The mission of Project LIFE is to enhance the successful transition of older youth in foster care to adulthood by providing the skills and tools they need to become positive, productive citizens. This is important because according to Children's Rights.org, over 670,000 children spent time in foster care in 2015. At the meeting was Project Manager Talia Brown who has been a part of Project LIFE for five years. Its important to help youth in the foster care system because they are like any other young adult - they can benefit from support in all areas of their lives in order to be successful, said Brown. Brown also hopes to get rid of stereotypes that are often associated with youth in foster care. There are misconstrued ideas about foster care. There is a stigma that often exists that kids in the foster care system are bad kids, said Brown. She went on to say that the youth she works with are smart, passionate, gifted young people who have endless potential, and with a little support, they can greatly impact their communities and those around them. Since its beginning in 2009, Project LIFE has served close to 2,000 young people. According to Brown, one of the biggest accomplishments of Project LIFE is seeing young people succeed who have come from difficult situations. One person that has been helped by Project LIFE is Brittney who has participated in the program for four years. I have gotten a lot of experience from Project LIFE, said Brittney. She then went on to say how each social service agency in Virginia does things differently and how foster care laws differ. The example that Britney used was if someone in foster care wanted to stay over at someones house, the rules at one agency may differ from those of another. She hopes SPEAKOUT will serve as an avenue for young people to provide their thoughts on issues like this and provide a way to generate change for youth in the foster care system. Page 9 Beginning Ceramics With Tom Clarkson MaKayla Grapperhaus, staff writer At Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC), students have the unique opportunity to take a class that focuses on teaching the ancient art of ceramics. Professor of Art Tom Clarkson teaches ceramics courses at four different levels here at PVCC, including the first, Ceramics I. This class focuses on teaching beginning students a multitude of pottery skills and techniques, all of which are necessary for mastering the art of ceramics. Students enrolled in his class are introduced to hand building, wheel throwing, glazing, firing and much more. Abbey, a PVCC student, is currently taking Clarksons ceramics class to fulfill her humanities elective for the nursing program. For her, the art class has been a much needed break Photography by MaKayla Grapperhaus Photography by MaKayla Grapperhaus from the usual courses that nursing students are required to take. She said, Working with the clay has been a very calming experience. Art has always been important to Abbey, but since graduating from high school in 2015, she has not been able to explore her creative side as much, until now. She said, The class has helped me to expand upon my creativity at a busy point in my life when I dont have a lot of time to focus on anything other than my studies. Watching Abbey work on one of her ceramics pieces during open ceramics lab, it was clear that she takes deep pride in her work. Keeping a detailed journal with her at all times, Abbey carefully sketches out design ideas on paper first and then brings them to life with clay. Throughout the molding process, Abbey records the many techniques she used on a single piece. Clarkson requires his students to keep a journal to plan ahead and to reflect back on past works. One of Abbeys latest ceramic pieces is currently featured in the Annual Student Exhibition, along with many other pieces from Clarksons students. Held in the Dickinson Building, artwork from PVCC ceramic students can be viewed from April 22 through August 3. In their various shapes, sizes, and colors, these pieces of pottery showcase endless ways clay can be shaped to express an artists creativity. For those interested in learning the art of ceramics, Clarkson offers ART 153 Ceramics I in both the summer and fall semesters. Page 10 Janet Fieldhouse Holds Ceramics Workshop MaKayla Grapperhaus, staff writer On March 25, 2017, indigenous Australian artist Janet Fieldhouse, visited Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) to hold a ceramics workshop. The event offered limited seating to the public who could buy tickets through the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal museum. However, PVCC students who are currently enrolled in a ceramics class at the college had free access. The workshop gave PVCC ceramics students the unique opportunity to learn about aboriginal art in Charlottesville from Janet Fieldhouse, an artist of Torres Strait Islander descent. The workshop was held at PVCCs Dickinson Building on a Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Both PVCC students and local ceramics enthusiasts came to the event. Each seat within the classroom, where the first part of the workshop took place, was filled. Those who showed up just a few minutes late had to bring in more chairs from nearby classrooms. Fieldhouse began the workshop with a presentation of her best ceramic artwork on a slideshow. Giving background information on each one of her pieces, Fieldhouse said her first exposure to ceramics was during college in 1999. It was then she began exploring the use of ceramics to express her aboriginal culture through carefully crafted pottery creations. Her first work featured hand-sculpted canoes, each one holding within it small bundles of dried grasses and feathers from native birds belonging to Australias islands. She shared that the making of canoes in her culture is viewed solely as mans work, and for her to sculpt them from clay was taboo. While she did get permission to craft items identified only with men in her culture from male relatives, Fieldhouse jokingly referred to this start in her ceramics career as a time of rebellion. Fieldhouse shared images and stories about her work for nearly two hours. In all of her pieces, two themes were always represented: the cultural traditions practiced by Torres Strait Islanders and the significant value of women within this culture. While both are visibly important to Fieldhouse, the focus on Torres Strait women has given her artwork a unique angle never-before explored by ceramic art. Her artwork includes pendants, armbands, and baskets as well as sculptures inspired by the designs belonging to the Torres Strait practice of scarification, a ritual that marked Islanders by means of scaring the skin with deep cuts. Although it is no longer practiced, the designs are brought to life by Fieldhouse through many of her ceramic pieces. After the presentation, the second part of the workshop included catered lunch from Sticks Kebob Shop. The lunch was courtesy of PVCCs ceramics club who sold their own ceramic creations to fund the lunch. To end the day, the workshop featured a hands-on portion that allowed everyone to craft a work of art from clay. Fieldhouse gave a short demonstration on how to make two pinch pots and mold them together in order to create an egg shape. The egg could then be crafted into any shape the person wanted, and Fieldhouse was present throughout the day to help anyone who needed guidance. To learn more about Fieldhouses work, locals can visit Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection located at UV.a where the best collection of Indigenous Australian art in the world can be viewed. Much of Fieldhouses work is currently on display. Photography by MaKayla Grapperhaus Page 11 Distance Learning at PVCC: A Flexible Choice MaKayla Grapperhaus, staff writer Kelseys situation shows the importance of online classes; however, distance learning is not Many students at Piedmont Virginia for everyone. Zach, another PVCC student, took Community College (PVCC) have busy one of his required courses through an online schedules and obligations outside of school that class this semester. can make getting to campus for classes each He said, For me, the class has been the most week a challenge. However, that does not mean challenging class I have taken here. Its not that they must put their academic dreams on hold. the material is hard to understand, but without the With a long list of courses offered online, PVCC in-person experience, Ive just lost the motivation students can continue to achieve their academic needed to complete the assignments by the goals from their own homes and at their own deadlines. convenience. Taking online On PVCCs courses require official website, more than just the following reliable internet courses are listed access. To as available succeed in distance learning distance learning options: courses, students accounting, art must and dance, commitment to biology, business, the personal communications, responsibility English, health that online care, history, and classes entail. foreign languages. Since the weekly With so many interaction with options available, professors is far distance learning more limited than has become a that of classes on popular way of campus, students taking courses at will be fully PVCC. responsible for For Kelsey, a keeping up with nursing student, weekly online classes are assignments and Photography by Charles Stish the best option for for remembering her while she deadlines. While balances working and being a student. making weekly trips to campus is not required of She said, Working full-time and also being a distance learning courses, professors often student full-time has been very challenging, but require students to take midterms and finals at its a challenge that a lot of us students are facing PVCCs testing center. today, so its nice to have options like online Distance learning students will learn all they classes. need to know about taking an online course by She continued, Since I started taking classes completing the Distance Learning Orientation. here in 2015, Ive taken at least one or more of If you are considering taking an online class my classes online every semester. With my work at PVCC this summer or fall semester, you can schedule, I dont think I would have been able to complete the orientation at www.pvcc.edu/ go back to school without the option of distance academics/distance-learning to learn if distance learning courses available to me. learning at PVCC is right for you. Page 12 Summertime Business Class Marlie Soderquist, staff writer For those studying business administration, management, or entrepreneurship, taking a Business 100 class seems like old news, but the importance of communication and leadership skills, as well as teamwork, ethics, and computer knowledge, are crucial in any job field. Taking the online Business 100 class or a face-to-face session taught by adjuncts during the summer can beneficial to every Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) student. Of course, I am biased, but I think everyone should take at least a Business 100 class. After all, everyone is either going to work for a business (or organization of some sort) or start their own business. So, either way, you should know how a business operates so you can be a better employee. In fact, while there are many benefits from taking an Intro to Business course, I think the number one benefit to students who take my course, is that they end up being a better employee because of it. As a better employee that will achieve more job satisfaction and further their career much quicker and hopefully achieve their ultimate career goals in a reasonable amount of time, said Assistant Professor of Business William Pratt who has been teaching business and management at PVCC since 2013. The Intro to Business, or Bus. 100 class, gives a broad introduction to how businesses function in the United States. It also introduces finances, economic systems, business organization, management, and marketing. Pratt discussed that PVCCs Business Program is transferrable, and the only business class that is required is Business 100. Other business courses are recommended to be taken after transferring, and students are encouraged to finish their liberal arts classes before they transfer. PVCCs Management Associates Degree Program, however, is non-transferrable and is currently being revised due to feedback from local businesses so, we can fully align the skills we teach with our local job market, said Pratt. Assistant Professor of Business William Pratt Photography courtesy of PVCCs Human Resources Department. Students do not need to be a part of the Business or Management Program to take the Business 100 class offered in the Summer, and there are many more business classes offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. Encouraging students who are debating on taking business classes, Pratt said, Business is everywhere. Even if you plan to work for a nonprofit, there are still resources to manage, budgets to follow and people who need good, strong leaders that can motivate them. We have all had bad managers and none of us want to be that bad manager ourselves. So, the best way is to understand a little bit about how a business operates and why managers are bad and what you can do to avoid those same mistakes. An Introduction to Business course is not difficult it is a surprising amount of fun and it really helps to put everything you see and hear at your work or in the news into perspective. Plus, you will probably be smarter than your supervisor when you complete the course! Page 13 Wheelchair Basketball: Students vs. Pros Charles Stish, staff writer Another student, Victoria Detwiler, said, In the wheelchair, you lose about two, maybe two For the past eight years, Charlottesvilles local and half feet. Noting how the loss of normal National Wheelchair Basketball Association height perception made it hard for her to make a (NWBA) team, the Cardinals, have visited shot at the hoop. Its a lot of fun though, she Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) added once a semester. With them, they bring a small It wasnt as difficult physically as I thought box trailer full of wheelchairs so PVCC students it would be, but it was difficult mentally. It was can play against them on the pavement of like trying to carry an egg on a spoon, said PVCCs basketball court. PVCC student Jeremy Greller. This was no different on the seventy-degree Towards the end of the match, some of the day of April 12, 2017. On the sunny day, four students caught on to the techniques of the sport. Cardinals went This made them more against over ten formidable and PVCC students in a confident. One such game of wheelchair student was Cayla basketball. Phillips. Having Five minutes played basketball for into the game, the years, Cayla said she outnumbered spent time before Cardinals were 2-0 entering the match on the students. No observing how the surprise, Cardinals moved considering the about the court. My Cardinals have goal was to get the ranked in the wheelchair down, NWBAs Sweet said Phillips. Cardinal player Rush explaining basic rules of Sixteen list for the While students like wheelchair basketball to PVCC students. past thirteen years. Traaseth, Greller, and Photograph Courtesy of Susan Hannifan Most PVCC players Cayla were pushing were still trying to themselves across the figure out how to court, other students and several faculty members maneuver in the wheelchairs while performing watched and cheered on the match. The crowd the tasks that come with playing basketball. The members could dine on salty chicken, sweet PVCC students also had to abide by the NWBAs tasting macaroni and cheese, and mustard-based rule of one dribble per two pushes. potato salad catered by Wayside Chicken. PVCC Knowing the students would struggle at least provided coolers full of water and soft drinks to in the beginning, the Cardinals went easy until help people stave off the warm weather. most students could get more comfortable in their The student crowd members and players position. Even when figuring out how to play, the would sometimes exchange as one playing students were laughing and smiling as they tried student would tire out and one from the crowd to push themselves across the court, throw or would take their place. Some students held out on pass the ball, and score goals. the court for almost the entire event. Others only Abbigail Abbi Traaseth, one of the students played for a few minutes before surrendering who played, said, It was really disorienting at their position. first. It wasnt intuitive, but I figured it out Among the crowd members were Assistant quickly. When asked about how she felt going Professor of Physical Education Steve McNerney against the Cardinals, she joked Oh, we didnt and Disability Services Counselor Susan stand a chance. Hannifan. Page 14 Both Hannifan and McNerney have worked to plan this event throughout the years. McNerney even requires his Sports Appreciation students to attend the event, but McNerney observed the events attraction and said, Its nice to see the event transgresses requirement. Hannifan also has a personal connection with Cardinal Brandon Rush and has known him since he was 14. According to both Hannifan and Rush, this bi -annual event began over a simple phone call and a request for the Cardinals to come and visit the college to demonstrate the sport. After the match, Rush said, It was real competitive. They figured out the secrets faster than students in previous semesters. But whats important is that we were all out there happy and having fun. Rushs fellow Cardinal, Tom Vandever, said, We had some great athletes and competitors. Its always fun and great to come and play here. The Cardinals are active community members, playing demo matches for schools, churches, and at different local events. They formed in 1980, and since their creation, the Cardinals have had a team diverse in gender, race, and age. In 1982, team members formed what would become the Independence Resource Center. Several Cardinal members still serve on Photography by Charles Stish the Board of Directors for the IRC. You can learn more about the Cardinals via their website: http://cardinalsbasketball.com/ The PVCC Students, Assistant Professor of Physical Cardinals also have a movie called Roll With Education Steve McNerney (back), and Cardinal Tom Vandever (back) pose for a post-match photo. It, which can be viewed on their website. Photograph Courtesy of Susan Hannifan Page 15 Foods From Around The Globe Jake DeLaurier, staff writer On April 5, 2017, Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) held their 29th annual International Food Festival in the North Mall Meeting room. At the event, students and faculty enjoyed food courtesy of local restaurants and PVCC clubs. These included The Bavarian Chef, Black Student Alliance, East Garden, French Club, Himalayan Fusion, International Club, Mican Japanese Restaurant, Pad Thai, and the Spanish Club. Why is it important? Lets see, so that students, staff and faculty can come together and appreciate cuisine from different countries, wrote Professor of Spanish Kit Decker in an email. During the festival, tickets were required to purchase food. These tickets could be purchased outside the North Mall Meeting room. Each ticket cost $1 and would correspond with the food that was for sale. For example, if something at the festival cost $2, then that meant it was worth two tickets. The North Mall Meeting room was packed with students and faculty eager to see the food that was being offered. The food ranged from the traditional macaroni and cheese from the Black Student Alliance, to unfamiliar foods like tres leches from the Spanish club which is cake soaked in various types of milk. Restaurants like The Bavarian Chef offered food that included sausages with sauerkraut, cheese spaetzle, creamy red pepper soup with crab meat, and apfelstrdel. The foods that drew the most attention were the foods from the French Club and Spanish Club. The French Club made crepes with the options of adding Smuckers jam, Nutella, strawberries, whip cream, and edible flowers for garnish. The French Club also offered cooked snails that were prepared with plenty of butter and garlic. The cooked snails were given out for free and also came with a small slice of a baguette. Some of the food offered by the Spanish Club included enchiladas and tamales. All the proceeds from this years International Food Festival were donated to the International Rescue Committee of Charlottesville. Photography by Jake DeLaurier Page 16 Say Bonjour to PVCCs French Club Olivia Stevens, staff writer The hilltop where Piedmont Virginia Community College sits looks as though it sits upon the French Countryside, which makes it a perfect place for the French Club to meet. The French club brings together students who are interested in French culture, cuisine, language, art, and fashion. French club gives an unique French experience to the members without them having to travel across the world. The club meets every other Wednesday; they discuss and learn in-depth about French culture, food, holidays, and politics. The club does not turn away from students who do not speak French or are not in a French class. President Brandi Rey said, Not all members speak French; each member is on a different level of how well they can speak French. In their meetings, they taste different cuisines. During their last meeting, the members tasted assorted cheeses. They also try French bread, quiche, and many other different French dishes. The club will be going to Pause-Caf at La Maison Franais where students who are studying French can enjoy coffee and treats while only speaking French. In the caf, food and drinks are free and the only language allowed is French. At the end of every semester, the club members go out to celebrate by having dinner together at a French restaurant. They have gone to multiple restaurants in Charlottesville including Petit Pois. The club recently started the tradition of going out and sharing a good meal and conversation with the other members as is it something they truly enjoy doing. Members enjoy playing French games such as ptanque, which is a game where players toss or roll balls to get as close as possible to a small wooden ball, which is called a cochonnet, while the players are standing inside a circle with both feet on the ground, according to the website Discover France. Rey, has been in the French club for four semesters and has been president for three. Her interest in French culture began after she met her wife who is a French native and is also a French professor at the University of Virginia. Brandi said that what she enjoys about French club is being with like minded people with the same interest I really like the opportunity to explore ideals and things that are going on that are not discussed in class. Pancakes and Lumberjacks Jake DeLaurier, staff writer The smell of pancakes was in the air inside the main building at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) on April 13, 2017. This was the location of Pancake Panorama, an event held by the Lumberjack Club. At the event, members of the Lumberjack Club sold pancakes near the Bolick Student Center. Proceeds from the event went to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC helps refugees by providing assistance on finding a better place to live and helping them assimilate in the United States. Vice President of the Lumberjack Club Joseph Roberts was at the event. It was technically the whole idea of the club, said Roberts. Students and faculty members were able to buy pancakes and could add toppings such as syrup. At around 2 p.m., the Lumberjack club had raised an approximately $50. Roberts also pointed out that people who missed out on Pancake Panorama could still donate to IRC by visiting their website. Roberts then took some time to talk about the Lumberjack Club.We see our weekly meeting as a time of fellowship, said Roberts. Volunteering has always been part of the Lumberjack Club. We kind of had this goal of volunteering the most out of any club, said club member Ilia Kowalzik. The Lumberjack Club has more volunteering events planned for the future. One of these will be Flannel Fun Run on July 8. It will be a 5k run to help support Caring for Creatures. There are bright things in the Lumberjacks future, said Roberts. Page 17 The Stress of College Life Skye Scott, assistant editor of sleep, physical strain, anxiety, and jitteriness. Julianna Suarez, another PVCC student, said One of the hardest things in college is the she counteracts stress with prioritizing, stress. Many students are juggling school, work, scheduling, and being as organized and proactive and family, which can be difficult to do around as possible. When the stress is overwhelming, finals when school becomes even more however, I try to spend more time with friends or demanding. taking walks to get my mind off things. Exercise David Lerman, the coordinator of student helps a lot. success at Piedmont Virginia Community Suarez is in her second semester at PVCC as College (PVCC), said, Very often the ones that well. Both semesters she has been enrolled in a we see, historically in this office, are questions of full-time course load, while also being an active juggling school along with life. And life is member of the schools Student Government family, life is work, life is transportation and Association (SGA) and other clubs at PVCC. housing and basic security needs, including food. Lerman said a few ways to counteract stress Those are the structural concerns that most often are to think positively, talk to professors, use uh ... the balance of them brings about stress. resources, study differently, and organize. He PVCC has a unique also says to make sure culture, where many of its students take time for students are not the themselves, to recharge traditional college student and have fun. age, or where school is Alec Traaseth is a not their only priority. student, math tutor, Many students at student ambassador, PVCC are parents, fulland SGA member at time employees, or live PVCC. He is finishing away from their family. his second year at These factors all add to PVCC, before the stress a student feels transferring to daily, especially if the University of Virginia student is also full-time at (U.Va)in the fall. school and attempting to His suggestion for get involved in clubs and having a stress free organizations at school. college year is make The Student Success Office provided a stress time for yourself, don't Some of the stressors relief station on the East Patio before exams. in my life include: living allow school to Photography by Tucker Noelke away from my immediate completely consume family, mainiting member your life. But also don't participation in my clubs, and lastly monitoring over schedule yourself, allowing for plenty of my financial expenses and goals, said Erin time to get all assigned work completed. Striking Sonnenberg, a second year PVCC student. a balance between these two things is, in my Stress comes in many different forms. For opinion, the most important trick to a stress free some people, school is not the thing that stresses college experience. them out the most. Sometimes it is their financial Sonnenburg says organization is key as well stability or their living situation. For Sonnenburg, and is one of her only stress relieving tactics. it is the constant stream of work that college If you are feeling especially stressed this creates, while also balancing her participation in semester, feel free to contact the student success on campus activities. office, located in room M132. This stress affects each person differently. For Academic coaches, located in the Writing some people, it can take away their appetite or Center (room M617), are also available for give them a bigger one. Stress can also cause loss students to talk to. Page 18 Future May Hold Plans to Record PVCC Events Antonia Florence, assistant editor Throughout each semester, many lectures, presentations and informative sessions are held at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). Recent programs have included the International Student Speaker Series, a presentation on women in engineering and sexual education seminars. It can be difficult to attend them because of class schedules, employment responsibilities, travel distance or transportation issues. Maybe in the future they will be recorded and be made available on a regular basis for students to watch at a later time. Many students do not realize that PVCC has its own YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/ user/PVCCVIRGINIA) that contains video presentations about academic and Workforce Services programs, promotional videos and commercials, student services and profiles, events, commencements, convocations and pinnings. Some of the postings date back to 2011. According to the viewer count, this is not a very well-known site, but this might be a good place to access future presentation recordings. A request was submitted to PVCC in midFebruary to investigate the viability of recording presentations. This request, and the resources needed to fulfill it are managed by two departments: Instruction & Student Services and Information Technology. The administration is very supportive of the request and would like to accommodate it. The challenge is the technological limitations of certain room locations for filming (for example, the Bolick Student Center is one of the most challenging areas to capture audio for event recordings), as well as the staffing needed to cover all of these events, especially the ones that occur on evenings and weekends, wrote Leigh-Anne M. Lawrence, director of marketing and media relations at PVCC in an email. However, many considerations need to be taken into account when recording. There needs to be a time lapse from the live presentation and when the recording is made available. Otherwise, people will be less inclined to attend the original presentation even though their schedule permits them to. And, of course, keep in mind that [recording] it is not always a guarantee as it would have to be approved by the presenter as a first step, wrote Sue Haas, chief information officer/director of information technology in an email. With PVCCs new building on the horizon, many of the acoustic challenges will be eliminated. With regard to the technological limitations of spaces like the Bolick Center, PVCCs new building will house a Student Center that will be equipped with the technology needed to capture these types of student events, which is very good news, and should make recording events much easier in the future, Lawrence wrote. Dr. John R. Donnelly, vice president for instruction and student services, wrote in an email, We hope in our new building we will have technology in all spaces that will allow for recording. Since we know this is an important issue for students, we can plan accordingly when we build the new student center/advanced technology center. Page 19 Photography by Marlie Soderquist The Chainsmokers at the John Paul Jones Arena Marlie Soderquist, staff writer On the March 18, 2017, the Chainsmokers, DJ and producer duo Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart, performed at the John Paul Jones arena alongside Kiiara, Emily Warren, and Illesium. The duo became a sensation after their 2014 song #Selfie which was popular in multiple countries. They are more known for the songs Roses, Closer featuring singer Halsey, and their new hit Paris. The duos music is a mix of pop, indie, and dance music. The Memories Do Not Open Tour is the duos first tour although they have had three albums. They are appearing all over the United States as well as Canada. The tour features pyrotechnics as well as confetti and smoke. Cartoons also played behind the duo which there were dancing hotdogs, and montages of a cartoon couple represented some of their more emotional songs. They even had two different Snapchat filters featuring the Chainsmokers logo. Emily Warren is well known for being a songwriter but has also been a featured artist in the Chainsmokers songs Paris and Until You Were Gone. She came on stage for three of the Chainsmokers songs. The opening act Kiiara, has her own following as well. Kiiara is known for her pop style and her song Gold. The singer had been ill the entire day and still performed, stopping short after five songs. Illesium, a DJ, performed before Kiiara and is popular on SoundCloud. The performance was for those who favor both pop and dubstep. The entire arena was filled with fans decked in glow sticks, while waving phone cameras, singing along, and dancing. Page 20 Job Opportunities for PVCC students Tucker Noelke, staff writer Having a job is important. If there are bills to pay or extra spending money is needed, a job can be the answer. Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) holds an annual job fair every year. This opportunity is given to PVCC students and community to find jobs and internships in the Central Virginia Area. Even if you are seeking a job on your own, it is essential to figure out where you would want to potentially work. That means knowing what to do in the process of applying for a job. That includes knowing how to dress appropriately, how to behave in an interview, and having a resume ready in hand. In the last year, there were a number of job opportunities the PVCC job fair represented. Best Buy, Jersey Mikes Subs, Douglas Aquatics, UVA Credit Union, and Panera Bread were some of the businesses recruiting for new employees. The UVA Credit Union has a What Do We Value section of their career options on their websites. It states, As you make your career choices, it's important to understand what UVA Community Credit Union values: service, respect, professionalism, productivity, and career growth. If you share these values, then you will find the credit union a fulfilling work environment. They also seek enthusiastic employees, who have a passion for being their best, and having a strong commitment to their service at UVA Credit Union. It is important to research the job, what they expect and learn what an employee can learn from working there. Become a Student Bus Driver at UTS Marcus Tyler, staff writer drivers. Once training is completed, it is up to the driver to choose a regular route, help out at base Looking for the best part-time job for students or drive a charter. The drivers have complete on or near campus? Sometimes a unique, control over what they choose to do. challenging and unusual job can be found right in What is highly recommended from other your own backyard. Or in this case, behind the drivers is signing up to drive some of UTS wheel of a transit bus. At the University Transit charters. Charter trips have been to places like Service (UTS) of University of Virginia (U.Va), Monticello, vineyards, weddings and many more student drivers experience the unique world of locations. Some drivers may even be lucky bus driving. enough to get a few tips from charter passengers. Obtaining a commercial drivers license Of course, if you would like to drive regular (CDL) will kickstart the training process of routes, there are always openings throughout the driving a bus. The process is much like getting week. your basic driver's license. Luckily, for anyone With opportunities to connect with other wondering where they will be able to test and drivers, there are different kinds of committees to train for a commercial drivers license, UTS join at UTS as well. A safety committee that provides paid CDL handles bus and UTS safety, a training. charter committee that At UTS, your handles charter assignments, starting wage as a and finally a special student driver is committee dedicated to UTS around $10 per hour, event planning and recruiting. with opportunities for UTS is always looking for raises. Most student student drivers and welcomes drivers are required to anyone who may be interested work a minimum of 12 in joining the universitys hours per week. staff. However, UTS is All application information flexible with can be found on the UTS Photography by Marcus Tyler scheduling their website. Page 21 Making Something From Nothing Antonia Florence, assistant editor His mother died two months after she gave birth to him. His father, unable to raise a newborn baby boy and 10 siblings by himself, gave the baby to his maternal grandparents to raise. Norman O. Dean, Sr. was born in March 1932, in Greene County, Virginia. This was just before Franklin Roosevelts inauguration and seven years prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor which culminated in WWII, and in part, brought the country out of The Great Depression. He and his 10 brothers and sisters were all born in a 12-year timespan. Life was hard with little money and little food. But things were different then. We didnt have all the things kids have now. We played outside, and we had to work. There was always something that needed to be done, said Dean. Times were hard. In fact, Dean quit school at the end of the sixth grade and took a job at a dime an hour thinning corn. When Dean was not thinning corn, he was working in the hay, digging ditches or doing whatever was needed. His wages helped to support the family. We all have memorable moments in our lives and most of them are good, said Dean. One of the most memorable experiences of my life was when I was 14-years-old and was the chief witness to a murder. It happened right in front of me. I was riding my bicycle and was crossing the intersection of routes 29 and 33 when I saw a friend. [She] was 16, but I had always known her, so I went over and talked to her. A guy in a lumber hauling truck pulled up to a stop and called the girl over to him. She refused and told him she was not going to talk to him anymore and to leave her alone. The next thing I knew, there was a shotgun coming out of the drivers window and shot her in the face, said Dean, Ill never get over that. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the Army by saying he was older than he was. He went through training and was given an armband to wear that had the sergeants insignia. Of course, it was honorary. I felt like I was hot stuff wearing it. I would escort the new recruits around Photography by Antonia Florence for their physicals, haircuts, and wherever else they needed to go, said Dean. This lasted from August 1942 until they told him that they were going to send him to Korea to fight so Dean told them the truth, which they already knew. He was discharged from the Army that December. Dean was given credit for time served and was paid. Dean turned 16 the following March and found work in Dundalk, Maryland, at Bethlehem Steel, Americas second largest steel producer and largest shipbuilder. I loved the work and liked the guys I worked with, but hated being told what to do all the time, said Dean. When he found out he was going to be drafted for the war, Dean enlisted this time in the Air Force for four years because he did not want to be on the ground fighting. After his discharge, he went back to Bethlehem Steel spending a total of six years with them. Also during this time, he was repairing and selling televisions from his home. When the business became lucrative, he left Bethlehem Steel. In 1962, Dean started Deans T.V. and Appliances moving it from his house to Wise Ave. in Baltimore. He soon opened three more stores throughout the city. One of his suppliers offered him a week of an all-expense paid trip to the 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, which was a Category One Worlds Fair being held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, if Dean would buy 100 Page 22 television sets from him. Dean purchased the 100 television sets at wholesale, sold the sets at his usual profit margin, went to the Worlds Fair and enjoyed the trip. Dean was not one to pass up a chance to make money, and he slowly accumulated rental properties and began other business ventures. I opened up a honky-tonk nightclub and hired a three-piece band. It seated about 150 people and had a small dance floor with just enough room for couples to get up and dance while they bumped into each other, said Dean with a smile. The homeland of his youth called, and in 1973, he returned to Ruckersville where he soon opened another dance hall. After a couple was shot, Dean sold that business and purchased a burned down truck stop. After rebuilding the truck stop and adding a strip of commercial units to the property, the business still remains lucrative. On one end of the property were large bays for people to work on their tractor-trailers, but they sat empty most of the time. Dean turned the old work bays into rental rooms, which quickly became The Trail Motel with additional buildings. The motel helps to meet the needs of temporary and long-term housing for those in the area, and a place to stay overnight for travelers passing through. Always keeping one eye on the present and his other eye on the future, Dean invested in real estate, especially fronting Route 29. Over the years he has bought and sold property, added commercial buildings, and leased to local business owners and national brands such as Wendys and Papa Johns. I have never lost money on an investment property, said Dean proudly. There are many things that make a business successful, but dishonesty is the worst thing you can do in a business. You have to treat people like you want to be treated, said Dean. Now that he is 85, it is time to not necessarily slow down but to do some other things that he wants to do, like travel the United States, especially Florida. Airfare to Florida is just a little over $200, so I hope to be making that trip more often, said Dean, I also want to spend more time at the bay. Ive been working on the bay house for 40 years, and its just about done. The Dean family has always worked hard using their hands and backs to accomplish their goals. This can be hard and slow, but it saves money. Even though he still reports to the office and manages the business by phone, he is happily stepping aside. Deans daughter and three sons now largely hold the reins. All of my kids have worked hard their whole lives in the business, and it has not been overlooked. I enjoy having them in the business and happy to turn it over to them- its fun. They have been a very obedient family according to the bible, said Dean. The Deans hold their faith close to their hearts and have done many things for many people in the immediate community and sometimes beyond. They have done this in a low-key manner because they are not seeking recognition. They want to help people who make an effort to help themselves. Norman O. Dean killing time in his auto dealership. Photography by Antonia Florence Page 23 Review: Brunch at The Pigeon Hole MaKayla Grapperhaus, staff writer quality service at all times. When it comes time to order, it can be Located on The Corner, The Pigeon Hole is difficult to choose what to eat because everything just a short walk from University of Virginia on the menu is delicious. They have a variety (U.Va). Under the shelter of a large oak tree, the drinks, including alcoholic options, such as bright blue house with its wooden porch is the bloody marys and mimosas. perfect spot for Sunday brunch. The Pigeon Hole However, you cannot go wrong with their gives customers the option of dining inside or orange juice. Nothing beats the taste of cold, outside. While both options are great, you cannot freshly squeezed in-house orange juice served in beat the experience of dining outside on a a mason jar. Although, I have noticed that their beautiful spring day. orange mimosas are also quite popular. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, All their food is fantastic, but be prepared to bringing back childhood memories of times when pay at least $10 for any plate you choose. While neighbors enjoyed brunch in each others good it is a little pricey for breakfast food, you will not company and nice weather. Like most places on have any regrets. From pancakes to French toast, The Corner, most of the staff are U.Va students. all their brunch options are delightfully Their service is excellent, and despite the bustling satisfying. They also have hardier options, such environment on weekends, the place maintains as their biscuits and gravy and breakfast burritos. When I asked the waitress what her favorite item on the menu was, she said that the Huevos Rancheros was her personal favorite and that it is also one of their most popular dishes. The Huevos Rancheros is their own take on an omelet, served with easyover eggs, salsa, black beans and plenty of cheddar cheese. It is super tasty, but then again, Ive never been disappointed with anything Ive ordered off their menu. They also have a great selection of sides, most are $5 or under. I really enjoy their sticky buns; which are quite large and only $4. Whether it is a relaxing Sunday Brunch or a quick stop for breakfast before classes, The Pigeon Hole is sure to hit the spot. With a welcoming atmosphere paired with made in-house favorites, The Pigeon Hole is one of the best places for brunch in Cville. The next time you find yourself craving brunch during this lovely spring weather, head over to The Pigeon Hole. They are open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends and are closed on Photography by MaKayla Grapperhaus Wednesdays. Page 24 Summer Kick List: Sneakers to Watch For Shawn Stevenson, staff writer Sneaker heads have a lot to look forward to during summer 2017. Starting this month, all the way through July. There is a list of Air Jordan shoes that would make a fine addition to any sneaker heads collection. Starting with these masterpieces, the Pantone 7s release April 29. Priced at $190, this particular sneaker is simplicity at its finest. With a university blue upper, white Jumpman logo on the ankle section and lastly a completely white sole with another Jumpman logo on the heel of it adding contrast. Who would have thought that simplicity would be so beautiful? Skipping ahead to May 5, we have a pair of Pure Platinum 31 Lows. At $160, the 31s provide a clean white and beautiful metallic silver coming together on a flyweave and synthetic material upper. The shiny silver is visible on the heel of the shoe, as well as the enlarged Jumpman for contrast and tying it all together is a white midsole and translucent outsole. Moving on to May 13 for the release of the Pure Money 4s. Going for $190, with the same concept of the Pure Platinum 31 Lows, the 4s sport a heavenly combination of the same white and silver. Silver takes over the lace tabs, insoles and Jumpman logo across the heel. While a crisp white dominates everything else from the leather upper to the rubber sole. On May 20, the White Metallic 13 Lows will be released for $175. As the name implies, the 13s cling to that same white and silver color scheme as the 31s and 4s. A white upper kicks off the 13s, following a platinum detail on the overlays that draw immediate attention to also the mudguards and heel. Finally, there is a metallic silver Jumpman on the heel and ankle, along with a white and silver outsole. The last shoe coming out in this color scheme will be on shelves June 3. The $190 White Metallic 7s possess white leather overlays with platinum underlays. Simple metallic silver branding is implemented throughout to further emphasize its heavenly build. For a change of color, the 11 Baron Lows will release on May 27. Priced at $175, they feature a black upper, ash grey patent leather mudguard, metallic silver branding, white midsole and a translucent outsole. June 10, brings another pair of low top 13s. The Chutney 13s, at $175, come equipped with a black leather and suede upper, covered with chutney detailing side panels, inner lining, and outsole as well as the Jumpman on the tongue. Finishing the sneaker with a golden Jumpman on the ankle to top it off, this sneaker is a beautiful combination of wheat, black, and gold. Flaunting a color scheme of black, matte silver, white and royal blue this pair of $190 Alternate Motorsport 4s dons black tumbled leather, grey and white detailing on the midsole and inner lining. The beautiful royal blue is vivid on the tongue and outsole. Arriving June 20 and July 22 are two pairs of lovely 13s both pricing at $190. The first pair is the Playoff 13s have tumbled leather throughout the upper, suede detailing on the mudguards and midsole, with traces of red and white inspired by the Chicago Bulls color scheme on the branding, midsole and outsole. The second pair go by the History of Flight 13s. Different from black leather, this sneaker comes with white tumbled leather and very minute hints of red on just the sole, lining and branding. Lastly on this summers kicks list, a pair of spicy University Red 5s coming in at $190. University red suede throughout the whole upper and matching red on the tongue, mesh panels, eyelets, and part of the outsole. Providing contrast, this sneaker also carries a grey tongue, black accents on the inner lining, the Jumpman logo on the tongue and heel, along with shark teeth on the midsole and an icy blue outsole. This concludes this summers kick list, I am sad to say that there will be no OG sneakers coming out this year. For us sneaker heads out there, that is pretty upsetting. However, these shoes on the kicks list will make a fine and sensational addition to any sneaker collection. If you do not know where to go to get your kick list kicks, they will be available at Legends. Located in the Albemarle Shopping Center, next to the ACAC gym. Always available to help, Jes will answer any questions from shoes, jerseys and other aspects of apparel. Page 25 Summer Movie Preview Jake Delaurier, staff writer As the school year comes to a close, students have a lot to look forward to during their break from school such as this years slate of summer movies. Summer time is always packed with blockbusters to see, and this year is no exception. The superhero genre has easily become one of the most popular in modern cinema. This summer, audiences can look forward to three superhero movies. Kicking off the summer movie season on May 5 is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The original Guardians of the Galaxy came out of nowhere surprising everyone with its memorable main cast, sense of humor, and amazing soundtrack. The trailers for the sequel have revealed few details about the films actual plot. However, based off Marvel Studios track record, expect Vol. 2 to be a terrific start to the summer movie season. Also from Marvel is Spider-Man: Homecoming, opening July 7. After his cameo appearance in last years Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man is finally getting his first feature-length film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Tom Holland reprising his role as Spider-Man. It will be interesting to see how Homecoming pans out as it is a joint production between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures who still own the film rights to Spider-Man. The success of Homecoming could pave the way for similar partnerships in the future. Marvel is not the only studio releasing a superhero movie over the summer. Opening June 2 from Warner Bros and DC is Wonder Woman. Set during the first World War, Gal Gadot will reprise her role as Wonder Woman from Batman v. Superman Dawn of Justice. Ever since the release of Man of Steel in 2013, DCs movies have been commercially successful but critical duds. Whether or not Wonder Woman will break this trend is yet to be known. The summer movie season will also typically have at least one successful horror film such as The Conjuring 2 from last year. The horror film to look out for this summer is Alien: Covenant on May 19. Ridley Scott, who also directed the original Alien and the prequel Prometheus, returns to direct Covenant. While Prometheus was criticized by some fans for not featuring the franchises iconic Xenomorphs, Covenant has got them covered. Covenant will also feature a new breed of Xenomorphs called Neomorphs which are birthed from their human host via airborne spores. The studio 20th Century Fox has already moved forward the release of the film twice which shows they are confident in the films quality. Based off the marketing, audiences can expect one demented nightmare of a film. Last summer animated films like Pixars Finding Dory and Illuminations Secret Life of Pets were some of the most successful of the summer and the entire year. This summer both Pixar and Illumination will be releasing another animated film. From Pixar there is Cars 3, opening June 16, and Despicable Me 3 from Illumination opening June 30. Both Pixar and Illumination have a track record for making successful animated films and this summer will be no different. This summer will also provide a few comedies for audiences who are looking for a good laugh. One such comedy is Baywatch, opening May 25. Based off the TV show from the late 80s, the film will star Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron in the leading roles. The film will be similar to the recent Jump Street films in that it takes a well-known TV show from the 80s and turn it into an R-rated comedy. These are just a few films to look forward to this summer. I have yet to mention other films like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Transformers: The Last Knight, and War for the Planet of the Apes. Needless to say, this summer is full of movies to see. Page 26 Riddles Brennan Tanner, staff writer I was once mighty mountains, I held a king's ransom in wealth, But the wind, the ice, the rain, They broke me down, stole my wealth. Over time, I drifted, my body did decay, One stone to another, and then to earth and for a while I stay. What am I? I have two long fangs, I can eat a thousand sheep, And leave only cloth. First, when someone has a need for silence, They set a finger to their lips. Then when times are tight, and few have heard the call, those who do respond we ask to give their...? And both of these together spun and woven tight, Wraps around and keeps us warm, many a winter's night. What am I? Twelve sunshine princesses, dancing in the light, But as the sun goes down they meet the princes dark, and bright. Together at the sunset, together at its rise, The same old cycle, over again, an endless reprise. Who are they? I went and caught a falling blue star, it's small and cool on my hand, And now it is here I wear it on my finger, in a band. More mighty than the sword, The creator of the written word, Summons voices from a deep dark well, Calls forth the dead, their stories to tell. I am hard as crystal, as clear as ice, With as many shapes as there are grains of rice, I help you see both near and far, From the words on a page, to a faraway star, If joined with silver then magic I can do, For with no camera, in me youll see you. Page 27 Classifieds Join The Forum! Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Online Editor Joe Fowler Assistant Editors Antonia Florence Skye Scott Sign up for ENG 121: Introduction to Journalism Fall 2017 ENG 121 offers students a chance to learn about journalistic writing and get their work in print. Know of any Community Events, Announcements, or Advertisements youd like to list? Contribute and Submit to Contact us at theforum@pvcc.edu for more information or visit our website : www.piedmontforum.com Staff Writers/Copyeditors Athena Alving Annette Cashatt Jake Delaurier Antonia Florence Joe Fowler MaKayla Grapperhaus Tucker Noelke Skye Scott Marlie Soderquist Olivia Stevens Shawn Stevenson Charles Stish Brennan Tanner Marcus Tyler Lindsey Woodyard Comic Artist Caroline Morris Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College PVCC Celebrates Schools International Diversity Skye Scott, assistant editor On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Bolick Student Center to celebrate the cultural diversity at PVCC. Before the speakers started, participants were encouraged to put heart stickers on a colorful world map to show where their families were from. Participants could also write their name and ancestry on name tags to wear for the rest of the day. The first speaker was Connie Jorgensen, an assistant professor of political science. She started by introducing herself and where her ancestors came from. She said, We are a loving and supporting environment. Concluding by saying this environment is what makes PVCC the community that it is. After Jorgensen, Jessica Kingsley, an English professor, read from PVCCs official statement in response to the Executive Order on Immigration. This statement says that everyone should have access to a PVCC education, and that PVCC takes pride in their diversity. Then it says, The international members of the PVCC community enrich March 2017 Read more activism in Charlottesville on pages 5 and 8 our campus. They are a welcome and vital part of our global mission. Next, Jennifer Koster, another English professor, read a poem written by Warsan Shire. The poem, titled Home, starts with no one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark. you only run for the border when you see the whole city running as well. Koster read, with tears in her eyes and her voice cracking, the ending of the poem, no one leaves home until home is a Continued on page 4 In This Issue Photography by Skye Scott PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Resources Clubs -pgs. 12-13 Refugees -pgs. 14-15 Reviews -pgs. 16-17 Comic -pgs. 6-7 -pg. 23 DATES TO REMEMBER Student Success Day * March 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Main Building Spring Break March 6-12 Richmond Ballet ^ March 8, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Last day to apply for Spring Graduation March 15 Credible News Seminar * March 15, 12-1 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room SGA Talent Show Auditions * March 15 & 16, 12-1 p.m., Main Building Free Movie Friday: Hidden Figures * March 17, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium What High School Didnt Teach You Event 1* March 20, 12-1 p.m., M229 PVCC 33rd Annual Job Fair * March 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Main Building What High School Didnt Teach You Event 2 * March 22, 12-1 p.m., M229 VA Festival of the Book March 22-26, around Charlottesville What High School Didnt Teach You Event 3* March 24, 12-1 p.m., M229 Financial Aid Workshop * March 25, 9 a.m. to noon, sign up online: www.pvcc.edu/supersaturday Lecture: Marianne vs Joan of Arc * March 29, 12-1 p.m., M229 PVCC Presents Cabaret ^ March 31 & April 1, 7:30 p.m.; April 1 & 2, 2:30 p.m. Dickinson Auditorium *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available Student Success Day March 1 Skye Scott, assistant editor The third annual Student Success day will be on Wednesday, March 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place in the Bolick Student Center and surrounding classrooms. There will be 10 interactive workshops. Five will be happening from 11-11:25 a.m., the other 5 will be from 11:30-11:55 a.m. The goal of these workshops is to help students learn how to succeed here at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). The dessert seminars are: Math Anxiety: What is it and How to Overcome it, The Power of Grit, Mindset, and Locus of Control, Debunking the Myths of Financial Aid, The Transfer Tornado, How to Use your Resume to Stand Out, Meet the First Quadrant: Tutoring and More, Honors ClassesExperiences and Rewards, Managing Test Anxiety, 3 Secrets to a Great Interview, and Commas, Commas, Commas, Come on! From 12-1 p.m., there will be free pizza and desserts for everyone who participates in the resource fair. Fliers and table toppers around campus promise music and prizes as well! Students should check with their professors to see if they are offering extra credit for participation. The second annual Student Success Day was great event, drawing more than 350 students to participate in a dozen interactive workshops and a resource fair, all designed to increase the awareness and knowledge of the student body, and hopefully helping many more students achieve their goals that have brought them to PVCC, said David Lerman, coordinator of student success, about last semesters event. Page 2 SGAs First Town Hall Meeting Charles Stish, staff writer On Feb. 8, PVCCs Student Government Association (SGA) held the first ever Town Hall Meeting, where students and faculty were invited and encouraged to ask three of PVCCs college administrators questions about topics related to the school. The panel was set in the Bolick Student Center from 12 to 12:55 p.m. with SGA President Wadah Al Mulhim hosting the event. The three guest panelists were PVCC President Dr. Frank Friedman, Vice President for Instruction & Student Services Instruction & Student Services Dr. John Donnelly, and Vice President of Finance & Administrative Services Kim McManus. By 11:55 a.m., the Bolick Student Center was full of PVCC students and faculty eager to ask their questions directly to three of PVCCs most higher-up members. It had the warm feeling of a community coming together to discuss issues, problems, and concerns to find solutions for the common good. One student asked, Because of so many Muslim students that we have in this school, I was wondering if there was a way we can have a room, a prayer room, where Muslims can pray. Can we do something like that? President Friedman said, Space is a real problem here at the college; were very short on space. Were especially short on non-classroom space. We have many different clubs and organizations that have asked us for space dedicated to them, and its just not possible to provide that amount of space. The other thing is we do not provide special accommodations for one religious practice over another. So providing a space just for Muslims, or just for Christians, or just for Jews, is against the policies we have and the philosophies that we have. So there is a practical issue of space and the philosophical issue that we do not provide special religious space for individual religions. Another question was about the issue of parking spaces. Vice President McManus answered first, explaining there will be more parking in the future as more facilities are built. President Friedman said, I knew wed get a question about parking. So, Im going to give you the answer Ive been giving for the past, I dont even know how many years now, whenever a student brings it up. And youre going to hate my answer, so Im telling you that right now. He explained statistically there is enough parking space and the parking is monitored so they know how many parking spaces are needed to fulfill the colleges needs. He acknowledged the problem of people having to park by the Dickinson Building to get to a class in the Main Building, but he noted, You will never, underline the word never, park this close to your classrooms again. You will yearn for the days when you could park in the Dickinson lot and walk to this building. So remember, these are the good old days of parking, not the bad old days of parking. The audience responded with applause and laughter. After that, Vice President Donnelly added that the scheduling was a part of the issue, saying, Nine through noon classes are the most popular classes that students sign up for. Toward the end of the meeting, SGA President Al Mulhim asked the panelists, What helped you to get through your college career and do you have any helpful tips or suggestions for our students? Vice President McManus said that keeping in contact with his professors was helpful during his college years. Vice President Donnelly suggested working with others in your field of study is a good practice, as it helped him through his college career. Donnelly also suggested being active in the school outside of the classroom by spending time with friends or going to events, to make the school more than a place of work and study. Agreeing with his vice presidents, President Friedman suggested for students to stay active and participate in the school by not only going to extra events, studying with friends, or being a part of the clubs, but also being connected with their professors. Friedman stated that one of the advantages of PVCC is small classes and faculty who teach and really care. Any PVCC student can contact the SGA to voice their opinions and suggestions. The SGA will share concerns directly to college administrators. President Friedman said, I think the best way for students to make sure their voice is heard is through the SGA. Page 3 International Diversity Continued from page 1 damp voice in your ear saying leave, run now, i dont know what ive become. Colum Leckey, a history professor, followed Koster and spoke of the historical contexts surrounding the Executive Order on Immigration. Wadah Al Mulhim, the Student Government Association president and the only scheduled student speaker, was next. Al Mulhim is a refugee from Iraq; however, his speech did not center around his personal experience. Rather, it focused around things almost anyone could understand and appreciate. He addressed political unity: It doesnt matter if youre red, blue or neither. Our strength is in our unity. He said that the Executive Order did not reflect on the American people whom he knows. Smiling, but with a cracking voice and tears in his eyes, he ended saying, Open your mind to the world and understand that we can make our country great again if we love, tolerate and respect each other. This is the U.S.A and it wont be great with U.S! The last scheduled speaker was Bruce Glassco, an English professor. His speech concentrated around fear, mainly the fear of people that are not like us. He used the example of the Phoenicians, who were ancient sea-traders. They traveled all over the known world gathering items from the countries and trading them to other people. He said, People could have thrown them out, or killed them and taken their goods, but the ones who were willing to trade got something in exchange that was even more valuable than the ships holds full of goods. Apparently the Phoenicians had developed a written phonetic alphabet they would share to the people they traded with. Glassco said that our whole modern education is thanks to these simple sea-traders, and the people they traded with who managed to overcome their fear of different people with different customs. All during the speeches, participants sat and stood wrapped in silent attention. The crowd grew steadily bigger as students and professors coming and going from class would stop in the sunny hallway to listen. After Glassco, the microphone was open and anyone could come up and speak. About 13 other faculty and students stood and used their personal stories as encouragement for the people at PVCC who might be affected by the Executive Order. Kris Swanson, an assistant professor of French, talked about the welcoming symbol of the Statue of Liberty. She read from Emma Lazaruss poem, The New Colossus, which is engraved in the Statute. She began tearing up near the end, when she read Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! Photography by Skye Scott Page 4 Protestors marched at the University of Virginia on Jan. 29, 2017. When Religion and Government Met Joe Fowler, online editor The Student Government Association (SGA) president sat outside of Jimmy Johns reviewing research on the differences between fungal growth on organic and conventionally grown apples. Making use of his free time, he waited patiently for a discussion on recent changes to immigration law. Wadah Al Mulhim, the SGA president, is a Muslim immigrant from Iraq. Al Mulhim agreed to speak about President Donald Trumps controversial executive order from Jan. 27, 2017 titled Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States. The order included a temporary ban on travel into the United States from several countries with majority Muslim populations and initially affected visa and green card holders. The same person who passed the ban also said to ban Muslims six months ago. There is a connection, Al Mulhim said of the executive order a week after its initial inception. Though quick to point out the poor phrasing and implementation of the executive action, Al Mulhim said that he was a strong proponent of both legal immigration and protecting the border and country, provided such actions serve to make everyone feel safe within our sovereign borders. If Trump protects the border, I agree, but that should protect everyone, said Al Mulhim. The massive amount of protests that ensued over the hours and days immediately following the executive order failed to convey a message that citizens felt safe in America. One such rally and march took place that weekend at the UVA Rotunda. Several hundred people convened at the Rotunda bearing signs that welcomed refugees and immigrants. Other signs simply read RESIST. Charlottesville Vice-Mayor Wes Bellamy spoke to the crowd wearing workout clothes and reasoning that people wearing suits and ties were responsible for causing the trouble and turmoil of contemporary America. After the speakers finished, the march began with cheers in support of the many Muslim citizens in attendance and criticisms against politicians, particularly those currently occupying the White House. People just kept showing up, one attendee said of the march. Both the rally and march were peaceful and legal. Though there was a slight police presence for public safety, no major direct actions or other forms of civil disobedience occurred, though protesters sent a poignant message that was repeated at PVCC, City Hall and beyond. Editors Note: For more with Wadah Al Mulhim go to piedmontforum.com Page 5 Jenna Jones uses a library laptop. Photography by Olivia Stevens Janessa Jones uses a library laptop. Photography by Olivia Stevens G.O.A.L. Program Loans 30 Laptops Olivia Stevens, staff writer During the fall semester 2016 at PVCC, the library introduced the G.O.A.L. program which allowed 30 students who meet financial aid requirements to use laptops for their homework outside of school. Students who qualify have to be enrolled in at least six credits, including one face-to-face class on the main campus. Another deciding factor is how much a students family contributes according to their FAFSA calculation. Applications for the next semester will be available during the spring semester of 2017, according to Jacqueline Carrell. The students who had laptops in the previous semester have first consideration. Otherwise, computers are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The application process can take from a few days to a few weeks. After reviewing each application, the library will choose applicants who will then need to sign a contract. Before students can receive the laptop, they must go to an orientation session. Students who are on academic probation are allowed to apply and be approved for the G.O.A.L. program, but the library website says that they have to meet with a retention advisor. If students drop a class and are taking fewer than six credits, the students have to return the laptops. If the students do not turn the laptop in 72 hours, then they must pay a fee of $5 per day. All laptops that are being borrowed in the spring semester must be returned by May 8, 2017. If they are not returned by 9:30 p.m. on May 8, 2017, there will be a charge of $5 per day late, according to a notice on the laptop. Along with a fine, the student will not be allowed to receive their grades, transcripts, or diplomas until the laptop is returned, according to the contract. The contract also states that if the laptop is past due by seven business days then the student is not allowed to use the G.O.A.L. program in any future semesters. When asked if the G.O.A.L. program has been a success since it has started, Jacqueline Carrell said that it had been a success so far. So if a student needs a laptop and does not have the means to buy one, go to the library and ask about the G.O.A.L. program. Page 6 Piedmonts English Conversation Circle Marlie Soderquist, staff writer Non-native English speakers at Piedmont Virginia Community College should consider dropping by the Writing Center Lab (M627) on Tuesday or Wednesday nights. Professor Jennifer Koster and tutors from the Writing Center meet for the English Conversation Circle from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and 5-6 p.m. on Wednesdays to help non-native English speakers feel more comfortable when discussing the English language with their peers. We started ECC (English Conversation Circle) in summer 2016 to provide our non-native English speakers an opportunity to practice conversing. Many non-native speakers have studied English in their home countries and are able to understand it when they read. However, it is difficult to understand native English speakers because of the rate of their speech, their accents, and their idiom usage [such as, Oh, thats a piece of cake!]. ECC is designed to help them learn some vocabulary and practice speaking so that they can keep up in their classes, but also has the effect of making students feel more comfortable on campus, like theyre a part of the community, Professor Koster explains. Piedmonts student population has many nonnative English speakers, and there are many resources for them on campus. The ECC is another way to make them feel accepted, learn about American culture, and meet other nonnative English speakers. The ECC allows English speaking students to attend as well. Professor Koster emphasizes that native English speakers benefit just as much as non-native speakers from the circles. Learning about other cultures has been fascinating for us. Weve learned about how other cultures organize or view time, perspectives on our education system, and aspects of our lives that are unusual to outsiders, she said. The turnout for the circle has not been large and students are encouraged to come out. There are different themes each week such as Enjoying Money, What do you think? and Getting around. The themes act as a starting point to each session and are the basis of a long list of questions that can be discussed that night. For those that have attended the circles, the impact has been great and just what Professor Koster was hoping for. The students tell us they feel more comfortable on campus and that they feel more comfortable talking to native speakers generally, she said. The circle will continue to meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the Spring semester. English Conversation Circle. Photography by Skye Scott Page 7 Hundreds gather press conference at Downtown Mall. Photography by Sean Gill Charlottesville Declared Capital of Resistance Sean Gill, staff writer Mayor Mike Signer made a strong declaration for Charlottesville as he announced the city as a Capital of the Resistance on Jan. 31 in front of hundreds that gathered at Charlottesville City Hall. It was a declaration made in response to President Donald J. Trumps executive order filed on Friday, Jan. 27, which affects thousands of refugees trying to escape hostile situations in their home countries. This is not about politics or about party or even a president. This is about America and about American values, Signer told the crowd of hundreds of people. Other speakers were also at the press conference such as Khizr Khan, Gold Star Father of United States Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 during the Iraq War. Khan is most recently known for his speech given during the Democratic National Convention in July 2016. Thank you for standing for the values of this country and for the values of our forefathers, said Khan as he addressed those attending the press conference. There were also some people in attendance showing support for President Trumps executive order. Jason Kessler, a conservative blogger, was live streaming the event while providing commentary to his viewers. Police intervened when another attendee attempted to grab the phone out of Kesslers hands. Currently, the declaration is merely a symbolic move as Signer was there on behalf of himself only and wasnt representing the entire Charlottesville City Council. Signer talked about the steps he plans on taking to help Charlottesvilles refugee population. This included providing easy access to immigration lawyers and attempts to declare Charlottesville a sanctuary city. The declaration has not received any immediate response from the Trump administration. However, President Trump stated, days prior to the press conference, that federal funding would be cut for any sanctuary cities. Photography by Sean Gill Page 8 Your Safety is Their Priority Marlie Soderquist, staff writer A typical day at work for Piedmont Virginia Community Colleges Chief of Police, Chris Wyatt consists of patrolling the grounds, handing out parking tickets, supervising other security guards and officers, volunteering in the community garden, and fixing odds and ends around campus. After retiring from Richmonds police department after twenty-two years, Wyatt (a PVCC alum) noticed the college was hiring. He thought that this job would be a walk in the park compared to the shootings, homicides, and robberies he saw in Richmond every day. Wyatt applied and was quickly offered the job of chief of police. Currently, Wyatt oversees the safety officers and the three sworn police officers here at PVCC. Safety is his number one priority, and all officers follow the same rules and procedures that he did at Richmonds police department. To maintain safety at PVCC, Wyatt plans drills such as the recent table top talk with the state police that discussed what to do in an active shooter situation. He also listens to local police radio stations and keeps in contact with both state, Albemarle police, and the DMV to ensure parking tickets are handled correctly. Measures taken by PVCCs threat assessment team, made up of faculty members, officers, and board members for when students submit police reports also allow for any apparent threats to be handled properly. Wyatt believes PVCCs campus is extremely safe, I even allow my children to explore the halls of PVCC and I would never leave them alone in the mall, he joked. If there ever is a moment you feel unsafe, Wyatt encourages students to dial 911 first, then the PVCCs police department (434) 981-6362. Any phone calls made to either number will Chief Chris Wyatt alert the officer Photography by on campus, as Marlie Soderquist well as Officer Wyatt. An officer is on campus Monday through Friday, 24 hours a day, and their response time is usually no more than three minutes (depending on the urgency of the situation). Wyatt reminds students that PVCC has spared no expense to ensure students safety: Installing 59 cameras, safe boxes (in case of fire), and hiring amazing officers. Many who are retired police or military. All of PVCCs officers have an open-door policy. If you ever have questions, feel free to visit the campus police office in M709 or the security office located next to Perk Up. Students can find the Public Safety Office next to Perk Up. Photography by Sean Gill Page 9 Fourth Fridays Improv at PVCC Sean Gill, staff writer Every fourth Friday from 6-8 p.m., a plethora of high spirits can be found at the Maxwell Theatre (Black Box) in the Dickinson Building at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). This collection of laughter and entertainment comes from the Fourth Fridays Improv series. Learn to think fast, improve focus and listening skills and tap into creativity to build on the many possibilities that emerge in theatrical improvisation, the PVCC website states. The Fourth Fridays Improv series provides interactive lessons on relaxing your nervousness, interpretation of situations, and controlling your body language. It provides useful knowledge for various forms of improv and important comprehension of interaction in everyday life. Award-winning playwright Brad Stoller leads Fourth Fridays Improv. he has taught drama for more than 20 years. Throughout the series, Stoller shares why each exercise is important and how it contributes to theatre. On Jan. 27, the opening act was an entertaining game that consisted of playing tag and memorizing names. It was a test of remaining calm while having to think quickly. It provided a great opening to understanding how nervous everyone was and attempted to reduce the nervousness. Sometimes speaking is the least important part of acting, Stoller said during another one of the exercises. This activity consisted of three volunteers sitting in chairs in the middle of the stage. The participants were asked to do a combination of either raising one of their hands, turning their head left or right, and/or crossing their legs. They would do this while staying completely silent. It exhibited a sense of working together to tell a story while using a limited number of actions. No previous experience is required to join in on the fun during the Fourth Friday Improv series. They will keep meeting and honing their craft in hopes of staging a performance in spring 2017. Express Yourself at One Mic Stand Jake DeLaurier, staff writer One Mic Stand was held once again, on Feb. 9 in the Black Box in Dickinson at 7:00 p.m. Hosted by Ty Cooper, founder of the United Nations of Comedy, the purpose of One Mic Stand is for people to express themselves in front of an audience. While poetry and short stories were part of the night, stand up comedy was the most popular element. Of the six people who spoke to the audience, four decided to do stand up comedy. First was Rick Faris. I think its great to be an octogenarian [a person who is 80], said Faris. Faris talked about what it is like to be 80 and that it is the age you outlive body odor. He also mentioned that once someone reaches 80, you have checked off most things on your bucket list. After Faris there was A.V. Crummio. Crummio let the audience know that he is part of the social media generation. One of the first jokes Crummio made was explaining the difference between his friends. Crummio also poked fun at his boss. He is the type of guy who will sit and talk for eight hours on something that he knows nothing about, said Crummio. Next up was Manny Cosmo. Cosmo came stumbling into Black Box dressed up as an old man. Part of Cosmos act was being unable to keep his balance as he comically fell numerous times. A joke that Cosmo told included making fun of the drug commercials that spend half the commercial warning people about the side effects. Lastly, there was Broocks Willich. Willich told the audience that she previously did stand up in New York. One of the stories Willich told was her time living in the hood in Brooklyn and how her nickname at her apartment complex was the white woman. For those who missed One Mic Stand and would like to attend, the next One Mic Stand will be held on Apr. 13. Page 10 Theatre of the Oppressed Seeks Solidarity Jake DeLaurier, staff writer and playfully which opens everyone to areas of listening to each other that don't exist when we With everything facing our world today, from are closed off quite literally in our bodies and political unrest, to the current refugee crises, and voices. the uncertainty of what the Once the event started, future holds, it would not the audience of roughly be controversial to say two dozen were asked to that we are living in get up and form a circle in chaotic times. In response which Stoller stated that to such times, there is the the focus was on solidarity. Theatre of the Oppressed. Burns asked the audience Originally created by questions and, if it applied Brazilian theatre director to them, they would step and activist Augustus inside the middle of the Bole in the 1960s, circle. The first question Photography by Jake DeLaurier Theatre of the asked was if any of the Oppressed examines the audience members saw the medium of theatre and how such examinations flyer that advertised the event. can have an impact on communities and the The questions soon became more serious world as a whole. This is done by examining once the topic of last years presidential election cultural ideas and seeing how these ideas can lead and its aftermath were brought up. Questions to a result of unrest in societies. ranged from if anyone was shocked by the Drama therapist Mecca Burns and Assistant election results to if they were worried about the Professor of Theatre Arts Brad Stoller led their recent travel ban. The response had almost own Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop on Feb. everyone stepping in the middle of the circle. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After that, the audience started to play theatre Mecca and I have offered this for a fourth games. The first was a game called mirroring. time now, but as the political climate is so This consisted of the audience mimicking the charged right now, people are finally taking movements and noises of other audience notice of these types of offerings where people members. can engage in dialogue through artistic means. The second game involved the audience This type of theatre is used through most of the splitting into groups of two. The first group put world (rarely in this country, as people are less their hands together to form a bridge and made likely to see the point of civic engagement for rhythmic sounds. The second group had to close several reasons - the forces of power are so their eyes and listen to the rhythmic sounds so obscure and confusing - people in general believe they could walk under the bridge. Once they that doing something to rock the boat will only walked under the bridge, the group forming the cause them harm, because they have it relatively bridge would make a celebration sound. good. etc.), said Stoller. One of the last activities before lunch was a When asked why people should attend the discussion of Martin Luther King Jr.s six event, Stoller said people should attend, For principles of nonviolence. The six principles of finding a voice and hearing the concerns, voices nonviolence are a way of life for courageous and feelings of others in a non-discursive way. people: nonviolence seeks to win friendship and The body is our main instrument for discussion understanding, nonviolence seeks to defeat and therefore we bypass much of the propaganda injustice not people, nonviolence holds that of the media and other images that are trying to suffering can educate and transform, nonviolence control our choices. There is a chance for chooses love instead of hate, and nonviolence entering into issues in ways that create new believes that the universe is on the side of justice. perspectives in everyone involved. Plus it is a lot The group later discussed how these of fun, enjoyable to use your body and voice fully principles can be used today. Page 11 New Lumberjack Club at PVCC Skye Scott, assistant editor One of the newest clubs at PVCC is the Lumberjack Club, which is committed to bringing students together using pancakes. I thought that it was such a fun idea, and through the hard work and diplomatic skills of a number of students and faculty members, we were able to make this club a reality, wrote Anne Katherine Brooks, the Lumberjack club president. Pancake meetings are held every Wednesday evening on PVCCs campus. Students are asked to pay $10 for the semester, which will go toward buying supplies. These meetings start with cooking pancakes on a griddle and socializing. Some of the first pancakes cooked each night are dairy-free and gluten-free pancakes; however, they are eaten quickly. Club members also bring different toppings for their pancakes, including syrup, chocolate sauce, and blueberries. I had heard of types of Lumberjack clubs from various other schools and I had always thought it was such a cool idea. Who doesnt love pancakes? wrote Annelise Stunes, a member and co-founder of PVCCs Lumberjack club. Karaoke is another part of the pancake meetings. Once the singing starts, anything is a microphone, even a bottle of chocolate sauce. The chairs become a willing participants stage, while the other members dance and laugh along. Members are encouraged to wear flannels to the meetings; however, they are not required. Our hope for the club is that we can bring more people together over breakfast food. Even with just the first two meetings I feel like Ive grown closer to some of the other members, and I think wearing flannels unites us even more, wrote Stunes. At the same time, the Lumberjack club is not just about wearing flannels and eating breakfast food. They are talking about getting together to workout at the school's fitness center during the week or on the weekends. The club would also like to achieve some aspect of forest preservation which is why they joined up with the PTK to start a trail-clearing project in Scottsville, according to Stunes. So far, this has been a very popular club. There were almost 30 members at our last meeting, and we hope to see lots of new faces as the semester progresses, wrote Brooks. For more information on the Lumberjack club, follow them on Facebook at PVCC Lumberjack Club, or contact club President Anne Katherine Brooks at akb2971@email.vccs.edu. Pancakes and karaoke at a Lumberjack club meeting. Photography by Skye Scott Page 12 Photography courtesy of Annelise Stunes PVCC Clubs Help Clear Scottsville Trail Olivia Stevens, staff writer Early Saturday morning on Feb. 11, 2017 the Lumberjack Club and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) traveled to Scottsville, Virginia, to help clean the Scottsville Trail. The trail begins behind Dougs Appliance. When the clubs first arrived at the trail, it was covered in weeds and bushes and did not look like a person could hike through it. The trail was covered in fallen leaves and branches. There is a small creek that is at the beginning of the trail. Rocks in the creek form a stepping stone path to the other side where trail blazers can begin their journey up the steep trail. Vines hang down from the trees impairing hikers paths. When the Lumberjack club and PTK arrived they pulled on their gloves and went to work. They soon were pulling weeds from the ground and the trees. Stepping through the small creek to cut down bushes, and create an opening for the trail. After about thirty minutes of hacking away, the beginning of the trail started to show. While pulling down vines and clearing bushes, the club members filled the back of a white pickup truck. A few members disposed of the logs, sticks, vines, and leaves at a local city councilman house, who planned to use them to have a bonfire. The truck went on about four trips throughout the day. Behind the creek in the middle of the trail was a log that had fallen down, blocking the trail. Three lumberjack club members grabbed their axes and saws and began to try and cut the log in half, so people could enjoy walking through the trail without climbing over or crawling under the log. After an hour of hacking and sawing the log, the members barely made a dent in it. The other members were also sawing and hacking away at other logs that were too large to be carried away. After two hours of cutting down weeds, bushes, vines, and logs, the clubs finally had created an opening so walkers could find the trail. After clearing the trail, the members went on a short hike to see where the Scottsville trail leads. Along the trail is a pond where locals can fish for trout, when the pond is stocked. The clubs also learned that the town of Scottsville has been working on the trail for six years trying to prepare for people to hike. When the hard work was finished the members went to celebrate with a cup of coffee from the local coffee and bookstore in downtown Scottsville. Baines Books & Coffee was only a short distance from the trail opening. Lumberjack club member Annelise Stunes said, Id say that the experience made me appreciate nature and hard work more. It was nice to get away from school and work on something with my hands. Another Lumberjack and PTK member, Alec Traaseth said, Clearing trails this past Saturday with Phi Theta Kappa and the Lumberjack Club was an extremely fulfilling experience. In just a short two hours, we managed to assist with almost entirely clearing out an extremely overgrown trail entrance, and the difference was night and day. It was not the easiest of work, but contributing your time to a good cause with a big group of like-minded people was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday morning. I hope I'll get the chance to participate in something similar in the future!" Page 13 A Refugee Finds His Home Sean Gill, staff writer be patient and that wed get help, he said. Before his family finally arrived in America, For as long as he can remember, current they went through a multiple year vetting PVCC student Ahmed Al Srya, 26, was a process. I had to go through five different U.S. refugee. He went from being a Palestinian departments before getting here. So, when people refugee growing up in Iraq to finally arriving in say our borders are open, believe me, theyre Charlottesville on July 7, 2010, at the age of 19. not, said Al Srya. His vetting process included He officially took his Naturalization Oath of the Department of Homeland Security, the Allegiance to the United States of America Feb. Department of Defense, the Department of State, 10. the United States Intelligence Community, the When I became a citizen, this is the first Department of Health and Human Services, and time in my life that I have a country and that Ive the FBI. become a citizen somewhere, said Al Srya. Al Srya currently works at Best Buy and Prior to the Iraq War breaking out in attends PVCC part time. An unfortunate accident Baghdad, Al Srya had a normal life growing up. happened at his previous job that gave him time He and his family lived in a house to spend six months focusing on his and city similar to Charlottesville. English trying to get into college. When I was a kid, I went to a I didnt pass my first test to get into shop with my mom and I saw a tPVCC by two or three points. I tried shirt with an American Flag on it and I tried again. I tried so many and [I] was like, Mom, Mom, times to get into PVCC. Your Mom, and my mom, she bought education is so important, and so I this shirt for me. I never knew one finally got in and Im so happy here day that Id be an American. I liked at PVCC. the shirt. I was wearing an American When not at PVCC or Best Buy, flag because I like flags. When I Al Srya can be found volunteering was a kid, I had a dream that I for the International Rescue would live here. So, I guess the Committee (IRC) where he Photography by dream has become a reality now, interprets and other community Sean Gill Al Srya said with a smile. service work helping incoming However, once the war broke refugees settle. I know how they out and intensified, he and his brothers could not feel when they come here, so Im helping the IRC go to school anymore and that is when they tried to help these people. After all these years of to flee to Syria. They were not allowed to enter living in a tent, they cry when they see weve Syria so they lived in a refugee camp on the Syria helped them get a life here, said Al Srya. -Iraq border. When thinking about finally being able to call We lived there for four years. It was really America his home and earning his citizenship, Al difficult conditions. There were fires, flooding, Srya commented on the people that have helped scorpions, four years in the desert living in a him to this point and offered a little suggestion tent..., Al Srya said, referring to his time in the for those that question letting refugees in: The refugee camp. There was a nearby U.S. Army Statue of Liberty, they put it there for a reason, camp who came by and listened to the refugees you know. It means something, right? It presents stories. Later representatives of the U. N. came America. America is diverse, this is what makes and offered care to those that needed it. While America great. Plus, Americans are wonderful living there, Al Srya had the opportunity to meet people who try to help. If we took the time like a celebrity. this and shared stories and understand each other, Angelina Jolie came to the camp. I got to see the world would be much better. But if we just her and talk to her. I wish I took a picture with judge people based on their beliefs or politics we her. She was crying and wanted to let us know to will not be successful. Page 14 International Student: Waqas Al Mulhim Antonia Florence, assistant editor At the age of six, two years after the Iraq war began, a young boy fled his home in Baghdad, the capital of the Republic of Iraq. PVCC student Waqas Al Mulhim and his family settled in Jordan twice for a total of seven years. In between these years, the family spent a year in Syria. He, his older brother, Wadah, also a PVCC student; their younger sister, Jumana; and their parents arrived in the United States four years ago on Feb. 23, 2013. Al Mulhim spoke Arabic and a bit of French which he picked up along the way. He could speak only a few words of English. This put him at a disadvantage in school. He left Jordan ready for his sophomore year in high school, but unfortunately, due to the language barrier, he repeated his freshman year at Albemarle High School. I did not mind because I would not have learned much. I was learning the English language, said Al Mulhim. Bad memories continue to plague 19-year-old Al Mulhim from living in Baghdad after the war began. There were, and still are, many dangers facing those living in Baghdad, which is home to about a quarter of Iraqs total population. Some of these, according to AlMonitor: the pulse of the Middle East media site, include being caught in the crossfire between Iraqi security forces and insurgents, car and roadside bombings, and kidnapping of wealthy individuals being held for ransom. The latter has become more prominent because of the shortage of cash. In Graphic from the CIA World addition, Factbook homes, businesses and medical care facilities are hit by errant mortar shells. Even though they lost everything, the family cherishes their new beginning and has felt welcomed. Charlottesville is open-minded, and I really appreciate Photography Courtesy that, said Al of SGA Mulhim. He is adapting to the American culture by integrating it into his native culture but finds it difficult at times. There are two things he has noticed that differ between the two cultures. There is so much fast food here, and there is not much time for family. We like being together. We eat our meals together said Al Mulhim. Iraqi and Jordanian weather are vastly different from ours. Summer temperatures in Baghdad average 95 F. Winter, which lasts from December to February, is mild ranging between 35 and 60 F. Rainfall is just over an inch per month between November and April, according to the Embassy website for the Republic of Iraq. The weather is hard to get used to. It rains a lot and is cloudy; it is not just sunshine, said Al Mulhim. His travel within the US has been limited, but Al Mulhim would like to see more of the country. It is much larger than his native Iraq which is bordered by six countries: Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the Persian Gulf. Despite seeming a world away, the time difference is eight hours ahead of us when we are observing Standard Time. Al Mulhim looks forward to gaining his US citizenship. In Iraq, citizenship is by descent so at least one parent must be a citizen. After receiving his degree from PVCC, he plans to further his education at UVA. Through being a residential architect he hopes to secure financial success. Reflecting on all of the possibilities, Al Mulhim said, I love this country. Page 15 Review: Benny Delucas: Big Pizza in C-ville MaKayla Grapperhaus, staff writer along with the abstract paintings on their walls, gives Bennys a cool retro vibe. The service at Bennys is always great and really fast. If you order a single slice, the wait will be no longer than 10 minutes, while a whole pizza will be done in about 20 minutes. Whether you order a slice or go all out and order a whole pizza, Bennys is sure to hit the spot. Its classic pizza, a thin crust, tomato sauce, and cheese (plus a topping if you choose). Its the way pizza should be and it tastes great. Have a late night craving? Bennys is open until midnight during the weekdays, 2 a.m. Thursdays, and 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. So the next time youre hungry and an average sized pizza isnt quite enough, stop by at Benny Delucas and feast on a gigantic slice or a whole pizza if you dare. Pizza is a big deal here in Charlottesville, Virginia. At Benny Delucas, the pizza is big enough to satisfy even the most hungry college student. Located on West Main Street, just a short walk from the University of Virginia, Benny Delucas offers pizza enthusiasts a real treat. Calling themselves Home of the Virginia slice, Bennys doesnt disappoint when it comes to serving up a slice. With single slices, which are the size of two dinner plates at the price of just $5 for one topping or $4 for cheese, this is a deal that everyone in Charlottesville can get excited about. Bennys makes a monstrous 28-inch pizza for between $28 and $35 depending on the toppings. It is a great deal, but good luck getting it out the door or into your car for that matter. With custom-sized pizza boxes larger than most coffee tables, carrying a pizza back to your own place maybe a job for two people, but it is all part of the experience. If youre feeling really brave, you can take on The Bennys Challenge, and eat an entire 28-inch pizza by yourself in less than an hour and win $500. Part of the experience at Bennys is the unique atmosphere. While the pizzas are big at Bennys, the place itself is much smaller than the surrounding pizza joints in Charlottesville. Walking into the white brick building, the first thing to notice is how small the dining area is. With few window seating, three booths and two tables, a large percentage of Bennys space is dedicated to its large ovens, behind the counter where all the main action takes place. Liam Robb poses with pizza. Photography by MaKayla Grapperhaus The minimalistic fashion, Page 16 Review: The Nook Shawn Stevenson, staff writer The Nook, a breakfast and lunch diner has everything to offer from friendly smiles, great customer hospitality and the best bacon around Charlottesville, The Nook has made its mark in our community. Starting in 1951, this traditional familyowned restaurant has great food at even better prices. The Nook continues to welcome individuals, couples and families. Retro in style like a 1950s diner, the owners strive to keep up with current food trends by making sure that everything is top quality and that they stay ahead of the curve. The Nook succeeds. The staff at the Nook go above and beyond for their customers. The restaurant also works to provide for the community in a variety of ways. The Manager, Jeff, explained how The Nook is a member of the community. Were very big in civic donations; we try to employ people that are in transit and give them enough to get back on their feet. We donate to the free clinic twice a year, we feed the entire staff there. We participate in a lot of charity auctions. We did the Photography by Shawn Stevenson bacon festival two years ago and gave the money to Habitat for Humanity. We give a lot to the churches and the schools, said Jeff. The Nook not only makes sure that our stomachs are full, but also makes sure our community is rich and loved. The Nook is open Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Review: Chos Nachos and Beer Tucker Noelke, staff writer It is hard not to be a nacho lover. A plate full of tortilla chips, various different toppings, and queso poured on top is difficult to pass up. In Charlottesville, there have not been any restaurants that focus on nachos being their main dish, but that has changed within the last week. Such a simple concept that is so easy and brilliant, Chos Nachos and Beer has made its home on 946 Grady Avenue. Immediately after walking through the Chos door, my calm Sunday turned into a sports bar lovers dream. Chos is decked with TVs in every direction. If there isnt fun music playing, then the most recent football game is blaring through the loudspeakers. The waiters and waitresses are energetic and happy to help with anything a customer needs. Before coming to Chos I had looked at the menu, so I could have an idea of what to order. There were so many options, I honestly had trouble deciding what to choose. Although Chos is a restaurant for nachos, they also offer a variety of food such as sandwiches and salads for those who do not want nachos, but dont be crazy, you want their nachos. I ordered the Texas Two Step Chos, which included tortilla chips, beef short rib, black beans, corn salsa, jalapenos, house-made queso, shredded pepper jack and cheddar, chives, and the Chos sauce. The price was $13; however, the size of my nachos was incredibly big, so I definitely got my moneys worth. The loud chatter of people in the restaurant made it clear that any aged person could enjoy Chos mountain of nachos placed in front of them. My overall Chos experience was one to remember and would be for any nacho obsessed individual. Page 17 PTK Southern Dining Etiquette Workshop Skye Scott, assistant editor Eight students sat with eyes fixed on Diane Carr as she stood at the head of the table. In front of each student was a perfect plate setting, containing dishes these students would come across at some point in their professional careers. Almost all eight students were members of Piedmont Virginia Community Colleges (PVCC) Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society (PTK). They gathered in the Pace Boardroom on PVCCs main campus on Saturday, Feb. 11. Carr, the director of the Southern School of Etiquette, had sent an invitation out to these students over a week earlier, inviting them to join her in a dining etiquette workshop. The workshop focused around correct manners and etiquette for an interview lunch or dinner. Carr started by listing off some important things to bring to the interview, mainly a resume and a list of ten questions to ask the interviewer. After this, she introduced etiquette by saying that being respectful of other people, acceptable behavior, good manners, protocol, and decorum are what make etiquette. After this, Carr discussed what someone should wear to an interview. She said, Dont dress for the place, dress for the occasion. Stating that even if the interview was being held at TGIFridays, the interviewee should still look clean and professional. She also said to arrive uncluttered, with no big brief case or purse, and with phones off or on vibrate. From here, Ms. Carr explained how to tell when the meal had started from when the host places their napkin onto their lap, and the correct manners that followed. There are many precise utensil placements to make sure one is sending the correct message to their host and servers. One of these is the signal that one is done eating. This is signaled by placing the knife and fork at either 3:15 or 6:30 on the plate, with the tip hanging over the plate by one inch to insure it will not fall when the server picks the plate up. She also discussed the differences between silverware, and how to tell what would be served first by the placement of the forks. Carr ended the workshop by telling the students to always send thank you notes to their interviewer within two days of the interview. She said that these should be physical letters sent to their work address, thanking them for the meal and saying something about how the interviewee would be great for the job. The following Saturday, Feb. 18, Alec Traaseth and Lindsey Woodyard headed into Farmington Country Club. They were dressed in their professional best, with smiles and excitement on their faces. They headed to the Pine Room, where Carr and Andre Luck, PVCCs career services manager, were waiting for them. A few students had already arrived and stood to greet Traaseth and Woodyard with a handshake. The students took a seat to wait on their remaining peers. They were gathering to put their new skills to practical use. After seven students had arrived, Carr decided to begin. She first reintroduced herself and then introduced Luck. Then she went back over some of the basic etiquette the students had learned the week before. Once the review session was over, Carr told the students that they would now roleplay as if they were at a networking event. Carr and Luck would be the interviewers, and they told the students to pretend that they were applying for a job at the Southern School of Etiquette. Once all the students had a chance to speak with Luck, it was time to take a seat. The servers had set the table to perfection. Each student sat down and waited for Carr to give the signal to begin. When she placed her napkin onto her lap, all of the students followed her lead. Soon after, a server brought in the first course. It was a tomato bisque soup. After the soup, they ate a cobb salad, and for dessert they had a strawberry shortcake parfait. Throughout the meal, the students practiced proper business conversation with each other, as well as with Carr and Luck. All role playing aside, they discussed how etiquette could benefit their aspirations in life. At the end of the meal, Luck asked the students to share their thoughts on the etiquette workshop. All of the students agreed that it was very helpful, and that they had learned a lot from this wonderful opportunity. Page 18 Cheap Whiskey performed in the Bolick Student Center. Photography by Antonia Florence PVCC Alumni Winter Celebration Antonia Florence, assistant editor As an alumni of PVCC, you are entitled to special privileges that few take advantage of. The Annual Alumni Winter Celebration was held in the Bolick Student Center the night of Jan. 21 until 11 p.m. The local band, Cheap Whiskey, played a variety of music appealing to many tastes while welcoming requests. An assortment of hot all-you-can-eat pizza and cold nonalcoholic beverages were available. The best part was that it was entirely free and open to alumni and their guests. Most students do not realize that they are alumni of PVCC after successfully completing one course. Any person who has attended or graduated from a school, college, or university qualifies to use this title. Traditionally, alumnus takes many forms depending on the subject being male or female, singular or plural, or a mixed gender group. These rules are due to the Latin root of the word. However, during the 19th century the shortened form alum and its plural form alums began to be used. Initially, alum was viewed as being informal, but its use is increasing as a gender-neutral alternative. Two more perks of being a PVCC alumni are discount cards to area and national retailers, and networking opportunities which lead to connecting with mentors and area business leaders which may help jumpstart your career. Not many community colleges have alumni associations due to many of the students transitioning to four-year institutions, said Silvia Dowell, PVCC scholarship and alumni association coordinator. She has been striving to build a strong alumni base, offer fun outreach activities which would take PVCC into the community, and ultimately, fulfilling the goal of building a strong alumni association to help support our nationally recognized college. Dowell is also a PVCC alumni who infectiously shares her pride in PVCC. Not only is she an employee, but also a graduate. For further information about alumni activities or advantages, contact Dowell either at sdowell@pvcc.edu or by calling her office: 434961-5204. Page 19 Virginia21: The Voice of a Generation Charles Stish, staff writer They also hold monthly Student Leadership Community meetings where those in the various During this time of political and economic Virginia21 chapters meet to discuss whatever strife for our countrys higher education system, relevant topic is at hand. millennial college students may find themselves These relationships help us monitor wondering if there is anyone in our political legislations and policy, but also decide on a system that advocates and works to create consensus of where benefits for them we should focus, in the education said Cywinski. system. Virginia21 It has passed is a group of those several legislations certain including the individuals. Virginia Were the Guaranteed only true Assistance Program generational (VGAP), which advocate that is increased the non-partisan. Our amount of financial focus is to help aid by just under pass legislations $50 million. that benefit us and As of now, oppose legislation PVCC is the only that will have community college negative to have a Virginia21 meeting participants having an energetic consequences, Virginia21 chapter, discussion. Photography by Charles Stish said Tim and PVCC Chapter Cywinski, President Grayson Virginia21s Katzenbach can be communication director, during PVCCs thanked for that. Virginia21 chapter meeting on Jan. 25, 2017. We actually reactivated the PVCC chapter Cywinski has been the Communications last semester. It was dormant for a few years, but Director of Virginia21 for a little over a year. He after taking the SLI (Summer Leadership has a Bachelor degree in Political Science and Institute), we reactivated it. We have a lot of with a minor in International Relations and members, and we affected a lot with the general Affairs. Cywinski visited the PVCC chapter of election. But this semester we really want to let Virginia21 as a guest speaker to discuss the goals students know that being involved in politics and functions of Virginia21 as a whole. does not mean you have to go into it as a career. During his presentation, Cywinski explained We want to help students understand that politics lobbying and the legislative process that is a everyday thing, stated Katzenbach. Virginia21 often takes part in. The process, in On the local level, PVCCs Virginia21 general, makes the lobbying party gather chapter is advocating for increasing campus information to persuade and convince legislators security, creating a PVCC scholarship for to pass acts that will benefit the lobbying party. domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, The focus of Virginia21s lobbying campaign this and lobbying against current PVCC budget cuts. year is on budget cuts in higher education If you would like to learn more about systems and on-campus sexual assaults. Virginia21 and participate with the organization To gather the general consensus of college both on campus and as a whole, you can contact students across the state, Virginia21 has Katzenbach at her email: gk242@email.vccs.edu connections in the Council of Higher Education or visit Virginia21s website: of Virginia and the higher education community. www.virginia21.org. Page 20 PVCCs Nursing Peer Mentorship Charles Stish, staff writer coordinator, meaning she helps set group meetings and coordinates one-on-one sessions Among the various degree programs available between second-year and first-year nursing at PVCC, nursing is considered one of the most students. rigorous with 67 credits minimum for an The advice and assistance the peer mentors Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree. give include: test taking strategies, how to To fulfill the requirements of the degree program, balance school workload with personal life, and nursing students are expected to take general help make new students feel more comfortable in college courses, courses specific to the nursing their program. program, and science courses that will help them The peer mentors do not discuss course work in both the mental and physical sides of nursing. in detail, but offer assistance and a safe place for These courses include human anatomy, new nursing students to feel comfortable in. microbiology, pharmacology, and even Especially sociology. since the peer Since the mentors will nursing not let program is anything said almost to them by the completely student go separate from outside of their other degree meeting. One programs, first of the main -year nursing things is students who confidentiality, are new to the so what program can students says feel lost or never goes intimidated by past the peer the workload mentor. Its and supposed to be expectations. a safe To help environment, these first-year said Hardie. nursing The peer mentoring nurses pose for a photograph. She said, Photography by Charles Stish students In the first become year of nursing comfortable you learn so and less intimidated, the Student Nurse much, so much is being thrown at you and its Association at PVCC (SNAP) has branched out nice to have a peers perspective. The peer to create a peer mentorship program where mentorship doesnt only help provide second-year nursing students give advice and information, but what to expect as a first year help their new comrades through their first year. nursing student. It helps to normalize the We started in the fall of 2016 and it came experience. about because there was several of us who asked The peer mentors have group meetings on second year students for information and advice. Mondays from 12-1 p.m. in the Keats Science We decided we wanted to create a more formal Building in room K114 and in Library Study way of doing that, said Kelly Hardie, a SNAP Room E from 7-8 p.m. on Thursdays. officer in charge of student activities and For information on the peer mentorship, community outreach. Hardie is also a second- contact Kelly Hardie at her school email: year nursing student and the peer mentorship keh233@email.vccs.edu. Page 21 Piedmont Profile: Silvia Dowell Antonia Florence, assistant editor Silvia Dowell is the Scholarship & Alumni Association Coordinator for Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). She has deep roots in the Charlottesville area. Her family has lived in Albemarle County for 14 consecutive generations. A graduate of Western Albemarle High School, Dowell attended PVCC and earned her bachelors degree from Longwood University. She majored in Physical and Health Education with a focus in sports Silvia Dowell in her office. Photography by Antonia Florence medicine and sports psychology. She also earned coaching endorsements for eight sports. Community colleges are not known to have Now at PVCC, Dowells love of education alumni associations. Many former students more shines as she interacts with students. readily identify with their high schools and fourThe students at PVCC are amazing and year colleges. diverse. Each has their own story and I always try Dowell has held her position at PVCC for the to find unique and wonderful qualities about past six years, culminating in a 25-year career, them, their backgrounds and their interests. I like working in the field of institutional development to hear about their triumphs, struggles, and advancement. determination and their future plans, said In addition to her position at PVCC, Dowell Dowell. volunteers on various scholarship selection A few of Dowells responsibilities include committees, is actively involved in the American cultivating relationships with prospective Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scouts of America and scholarship donors and strengthening that bond baseballs Babe Ruth League of Virginia. with existing donors through constant Dowell is currently continuing her education communication and appreciative interaction. This through Mary Baldwin University where she is is why it is important for student scholarship enrolled in the Master of Higher Education recipients to write thank you notes to their degree program. benefactors. They want to know how their Dowell said this educational experience is generosity makes a difference in the lives of different and as a returning adult student with students as they move forward. The note may work experience and a family, it changes your contain a class experience or an example of how a perspective. I [also] see this as an opportunity to student has used their newly acquired knowledge do more in my field at whichever institute I might in a real-life situation. work at. It opens a lot of doors that would Dowell also serves as a liaison with otherwise be closed. community organizations that award funds to The best thing about working at PVCC, additional students in need of assistance. Dowell said, is the interaction with students and As Alumni Association Coordinator, Dowells watching them persevere and succeed! I am role leaves a lasting footprint on PVCC. This blessed to experience so many different cultures involves building a strong, active base to network and backgrounds through the many people I meet and help support the college long term. at PVCC. Page 22 Review: Have Food Your Way at College Inn Marcus Tyler, staff writer The best dishes found in central Virginia are usually found in several different places. By living in a small town surrounded by many eating outlets, finding what separates each of the restaurants from each other is always fascinating. College Inn of Charlottesville is not your ordinary local diner. Like to eat as a group? With its diverse menu, College Inn provides options for the whole family. It is well prepared, satisfying food delivers a unique variety all in one place. Customers can choose Greek cuisines, pizzas, burgers and many different sandwich combos. Want to turn your dinning into a party? Beer is served at this location. A childrens menu is also offered. With its wide variety menu, College Inn could be considered the ideal diverse eating location in Charlottesville. Within steps of both the University of Virginia and Charlottesville communities, College Inn creates a casual atmosphere for all ages. Since its opening in 1953, College Inn is a staple restaurant on The Corner. For half a century, this prime location makes serving both students and residents possible. Out of the many eating choices located throughout The Corner, College Inns prices separate the restaurant from many of its competitors. Popular menu items include: Large 14-inch cheese breadsticks for $10.95, wings at $8.95, breaded chicken tender salad $8.95 (They even serve pints of ice cream). At $15 and under (some of this diverse menu favorites can be found. Page 23 Classifieds The PVCC Engineering Club has some exciting projects to announce and is looking for new members! If you are interested in these projects, or have a project of your own, come see us at any of the Engineering Club meeting times listed below! General Engineering Club Meetings: Wednesdays, 12-1 p.m., Room M828 Diversity Fountain Project! Planning and constructing a water fountain that will promote diversity and unity through symbolic designs. The finished installation will be placed on campus for the student body to enjoy. Main concepts covered: Design, CAD, Physics, and Welding. Project Meeting Time: Fridays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Room M831 Metallization Sputtering Machine Project! Building a high-voltage apparatus that utilizes an ultra strong vacuum in order to blast metal particles onto various substrates using the power of plasma. We can also build subsequent tools to later study photolithography, the process used to create microcomponents. Main concepts covered: Electronics, physics, technical writing, and safety. Project Meeting Time: Fridays, 12-1 p.m., Room M831 Contact Club President Linnea Saby at lgs2131@email.vccs.edu Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Online Editor Joe Fowler Assistant Editors Antonia Florence Skye Scott Staff Writers/Copyeditors Athena Alving Annette Cashatt Jake Delaurier Antonia Florence Joe Fowler MaKayla Grapperhaus Sean Gill Tucker Noelke Skye Scott Marlie Soderquist Olivia Stevens Shawn Stevenson Charles Stish Brennan Tanner Marcus Tyler Lindsey Woodyard Comic Artists Caroline Morris Lindsey Woodyard Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com January 2017 Piedmont Virginia Community College Look inside for PVCC club information PVCC Student Launch Team takes Flight in NASA program Skye Scott, assistant editor Piedmont Virginia Community College is the only Virginia college, and one of three community colleges nationwide, to earn a spot in the NASA University Student Launch Initiative. NASAs student launch program is an eightmonth engineering project that challenges students at U.S. colleges and universities to design, build and fly high-power rockets and experimental payloads to meet a complex set of challenges specified by NASA, according to an article on PVCCs website. The article also states the team has begun work on their six foot subscale rocket to test the students designs. As well as participating in the Student Launch Initiative, Andrew Oxford, the team leader, wrote that PVCCs team is making a special effort on the educational engagement front since they are a community college team and therefore have fewer resources than larger universities. Oxford also said there is a lot of support for community outreach, since it is part of PVCCs mission statement. Oxford stated it is lonely being the only Virginia team, and he hopes that changes in the future because it would be nice to have some more local competition. The team is looking for students to join for next years competition, according to Oxford. There has been an incredible amount of support for this project from the teachers and administration at the school, said Oxford, stating PVCC has been extraordinarily helpful in preparing them for this opportunity. For more information, and to stay updated on current projects, follow PVCCs Student Launch Team on Twitter at @PiedmontLaunch, and on Facebook at Piedmont Student Launch Team. Also, visit their website at piedmontlaunch.org. In This Issue Photo courtesy of Piedmont Student Launch Teams Facebook Page PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Student Services -pg. 4 Student Excuses -pg. 5 Club Details Puppies -pg. 18 Classifieds -pg. 20 -pgs. 6-16 DATES TO REMEMBER Join Us Skye Scott, assistant editor Free Movie Friday: Loving * Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Love, Peace, and Souldiers ^ Jan. 21. 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Travel Abroad Information Session * Jan. 24. 5 p.m., Main Building, M229 Fourth Fridays Improv * Jan. 27, 6-8 p.m., Dickinson, Maxwell Theater FAFSA Workshop * Jan. 28. 9 a.m. to noon, Main Building, M154 English Conversation Circle * Jan. 28, 5 p.m., Main Building, Writing Center Lab English Conversation Circle * Feb. 1, 5 p.m., Main Building, Writing Center Lab Theater of the Oppressed Workshop * Feb. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dickinson Building English Conversation Circle * Feb. 8, 5 p.m., Main Building, Writing Center Lab One Mic Stand * Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson, Maxwell Theater Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception * Feb. 10, 5-7 p.m., Dickinson Galleries Rattlesnake ^ Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage The Forum club would like to welcome all PVCC students to the Spring 2017 semester. This semester should prove to be an exciting time at PVCC, with plenty of events during the week and on weekends. There are also plenty of support services here for new and current students. The Forum is the PVCC student run newspaper, with articles written by a collection of PVCC journalism students and club members who work to bring relevant news to PVCCs campus. Aside from the print issue, we have a website (www.piedmontforum.com) that contains all the articles from the newspaper as well as online exclusives. You can also follow our Facebook page at The PVCC Forum or our Twitter account at @PVCCForum. These accounts are dedicated to informing our followers about events going on at campus, as well as providing an announcement for when articles are up on the website. The Forum provides articles about club events, PVCC productions, and local community news in an attempt to keep students informed. If you have a love of writing and a curiosity to know the truth, then The Forum club would love to have you join our team. For more information about joining contact Dr. Tamara Whyte, the clubs faculty advisor, twhyte@pvcc.edu Free Movie Friday: Hidden Figures * Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Aint I A Woman ^ Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage Fourth Fridays Improv * Feb. 24, 6-8 p.m., Dickinson, Maxwell Theater *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available Page 2 Student Government Association News Skye Scott, assistant editor The Student Government Association (SGA) would like to welcome everyone to the Spring 2017 school semester! The SGA worked hard last semester to create an inclusive and supporting atmosphere for all PVCC students, and they hope to continue to do that this semester. One way they are planning to engage students is through their Spring events. On April 14, at 7 p.m., the SGA will be hosting their 2nd annual talent show on the main stage of the Dickinson building. The auditions will be held from March 13-31, with times to be announced closer to the date. Auditions can also be submitted through PVCCs website, pvcc.edu. This is a great opportunity for students to show off their talents to their colleagues and peers! One new event the SGA will be hosting is an educational seminar called Understanding Religious Diversity and Tolerance. This event will be held on Feb. 24, from 4-7 p.m. Also in February will be the Town Hall meeting, where students will be able to directly talk to the president and vice-presidents of PVCC. The event is scheduled for Feb. 8, during college hour. Spring Fling will be held on April 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is always a fun-filled event, meant to bring students, faculty, and staff together for an afternoon of fun and food! Another new SGA and Marketing & Media Relations Office sponsored activity is a weekly social media contest. Students can participate by taking pictures of the topic for that weeks contest and posting the picture on their personal social media accounts using the hashtags for that week. Prizes will be awarded to the first five people to enter and for best photo, according to an article on PVCCs website. The SGA is also looking for students who would like to join their club and volunteer their time to events. An application is available at PVCCs main campus. You are required to have a GPA of 2.5 and be a current PVCC student. For more information, email SGA president Wadah Al Mulhim at wa292084@email.vccs.edu. Or visit the SGAs Facebook page at PVCC Student Government Association. Student Pose for Photo at 2016 Casino Night. Photography courtesy of SGA Page 3 Helpful Stepping Stones Show the Way Antonia Florence, assistant editor There is no reason to go through college alone. PVCC students have a variety of support services available to them and could think of these services as stepping stones leading through a muddy garden. If your class schedule takes you past an office that you would like to know more about, lightly tap on the door, introduce yourself and ask what they offer. If you are not in immediate need of their services, you may know someone who is. The PVCC website includes a tremendous amount of information. Explore by clicking on every tab and link. Be prepared to learn about the colleges history, future plans, and educational opportunities other than degrees and career studies certificates. Grants and scholarships are available for students regardless of their financial situation and do not need to be paid back. You will also find information about free tutoring, guaranteed admissions to four-year colleges and universities, international travel opportunities and so much more. One link is for the Student Success Office in room M132. Their focus is to help students achieve their educational and personal goals by identifying and removing potential barriers. If it is deemed that a student needs help through offcampus resources then the Student Success Office will facilitate this introduction. Another link is to Career Services in room M128 where they provide guidance to students through career assessments, exploring options and job-search strategies. In addition, they will help you prepare your resume, write targeted cover letters, and provide tips for filling out job applications. They also help students hone their interview techniques and suggest salary negotiating strategies, and facilitate internships and work study positions. PVCC, in conjunction with the YMCA Intergenerational Learning Center, offers reduced fee child-care for dependents of PVCC students while they are attending class. Full and partial grants may also be available depending on a students financial situation. The center is located in the Jefferson School adjacent to PVCC satellite classrooms and the Culinary Arts department. PVCC Safe offers safety tips that are valuable on and off campus. Campus police officers are sworn officers who are employed by PVCC to protect campus and its surrounding areas, according to the school's website. They will provide a protective escort on campus for any student, staff or faculty member to their vehicle or another building. To summon an escort 24 hours a day call 434-981-6362. These are just a few of the many safety nets and services provided by PVCC. Taking advantage of them may save a student from making costly education and career mistakes. These services have already been paid for through tuition, fees and other resources. They will make walking along the muddy garden path a more pleasant productive experience. Page 4 Absences, Tardiness and Deadlines Antonia Florence, assistant editor and state tourist revenue. South Dakotas state quarter features an image of a ring-necked A class missed is instruction lost. An pheasant rising up over a wheat field. assignment not turned in can lower a final grade. It was simply not negotiable for a cohort of In college, we have deadlines to meet and when students they would rather fail an assignment or missed, most students share the reason with their even fail the class than miss the pheasant hunting instructor. However, some reasons sound silly or expedition, said Bailey, for many students the unbelievable even when they are the truth. priority is family/commitments to family, and However, some missed deadlines are just a fact that includes being part of family rituals and the of life. Class tardiness can be attributed to heavy family farm. This included pheasant hunting. traffic and accidents. Associate Professor of Geology Lawrence The real world doesnt care about excuses, Tiezzi said, [A student] missed the final exam said Associate Professor of Business William and then came in the next day and said he had Pratt. If your boss been stuck in needs an estimate traffic. I asked for 3 by 5 p.m. on Friday hours? He didn't to submit a contract have a good answer, proposal, if you dont but I told him I deliver, for any would make up a reason even if it is much tougher exam, a goat or dog eating and he could take it your proposal, your that afternoon. company loses the I took all the T bid! Ironically, [and] F questions Pratts favorite and turned them into excuse is, I havent fill in the blank. I been skipping class, I made the multiple just cant find the choice short answer classroom. Pratt and changed some followed with, This questions to harder was about halfway ones. The student Photography by Antonia Florence through the missed only one semester! answer. Then the The majority of truth came out. The students have jobs, many of which are full- student wanted to get a 100 on the final and time. Community/state college students often studied all night, fell asleep and slept through the have family commitments because they live at or exam, said Tiezzi. near home, those commitments are much harder Professor of English Jessica Kingsley and her to negotiate away, said Professor of History husband Instructional Designer John Kingsley Melanie Bailey. What would have been offered a few reasons to add to the collective list. unusual reasons (and not acceptable as excuses) A few reasons instructors at PVCC have been have become usual and accepted because of the told for missed deadlines include: court hearings, financial burdens of attending college, said delivery of newborn livestock, fianc being Bailey in an email. deployed, getting married, giving birth, had a When Bailey taught in South Dakota, she heart attack, in jail, needing to work late, no noticed a significant number of students missed childcare and washed USB flash drives according classes and other deadlines during planting and to Bailey, Kingsley, Kingsley, Pratt and Tiezzi. harvest seasons. In addition, pheasant hunting Sometimes our reasons for lost class time, was a family event which contributed to its food tardiness and missing assignments are legitimate stores and is a significant source of individual and cannot be avoided. Page 5 Club Day information Charles Stish, staff writer Once a semester, the clubs at PVCC come out and present themselves in hopes of attracting attention and gaining new members. The clubs set up in the main building with tables, sign up sheets, and sometimes elaborate displays of flags, banners, poster boards, and bowls of candy, hoping to attract new members. The attractions work to entice passing students with questions about the club. This is Club Day, an important day for the social student body at PVCC. Clubs can be essential to social life at PVCC as they offer extra-curricular activities and events for their members, and others, to join in on, creating a rich social environment. The clubs at PVCC are great for meeting like-minded people, making friends, and being more involved. After interviewing members of several clubs, it seems no matter the diversity, they all share the same objective: to attract people with similar interests and create an environment where they can share ideas. Despite a similar overall objective, each club has different goals. Some are proactive, like Volunteer Club, who actively hold club events and are involved in the local community. Others take a more passive approach, like Board Game Club, and hold meetings and small events for their members and those interested. The clubs att PVCC can be likened to paint colors on a palette: each a different color representing something unique in the diverse social picture of PVCCs culture. Each one is important to strengthening the feeling of camaraderie, diversity, stewardship, and friendship PVCC is about. Campus culture without the colorful contribution of clubs would be stark. Help keep PVCC colorful. Be the color and dont be shy to join a club. If it interests you, join it. Go to a meeting and be active. Be a spark of color in PVCCs cultural and social diversity. PVCC Club Day Fall 2016. Photography by Charles Stish Page 6 Adult Student Life Club Art Club The mission of the PVCC Adult Student Life Club is to provide support and engagement opportunities that appeal to PVCC adult students. The PVCC Adult Student Life Club provides a forum for adult students to meet as peers, plan activities and gain resources meaningful to their life goals. The PVCC Adult Student Life Club addresses issues relevant to adult students, including how to juggle work, family and college. For more information, contact Gina Edwards at gle235@email.vccs.edu. The Art Clubs mission is to support student artists by sponsoring fun, art-oriented events. The club sponsors a variety of art-related events like the the annual Day of the Dead Candy-Thon (on Halloween), the Film Series, artists workshops, college visits and more. For more information, contact Faculty Adviser Beryl Solla (bsolla@pvcc.edu). Black Student Alliance American Sign Language Club Whether you are in a new American Sign Language class, in a higher level, or just interested in learning ASL and about Deaf culture, the ASLC is for you! All students are encouraged and welcome to attend club meetings the first and second Wednesday of the month, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Silent Suppers are a monthly event where the Deaf community, friends, and family gather to socialize and have a meal. This event happens the third Wednesday of every month in a Charlottesville establishment. Possible field trips to Gallaudet University in D.C. and Virginia School for the Deaf, to be determined. Contact club adviser Rhonda Jennings (rjatpvcc@gmail.com) or the club President Liz Muir (emm23680@email.vccs.edu). Anime Club BSA members work together to cultivate leadership, stimulate cultural and educational awareness and contribute service to the College community, the local African-American community and the larger multicultural community and society. The organization welcomes participation by all who support this mission. For more information, please contact the Faculty Adviser, Justin Wert (jwert@pvcc.edu) or the student contact Clarence Johnson (cjohnson0628@email.vccs.edu). Board Game Club The Board Game Club at PVCC meets every Tuesday afternoon from 3-6 p.m. on the third floor of the Dickinson Building. Members play a The Anime Club welcomes anyone interested in Japanese animation, comics and music. The group focuses on new animations, while leaving room for the classics. They meet on Fridays from 3-5 p.m. Club president Kayla Paschall says the group votes on what to watch. Contact Kayla Paschall at kdp2460@email.vccs.edu. Page 7 wide variety of games ranging from card games to more involved games such as war games and beyond. Contact Faculty Adviser Bruce Glassco at bglassco@pvcc.edu for more information. Book Club The Book Club at PVCC encourages participants to find their inner bookworm. Club members determine which books to read and host discussions, movie viewings, and other activities such as speakers. Past books read include The Kitchen House and The Gadfly. The Book Club also sponsors and works closely with the events for the One Book Project. For more information, contact Faculty Adviser Crystal Newell cnewell@pvcc.edu. learning environment for first-time learners and experienced veterans alike. The club meets weekly on Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. in the Main Building, room M158. For more information, contact Hunter Hough (co-president) at hbh215@email.vccs.edu or Abel Pors (copresident) ataep22252@email.vccs.edu. Cru Christian Fellowship (Cru) Brony Club PVCC's Brony Club is for those who share a common interest in the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Club members try to exemplify the characteristics of a good person that the series encourages: honesty, generosity, compassion, optimism, devotion and leadership. Each meeting focuses on one of these characteristics, and members join in activities once a week including watching the show, enjoying fan content, fundraisers and service projects. They strive to show that this club can make a mark at PVCC. Their goal is to be a place for people to feel like they belong with no judgment. For more information, contact Morgan Eppard (co-president) at mle2431@email.vccs.edu. Chess Club Interested in chess strategy, or looking to learn? Are you looking for a new place to put your chess skills to the test? Try Chess club, a fun and safe CRU at PVCC is the club formally known as Christian Student Fellowship. CRU at PVCC provides an opportunity for students who share a common interest in the Bible to engage in Bible studies and discussions and pray together. The club meets every Wednesday during College Hour and all students are welcome to join. For more information, you may contact either Donnie Wilson (dsw2752@email.vccs.edu), or the clubs adviser, Andr Luck (aluck@pvcc.edu). Writers Unite!: Creative Writing Club Creative Writing Club allows your imagination to roam freely through the stroke of a pen, surrounded by those who share an interest in writing. Every year, the club produces the schools literary magazine The Fall Line, the three-minute horror story contest and has Page 8 a special event with fun activities for The National Day on Writing. I would say that anyone can come to our meetings. We do some writing, talk about writing, and encourage writing among ourselves. It is a place where people can learn about creative writinglow stakes and friendly, said Jennifer Koster, the adviser. The club meeting time will be set after the colleges Club Day. For more information, contact President Annette Cashatt at alc2711@email.vccs.edu or Faculty Adviser Jennifer Koster at jkoster@pvcc.edu. meetings. The films for this semester include Loving, Hidden Figures, and Manchester by the Sea. Club President Julia Grammer says, For the art club film series we try to choose compelling films that appeal to critics and audiences alike; that cover topics of interest to artists and have meaningful social content and interesting visual elements. Contact Faculty adviser Beryl Solla at bsolla@pvcc.edu. The first Free Movie Friday is Jan. 20. The film Loving will be shown at 7:30 p.m. in the Dickinson Building. Dance Club The Forum The PVCC Dance Club is a fun way for the PVCC community to enjoy all forms of dance with no experience necessary - just a love of moving! This club provides students with many dance opportunities throughout the year, including free technique classes, choreography, performance opportunities, and much more! Faculty adviser: Michelle Cooper, mcooper@pvcc.edu Student contact/president: Skye Scott, sms29219@email.vccs.edu The Forum, PVCCs newspaper, provides a voice for the student body. The Forum offers students the opportunity to report their news and share their ideas while also learning the fundamentals of the journalistic experience. Faculty Adviser Tamara Whyte said, We welcome any level of commitment or skill. The Forum meets once a month at varied times depending on student scheduling. The first meeting is Feb. 2 at 1:30 in M251. Faculty Adviser: Tamara Whyte, twhyte@pvcc.edu. Student Contact/club President Skye Scott, sms29219@email.vccs.edu Website: www.piedmontforum.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/PVCCForum Twitter: @PVCCForum Instagram: PVCCForum Engineering and Technology Club The PVCC Engineering and Technology Club is designed to gather PVCC engineering and technology students for social and career-oriented purposes as well as to participate in fun and interesting projects. Student Contact: President Joshua Smith, jps24382@email.vccs.edu Club adviser: Hunter Moore, hmoore@pvcc.edu. The Film Series The film series is part of the art club at PVCC. The film series meets twice a semester, usually weeks two and ten. The meetings typically follow a studio art class on a day such as Wednesday when most students are on campus. Look for information posted around campus for upcoming French Club The French Club is dedicated to bringing about a greater appreciation for the French language and French culture. To this end, the main mission of the club is to aid students in their learning of French, as well as to provide an environment for them to enjoy all things Page 9 French. No prior knowledge of French is needed, and native French speakers are encouraged to join. For information about the French Culture club, contact the club president, Brandi Rey blh28575@email.vccs.edu, or the Faculty Adviser Kris Swanson kswanson@pvcc.edu. pjassmann@pvcc.edu Student Contact(s): nld2027@email.vccs.edu sld2304@email.vccs.edu Gender Equality Club The Graphics Club hosts the Graphics Club Hour, where they invite speakers, hold workshops, present movies, and work in creative teams on special, real-world projects. The Graphics Club is geared for CSC Graphic Design Program students, but is open to all students interested in or experienced in all things related to design. For more information on the Graphics club, contact Aubrey Tomlin at atomlin8755@email.vccs.edu. Nathan Duncan, and Stacie Dowdy, Graphics Club HOPE @ PIEDMONT Our mission is to promote gender equality by educating the PVCC community about gender inequality and providing a forum to discuss issues related to gender. Gender equality does not imply that all people experience and express gender identity in the same way, but that all people should have equal rights and be treated with the same respect. For more information and details about this club, please contact Faculty Adviser Connie Jorgensen cjorgensen@pvcc.edu. HOPE @ PIEDMONT is a new club at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Its function is to Stand up against sexual violence and support any student who has endured an assault, is facing a pregnancy, or going through an emotional crisis while in college, according to club Adviser Jackie Fisher. HOPE@PEIDMONT meets every other Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m. in the Pace Board Room, M814 in the Technology wing. For more information, please contact Abby Lannon, club president: atl20118@email.vccs.edu or HopeAtPiedmont@gmail.com. German Club Horticulture & Environmental Club The purpose of German Club is to promote knowledge of and interest in German language, history and culture and to provide a relaxed setting where students can pursue this interest. Members can engage in various activities such as watching German movies, practicing their speaking skills in German, playing German board games, etc. In addition, they usually organize one or two events each semester. Faculty Advisor: Patricia Jassmann, In 2007, PVCCs Horticulture & Environmental Club was formed to provide students and community members with an organic garden to learn about environmentally-sound horticulture Page 10 and sustainable practices. Their current project is an organic garden for use as a practical learning platform for environmentally-sound horticulture. The founding of an organic vegetable garden encourages more interest for other students, faculty, staff and the community to learn and put in practice environmentally-healthy horticulture. The excess food that is produced by the garden will find its way into the local food stream of the hungry in the community. As a club they are also interested in encouraging sustainable practices both on our campus and the College's service region. More information can be found on their website: http://pvcchorticulture.wordpress.com Email co-advisers David Lerman dlerman@pvcc.edu or Jennifer Scott (scott@pvcc.edu for further information. International Club pvccinvestmentclub. For more information, please contact the Faculty Adviser: Mahmood Moghimzadeh, mmoghimzadeh@pvcc.edu. Japan Club The Japan Club aims to bring a piece of Japanese culture to PVCC by playing Japanese games, by indulging in some Japanese food, by providing insight into Japanese society and tradition, and by bringing people who are interested in Japan together. On top of all this, we might, just maybe, have a little bit of fun along the way! For more information about the Japan club, contact the clubs president, Alec Traaseth, akt221@email.vccs.edu or the club Adviser, Noriko Donahue at ndonahue@pvcc.edu. Latter-day Saints Club The International club is a service and social club designed to bring together PVCC students from other countries with the PVCC community. The international club hosts many events, including potlucks, picnics, bowling excursions, trips and more. Student contact: Jonathon Languasco, jbl27@email.vccs.edu. Faculty adviser: Irina Timchenko itimchenko@pvcc.edu. The goal of the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Club is to seek gospel understanding in a scholarly setting and search for the light that comes from becoming acquainted with the lessons of the scriptures. The club endeavors to share the peace that is experienced during the study of scriptures. For more information, contact the student contact, Melissa Ann Kibbe, mak21690@email.vccs.edu, or the Club Adviser, Andrew Renshaw, at renshaw@pvcc.edu. Investment Club LGBT+ Club The Investment Club is one of the oldest clubs on PVCCs campus. Its mission is to help students improve their knowledge of the economy and Page 8 market of our country. Visit their website: www.facebook.com/ Page 11 The LGBT+ club works to foster a sense of community between all PVCC students and to increase awareness of the lives and issues faced by people with diverse sexualities and gender identities. They participate in outreach to the LGBT+ community at large and work to create a safe atmosphere with PVCC and surrounding communities. Contact club president Annelise Stunes, as2027@email.vccs.edu or faculty advisers Barbara Heyl, bheyl@pvcc.edu, and Renee Eves, reves@pvcc.edu for more information. elementary students are only two of the fun projects for the coming year. The Math Club contains PVCCs Chapter of Mu Alpha Theta (), a subset of the club which is the mathematics honor society. Members of the honor society are eligible to wear s graduation honor cords. For more information, contact club advisers Diane Valade dvalade@pvcc.edu, Justin Storer jstorer@pvcc.edu or club president Cameron Krest cpk236@email.vccs.edu. Masquers Club (Theatre) The Music Club is a place where people who share a love for music gather together to play music in jam sessions at The Maxwell Theater (Black Box) in the Dickinson building or just to discuss their appreciation of music. I would recommend the Music Club to anyone that loves music. It's a great way to meet new friends that share an interest in music - the best art form, in my humble opinion, said Michael Baize. For more information, contact club adviser Kay Bethea at kbethea@pvcc.edu or student contacts Mike Baize at mbaize6274@email.vccs.edu and Jacob Brumback at jrb264345@email.vccs.edu. Music Club Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) The Masquers Club is for students interested in any aspect of theatre, including film. Masquers fosters interest in live theatre through cosponsorship of major theatre productions and through production of smaller theatre offerings, as well as by encouraging participation of students both as audience members and performers/ technicians. For more information, please contact Faculty Adviser Brad Stoller, bstoller@pvcc.edu. The Math Club The Math Club at PVCC is for those who enjoy math and want to share that fun with others. Hosting Pi Day events and a spring math day for area Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is an international honorary academic honor society for two-year colleges. Academic standards must be met to be eligible for membership. Applications should be submitted electronically directly to the national society. Please see PTK PVCC Facebook page for the latest news. Faculty Advisers: Bruce Robinson brobinson@pvcc.edu and Kit Decker kdecker@pvcc.edu. Page 12 Piedmont Student Launch Team The Piedmont Student Launch Team was created to bring together a diverse group of PVCC students who share the desire to build insanely high powered rockets and compete in NASA's Student Launch Initiative. The club provides a unique opportunity for interesting social interaction, combined with personal and career development, all while having a great time building rockets! Faculty Adviser: Yana Goddard, ygoddard@pvcc.edu Student Contact: Andrew Oxford, abo2738@email.vccs.edu Web site: http://www.piedmontlaunch.org/ Piedmont Rotaract Club students enrolled in the ceramics courses and those who love art. In this club, students have the opportunity to hone their skills with pottery clay and make them manifest in works of art. This artisan club nurtures the skills already gained and develops those yet to be mastered. The Pottery Club meets in the Dickinson building. For more information on the Pottery Club, contact Tom Clarkson at tclarkson@pvcc.edu. Radiography Club The Radiography Club at PVCC strives to maintain the highest level of excellence in their clinical and didactic curriculums as well as providing the utmost quality in patient care. The Radiography Club of Piedmont Virginia Community College will become a network of Radiography students assisting each other to ensure success in their future careers. It is their mission to perform at the highest ethical and professional standards set forth by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Code of Ethics. Through their actions, they will increase awareness of the Radiography field to Piedmont Virginia Community College as well as the community at large. For more information on this club and the radiography program, contact Faculty Advisers Nicole Winkler at nwinkler@pvcc.edu and Adriea Clarke at aclarke@pvcc.edu. For more information on the club, contact President Joyce Howard, jmd27111@email.vccs.edu The Piedmont Rotaract Club is a service club that is part of the Rotary International network of professionals working together. Rotaract Club members will: Plan and lead community service projects Develop leadership skills through networking with local Rotary Club members Interact with service-minded people Make new friends and have fun! The club meets on Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m. in room 175. Club Adviser: Miriam Rushfinn mrushfinn@pvcc.edu Student Contacts: Stephanie Pellicane spellbird@yahoo.com Pottery Club The Pottery Club offers a creative outlet for Page 13 Science Club The PVCC Science Club aims to promote science in our community by sharing how science applies to the real world, celebrating the creative nature of science, and making science more accessible and inclusive. All are welcome. Our meetings are held in the Keats Science Building. For more information, contact Faculty Adviser Anne Allison at aallison@pvcc.edu. The Sonography Clubs mission is to increase awareness of our field in the community at large and the college community. It is the clubs purpose to mentor fellow students and to encourage professional development and ethics with the common goal of providing quality patient care and imaging. Staff Adviser Lisa Burrington describes a typical Sonography Club meeting: Students may determine how they will raise funds and plan for that. In the past, students have arranged tutoring meetings and have arranged to have guest speakers. For more information, contact the clubs president, Najeeb Sakhizad, nsakhizad7944@email.vccs.edu. Club Adviser Lisa Burrington can be reached at lburrington@pvcc.edu. SNAP Club (Student Nurse Association at PVCC) The Soccer Club The Soccer Club invites members to be part of this great sport. You dont need to be experienced with the sport; if you are interested in trying it for the first time, they will make you feel welcomed. They have many members that play soccer tournaments throughout the semester. All students are invited to come and cheer for the schools soccer team. For more information, contact Faculty Adviser Steve McNerney at smcnerney@pvcc.edu. Sonography Club The Student Nurse Association at PVCC (SNAP) is an organization created by PVCC student nurses. They strive to support nursing students on their journey and promote an atmosphere of professional collaboration and academic excellence. They host orientation sessions for onboarding students, promote events that outreach to the community and work to boost morale of students. Through SNAP, nursing students can build an encouraging network between themselves and also serve others. Page 14 Club de Espaol (Spanish Club) The Spanish Club meets on a weekly basis to chat in Spanish, share food and music, watch films, play games such as loteria or Manzanas con manzanas, hear occasional presentations, make crafts such as papel picado or cascarones, meet visitors from other countries, and organize club events such as visits to local restaurants, the Casa Bolvar at U.Va., or a local salsa class. Students of all levels - from novices to native speakers - are welcome to attend. To learn more, contact the Faculty Advisers Kit Decker (kdecker@pvcc.edu) or Jorge Grajales-Diaz (jgrajalesdiaz@pvcc.edu). college officials while promoting an effective communication network between students, faculty, and staff. As a council for student ideas and concerns, the SGA works in conjunction with the College to improve student quality of life by planning, supporting, and running several student events. The SGA also encourages the establishment of new clubs. Learn more about the SGA on their Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/pvccstudentgov Student Veterans of America Student Veterans of America provides students who are veterans or active service members and their families with the resources, support and advocacy needed to meet their education and career goals while at PVCC and following graduation. The organization participates in and organizes projects, events and activities and provides a social group to help veterans transition to life on campus and PVCC Student Government Association members in the community. For more information about SVA club, please contact Club Adviser Jackie Fisher at jfisher@pvcc.edu. Tennis Club Student Government Association (SGA) The Student Government Association (SGA) of Piedmont Virginia Community College is the primary organization for representing the interests of all students to the faculty, staff, and administration. SGA represents the rights, interests, and concerns of the student body to For those who love to play tennis or always had a burning desire to play, here is your chance with Tennis Club. Tennis Club is open to people of all skill levels. The clubs main goal is to promote tennis throughout PVCC. For more information, contact student contact Tom Cude (tec2453@email.vccs.edu) or the Club Adviser John Thornton (mthorton@pvcc.edu) Page 15 Ultimate Frisbee Club Come be that voice and join them at their biweekly meetings on Wednesdays from 12:0012:50 p.m. (pizza and drinks provided). For more information: www.virginia21.org Student Contact: Grayson Katzenbach, gk242@email.vccs.edu Faculty Adviser: Connie Jorgensen, cjorgensen@pvcc.edu Volunteer Club Led by team captain Calvin Biesecker, the Ultimate Frisbee Club meets on Fridays at noon. The Ultimate Frisbee Club is one of the longest running sports clubs currently on campus, if not the longest. Staff adviser, John Gulley had much to say about the club, including reports of heaven shining its light down upon club members, perhaps explaining the clubs lasting appeal. If youre interested in joining, look up and join the PVCC Ultimate Facebook site, said Gulley. The club is co-ed. All are welcome. Contact Club Adviser John Gulley at jgulley@pvcc.edu. Virginia21 Interested in helping out the local community or making the campus a better place? Join the Volunteer Club. Specific activities will be determined by members of the club and can range from on campus functions (charity drives) to off campus initiatives (community events). For more information, please contact the Faculty Adviser Todd Platts tplatts@pvcc.edu. Women in STEM Club Be a part of the most successful advocacy group for young people in the nation by joining Piedmont Virginia Community Colleges Virginia21 chapter! Our goal is to educate students of all ages to influence policy by coordinating statewide political action on issues important to higher education. Members are given opportunities to lobby at General Assembly, attend leadership conferences with public officials, tour the Virginia State Capitol, be active among events at PVCC, and much more! Their motto is that they are the voice of a generation. The Women in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Club provides social support and STEM focused discussion and activities for students interested in STEM fields. The club has collaborated with other student clubs to sponsor discussions about career pathways in STEM. For more information, please contact the Faculty Adviser: Joanna Vondrasek jvondrasek@pvcc.edu or student contact: Annelise Stunes as2027@email.vccs.edu Page 16 Let There Be Light Raku Pottery Firing Brennan Tanner, staff writer Raku is a Japanese low fire glazing technique that dates back several thousand years to the sixteenth century. The bisqued pottery is coated with glaze and fired until the glaze melts, first bubbling, then smoothing out. After it reaches this stage, it is placed in a container of combustible materials, generally straw, shredded paper, or sawdust. The glaze used in raku has a different shrinkage rate than the pot itself, so as it cools, the difference in shrinkage causes the glaze to crack. The pots, still hot from the kiln, ignite. In the case of our raku firing, shredded paper is burned, and the carbon created by this seeps through the cracks in the glaze onto the pot where it is absorbed, leaving a spiderweb of gray lines across the surface of the pot. In our raku firing this year, we used a white crackle glaze and a copper green glaze, which can range in color from a dark green to a copper color, similar to a burnished penny. If a piece is left unglazed, it can be treated one of two ways. The pot can continue on with the glazed pots into the bins of shredded paper, which will give the whole surface a smoky black, undulating coating. Or the pots can be set aside, and while they are still hot, feathers and horsehair are placed on them, whereupon the carbon embeds itself in the surface leaving behind an impression of the horsehair or feathers. Due to the porosity of raku pottery, which does not vitrify because of the low temperature of the firing, it is not food safe and ends up being more decorative than functional. Raku firing at Let There Be Light, December 2016. Page 17 Photography courtesy of Karenne Wood How Facebook Saved a Family Joe Fowler, staff writer Dr. Karenne Wood responded to a Facebook post during the holiday season. Her friends husband rescued a pregnant dog that someone had abandoned on the side of the road in early winter. Unfortunately, the family could not keep the expectant mother because of conflicts between the dog and the family cat. Wood adopted the dog Dec. 25, 2016 and named her Chrissy the Christmas Dog. Chrissy gave birth to 11 puppies shortly thereafter. The smallest of the litter, Gracie, passed away after a brief life in which she was well-loved. Yeah, I know there are 10 more, plus mama, that I saved. I just wanted her to live, because she was trying, Wood wrote in a brief eulogy on Facebook. Sad but undeterred by the loss, she buried Gracie in her wildflower garden and named the site Gracies Garden, while continuing to care for the rest of the family. During a conversation with Wood, she said a primary motivator in adopting Chrissy was a story from Richmond in which rescuers saved a pregnant dog from the dumpster it had been abandoned in. If anyone dumps a pregnant dog in frigid temperatures, they must be heartless. Those puppies are going to die, said Wood. Chrissy became comfortable with friends handling her puppies within a few days. Wood has opened her door for visits with the new family and plans to begin allowing adoptions in March after the puppies have received their early veterinary care. She advised that there would be a vetting process for each adoption. I believe that all lives are connected, said Wood to reaffirm her commitment to find the best homes for all of the puppies. To inquire about adoption, please contact Wood via email at karennewood@yahoo.com. Page 18 Sushi Now Offered at Littlejohns Jake DeLaurier, staff writer Sushi has been added to the menu at Littlejohns on campus courtesy of Kachin Sushi. Students can expect a variety of sushi options such as: spicy rolls, vegetable rolls, Alaskan rolls, Philadelphia rolls, and California rolls. For the price of $7.42, I was able to buy ten pieces of a California roll. The roll also came with soy sauce, ginger, and wasabi that made my nostrils feel like they were on fire. While I wouldnt say that the California rolls were mind blowing, I did find them rather tasty. In particular, the rice around the rolls had great flavor. For those who like crab, they may be disappointed to find that the California rolls have imitation crab meat, though that is typical at many American sushi restaurants. Overall, the new sushi items are a great addition to Littlejohns and are perfect for students seeking an alternative to sandwiches. California roll, photography by Jake DeLaurier o? Tag-a-long by Caroline Morris Page 19 Classifieds Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Online Editor Joe Fowler Assistant Editors Antonia Florence Skye Scott Staff Writers/Copyeditors Athena Alving Annette Cashatt Jake Delaurier Antonia Florence Joe Fowler MaKayla Grapperhaus Kaytlynne Gentry Sean Gill Tucker Noelke Skye Scott Marlie Soderquist Olivia Stevens Shawn Stevenson Charles Stish Brennan Tanner Marcus Tyler Lindsey Woodyard Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. Comic Artists Caroline Morris Lindsey Woodyard Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College 10th Let There be Light Exhibition Brightens PVCC Skye Scott, staff writer On Friday, Dec. 9, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the 10th annual Let There be Light exhibition will be held in the building and grounds of the Dickinson building of PVCCs main campus. This description was written in the official press release about the event: Let There Be Light celebrates the approach of winter and the longest night of the year with an exhibition of light-based art installations and performances Many different artists will set up their illuminated artwork all around and inside the building. While some exhibits are just to look at, others offer interactive aspects. One of the exhibits is a luminous egg hunt, which lasts for the whole event. The first year we had about 500 people, every year it grew and now its 4-5000, wrote Beryl Solla, a professor of art at PVCC. Hot chocolate and other refreshments are available for any attendees. Most of the exhibits are accessible for people who experience hindered mobility; however, a few exhibits set in the woods might be slightly difficult to reach, according to Solla. December 2016 See the winners of this years PVCC One Book Program contest! Pages 14-15 Since this is the biggest event of the year, the art department begins the planning for the next year directly after the current years event. We look at how many people came, how much food and drink was served, go over any issues or snags and make notes for the following year, wrote Solla. The rain date is Saturday, Dec. 10. For more information, check out the Let There Be Light official website at www.lettherebelightpvcc.com. In This Issue Photography courtesy of Beryl Solla PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Classes Art Gallery -pgs. 12-13 Resources -pgs. 16-17 Movies -pgs. 20-21 Comics - pgs. 22-23 -pgs. 6-8 DATES TO REMEMBER Effective Studying & Handling Test Anxiety * Dec. 9, 11:50-12:50 p.m., M155 Science Majors Poster Seminar * Dec. 9, 12:30-1:30 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room Let There Be Light * Dec. 9, 6-9 p.m., Around Dickinson Building PVCC Chorus Holiday Concert * Dec. 11, 3 p.m., Dickinson Building Open Auditions for Cabaret Dec. 11-13, 6-9 p.m., Dickinson Building Last Day of classes Dec. 12 Final Exams Dec. 13-19 Charlottesville Ballet presents The Nutcraker Dec. 17, 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Dec 18, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dickinson Main Stage Spring Semester Classes Begin Jan. 9 Last day to register for 16-week classes Jan. 13 Spring Semester Classes Begin Jan. 9 Martin Luther King Day Holiday (no classes) Jan. 16 Free Movie Friday: Loving * Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available Much Ado Review Athena Alving, staff writer On the evening of Nov. 12 in the Blackbox Theatre, tensions rose as the audience eagerly awaited the performance of Much A do about Nothing to begin. Written by William Shakespeare, the play tells the tale of Prince Don Pedro and his brother Don John, who are returning from war to the town of Messina. While visiting Leonato, Duke of Messina and father of Hero, the loving cousin of Beatrice, Don John and his lackeys attempt to ruin Don Pedros reputation with a series of menacing plans. Blackbox Theatres inclusive and cozy atmosphere made the house feel as though they were thrown right into the scenes, experiencing a firsthand account of the compelling story. The addition of current music gave the centuries-old play a modern twist, which made for an even more entertaining performance. Expressive and phenomenal are just a few words to describe Darien Tinsleys portrayal of Benedick. A friend of Don Pedro, the character provided a light-hearted atmosphere to counteract Don Johns mischievous schemes. His comedic tone and actions captured the audiences attention and left them wanting more. Tinsleys dynamic with Jen Bottas, playing Beatrice, stole the show and filled the crowd with laughter. Beatrices sarcastic attitude toward Benedick made for a love-hate relationship that everyone was in favor of. The cast as a whole did an outstanding job on the show, which seemed overall very well-rehearsed. The work put into Much A do about Nothing does not go unrecognized, as the show was completely sold out. Although the production has closed, I would have no hesitation to go a second time if given the opportunity. Page 2 Student Government Association News Skye Scott, staff writer As the fall semester draws to a close, the Student Government Association (SGA) is taking some time to reflect on their accomplishments. Wadah Al Mulhim, the SGA president, along with the rest of his executive board, incorporated some new additions to the SGAs agenda this semester. Once a month, the SGA chose a member to receive the Member of Outstanding Services Award. Out of the original 37 SGA members, Julianna Suarez, Caleb Martin, and John Linkous were the winners of this award. They were awarded a $25 gift card and access to Al Mulhims special parking spot for a week. The SGA has sponsored and held eight events so far this semester, including their yearly Welcome Back Social, Casino Night, and an Ice Cream Social with Mary Baldwin University. A few new events for this year were Voter Registration, Popcorn and Presidents, and Cupcakes and Candidates. The SGA collaborated with many clubs this semester to make their events a success. The last fall event for the SGA is going to be No Worry Wednesday. This event will be held on Dec. 7 from 11 a.m-1 p.m in the North Mall Meeting Room. The goal of this event is to allow students to talk with professors about their stress in an attempt to relieve some of it. The SGA will be providing free food. In preparation for the spring semester, Al Mulhim and the rest of his executive board have begun to plan the upcoming events. So far on the agenda is a Spring Fling, a Town Hall Meeting, and the second annual Talent Show. For more information, visit the SGAs official Facebook page at PVCC Student Government Association. If you have any questions about the SGA, email SGA@pvcc.edu or directly contact Al Mulhim at wa292084@email.vccs.edu. Presidential Election Watch Party Skye Scott, staff writer On Tuesday, Nov. 8, PVCC students, faculty, and staff sat in the North Mall Meeting Room on PVCCs main campus with eyes glued to the projector screen. Anxiety was high as each individual in the room waited for the results of the 2016 presidential election. The Student Government Association and Virginia21 sponsored event started out as an election party. Snacks, drinks, and patriotic cupcakes were available to add to the excitement. However, as the night went on and the results seemed to grow farther away, people began to grow restless and anxious. The event wrapped up around 10:30 p.m., before final results about the election were announced. Photo Courtesy of PVCCs Student Government Association Page 3 Honoring Americas Veterans Charles Stish, staff writer Frank Friedman, renowned PVCC student and former United States Navy Crewman Patrick On Nov. 10, 2016, the Fork Union Military Fritz, United States Navy Chief Petty Officer Academy Color Guard marched down the hall to Shira Firth, and former PVCC student and former the North Hall Meeting Room with the Virginian, United States Marine Ben Shaw, who is also the the American, and the Fork Union Military northwest regional director of the Virginia Academy flags in hand. Bagpipers, courtesy of Veteran and Family Support. Ablemarle Pipes and Drums, followed behind Each speaker passionately discussed the while playing a marching theme. importance of men and women who serve in the In the North Mall Meeting Room, veterans military, how civilians can help soldiers become and patriots stood in honor of the flags and the reacquainted with civilian life and continue to fighting men and women who risked their lives support them, and despite how our country seems for their country. This was the beginning to be torn by this past election year, should stay ceremony of PVCCs Veterans Day event, where united as one to honor the sacrifice our veterans our nations veterans were thanked for their made to uphold our rights as citizens of the service and sacrifice. United States of America. The event was held on Nov. 10 to not I almost teared up, said former Marine interfere with any events taking place on Lance Corporal Jimmy Bagley. Veterans Day (Nov. 11). Despite this, the event I thought it was a very nice ceremony, said had a decent turnout of veterans, their family former Army Private First Class Jacob Harned. members, and veteran supporters eager to Since Nov. 10 is the United States Marine participate in the celebration. Corps birthday, the event had a cake-cutting After the Color Guard, Covenant Churchs ceremony where the youngest and oldest Marines Fine Arts Pastor Javaris Wright sang the National were to cut the cake together, as according to Anthem with a flag folding ceremony and USMC tradition. speeches by PVCC Alumni and American In further celebration and recognition of veterans afterwards. Americas veterans, Assistant Professor of The speakers included President of PVCC Dr. Theatre Arts Brad Stoller hosted a Veterans Story Theater on Nov. 19. in the Maxwell Theatre (Black Box) where veterans told stories and experiences that were immediately reenacted by skilled improv actors. This form of storytelling was to help bring to life the experiences veterans had during their service so civilians could understand the sacrifices Americas veterans The Fork Union Color Guard presenting the flags. made. Photography courtesy of PVCC Marketing and Media Relations Page 4 LGBT+ Clubs Day of Remembrance Charles Stish, staff writer LGBT+ club member Samuel Pierce said, I think it is really sad that they have been pushed to Oct. 29, 2016, Savannah Karten, a former that point. I believe that everyone has the right to PVCC student from Glen Allen, VA, who was exist the way they want to. said to be an intelligent and beautiful young Marina Mccord, vice president of LGBT+ woman, was found dead in her car in a parking club, said, I think for the most part that there is a lot in Boone, North Carolina. Karten suffered a lot of ignorance in the world, and we have made fatal gunshot wound, and it is determined that she a lot of steps forward, but we still have a lot more killed herself, according to local police. to make. Living a life of adventure, Karten was in Throughout the service, LGBT+ Club NOVA Swimming (a competitive swim circuit in members and supporters created origami cranes. Richmond, VA) from 2003They did this to reach the goal 2010 and a member of of 1000 cranes, as according River City Crew. At the to Japanese legend those who time of her death, Karten create 1000 origami cranes was 21 years old and a will be granted a wish from sophomore at Appalachian the Gods. After the creation of State University. She was these 1000 cranes, they will also a lesbian and an active hang the cranes on a memorial member of the LGBT+ club tree and collectively wish for during her time at PVCC. Karten to be at peace in the In celebration of the afterlife. International Transgender In accordance to LGBT+ Day of Remembrance, the clubs agenda of creating a Photography by Charles Stish LGBT+ club held a supportive and tolerant memorial from 11:00 a.m to environment for all sexually 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 21 in honor of Karten and diverse people, they handed out small paper other sexually diverse people who took their own pamphlets with various hotline numbers for lives. suicide prevention, bullying, rape and sexual It was a surprise to me; other people who assault, depression, and abuse. knew her better said that she had been struggling Participants and those who just walked by for a long time, but whenever I saw her she was were offered a safety pin with which they can always smiling. It was a pretty cool smile, said choose to create a makeshift necklace out of by Annelise Stunes, president of LGBT+ club. using yarn and beads that were the colors of Stunes and other club members honored the LGBT community. lives of Karten and others by presenting facts and Stunes said, Its hard to know that things are issues facing the LGBT community shown on getting better... I feel with the current political carboard displays. Issues reported included how state people are more likely to express more 41 percent of transgender people attempt suicide hatefully and violently toward certain people. In and how 78 percent of transgender students have the last few years, our community has made a lot suffered harassment or assault because of their of progress compared to 15 to 20 years ago, but it sexuality. is hard to see where its going. Its hard to know With this presentation of facts, a cardboard if we will keep progressing to a more progressive panel with pictures and stories of several society or regress to state of fear that we have transgender people who took their lives last year been hiding in for so long. was shown. By reading the small biographies of If you would like to learn more about LGBT+ each person, one can determine all victims felt club and their goals you can contact them via society rejected them; leading them to commit email. Annelise Stunes: as2027@email.vccs.edu suicide. Marina Mccord: marina.mccord@gmail.com Page 5 The American Experience in Vietnam Jake Delaurier, staff writer As the end of the fall semester at PVCC draws near, many students are planning out their class schedules for the spring semester. For students looking for an interesting history course, they should look no further than The American Experience in Vietnam. The American Experience in Vietnam will be a 16-week course taught by the Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts & Social Sciences Clifford Haury. Class will be held on Wednesdays from 7 to 9:45 p.m. in Spring 2017. Students can expect to be surprised that the Vietnam war and the experience for Americans is remarkably complicated, but is also a look into how wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in part a continuation of the type of warfare we experienced in Vietnam. Students can also expect lots of music because the anti-war sentiment in the U.S. caused there to be an amazing body of music of protest, including recent Nobel-prize winning Bob Dylan, and later Bruce Springsteen and a host of others. Finally, a great irony is that the U.S. missed chances along the way to avoid the war but did not, said Haury. The American Experience in Vietnam will also serve as Haurys last class before retirement. I wanted to teach it as my last class at PVCC while I am dean and history professor, but students should focus on the fact that Vietnam was a war fought largely by 18 year-olds who were drafted, and that if there is another crisis like it, the draft would fill the ranks again, said Haury. Haury has taught people who have been impacted by war. I have had PVCC students, veterans, families of veterans who had the war make a profound effect on their families, take the class. It has never been just an ordinary class, said Haury. Journalism Journey Ben Cozic, staff writer their own voice. Journalism students write articles for the school newspaper, The Forum, using newly learned skills. To complete articles, students research events on campus and around Charlottesville, choose from suggested topics, or find their own source. After the articles are graded, they are uploaded onto Google Drive for editing. Students are taught how to edit their articles by peer editing in class and through helpful links on Blackboard. The articles are then formatted and published in The Forum. Joseph Fowler, one of the editors of The Forum, told how a good article is written, Be original. Whatever drives you, present it in your own voice. When reading a newspaper, people will read a story and be done with it. What people do not notice is how much work goes into writing an article good enough to put on the page. Article topics need to be researched thoroughly by the writer so nothing is left out or written incorrectly. Articles also have to be edited and properly headlined in a way that makes them stand out. Writing articles can be an enjoyable experience. At PVCC, there is a journalism class called Introduction to Journalism (ENG 121) that helps students improve their writing while Photography by Katya Beisel still maintaining Page 6 The Ground Beneath Us and The Sky Above Antonia Florence, staff writer Geology and astronomy are alternative science electives to biology, chemistry and physics for many degree programs at Piedmont Virginia Community College. They and their accompanying labs each count as four credits. Geology is a study of solid Earth or other celestial bodies such as Mars. Physical geology focuses on the functions of different environments, rocks, minerals, oceans, plates and tectonics. Historical geology reconstructs the processes that changed the earths surface and subsurface. Through the study of the topics mentioned above, a sequence of events can be put together from studying rock and fossil records to follow Earths evolution. Oceanography is the study of marine organisms and ecosystems. Currents, waves, underwater geology and chemistry of the oceans, seas, and their floors are also part of oceanography. Jennifer Yates is science major. She is taking historical geology so she can take advantage of the geology independent study at PVCC which is a prerequisite for the geoscience degree she will pursue at Virginia Tech. I enjoy the [historic geology] material, and I would recommend it, but I prefer physical [geology], Yates said. One of three geology instructors, Associate Professor of Geology Lawrence Tiezzi, said he loves geology and loves to teach. Another student adds, He is never in a hurry to leave after class and takes the time to address questions long after the rest of the class has left. Tiezzi said with a smile, Students get me to look at things differently. Astronomy I is an introductory course that stresses concepts rather than mathematics and is designed for non-science majors, according to the class description. Instructional emphasis is placed on scientific method, patterns in the night sky, motion, energy, gravity, light, telescopes, our solar system, and the properties of planets beyond our solar system. Astronomy II follows the same curriculum but is more in-depth. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences Edmund Walendowski teaches both sections of this course. This semester, the classes visited McCormick Observatory at UVA and twice traveled to Walendowskis observatory in Albemarle County where the students observed star patterns and got a close view of the moon. He shares his enthusiasm with the students as they excitedly point out star formations and moon features. Astronomy I student Todd Bunger already has an undergraduate degree in mechanical design engineering and a masters in computer integrated manufacturing from Arizona State University. I chose astronomy because I want to major in astronomy/astrophysics and do it for a living. It is better than I had hoped and would recommend it to other students. I will be enrolling in astronomy II, Bunger said. Walendowski said during a recent class, It is possible to view star patterns and planets with binoculars. One does not need to invest in an expensive telescope right away. Viewing the night sky is best in an area free from smog and light pollution. Walendowski said, Many in this area dont appreciate the night sky. It is so great. Page 7 The Forbidden Subject Charles Stish, staff writer In Western society, the subjects of sex and sexual orientation are often shunned, spoken in hushed tones in public areas, and may not even be discussed with close friends or family. With this negative attitude toward sexual subjects, people can lack proper knowledge of their bodily functions, what makes a relationship, and even how to understand their own or others sexuality. After advocation from Assistant Professor of Psychology Michael Rahilly, PVCC has decided to open an opportunity for students to learn these subjects in-depth. I think it is important for adults to be sexually literate, to understand sexuality and to be educated and be reflective about sexualtiy on a personal level. I came here and started teaching about two years ago and taught this class a number of times at other places. I thought it would be good to teach it here as well, said Rahilly. Rahillys idea would come true as this is the first semester Psychology of Human Sexuality (PSY 270) is a part of PVCCs course curriculum. PSY 270 is offered infrequently, with the next section planned to be in 2018. In PSY 270, Rahilly teaches his students both the psychical and psychological aspects of human sexuality. Rahilly said, We do a variety of things, I have my students read and take quizzes on chapters, small in-class group discussions, and write papers about self reflection. We discuss basic anatomy and physiology, relationships (intimate and committed), communication and cultural attitudes about sexuality. It is an integrated approach to understand the body and mind. For its first semester, PSY 270 has a starting roster of sixteen students. Two of them, Victoria Jenkins and Jessica Son, shared some of their thoughts on the class. Son said, I chose PSY 270 as an elective to be better informed about our collective sexuality as a part of the human race, to better understand all that our sexuality encompasses. This class is the best sex education class available. You'll learn about yourself and others around you and about society as a whole. Jenkins added, It is very informative and fun, but be sure to go in with an open-mind. The class is not solely about sex, sorry to be a downer. Yet, you talk about your own body awareness, the ability to communicate with your partner among other things. That in turn will be helpful in your everyday life. If you have a desire to acknowledge, understand, and openly, but civilly, discuss these subjects without being in PSY 270, PVCCs Gender Equality Club and the LGBT+ club are available. For more information, contact: Connie Jorgensen, staff advisor for Gender Equality Club: cjorgensen@pvcc.edu Annelise Stunes, LGBT+ club president: as2027@email.vccs.edu Marina Mccord, LGBT+ club vice president: marina.mccord@gmail.com Psychology of Human Sexuality class. Photography by Charles Stish Page 8 Poetry Reading by Rita Dove Photograph Courtesy of Jennifer Koster Hanan DuVerney, staff writer On Dec. 1, Professor of English Jennifer Koster and the Creative Writing Club hosted a former United States Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Rita Dove on stage in the Dickinson Building. There was a good turn out for the poetry reading on Thursday evening. The community was treated to a selection of poems read aloud by Dove. Her eloquent speech and use of imagery yielded a crowd reaction worthy of a renowned poet. The awe-inspiring words of Dove set the tone for that evenings atmosphere. Doves work encompasses a range of topics including race, sex, politics, food, and her travel experiences, showing the immense versatility in her writing. Like many poets and other literary greats that reflect on history, Dove hasnt shied away from more sensitive material. The audience had the opportunity to listen to her read from the 1983 collection Museum. The poem Parsley touches on the dark past of the island of Hispaniola, set in the year 1937. The choice of language helped the audience visualize the atrocities committed by the regime of the Dominican dictator Trujillo. The moving reaction from the audience credited the power of her words. Dove has a knack for being able to articulate experiences in ways that relate to the reader. This literary skill is pertinent to the success of any author, especially a poet. Rita choses common motifs that resonate with her audience. Golden Oldie is a poem bursting with imagery: I made it home early, only to get / stalled in the driveway -swaying / at the wheel like a blind pianist caught in a tune / meant for more than two hands playing. Having Dove read and answer questions from the audience was an exceptional experience orchestrated by the PVCC faculty. Following the poetry reading, a reception was held with Soul Food desserts provided by the Black Student Alliance (BSA) Club, and prepared by Mouth Wide Open, a Street Eat coowned and operated by English department faculty member Dr. Justin Wert. Those in attendance were able to refresh themselves with great food and socialization; this capped off a great evening of poetry. Page 9 Ambassador Howell addresses attendees. Photography by Leigh-Anne M. Lawrence Thanks-4-Giving Antonia Florence, staff writer Generous donors and their scholarship recipients came together Nov. 11 for the annual Thanks-4-Giving Dinner held in the Bolick Student Center. The Piedmont Virginia Community College Scholarship Foundation awarded more than $320,000 to PVCC students for the 2016-2017 academic year. These scholarships made it possible for many recipients to continue their course of study. Dinner of salad, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce complimented conversation between the facilitators of the scholarships and their recipients. Students enthusiastically shared their learning experiences with their benefactors while their benefactors drew parallels in their own lives and imparted wisdom to their student recipients. After dinner, two students spoke of what receiving scholarships meant to them. First-year engineering student Jack Smith, recipient of The Perry Foundation Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship, said he will not need to increase his work hours now. He was afraid that working more would take away from his study time. This would have made it difficult to maintain his high GPA and endanger his acceptance to his firstchoice transfer college. Christina Widder expressed her appreciation to Ambassador and Mrs. Howell for the Nancy Hottle Jones Scholarship which has made it possible for her to pursue a career in the healthcare profession. Widders grandparents and parents were farmers and blue-collar workers. She wanted more for her now grown children and herself, and she has almost met her goal. Closing comments included the reminder that scholarships, unlike loans, never need to be repaid. However, in the future when you are on the road to success, it would be nice to pay it forward. Hopefully to PVCC, but if not, to another institution of higher education, said PVCC President Frank Friedman. PVCC offers more than 100 scholarships with a single application. There is no fee and the scholarships are open to all new and current students. To qualify, apply, meet criteria based on program of study, county of residence, merit and/ or need. Application submission is open now until Feb. 1, 2017 and has $275,000 available for 2017-2018. More information can be found on PVCCs website. Page 10 Dedicated Donations Ben Cozic, staff writer Students come to PVCCs main campus daily for class, homework, or socializing. However, rarely do they think of the stories behind these places. The Bolick Student Center, which most students and faculty consider the most popular hang-out spot at PVCC, is in the main building. It is named after Woodrow W. Bolick, one of the founding members of the first PVCC College Board, which connects the college and the community. Born in September 1919, Bolick was the person who named the college Piedmont. The reason why the center is dedicated to Bolick was because he and his daughter, Cynthia Stultz, donated $500,000 towards the school. PVCC President Frank Friedman said, This is a wonderful, wonderfully generous gift from the Bolick family. It means so much to the college; it will mean so much to our students not just today, but out into the future. The Dickinson building, home to PVCCs humanities, fine arts, and social sciences, was also named after a prominent person. This building was named after V. Earl Dickinson, who represented the 56th District in the Virginia House of Delegates for thirty years. He also attended both the University of Richmond and the University of Virginia Law School, earning his Bachelor of Science degree and his Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences. Born in July 1924, Dickinson believed that the idea of education was a value and that the arts were capable of changing peoples lives. Through his help, PVCC was able to get state funding for the building and, thus, his name was dedicated in celebration of the new building. Lastly, there is the Keats Science Building, the location of all things scientific at PVCC. In this case, the building was named after two people: Theodore E. Keats and Patt Hart Keats. Both of them shared a passion with radiology as Patt was a radiologic technologist while her husband Theodore was a renowned radiologist. They perfected the practice of because of how devoted they were to the science. Patt was a graduate of PVCC, and she went on to give the college a donation towards the Radiology Technology Program. The school then dedicated the building after them for recognition. Even though students of PVCC today may not have been able to meet these influential people firsthand, they will always be remembered for their services in making the school what it is today. Photos courtesy of PVCC Marketing and Media Relations Page 11 Annual Faculty Art Exhibition Hanan DuVerney, staff writer The Fine Arts department at Piedmont Virginia Community College actively endorses the art of students and other individuals in the community. Beryl Solla and Lou Haney, along with other faculty members and artists from the surrounding area, showcased the artwork on Nov. 18 for opening night of the PVCC Faculty Art Exhibit. Designated areas for the exhibit are in Dickinson Building and consist of specific artistic themes. The world of trip art, or psychedelic art, presents exciting forms of artistic expressions with the use of fractals, hard dark lines, and highlight colors. This, coupled with black lighting, augments the viewers experience. This genre is not entirely new to the Fine Arts. According to Time.com, It derives from earlier innovations of art and electronics, as well as from such old-fashioned devices as the kaleidoscope and slide projector. Some of it even incorporates ancient Oriental philosophies and American Indian lore. But what is new about the art is its complex integration of these techniques and elements as well as its overall purpose. Art is an extension of human expression; through the ages, generations of artists harkened to the technique and interpretation of their predecessors work. Another fun theme featured in the exhibit includes various paint mediums stylized in the likeness of fruit such as cantaloupes, strawberries, and figs. Many of the pieces in this section of the exhibit could be interpreted as pop art. Professor Solla provided snack foods inspired by the works of the artists which enhanced viewing the exhibit. In addition to the themed displays, Sculptures and other paintings of intricate detail were also on display. Some of the sculpture pieces showcase an influence reminiscent of art forms from the archaic periods. This art exhibition put on by the faculty at PVCC is available to anyone with an appreciation or interest in the arts, it is time well spent. 2 1 3 4 Page 12 6 5 7 9 8 10 11 12 13 Artwork 1, 2, 10, and 12 by Morgan Bates Artwork 5, 7, 8, 9, and 13 by Lou Haney Artwork 6 and 11 by A. I. Miller Pottery 3 by Tom Clarkson Pottery 4 by Nancy Ross Page 13 One Book Project Winners Are you feeling Lonely? Stuck in your small town Talking to your Circle The world within full view Can YouSense it wrapping round Are you feeling violated? Nowhere left to run Their eyes are all around you Do you think that youll give in? Is it time to show the world? Secrets are Lies Sharing is Caring Privacy is Theft Secrets are Lies - Why not tell us? Sharing is Caring - We want to know the Truth! Privacy is Theft - Dont Keep a thing from WEEE! Trade in your secret Theres nowhere to hide Privacys worth something In our collective mind I can feel it ending A loop around my neck With my body ascending Choking on the mess ALL THAT HAPPENS MUST BE KNOWN ALL THAT HAPPENS MUST BE KNOWN ALL THAT HAPPENS MUST BE KNOWN Lyrics by Trevor Pietsch, first place Page 14 Comic by Serena Meintzschel, third place Photo by Arthur Wood, second place Page 15 Disability Services Available at PVCC Antonia Florence, staff writer Disability Services Coordinator Susan Hannifan is dedicated to helping students at PVCC achieve a barrier-free education. She strives to reach out to students who have selfidentified, have a formal recommendation from previous educational facilities, or have been referred by outside agencies as having a learning or physical disability which inhibits the learning process. There are many disabilities that affect learning. A few of these include attention deficit disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, depression and bipolar disorders, thought and auditory processing differences, posttraumatic stress disorder, and vision and hearing impairments. Disabilities can be short or long term and there are many ways to help students with disabilities achieve academically. If a student has broken a bone and cannot write, we will pair them with a scribe, said Hannifan. A student with a thought processing disorder may receive extended time to take tests. Some students are offered a lighter schedule. In addition, PVCC has numerous assistive technology and resources available. All services are available to students for free. As of the 2016 spring semester, PVCC had a total full and part-time enrollment of 7,595 students, according to the latest figures available on PVCCs website. Of that, only about 200 receive[d] services, Hannifan said. This amounts to 0.03 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 11 percent of undergraduates receive disability services. Statistically, there are many frustrated students on PVCCs campus who have not been identified but are deserving of services. Some students do not realize they have a learning disability. They may struggle with processing new information or retaining it. Perhaps it takes three times as long as other students to complete assignments. If this sounds like you, then Hannifan wants you to email her at shannifan@pvcc.edu and let her know what you are experiencing. During a meeting, she will be able to recommend tactics to help facilitate a more positive experience. She may refer you for an evaluation. UVAs Ainsworth Clinic does not charge for testing. Taking these measures are the first step toward self-advocacy and will serve students well throughout the rest of their lives. If you have any concerns about learning, do not be afraid to get help. We have many resources to pull from, Hannifan said with a smile and her usual calm demeanor. Page 16 Hope Club Extends Support Antonia Florence, staff writer HOPE @ PIEDMONT is a new club at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Its function is to Stand up against sexual violence and support any student who has endured an assault, is facing a pregnancy, or going through an emotional crisis while in college, according to Club Advisor Jackie Fisher. Sexual Violence affects 1 in 16 men [and] 1 in 4 women during their college career. An average of 31% students become pregnant during their college education, said Fisher. HOPE meetings are open to all students, male and female. Many attendees have endured a sexual assault, an emotional crisis, are expecting a child, already have children or have a passion to support others. Community resources are tapped by HOPE to provide support to those who may be in need. These include self-defense courses through the local sheriffs department, assistance through SARA (Sexual Assault Resource Agency), and PCCA (Pregnancy Centers of Central VA) for those needing free maternity care or infant items, according to Fisher. In addition, we want to allow students to attend Green Dot Training to become active bystanders in the event of a sexual assault, Fisher continued. Green Dot is a system used as an intervention tool against domestic violence through the three Ds: Direct attention elsewhere, Delegate the responsibility to others, and create a Distraction to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. As an example, a student can go to two loud arguing students and ask where the admissions office is. One of the arguers tells the interrupting student, but the student asks if that person can lead them. After they turn the corner, one student levels with the other that it was a distraction to defuse the situation. With the promise of new skills, the club meetings are relaxed and informative. We have an awesome fun group of people and usually spend some time at the beginning of each meeting visiting and talking about our week. Then we either: work on an outreach project, hear from a speaker, do a workshop, or focus on a HOPE topic and ways to help fellow students. Its a short one hour meeting, but we always leave smiling and full of pizza, wrote Fisher. There is a wide variety of members and are currently leaning toward more male than female. The clubs goal is to provide support and hope for any individual in need while spreading awareness on a student level. Our club is not meant to come in between law enforcement protocols in any way and we work closely with the officials to ensure the safety of all students. PVCC refers students to SARA on the school website and provides them with the 24-hour hotline to call: 434-977-7273 or 434-295-7273, said Fisher. HOPE@PEIDMONT meets every other Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m. in the Pace Board Room, M814 in the Technology wing. For more information, please contact Abby Lannon, club president: atl20118@email.vccs.edu or HopeAtPiedmont@gmail.com. Page 17 Cru members posing for a photo . Photography by Charles Stish Cider and Solarium Charles Stish, staff writer On the cool morning of Nov. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free hot apple cider, hot chocolate, and warm, friendly discussion on life and religion were offered by members of Cru at PVCC for all students and faculty members. Simply called Cider and Soularium, Cru set up tables and a small stand of PVC pipe where pictures ranging from mountain vistas to unhappy people were set. This is a technique called solarium, and Cru used the pictures to intrigue and converse with their guests. Thats how we get people to describe their life, said Mark Seymour, a Cru member. The three photos they select first are how they feel at the moment. Once a person selected their photos, the members would then ask about the persons choosing of the photos. Doing this would, in theory, have the people open up and talk about their lives on a personal level that most might not be accustomed to doing with strangers. The conversation would then take a religious topic, as each person would be asked about their views on God and religion. Cru members did their part of being respectful, friendly, and open and would ask the person about their own ideas and perceptions of God and Gods role in our universe. After a discussion with one patron, Cru members would then eagerly turn towards the next available person and repeat the process of hosting conversation. Since this event was somewhat last minute, Cru members took handmade signs advertising the event and walked the hallways of the Main Building as they looked for willing guests to enjoy warm drinks and conversation. Donnie Wilson, president of Cru at PVCC, even walked through the Jessup Library with a sign to help draw attention to the event. To learn more about Cru at PVCC and its goals, you can reach them via email. Student Contact and President Donnie Wilson: dsw2752@email.vccs.edu Club Advisor, Andre Luck: aluck@pvcc.edu Page 18 Twenty One Pilots hits Charlottesville Sydney Pratt, staff writer For those who listen to the radio, they have most likely heard of the hot band Twenty One Pilots. While this band may not be for everyone, most people cannot help but sing along to their songs. They have a numerous amount of number one hits, but the most popular are Stressed Out, Ride, and Heathens. The band has gotten a lot of publicity and the song Heathens was featured in the new movie Suicide Squad. Charlottesville should be prepared because Twenty One Pilots will be playing at the John Paul Jones arena on Sunday, Jan. 22. The doors open at 7p.m. and is guaranteed to entertain the crowd. Children of all ages can attend, but children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Twenty One Pilots, also known as TOP, originated from Columbus, Ohio, and the band consists of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. The duo have been working together since 2011 and have come very far in their music career. Their music genre consists of alternative hip hop and rap. One of their most famous songs is called Car Radio , released back in 2013. With their rap like style they are able to appeal to most audiences. TOP is one of the hottest bands to date, and have sold out almost every show on their last tour. If you are looking forward to seeing their show, tickets should be purchased soon. This band is one of a kind and is the most original when it comes to songwriting. While asking students at PVCC most said that they heard of TOP and were excited to hear that they were playing so close to home. Tickets are on sale now! Filipino Popup at Splendoras Skye Scott, staff writer Splendoras Gelato Cafe, located on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, VA, held a fundraiser for Charlottesvilles only roller derby team, the Derby Dames, on Oct. 30, 2016. The Filipino Popup was held in an attempt to help the team raise money for their upcoming championship. Well when the dames got into the D2 regional championships, they got an automatic bid to the big championships. but its in Portland so I decided to throw an event to raise at least the cost of one ticket, wrote PK Ross, the owner of Splendoras and a big supporter of the Derby Dames. On the menu at the Filipino Popup was Lumpia, Pancit, Adobo with rice or a roll, and Lechon Kawali. Each was made in the kitchen at Splendoras by Ross, the Splendoras crew, and some of the Derby Dames themselves. We raised more money for the dames than our initial goal. It was pretty busy with the pop up and concert traffic, wrote Kelly Farmer, the general manager of Splendoras. For more information on the Derby Dames or the D2 Regional Championships, visit these websites: www.charlottesvillederbydames.com wftda.com/tournaments/2016 For more information on Splendoras, visit their website: http://www.splendoras.com Photography by Skye Scott Page 19 Review: Doctor Strange Jake Delaurier, staff writer and arrogance to the role. The supporting cast is also great. Some of these include Benedict Wong Marvel Studios dominance over the as Wong, a master of the mystical arts, and superhero genre cannot be denied. In just a little Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Moro, who serves as over eight years, Marvel has Stranges mentor. produced 14 films with at Another great thing about least eight more on the way, Doctor Strange is how self multiple TV series, and contained it feels. Unlike most countless studio imitators superhero movies nowadays, trying to capture their where studios try to set up the success. next five plus years of With the release of their superhero movies for their latest film Doctor Strange, cinematic universe, Doctor Marvel plans on continuing Strange never tries to do such their string of success, and a thing. the result is easily one of Similar to Deadpool from their best films to date. earlier on in the year, Doctor Benedict Cumberbatch Strange never burdens the stars in the leading role as audience with blatant Dr. Stephen Strange, a advertisements for future famous neurosurgeon with a movies. perfect success record. Early Despite being one of on in the film, Strange is Marvel's best films, Doctor involved in a serious car Strange does have a few Photography by Ben Cozic accident that causes him to problems. You might have barely be able to use his noticed that I have yet to hands. mention the films villain Kaecilius (played by After countless failed surgical attempts to fix Mads Mikkelsen). his hands, Strange learns that Jonathan Pangborn Like every other Marvel villain not named (played by Benjamin Bratt), who was once a Loki or Ultron, Kaecilius is yet another paraplegic, is mysteriously able to walk again. forgettable Marvel villain. Marvel has had a Pangborn tells Strange to go to Kamar-Taj. problem with weak villians for almost a decade, Once there, Strange meets the Ancient One so there is no reason why they have not fixed it (played by Tilda Swinton), a sorcerer with power yet. that overwhelms Strange. After Strange sees what Another problem is that some of the comedic the Ancient One can do, Strange seeks to learn moments never really land. Unlike other Marvel how to be a sorcerer. films, like Guardians of the Galaxy , Doctor Doctor Strange is without Marvel's best film Strange sometimes struggles to be funny. There since Guardians of the Galaxy. One of the are a couple of jokes, for example, that reasons for this is thanks in part to the amazing involve Beyonc of all people, which comes visuals. One stand out scene takes place in New across as out of place in a film that is about York City with the city itself bending back and sorcery. forth and rotating like a Rubik Cube. Despite some of the films problems, Doctor The film has more going for it then just its Strange is still an amazing film. In a year that impressive visuals. The cast is another reason was filled with superhero movies that ranged why Doctor Strange works so well. Benedict from the cinematic atrocity, Batman v. Cumberbatch is up there with Robert Downey Jr., Superman: Dawn of Justice, to the much better Chris Evans, Paul Rudd, and Tom Holland as one crowd pleaser Captain A merica Civil W ar, of the best casting decisions Marvel has ever Doctor Strange easily stands out as 2016s best made. He delivers the perfect level of charisma superhero film. Page 20 Modern Marvels: Dr. Strange and Comic Books Ben Cozic, staff writer Excelsior! It is the well-known catchphrase of one of the greatest comic book writers in history, Stan Lee. Throughout his career, Lee created a wide variety of superheroes that have become household names in the comic book world, such as Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk. Today, they have become even more famous due to the many film adaptations featuring these heroes, including The A vengers. But not many people know that Marvel and their team of comic book writers also created one of the most bizarre and trippy characters to ever come out in comics and that he has his own film out in theaters right now. And that character is called Doctor Strange. First appearing in 1963, Doctor Strange was established as Marvels central, if not popular, character in all things magical and otherworldly. His superhero job was to protect the world from evil beings from other dimensions, and Strange would often go to these other dimensions and fight against them. Strange was created by artist Steve Ditko who, surprisingly, created another, more popular Marvel character: Spider-Man. Ditkos artwork truly stood out with Doctor Strange though as his imagery was regarded as something similar to that of an LSD drug trip with wild colors, multiple perspectives, and twisting shapes and forms. This would become central to the character as the dimensions Strange would travel to had these kinds of visuals constantly. Despite his earlier successes, Doctor Strange, even though he had his fans, had become not as successful in recent times, with the character becoming quite obscure. That changed, however, with the release of Marvels next big hit, Doctor Strange. Doctor Strange is the most recent in a long series of superhero movies called the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel comics, and superhero comics in general, were usually known for having their characters interact with each other in the same universe so it would make sense for this franchise if their film characters to interact with each other as well. But what makes the appearance of Doctor Strange special is how magic was shown in the franchise as previous characters were not as skilled in the mystic arts as Strange was,. Starring as the doctor himself is Benedict Cumberbatch, an actor with a wide range of roles in film and television, including Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock and the dragon Smaug from The Hobbit films. Along with Cumberbatch, the film also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton featuring as magical characters like Baron Mordo, Kaecilius, and the Ancient One respectively. The film cleverly tells its own story with bits of humor and plenty of drama as well as hinting that he may not be the only superhero in his world. The film also delivers its trippy imagery as the visual effects were created both with modern technology as well as being an homage to Ditkos previous work. Doctor Strange is out in theaters now, presented in normal and IMAX 3D viewings. Page 21 Escape from Exams Word Search Can you find these words? A U M U B P W G T F R N M M O C O U R E F R I X E B D D Q W M C E K F I M E N Z K N W W E K A V U V N D O S T F X X X H K F N P F A A E S E E N V T S N L O K F L X N Q B N R A Y G L I T R G S O R U B P T W W Q F F H Q U W B B C H E G S N F O I N B V M A X W B E K M O C F L P Q X G Q H V V L A X U W H S T T I Z H G V B S K X U T B B X K P R I A E P E C F S Z D X Y S Y A D I L O H H S I Q J M V N Z Y D Z L O G G S T V I M U F B G X C D N I F Z K E FINALS FORUM FUN HOLIDAYS PRESENTS PVCC SLEEP SNOW WINTER Page 22 Riddles Brennan Tanner, Staff Writer None of us are quite the same, though we all are called by a single name, It is the six that we all do share, that causes some to believe us all the same. Iron roof, glass walls, burns and burns, yet it never falls. First tell me who is first among spies, and last amongst their lies, Then next tell me who is seated in the middle of a bench, Lastly when it comes time to pay, and you have nothing, what happens? If you have found all three time to string them and answer me this, What numbs your flesh with its gentle kiss? Comic by Andie Meddaugh Page 23 Classifieds Want to Make the News? Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com Introduction to Journalism The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu ENG 121 The Forum Staff Join the staff of PVCCs student newspaper, The Forum Spring Semester 2017 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 to 12:15 Every student has a chance to get published. Create a portfolio of your work. The course is an approved transfer elective. Email Dr. Tamara Whyte for more details: twhyte@pvcc.edu Know of any Community Events, Announcements, or Advertisements youd like to list? Contribute and Submit to Contact us at theforum@pvcc.edu for more information or visit our website : www.piedmontforum.com Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Joe Fowler Arif Michael Vega Staff Writers/Copyeditors Athena Alving Annette Cashatt Ben Cozic Jake Delaurier Hanan DuVerney Antonia Florence Joe Fowler Michael Kaebler Sydney Pratt Skye Scott Charles Stish Brennan Tanner Arif Michael Vega Lindsey Woodyard Comic Artists Andie Meddaugh Caroline Morris Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College November 2016 Much Ado about Shakespeare Charles Stish, staff writer This semester at PVCC, the skilled and dedicated local actors and play directors are bringing to life William Shakespeares Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing. The interesting thing about the two plays is how they contrast each other. A violent drama and a silly comedy. A very, light and colored show and a dark show, said Brad Stoller, director of Much A do About Nothing and assistant professor of theatre arts, humanities, fine arts and social sciences at PVCC. Stoller and local experienced acting major and director of Macbeth Amalia Oswald are directing both shows with the same actors in a technique called repertoire acting. This means all actors rehearse and practice together and will make groups to practice each play respectively. The actors have to drastically change from a serious tragedy to a silly comedy, said Stoller The actors are enthusiastic about the upcoming performances as they willingly enjoy the rehearsal exercises of running lines and physical acting warm ups. As they do this, they create a bond that makes them keen to each others emotions and body movements, a good trait to have whilst on stage. Several of the current actors also participated in previous PVCC play productions, including last years The Rocky Horror Show. Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing have already played their first weekend. Their second set of performances will be on the weekend of Nov. 11 with Much Ado About Nothing playing first on Nov.11 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov.12 at 2:30 p.m. with Macbeth following on Nov.12 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov.13 at 2:30 p.m. All showings will be performed in the Maxwell (BlackBox) Theatre on the second floor of the V. Earl Dickinson Building. Tickets can be bought at $5 online or in person two hours before the show at the Box Office window or by calling the Box Office: 434-961-5376 prior to the showings. Since the Blackbox Theatre is small, it is recommended to reserve tickets in advance of the performance. In This Issue PVCC actors performing acting exercises. Photo by Charles Stish PVCC Events -pg. 2 Election PVCC Services -pgs. 8-9 Free Speech -pgs. 10-11 Clubs -pgs. 12-13 Profile -pg. 17 Comics -pgs. 4-5 -pgs. 18-19 DATES TO REMEMBER PVCC Theatre Presents: Macbeth Oct. 28 & Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 29 & Nov. 11, 2:30 p.m. Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater PVCC Theatre Presents: Much A do A bout Nothing Oct. 28 & Nov. 12, 2:30 p.m.; Oct. 29 & Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater PVCC Fall Fitness Fair * Nov. 2, 9 a.m to 3 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room One Book TalkWaldo Jaquith * Nov. 2, Noon, Main Building 229 Virginia Film Festival Nov. 3-6, throughout Charlottesville FSAE Bake Sale Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Main Building One Mic Stand * Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater BSA Bingo Night Nov. 11, 6-8 p.m., Bolick Center Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception * Nov. 18, 5-7 p.m., Dickinson Building Free Movie Friday: Sully * Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Veterans Story Theatre * Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater FSAE Movie Night Nov. 20, 6-9 p.m., Dickinson Building A Christmas Carol ^ Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Annual Pottery Club Sale * Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to Noon, Dickinson Building Reciprocity Concert Dec. 3, 7-9:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Let There Be Light * Dec. 9, 6-9 p.m., Dickinson Building *Free Event Preparing to Vote on Nov. 8 Sydney Pratt, staff writer As election day approaches, people are slowly deciding whom they want to vote for. These people participate in watching debates, researching all presidential candidates, and even going to rallies. Many people have fought for racial and gender equally, which means more Americans have the right to vote. With that being said, more people should appreciate having these rights and should definitely register to vote. On Monday, Oct. 3, Piedmont Virginia Community College made it their goal to make sure young potential voters are registered and educated enough to be able to vote come this November. In the Bolick Center, students crowded around the table that was covered in blank registration papers along with life-sized cutouts of presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It was surprising to see how many people had not previously registered to vote. The process to register was extremely simple. The steps included filling out a paper with personal information. This information is used to clarify if you are a US citizen and to determine voter precinct according to your address. Educating ones self when it comes to politics is extremely important. Research all possible candidates by going on to trusted websites or news channels. This way, people can fully participate in voting and not neglect their rights. Learn more about the candidates in the PV CC Non-partisan Voter Guide, available on Piedmontforum.com. ^Student Vouchers Available Page 2 Student Government Association News Skye Scott, staff writer The Student Government Association (SGA) will be holding a Town Hall Meeting in the Bolick Student Center of the main building on PVCCs campus. The Town Hall Meeting will likely be held on a Monday or a Wednesday during college hour. This event will allow students to directly ask PVCCs president and vice-presidents questions. The president and his vice-presidents are invited to be on the panel to answer the students questions. This is a great opportunity for PVCC students to get in touch with college administrative directly, said Wadah Al Mulhim, the SGA president. This is something new for PVCC, and is being held in an attempt to connect students to the PVCC administrators. It is intended to show the transparency of the school, according to Al Mulhim. The Town Hall Meeting will be approximately 50 minutes long, and food will be provided. For more information and updates on the date and time follow the SGAs Facebook page: PVCC Student Government Association. Photography Courtesy of SGA Page 3 PVCCs Presidential Mock Debate The mock debate student presidential candidates pose for a photo. Photography by Charles Stish Charles Stish, staff writer Oct. 17, 2016 was the starting day of PVCCs Free Speech week. With it, activities and events were celebrated throughout the school in honor of the United States First Amendment. One of these events was a presidential mock debate conducted by one half of the student body in the American National Politics course (PLS 153), taught by Assistant Professor of Political Science Connie Jorgenson. This is not to entertain, but to inform, because people will make the outcome of the presidential election, said Roger Howard, student project manager for the mock debate. The mock debate had been planned and coordinated by the PLS 135 students assigned with the task since the second week of this semester. The debate included three debate panelists (Scott Atkins, Rachel Dabowski, Therese Baber) who asked scripted, relevant questions pertaining to foreign policies, gun control, and financial aid for college students. The questions would be answered by four students (Joseph Chaftez as Hillary Clinton, Jermey Lawson as Donald Trump, Alexea Duquesne as Gary Johnson, and Tiana Sigala as Jill Stein) who individually represented the four presidential candidates in this election year, and answered in a fashion that their selected candidate would answer the question. The students representing the candidates were actors portraying a character as they answered according to a script, and some did not agree with the political views of their candidate. A debate administrator gave the candidates twenty seconds to answer the questions and would cut off the responses if they went on for too long. If you want to be active and learn about national politics and political issues within higher education, PVCCs Virginia21 club meets biweekly on Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. in room M158. The student contact for Virginia21 is Grayson Katzenbach, chapter president: gk242@email.vccs.edu Their faculty advisor is Connie Jorgenson: cjorgensen@pvcc.edu Page 4 Admissions & Advising is a Great Place to Start Skye Scott, staff writer When a student walks into the Main Building on the Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) campus, one of the first things they will see is the glass doors behind which sit the many desks and people who make up the Admissions and Advising Center. Many students have already come into contact with the people working there, because it is typically the first place new PVCC students go for information. Its really where all students get started. Whether its one class or a degree big questions, little questions; this is just kind of a starting point for everyone, and its a reference point for everyone, said Robyn Lane, an administrative assistant in the Admissions and Advising center who specializes in helping students claim in-state tuition. The staff who work in the Admissions and Advising center are knowledgeable in their specific fields. They strive to provide excellent and efficient care to each and every student who comes into the office. Both Kelley Bennett, an administrative assistant, and Kristin Wentland, an academic advisor, said they wish students would proactively seek advising before registering for classes, so as to have the perfect schedule. Kemper Steele, Coordinator of Transfer and Advising, said there are national statistics that show students who seek advising and support while at college do better than students who do not. He also said, The biggest reason why they are successful by seeking advising is they stay on track. If you do it on your own, without seeking help, youre more at risk to possibly get off track. Steele said they are working on coming up with better ways to reach students who can not come onto campus. One possibility is through virtual advising. Both Bennett and Steele said they hope students see the Admissions Office as a valuable resource. Steele also added that he hopes students see the office as warm, inviting and accessible. He wants students to walk in and kind of have a sense of comfort and trust that they are going to be taken care of. Wentland said, I hope [students] feel comfortable coming in to ask us any type of question, because I feel like we are the hub of the college. We have a lot of information and we can get you to the right place if we dont know the exact answer. So just come to see us, come to talk to use, dont be afraid of us. You can directly contact the Admissions and Advising center at 434-961-6551 or on campus in Room M144. Explaining Electoral Math Lindsey Woodyard, staff writer Virginia21 and the Math Club co-hosted the electoral college event on Oct. 19. Political Science Assistant Professor Connie Jorgensen gave a lecture on how the electoral college works, and Mathematics Instructor Justin Storer gave an analysis of our voting system. Jorgensen explained how the electoral college chooses the president and vice president based on the popular vote. The electoral college is designed to give a voice to smaller states who would otherwise be overpowered by more populated states. PVCC President Frank Friedman said that rules are what make democracy work. Following the rules is what ensures a smooth transition of power. Storer elaborated on the limitations of the American voting process. He explained how presidential candidates could win the electoral college nomination with only 20 percent of the popular vote. He said he is outraged at the disparity between the popular vote and the potential outcome of the electoral college nomination, and he hopes to analyze the voting process in a way that people can understand. Grayson Katzenbach, president of PVCCs chapter of Virginia21, said, A lot of college students feel that their vote doesnt count. So, teaching them about the electoral college shows them how their vote counts. Page 5 Some upcoming events: Reciprocity is a New Beginning Antonia Florence and Arif Michael Vega, staff writers An amalgamation of local artists and some talented PVCC faculty will perform Saturday, Dec. 3 in Dickinson Theater. Doors will open for Reciprocity - A Radioactive Music Event at 6:30 p.m. A meet the artist reception will follow the performance. Reciprocity is being organized by PVCCs Radiography Club, which consists of second-year radiology students. The proceeds will off-set the expense of attending the annual state radiologic conference in April. According to RAD club president, Joyce Howard, the cost can be prohibitive. This conference is important to both students and their instructors. Radiography students state-wide attend in order to prepare for their medical boards. This year, PVCC Radiography Program Director and Assistant Professor Nicole Winkler will be presenting on several key topics, Howard said. In conjunction with Reciprocity, a silent auction and raffle will be taking place. Tickets are on sale now from radiography students. Advance tickets will also be sold in the Bolick Student Center Tuesday, Nov. 29, Noon-5 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 1, 1-5 p.m. With student identification, PVCC students can purchase tickets for $7, while general admission is $10. The program will be new to PVCC, and Howard hopes it will continue in future years. It is exciting to be a part of something new, a new legacy, Howard said. When I think about all the clubs, all the events, I think about the people that started them. She is also excited to be inviting performers that people do not usually have access to. For further information, please contact Joyce Howard, 434-987-5813 or jmd27111@email.vccs.edu. Page 6 Lights, Camera, Festival Jake Delaurier, staff writer Nov. 3 from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at The Jefferson Theater for $75. Attendees will be able to listen to Kool Kats Lite, enjoy hors doeuvres provided by Harvest Moon Catering, and take pictures at the MoxBox photo booth. The second, the Digital Media Gallery First Friday Opening Reception, will be held on Nov. 4 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. at the Second Street Gallery for free. Here attendees will be able to hang out with a variety of people like students and other festival attendees. And finally, the Late Night Wrap Party will be held on Nov. 5 at the Main Street Arena 10:00 p.m.- 2:00 a.m. for $35. Similar to Opening Night Gala, food will be provided by Harvest Moon Catering and attendees will be able to take photos at the MoxBox photo booth. The Late Night Wrap Party will also have a performance from Moonlight Circus. For more information regarding this years upcoming film festival, visit http:// virginiafilmfestival.org/. The 29th annual Virginia Film Festival is set to take place on Nov. 3-6. This four day event will showcase 135 films. These films will be shown at many different locations like Violet Crown, The Paramount Theatre, the PVCC Dickinson Center, UVA, and the Vinegar Hill Theatre. People can expect tremendous attendance, said festival director Jody Kielbasa. In eight years, attendance rose from 11000 to 32000, said Kielbasa. This years festival we have La La Land, which won the Audience Favorite Award at the Toronto Film Festival, the biopic about Jackie Kennedy called Jackie, and a work-in progress of Beauty and the Beast to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the film, said Kielbasa. The Virginia Film Festival will also host numerous special guests. Some of these guests include Paige OHara, the voice of Belle from Beauty and the Beast; Danny McBride, star of the TV show V ice Principals, will screen two episodes of the show, and Michael Barker, co-president and co-founder of Sony Picture Classics. Family Day will also be apart of the Festival on Nov. 5 on the UVA Arts Grounds. Some activities offered at Family Day include showings of Disney Animated Shorts and James and The Giant Peach at no expense and a performance by Moonlight Circus. Throughout the festival, galas and parties will be held Nov. 3-5. The first of these will the Opening Night Gala, Picture of the 2014 Virginia Film Festival. which will take place on Photo courtesy of The Virginia Film Festival and Flickr Page 7 The Student Success Office is Here For You! Antonia Florence, staff writer If your grades have been falling and are wondering if college is for you anymore, or it has been difficult fitting in, and you are fighting loneliness, rest assured these are all normal college experiences. There is help here at PVCC. The Student Success office includes coordinator, David Lerman, and Student Success Advisors Kristen Holt and Kristy Simpkins. They are committed and ready to help all students at PVCC achieve their academic goals through appreciative advising. Appreciative advising is building up from a positive background. Everyone has positive somewhere, from some point in their life, said Simpkins. The Student Success office refers to in-house and community-based resources. These resources include the Writing Center which is helpful to many, including English-as-asecond-language students. In addition, academic coaching can foster good study and time management skills; and the First Quadrant math lab has math and science tutors. Career advising can help open opportunities which one may not have thought possible, and PVCCs branch of UVA Community Credit Union offers free budget counseling. Community-based resources include mental health and legal counseling services through various agencies. Housing and food shortfalls can also be addressed. All of these affect our ability to learn, said Simpkins. Simpkins was a first generation college student, and by her own admission, was not a good student initially. Because of this, she lost her financial aid at one point. We have to learn from our failures, said Simpkins. After earning her bachelors degree from Christopher Newport University, she went on to Old Dominion University and earned her masters degree in mental health counseling with a specialization in college counseling. Simpkins has experienced some of the same pitfalls PVCC students may find themselves in. Her eyes expressed encouragement when Simpkins said, Dont give up on yourself. You may not see immediate results but it will pay off. The Student Success office is housed in room M132 on PVCCs Main Campus. David Lerman, Kristen Holt, and Kristy Simpkins pose for a photograph. Photo courtesy of Simpkins. Page 8 The Importance of PVCCs Career Services Charles Stish, staff writer A student, unsure about their career path, walks into Room M128 for an appointment with Andre Luck, the manager of PVCCs Career Services department. Luck welcomes them into his small and humble office with a welcoming salutation and firm handshake. Soon, the student will come out of the office with a clearer vision of their career and the road to get it. Luck will then smile at the idea of helping another student find their way. That is, after all, what career services does. I like to help students dream and make those dreams come true, said Luck, career services manager at PVCC. When referring to the phrase thinking outside the box, Luck said, I tell students the entire universe should be their box. Luck is responsible from career-related programs on the main campus including coordinating PVCCs internship program, organizing meetings on campus with guests from different work fields, assisting PVCCs Financial Aid department with work study programs, and working with employers to consider student hiring. He also helps students learn job etiquette and mannerisms to better impress potential employers. Im trying to be a role-model to the students...Im trying to communicate what employers expect, he said. Andre Luck has sixteen years experience as a career advisor and a Master of Business Administration degree. He has worked several entry level jobs, giving him a well-rounded view on the business world. When people tell me Its going to take a long time or that this is me, this is what I tell them. It is not life shattering; it is not death. It is only temporary. You can make it through that, he said. Recently, career services has taken measures to become more known to the student body at PVCC. It was considered only an afterthought in most students minds for a long time. One such measure, beginning last spring semester, was to assign all SDV courses a mandatory Career Planning Process. This is to help students identify a career path early. Advertisements of big events are also being implemented to help bring awareness of career services and its role to the students. PVCC Prepares for Flu Season Jake Delaurier, staff writer Flu shots for pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough were offered at Piedmont Virginia Community College on Oct. 3, inside the North Mall Meeting Room. Flu shots were made available for students, staff and faculty. Anyone who was without insurance was able to get their flu shot for only $25. The coordinator for the event was Takesha Ellis. As coordinator, Ellis is responsible for finding the best deals for flu shots in addition to being approved by the state, since PVCC is a state agency. Ellis ended up choosing Rite Aid for giving out flu shots. I chose Rite Aid because of their customer service, said Ellis. Zaki Mahmoud, head pharmacist from Rite Aid in Waynesboro, was one of the pharmacists providing flu shots at the event. Its recommended to get your flu shot once a year, said Mahmoud. Mahmoud was also able to provide some interesting facts about flu shots. For example, it is highly recommended for the elderly with asthma to get their shots because doing so decreases their chances of contracting pneumonia. In addition, Mahmoud also pointed out that October is the peak of flu season. It is recommended for people to get their flu shots as soon as possible as it takes two weeks for the shot to be effective. Flu shots will once again be offered at PVCC toward the end of October and just before Thanksgiving break. Page 9 Free Speech Monument at PVCC Skye Scott, staff writer The Thomas Jefferson Centers Mobile Free Speech Monument was on PVCCs main campus to celebrate Free Speech Week from Oct. 17-24, 2016. The four chalkboard walls of the monument provided ample room for students and faculty to write their thoughts and opinions without facing direct scrutiny. I want students to think about that fundamental right to speech, right? And remember that free speech is hard. Because free speech means that not only do you get to talk but other people have that right to do it too, right? And you may disagree with them, you may find what they say offensive, but they have the right to say it, just as the people who find you offensive and your words offensive cant take away your right to say it, said Connie Jorgensen, an assistant professor of political science. The wall was cleaned each night so that there was a blank slate the next morning for students and faculty to continue to write their new thoughts and ideas on. Recurring themes on the wall were Harambe, the gorilla, and political stances about the upcoming presidential election. This was a great time for people on PVCCs campus to present their political views without other people arguing or getting offended to their face. We [librarians] make it a point, and it is stipulated in our policies, that we try to represent all viewpoints, that the materials we include in our collections are reputable and authoritative but that all viewpoints are represented. Because its so important to us to promote freedom of speech, and that includes allowing all sides to be heard, said Crystal Newell, the coordinator of library services at PVCC. The Free Speech Monument provided a place for all students and faculty on campus to present their viewpoints, to question things that we normally accept, and just simply a place to be heard. Newell said that being able to write thoughts and feelings on the wall, instead of having to speak them, could also be a nice way to get the pressure of the spotlight off of shyer students shoulders, allowing them to also have a voice. Remember that the constitution says that the government doesnt give you this right to free speech, right? It specifically says Congress cant take the right away. So you are not being granted this right, you inherently have this right, said Jorgensen. However, she does say that no right is absolute, quoting the clich of you cant yell fire in a crowded room as evidence of that. However, while there may be some areas where freedom of speech does not apply, both Jorgensen and Newell agree that in the area of academic education, freedom of speech is very important. Without free speech, students would not be able to research topics as well as they might hope to, and teachers would not be able to teach certain areas that are important for students to have an understanding of. Jorgensen said that academic freedom and freedom of speech are like two entwined fingers. Your voice matters, your opinions matter, and everyone has a right to their freedom of speech. And that that is a central part of our democratic process, said Newell. Page 10 Photography by Skye Scott, Antonia Florence, Arif Michael Vega Page 11 Cultural Integration: A Leap into Japan club Charles Stish, staff writer culture by listening to Japanese music, creating origami, discussing objectives for the club, and Culture clubs are a staple of PVCCs diversity hosting special guests to present different aspects and cultural growth as students and faculty come of the Japanese culture. Club members also plan together to discuss and partake in activities based outside of school activities. One such venture was around a specific culture. Japan Club is no a trip to the University of Virginias Morven exception to this. Gardens on Oct. 14, earlier this semester. This is not a foreign language club; this is a Noriko Donahue, Japan Clubs faculty culture club with hopes of spreading Japanese advisor, said this about Japan Club, Its culture. So even if you dont know Japanese, this wonderful. The Japanese language is just one part can be an awesome club! said Alec Traaseth, of the culture. When I teach the Japanese club president of Japan Club. During meetings, language, I also teach the Japanese culture with Japan club members indulge in the Japanese it. By introducing the culture, they (non-Japanese language students) might get interested in the Japanese language one day, but quite a few language students joined because of the culture. The members of Japan Club are friendly and open to all newcomers and guests to their meetings. Japan Club meets on Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room M174 every other week, but are subject to having meetings weekly so be sure to check PVCCs event calendar for Japan Club members pose for a group photo. Photography by Charles Stish when their next meeting is. Got a Knack for Math? Join The Math Club Jake Delaurier, staff writer The Math Club at Piedmont Virginia Community College is the perfect place for students who have a strong passion for math. It provides many activities involving math. Some of these activities include games for club members. For example, at the start of one club meeting, club members got a chance to solve a geometry-like puzzle, in which they used shapes to form what many members described as a boat. By the end of the meeting, members had started to play a twoplayer game in which they were given a series of numbers. Whatever number one of the players picked, the other player would get all of the all the numbers that factored into that number. For example, if someone picked the number 18, then the other person would get the numbers 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9. The Math Club plans many events. One of these was a Speaker Series that was held on Oct. 26. This event involved guest speakers showing how they use math in their daily work. Principal Engineer Ali Kissai of Northrup Grumman was the guest speaker at the event. As Principal engineer, Kissai is responsible for the building of space ships and aircraft. Kissais daughter, Zadiyah is also a member of the Math Club. The Math Club is also planning activities for Halloween. Ideas that were mentioned at the meeting include: guessing how many pieces of candy corn are in a jar, giving out Nerds and Smarties, and creating jack-o-lanterns using mathematical symbols. The Math Club also had their Electoral College Talk on Oct. 19. There is a lot of interesting math involved with the Electoral College, this will also help raise general awareness for voting, said club President Cameron Krest. Page 12 Smashing, the Club Michael Kaelber, staff writer using my other free time to be social and go out or listen to War cries, screams, and grunts music, said Adrian Orlando, one of rage fill the air as the game of the current leaders of the club. begins. Walking into a computer But the majority only play in lab, you enter into a room where club, mostly just for fun. Some people are setting up and are even play some other games, not pretty friendly. That all ends once just SSB. You could bring in a everything is up and ready. As game and probably find people in with all games, some people get a the club who will play with you. little too into it, and truthfully, Joanna Kammauff, the other Photography by Smash Club has some of those leader, wants the club to continue Michael Kaelber people. to be an open and welcoming While this seems, to some, to club where students can come in make it bad, the atmosphere is pretty positive and and just have fun. welcoming. Everyone is friendly, however the It is alright to still come in if you arent an competitiveness in the room does rise to the roof. expert at Super Smash Bros. One of the founders, The only problem that flies around the room are Joshua Daniels, has run a Facebook page for the Memes (an idea that spreads like a virus by word club that posts videos every now and then that of mouth or media). Memes-a-plenty. can point you in a direction to bring up your skill Some serious smash club members, or level. He wants the club to open up more and smashers, go to tournaments and even sometimes reach out to everyone at PVCC with gaming run their own tournaments, like the weeklies run events and to connect to the smash at the End Games. For those few, it is like a life community within Charlottesville. choice, Super Smash Bros., or SSB, is the one So if you have time Friday afternoon around game they play religiously. I never play new 2 p.m., show up and have fun. There will be a games anymore really. I only do smash now, chair waiting for you. American Sign Language Club at PVCC Skye Scott, staff writer The American Sign Language Club (ASLC) is a new club at PVCC and was started by club president, Elizabeth Muir, after she noticed there were clubs for most other languages excluding ASL. I took ASL 101 in the Spring and really enjoyed it. PVCC has a Spanish club, and Japan club, a French club, but no ASL club. I thought it would be great if we had one so students who couldn't take an ASL class could come and be exposed to new things, Muir said. Club meetings are beginner friendly, and the members are allowed to speak during meetings to ask for help or clarity. A typical meeting begins with review from the last week's material and then the members begin to add new signs. We go back and forth between review and new material sometimes, building off of what we have learned, said Muir. Muir stated that she did not have a very difficult time getting a new club started because Steve McNerney helped get her on the right path. She said the hardest thing has really been learning the signs well enough so that she can teach them at the meetings. However, she said she has received a ton of support from her Vice president, Waqas Al Mulhim, and her SGA representative, Bambi Kowalzik. The ASLC has a few events planned; a field trip to Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, and an ASL interpreter coming to the meeting on Wed, Nov. 2. If you would like more information pertaining to the ASLC, you can follow their Facebook page, ASLC at PVCC. Page 13 British Exit: What does it mean? Hanan DuVerney, staff writer Over the past few months, the media has been bombarded with one key phrase: Brexit. However, few know exactly what it is, much less care about its significance here in the U.S. On Oct. 3, PVCC hosted Dr. James Sofka for a lecture on the issues and controversies surrounding Brexit. The Brexit vote has several important implications for the United States, said Sofka. First, depending on how Brexit is managed, global financial markets can be negatively affected as they were immediately after the June vote. Second, as the U.K. and many of the 28 EU states are also NATO members, rifts between the UK and its continental partners could have implications for the alliance. Sofka continued, Third, the EU is an important trade partner to the U.S. as well as an ally on other issues such as addressing global climate change. Rifts in the EU could impact these initiatives. Finally, the domestic implications of a win by nationalist, anti-migration parties in Britain have implications for the U.S. For example, Nigel Farage, the former leader of the U.K. Independence Party that led the Leave campaign, made campaign appearances with Donald Trump in the past few months and the Brexit vote has been studied by American political consultants. For these reasons and undoubtedly more, Brexit is of critical importance to American foreign, economic, and national security policy. While taking all of this into consideration, it is important to understand the repercussions of this decision. In 2007, the European Union met in Lisbon, Portugal, in order to reach an agreement on the boundaries of a member states request for an exit. Article 50 (TEU), Treaty on European Union, is the agreement reached by the council. Number three states, The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the member of the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period. Number four of the article states, For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, the member of the European Council or of the Council representing the withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the European Council or Council or in decisions concerning it. Great Britains exit from the EU immediately impacts their close allies, in particular the United States. Many believe this political action is calamitous. However, it is the negotiations that will transpire over the next two years that will determine the manner of Britains exit. For specific European states, this could possibly allow sovereign membership of the European community at large with various restrictions. The Brexit has been projected through media outlets this election season, in addition to Nation State relationships with in EU; this subject matter, is of great importance. If a global power such as Great Britain can challenge the European Union, then other member states who wish to exit can follow their lead; however, that member state should pay close attention to the process of the British Exit from the EU. The nationalist-right in specific European States see the Brexit as a rallying call for selfdetermination. The French party leader of Front National, Marine Le Pen, is of the opinion that she is the voice of those French who wish to leave the Union. If France were to leave the Union, Germany would certainly take its position within the European Council. With the Treaty of Nice, in January 2003, Europe saw a shift in the number of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), allocated to each member state on basis of population density. Germany requested an increase in representatives in order to accurately represent their population; however, between the years 2009 and 2014, the Germans lost three seats while France gained two. Germany currently has 96 MEPs while France retains 76 members. Despite the obvious difference in MEPs, President Francois Hollande is determined to see through this De Gaulle vision for a French Europe. The European Union, after all, is a post world-war French brainchild, and for France, Great Britain has been the counter-weight to the German economic power that had emerged after the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Read more on piedmontforum.com. Page 14 Modern Masterpieces Ben Cozic, staff writer Ever since man first drew on rock walls, art has become a major influence in the world. People show expression and perspective in what they create and then show it off to see how others react. But what about art today? Since the days when great artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci died, what types of artists are there in the modern world and how is their art different? The answer is closer than you think. In Charlottesville, there is a historic building located on 306 East Jefferson Street. When entering the building, immediately noticeable are paintings, sculptures, and drawings. This is the Graves International Art Gallery, where pieces of art are shown and sold. One of the sections of the gallery is the Masters of Contemporary Art. In this section, there are a number of works created by various modern artists, such as The Scream by Salvador Dali and comic book inspired paintings by Roy Lichtenstein. These are a few of the works people Photography by Ben Cozic will find when looking around in the exhibit. If you have any questions regarding either the exhibit or the artwork, the owners of the exhibit are happy to help. A previous exhibit showed the works of Ron Campbell, the artist who drew the animation for the 1968 animated film Y ellow Submarine, which is famously known to feature the musical band The Beatles. When looking at the artwork, there is a description below the work of the artist that created the piece. It goes on to describe their life and what made them interested in art. I found this information helpful as it gave me a look into the lives of the artists responsible for such impactful imagery, despite not knowing that much about art. There is no cost for admission to the gallery, and it is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. If you are interested in art and do not want to travel, then the Graves International Art Gallery is one to check out. For more information, the gallery has a website: www.gravesinternationalart.com. Photography by Ben Cozic Page 15 RAD Strengthened Those Who Attended Antonia Florence, staff writer The Self-Defense Workshop fundraiser was a success. The event was held in mid-October and sponsored by and benefiting the Radiography Club. It was open to anyone who wanted to learn more about defending themselves while in potentially dangerous situations. After a short welcome and introduction, the workshop began. Nicole Winkler, Piedmont Virginia Community College Radiography Program director, is also a first degree Shodan Black-Belt Instructor in Okinawan Kempo martial arts with experience in Taekwondo and Jujitsu. She, along with Corey Lewis, were the instructors. Lewis is also a first degree Shodan Black-Belt Instructor in Okinawan Kempo martial arts but with experience in Mixed Martial Arts and Jujitsu. After a short lecture addressing prevention and awareness, different live case scenarios were practiced. Being grabbed from behind or from the front by your shirt by an assailant were two of several scenarios discussed and strategies practiced to safely escape harm in these situations, wrote Photography Courtesy of RAD Club Victoria Stow via email. After detailed instructions, demonstrations and hands-on group work with targets as well as advanced techniques were exhibited by Winkler and Lewis. A short question and answer session rounded out the workshop. While this was the first workshop of its kind sponsored by the RAD club, Stow said, [It] may be repeated by upcoming classes in their fundraising efforts. Nicole and Cory did a fantastic job. Photography Courtesy of RAD Club Page 16 Piedmont Profile: Shana Fabio Antonia Florence, staff writer define her, but instead, it is a piece of who she is as a survivor. It absolutely has changed my view Shana Fabio, born in Monterey, California, is of life. When you survive a life threatening event a self-described army brat who moved seven you never look at things the same way. You can't. times by the age of 13. Her first move occurred at I have always been strong; now I'm even more 10 months of age across the country to West so, continues Fabio. Point, New York. My first years were filled with After living in Baltimore and several Virginia military parades, skiing, weekends of football and localities, she settled in Crozet with her husband lacrosse events, and sitting on historic cannons and stepson. She enjoys living in this area where overlooking the Hudson River for firework the people are warm and the food and music are displays, said Fabio. great, according to Fabio. Her twenty-year-old Fabio's second move at the age of five was to son lives in Texas. Ft. Riley, Kansas, where her familys living Fabio formerly worked in the financial quarters were within walking distance of Colonel market where her responsibilities included Custers house. She learned analysis, technical writing and from the older children that programing. One project if she was caught there converted US financial after dark, Custer's ghost software applications to would get her! French and Spanish, for an Fabio moved within expansion into Canada and Virginia twice and then to Mexico, respectively. Then in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, 2007 the market crashed. where her life changed. It She accepted a position was her first experience with Live Nation which began living with a defined line as Musictoday in Crozet. She between wealthy and poor learned about web areas. development and e-commerce I experienced my first while also becoming a client mean girls who manager for many artists. completely judged you for Since then, she was the Photo by Antonia Florence what you wore and Technology Manager for NC possessed. You were told Virtual Public Schools and not to hang out with the fulfilled a two-year STEM kids that lived across Mack Avenue because that grant. was Detroit, Fabio said. This is where she was Fabios current position is in management. raped. What I love most about my job is getting to She did not tell anyone about the rape for work with incredible, talented people and learn almost two years. It nearly killed me. It wasn't about new technologies, said Fabio. an easy go- years of therapy. I did a lot of good With a job she loves and a wonderful support things once I turned the corner and saw myself as system, the time is right for her to return to a survivor, not a victim. I created support school. She is taking her fourth class this programs for both victims/survivors and for semester as she works toward her associate parents/friends in NOVA, said Fabio. She had degree in General Studies. moved to Northern Virginia shortly after her Fabio has also had strong support from horrible experience. advisors and professors and feels PVCC is a great She found when people share their community. She said, I may be one of the oldest experiences, they learn from and can help each in a class, yet I am surrounded by like minds who other. After a while, Fabio needed to step back have a goal to achieve. You can feel that energy from that community. She had come to the when you come on campus. Everyone is working realization that being a victim of rape does not toward something. Page 17 Review: Jack Browns is One of a Kind Jake Delaurier, staff writer There are few restaurants located in Charlottesville that are as unique, creative, and original as Jack Browns Beer & Burger Joint. First opening up in Harrisonburg VA, Jack Brown's is a small chain with other locations including Roanoke, Elkton, Richmond, and Norfolk. Having worked at the Charlottesville Jack Browns last year for little over seven months, I was able to get a good feel for the place. Jack Browns of Charlottesville is located on 109 2nd St SE, right next to the Downtown Mall. The inside is nice and quaint. There are old school license plates hanging on the walls and a spindle wheel with hanging bras. Jack Browns also provides a TV for watching sports. It becomes extremely crowded during week nights. While scenery is nice, the real selling point of a restaurant is its menu, and Jack Browns does not disappoint. Jack Browns burgers are out of this world. Some standouts include the Jalapeo Popper, a burger topped with jalapeos and cream cheese, and The Greg Brady, a burger topped with macaroni and cheese and barbecue potato chips. Each burger comes with Jack Browns special sauce, which is a sweet and tangy sauce that goes great with french fries. Jack Browns provides both regular and sweet potato fries. The regular fries are crisp albeit little salty. The sweet potato fries are not quite as good, as I am not a big fan of sweet potatoes in general. Easily the best part about Jack Browns burgers is the beef. Jack Browns uses a special type of grass-fed beef called wagyu beef. This gives the beef a rich flavor unlike any other beef. However this comes at a price as Jack Brown's burgers are somewhat expensive. For example, a regular plain hamburger will cost $5. Specialty burgers are more expensive with prices ranging from $6.99-$7.49. Adding fries it will cost an extra $2.25-$3.25. The Nacho Libre with a side of fries cost me a little over $10. Despite its pricey menu, Jack Brown's is still a great place to eat. It has a great atmosphere, with an equally great menu making a fantastic place to be during the weekend. Page 18 Riddles Brennan Tanner, staff writer Contorted faces, Eyes alight with golden flame, As dry leaves fall down. Sable haired with eyes green gold, I was hallowed in the tales of old, Familiar, companion, I aid the mage, And was myself worshipped in a long ago age. All together one and the same, I am you and you are me, But when you are long gone, this is what I shall be. Thousands of soldiers stand in a field, So yellowed and dry, yet never will they yield. Yet when winter comes they shall have no shield, For then the Reaper comes to the battle field. In honor of Veterans Day. Comic by Andie Meddaugh Page 19 Classifieds Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Joe Fowler Arif Michael Vega Staff Writers/Copyeditors Athena Alving Annette Cashatt Ben Cozic Jake Delaurier Hanan DuVerney Antonia Florence Joe Fowler Michael Kaebler Sydney Pratt Skye Scott Charles Stish Brennan Tanner Arif Michael Vega Lindsey Woodyard Comic Artists Andie Meddaugh Caroline Morris Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions.  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College Casino Night is Coming Up! Skye Scott, staff writer Casino night is packed with food, laughter, free gambling and lots of fun! This will be the eighth year that students and faculty have gathered together in the Bolick Center at PVCC dressed in costumes to enjoy a safe, fun-filled night. The night will start at 7 p.m. and wrap up at 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28. Fake gambling money will be handed out to anyone interested in participating in Blackjack, Craps, Holdem Poker or Roulette. Tables will be set up in the Bolick center for these games. Extra playing tickets will be awarded to anyone who shows up wearing a fun costume or PVCC ID. Students can obtain free IDs at the public safety office located down the main hallway in the main building. The winner of the best costume contest will receive an extra $10,000 in fake money for gambling! There will also be a raffle at the end of the night where each participant will have the chance to win iPads, other electronics, or gift cards. The biggest difference from previous years is the raffling process. I want people to have an easier time getting their raffles, said Olivia Stevens, director of events for the SGA. Stevens is working to create the October 2016 Miss the Welcome Back Social? See pages 10-11 raffle into a more efficient process, making it easier for winners to receive their prizes. Casino night is a great opportunity for PVCC students to get together and participate in fun activities sponsored by the SGA. [We are] working hard to make the event an enjoyable and memorable one. PVCC campus will be beaming with fun games, music, and activities in the Bolick center. PVCC students, dont forget to dress up, show your ID, and get the chance to win an iPad mini and other amazing prizes! said Wadah Al Mulhim, president of the SGA. In This Issue PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Clubs -pgs. 6-7 Books -pgs. 8-9 Student Services Reviews -pgs. 14-15 Profiles -pgs. 16-17 -pg. 13 President Frank Friedman deals Blackjack at Casino Night 2014 DATES TO REMEMBER Speaker: Emerging Fissures in the EU * Oct. 3, 12 p.m., Main Building 229 Get involved with the iCitizen App Athena Alving, staff writer Free Movie Friday: Florence Foster Jenkins * Following the Congressional debate Monday, Oct. 10, the congressional candidates will answer questions asked by PVCC staff and students. To have a say in this debate, download the iCitizen app and complete polls on the questions you believe should be asked. Assistant Professor Connie Jorgensen said, Questions you want asked get asked. Make them listen to you. Make sure to put the campus address* when making an account so the panel of interviewers can get your opinion. Not only will this app poll on questions for the debate, it can be used to poll students on issues around campus. For example, what do you think of the food in the cafeteria? The iCitizen app will also take issues you find important and push news articles and polls straight to your device. The polling for questions starts next week so be sure to download the app and put your opinion out there. United Nations of Comedy Series ^ *501 College Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 RAD Club Popcorn & T-shirt Fundraiser Oct. 4, 12-3 p.m., Bolick Center Latin Ballet of Virginia^ Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.. Dickinson Building 5th District Congressional Debate * Oct. 10, 7-9 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium One Book Film: The Truman Show * Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m., Main Building, Library Classroom RAD Club: Self-Defense Workshops Oct. 13 and 14, Main Building "Veteran's Story Theater" Workshop * Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater One Book Talk: Mike Ferero * Oct. 19, 12 p.m., Main Building 229 Comedy Writing Workshop * Oct. 21, 1-4 p.m., Dickinson Building Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building PVCC Theatre Presents: Macbeth Oct. 28 & Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 29 & Nov. 11, 2:30 p.m. Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater PVCC Theatre Presents: Much A do A bout Nothing Oct. 28 & Nov. 12, 2:30 p.m.; Oct. 29 & Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater One Book TalkWaldo Jaquith * Nov. 2, 12 p.m., Main Building 229 *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available Screen cap of the iCitizen App Page 2 Student Government Association News Olivia Stevens: Bringing the Fun to PVCC Skye Scott, staff writer Her first event was the recent Welcome Olivia R. Stevens is Back Social, which the new Director of Events ended up being one of for PVCCs Student the biggest at PVCC. Government Association She was very pleased (SGA). This semester with the volunteer help brought about the she received from beginning of her second other SGA members year at PVCC and her first and with the amazing time on the executive number of students and board of the SGA. faculty who came to Stevens initially came partake in the fun. to PVCC so that she could Stevens said she has stay close to her family not faced any major after the death of her challenges as director father. of events, mainly just She became involved little things that they in the SGA during her first have been able to semester, after a great quickly move past. experience in her high She is always open to school SGA. She became new ideas for events interested in the position and wants students to SGA Director of Events Olivia Stevens of director of events after feel free to bring their Photograph Courtesy of Olivia Stevens also having been on the ideas to her attention. event committee in high I want people to enjoy school and thoroughly coming to Piedmont enjoying that experience. and not just go to classes and then go back home. I I want this year to be the best year for events. want people to come to school, make friends, I want to get the school more involved in events, enjoy and make memories. I want people to leave Stevens said. Piedmont happy, Stevens said. Upcoming SGA Events SGA Meeting, Oct. 4, 8 a.m., North Mall Meeting Room SGA Meeting, Oct. 18, 8 a.m., North Mall Meeting Room Casino Night, Oct. 28, Main Building on Campus Page 3 PVCC Students can Experience French Culture Charles Stish, staff writer At PVCC, there are several travel programs available for students to study and live abroad as an opportunity to enrich cultural experiences. One of these programs includes a nine-day tour of France for students to get a taste of French culture by seeing popular and historic sites and exploring the beautiful French countryside. It is an invaluable experience to go abroad and see how people live, see another culture, and to get out of your comfort zone, said Kristine Swanson, assistant professor of French at PVCC and group leader for next years tour of France from May 16 - May 24. Swanson describes the trip as, A quick view to spark interest. An enrichment tour for people to come and experience the joie de vivre that France represents. Swanson plans the trip to include traditional and well-known French landmarks including the beaches of Normandy, the Louvre, Versailles, St. Malo, Notre Dame, and more. Since the tour is not a study-abroad program, it is open to not only students, but all people affiliated with the VCCS college system. Because of this, the trip does not cover college credits and financial aid does not cover the costs for the trip. The expenses for those under thirty years old is $2,950 over seven monthly payments of $402, while it is $432 over seven months for those over thirty. To have a better chance of going on tour, you must enroll for it before 95 days prior to the departure date. If you enroll within 94 days prior to departure you risk not being able to secure reservations for room and board and transportation. If you want more information of the tour of France, Kristine Swanson can be contacted via email at kswanson@pvcc.edu. You can also contact and learn more about the tours of Spain and Japan being offered via Professor of Spanish Kit Decker, at kdecker@pvcc.edu and Adjunct Professor of Japanese Noriko Donahue, at ndonahue@pvcc.edu Picture of the Castle of Chenonceau from previous PVCC trip to France, courtesy of Kristine Swanson Page 4 Student Success Day Draws Record Crowd Skye Scott, staff writer Student Success day drew a big crowd this year in the Bolick Center of PVCCs main building on Sept. 9. Over 350 students attended either a workshop or the resource fair, according to the Student Success office. The day consisted of 12 different interactive workshops for students from 10 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. Three workshops were scheduled each 25-minute time block. There were workshops for math, financial aid, college transfer, writing, dealing with stress, and many more! Each workshop also offered free cookies to any students who attended. Activity hour started at 12 p.m. and consisted of a resource fair followed by free food and music. To receive two slices of free pizza and a drink, all students had to do was walk around the resource fair and collect stickers from the various departments they talked to there. The heads of each major department set up a table to talk with students about the different services around campus to help them succeed. Phi Theta Kappa also had a table where they were encouraging students to sign a card stating that they commit to completing a degree at PVCC. We're hopeful that by holding this event during the sixth week of the semester, some students who may not be doing as well as they would like will begin immediately practicing/ using some of what they were just exposed to, said David Lerman, the coordinator of student success. If you missed the resource fair and want to know more about the services offered at school, check PVCCs home page under student services for a complete list! You can also find most PVCC services on Facebook. Bard Book Smarts: Shakespeare by the Book Ben Cozic, staff writer There have been many writers that have changed the way we look at writing and storytelling, but there has not been one that can compare to William Shakespeare. His multiple plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Nights Dream, have been passed down for generations as some of the most compelling and powerful stories in fiction. Whether they be tragic, historic or comedic, Shakespeares plays have stood the test of time, but what about the man himself? What kind of information do we know about Shakespeare and his experiences in his writing? Well, you will find that some of the answers are closer than you think. If you are near the University of Virginia, you will notice that one of the buildings, the Harrison/ North Gallery Building, has a particular exhibit about Shakespeare. In this small but well-laid-out exhibit, you will find a number of well-organized glass cases divided into three sections, each including a specific point of information involving Shakespeare. Each case has easy-to-read signs which tell you about an aspect of Shakespeare, and there are also videos around the exhibit that are informative and helpful if anyone has any questions about Shakespeare. For example, if you wanted to learn more about the first editions of Shakespeares writings, the information in the cases gives a lot of info about the Bard. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (M to Th), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (F) and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Sat) until December 31. Worried that it may be costly or there wont be any space to park? Dont worry; the exhibit is free of charge, so you can enter whenever it is open, and there is easy metered parking around the university. Some of the cases will be moved so that the First Folio tour can occur. The First Folio tour in the UVA Library containing many of Shakespeares plays will be available from Oct. 1 to Oct. 26. As Malvolio says in Twelfth Night, Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Page 5 Club Day at PVCC: An Example of Diversity Charles Stish, staff writer One day a semester the clubs at PVCC come out and present themselves. The clubs set up in the main building with tables, sign-up sheets, and sometimes elaborate displays of flags, banners, poster boards, and bowls of sweet candy, hoping to attract potential members. The attractions work to entice passing students with questions about the club. This is Club Day, an important day for the social student body at PVCC. Clubs are essential to social life at PVCC as they offer extra-curricular activities and events for their members, and others, to join in on, creating a rich social environment. The clubs at PVCC are great for meeting likeminded people, making friends, and being more involved. After interviewing several clubs, it is obvious that no matter the diversity, they all share the same objective, to attract people with similar interests and create an environment where they can share ideas. Despite a similar overall objective, each club has different goals. Some are proactive, like Volunteer Club, who actively hold club events and are involved in the local community. Others take a more passive approach, like Board Game Club, and will hold meetings and small events for their members and those interested. The clubs at PVCC can be likened to paint colors on a palette. Each a different color representing something unique in the diverse social picture of PVCCs culture. Each one is important to strengthening the feeling of camaraderie, diversity, stewardship, and friendship that PVCC is about. Campus culture without the colorful contribution of the clubs would be stark indeed. Help keep the fabric of PVCC colorful. Be the color! Dont be shy to join a club. If it interests you, join it! Go to a meeting; get active! Be a spark of color in the picture of PVCCs amazing cultural and social diversity! Formula SAE Team at PVCC Lindsey Woodyard, staff writer PVCC is only the second community college to attempt the FSAE (Formula Society of Automotive Engineers) Design Series competition, according to Linnea Saby, the project manager of PVCC's formula SAE team. The competition consists of designing and building a formula SAE racecar to perform against the nations major four-year universities, including Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia. The Formula Team at PVCC began last year as an offshoot of the Engineering Club. They spent their first year learning as a team, establishing the program, and gathering the resources necessary to get the project off the ground. This year, they expect to continue design plans and construction. There is also whispers of competing in 2017, but that is yet to be decided. Their advisors are Hunter Moore, head of the Engineering Department, and Tom Clarkson, professor of ceramics, who enjoys mechanic work in his spare time, especially motorcycles. There are three officer positions held by Linnea Saby, Josh Smith, and John Dukes who preside over four design and construction teams. There are the powertrain team, brake and suspension team, construction and frame team, and electrical team. The chief engineer of the project is Jason Richter. In a meeting with other current members, Saby pointed out that the Formula Team embodies PVCC's motto: Opportunity, Access, Excellence. There is opportunity in FSAE to bridge the gap between theoretical engineering education and hands-on application. The team also provides access to the professional engineering field through recognition and firstchoice recruitment to universities and countries throughout the country. As for excellence, there is pride in competing with top-notch schools in the FSAE Design Series competition, commented Saby. The team welcomes students in every program to join, as there are my types of positions available. Interested students should contact Hunter Moore at hmoore@pvcc.edu. Page 6 CRU at PVCC: A Fellowship Open to All Charles Stish, staff writer Cru often holds extra-curricular activities for its members, mostly focusing on what its college Sunny, warm, and bright are the words to student members would enjoy doing. Since Sept. describe the weather Sept. 7, 2016. Other than the 7, Cru will have already held several events; one high heat, the weather complemented the being a weekend-long fall retreat to Watermarks personalities of the Cru at PVCC members quite Camp in Scottsville, Virginia. Aside from its well. interesting outside of school events, Cru at PVCC The members and participants were laughing, meets on Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in joking, and smiling with each other as they set up Room M155. Cru at UVA meets on Thursdays at assorted refreshments and activities. For them, 8 p.m. in the UVA Chapel and is open to Cru at this was not just an event but a gathering of PVCC members as well. friendship and One of Crus camaraderie. They goals is to create a hope not only to welcoming have people learn environment for new about Cru, but also and old members no for people to join matter what school Cru with hopes of they attend. This expanding the way, a student feeling of fellowship member of Cru who to all of PVCC. transfers to new Myself and the college should have other leaders in the a welcoming and club want to show familiar that we are not just environment an organization, but immediately. a family. And Overall, the goals ultimately we wish of Cru are to create to include everyone unity, fellowship, Cru at PVCC, Sept .7 Photography by Charles Stish in the Piedmont and a place of family by spread of welcoming to all. the gospel, said Donnie Wilson, president of Cru at PVCC is a small part of Cru as a Cru at PVCC. Even though it is a non- whole. Cru is present in most major college denominational Christian fellowship, Cru is open campuses both nationally and internationally. The to all religions and everyone. Donnie Wilson organization started in 1951 by Bill and Vonette said, We would ultimately allow you to join the Bright at UCLA. It was first called Campus club and participate. But because we are a Crusade for Christ, and its goals, like now, were Christian club, we would show you the way of to connect school and church life, create unity the gospel and not try and force you to convert. under Christ and to create a world wide Following Christ is a personal decision and we, fellowship because of it. Since then, Cru has as Christians, are just called to plant the seed. expanded into sub-groups, and it supports other Cru hopes to create a welcoming atmosphere world benefit groups such as the International and place for all. Evan Kiernan, worship leader at Justice Mission. Cru and PVCC student, said, CRU at PVCC, to If you would like to learn more about Cru at most students, is where they feel welcome. As a Christian community, we aspire for unity in PVCC, here is contact information: Student Contact/President: Donnie Wilson, people, being able to share Christ in a compassionate way, and create a really friendly dsw2752@email.vccs.edu Club Advisor: Andre Luck, aluck@pvcc.edu environment. Page 7 Book it to Your School Library Ben Cozic, staff writer Throughout history, humanity has handed down their books so the next generation could discover the teachings and stories that were created in the past. However, people wondered where they would keep the vast majority of books that are made? The answer became what we now know today as the library. Libraries are not only good for collecting a variety of books; they are also helpful in giving out information about certain topics you may not know much about. Libraries also have a ton of resources that are not books, including CDs, DVDs, and computers. A good example of this is shown at the Betty Sue Jessup Library at PVCC. At the Betty Sue Jessup Library, students and faculty are given a number of ways that show them how to find books, articles, and other resources based on whatever subject they are researching. Databases and catalogs are used to help you narrow down a specific subject; these can be found on the PVCC website under Library. They can be crucial if you have a paper or project that requires searching through these databases and resources. Books can be checked out, but they must be returned at the required time; other items such as DVDs, CDs, and laptops have to remain in the Photography by Katya Beisel Photography by Ben Cozic library at all times and cannot be taken home. One such exception to this is the G.O.A.L. Program, which allows students to borrow a laptop for the entire semester. This can be helpful if you need more information available for classes but do not have the tools to which to use them. The program is full, so you will have to wait until the next semester to sign up. One particular initiative that is quite noticeable at the PVCC Library is the One Book Project. This program brings together everyone who at PVCC, whether student, staff, or faculty, by reading a book and be a part of some activities that are related to that particular book. This semesters book is The Circle by Dave Eggers. On Oct 12 at 5 p.m., there will be a showing of The Truman Show in the library classroom. On Oct. 19, Mike Ferero will give a talk at college hour in M229 on the topic of privacy and anonymity in internet culture. Waldo Jaquith will give a talk on Dave Eggers vs. Reality on Nov. 2 during college hour in M229. To learn more, visit www.pvcc.edu/onebook. Page 8 Celebration in Opposition Joe Fowler, assistant editor American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia Executive Director Claire Gastaaga spoke on banned and challenged books in the PVCC auditorium on Sept. 29. The event was part of Banned Book Week, a celebration of free expression in literature, according to an announcement on PVCCs website. The American Library Association (ALA) established Banned Book Week in 1982, Gastaaga said. Gastaaga described the ALA as the fiercest and most effective proponents of the right to read early in her lecture. She then went on to describe the difference between a challenge and a ban. A challenge to a book is more democratic and involves both a challenge to the content of a book and open dialogue in support of either the challenge or the literature, according to Gastaaga. Banning is forced control. It establishes an orthodoxy to create likemindedness, she said Common themes in the most challenged books of 2015 included sexuality and cultural diversity, according to the ALA. The ALA list included challenges to several forms of religious beliefs including atheism, Islam and Christianity. The Holy Bible was the sixth most challenged book of the year. Read the challenged books, said Gastaaga while giving a list of ways people can stand up to attempts at censorship such as those reflected in the 2015 list. She mentioned several measures individuals can take. We must be fierce in our advocacy going forward, she said. Gastaaga went on to discuss challenges and censorship of classic literature in Virginia, including the Diary of A nne Frank in Culpeper. A W ashington Post contributor wrote that the book was just removed because a parent complained about graphic sexual language. The Washington Post article went on to quote the director of education in Culpeper at the time as saying, What we have asked is that this particular edition will not be taught. I dont want to make a big deal out of this. So we listened to the parent and we pulled it. Gastaaga and members of the audience discussed in various ways how big of a deal it was. Though concerned individuals challenged Anne Franks diary in 2010, Adolf Hitlers Mein Kamph did not appear on the ALAs list of the 100 most challenged books for either of the last two decades, inspiring one attendee to mention her concern over the fact that, More people are afraid of a womans period than the story of Hitlers life. Page 9 Fall Welcome Back Social Welcome Back Social. Photography by Skye Scott Skye Scott, staff writer Wednesday, Sept. 14 brought one of the biggest Welcome Back Socials PVCC has ever had. Hundreds of students and faculty came out to enjoy the efforts put forth by the Student Government Association and Student Activities. Some students played an impromptu game of volleyball while others sat in the shade enjoying each others company. Everyone had the opportunity to dunk students in the dunk tank, participate in the pie eating contests, and learn how to juggle. For the first time, professional face painting was offered for everyone interested. $25 gift cards were given to the winners of the pie eating contests. So many students and faculty ended up partaking in the fun that by 1:00 p.m. there was hardly any food or drinks left. Page 10 Page 11 The Wise Old Owl Says . . . Perk Up Antonia Florence, staff writer The aroma of freshly ground and gently brewed coffee wafts through the hallway tickling my nose. As I approach the tiny shop, my eyes feast on the freshly baked delicacies arranged on pedestals, serving platters and an enclosed pastry case. Regardless of the order made, the line moves rapidly and no one waits long. Perk Up is located on campus in the main building where the former Mermaid Express was located just across the hall from the library. Mariellen (Ellie) Beverly jumped at the chance to start her own business. The then 21year-old Beverly and her business partner, a successful entrepreneur, had little time to prepare but managed to organize business necessities, line up quality vendors and open Perk Up the first day of PVCCs spring semester, 2016. Beverly grew up in the business world with her mother formally owning a pet store and her father being a contractor. She said, Being an entrepreneur runs in my blood. I have never taken a business class and have never attended college, Beverly continued. Her direction has come through work experiences and guidance from her mentors. Beverly presently employs one previous student, one current student, and works many hours herself. Perk Up opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. with the exception being 2 p.m. Fridays. Quality, fair pricing and a diverse offering seems to be Beverlys mantra. Perk Up uses Shenandoah Joe coffee which starts at $2 per cup. Same-day coffee refills using the original cup are only a dollar. While there, ask about their coffee rewards card. Teas are $2.25, and fresh baked goods are from either Albemarle Baking Company which delivers daily or are from Green House Coffee in Crozet. These pastries run the gamut of a heavy Monkey Cake which incorporates banana and pineapple and is topped with cream cheese frosting; fruit and cheese Danishes where the pastry flakes and melts in your mouth; and rich pecan topped sticky buns. There are also an assortment of muffins. From another USDA inspected kitchen, come yummy cake pops made by another young, fledgling entrepreneur. For individuals with dietary differences, Ellie offers gluten-free brownies, vegan Power Balls and individually wrapped CLIF Bar Energy Bars. Fresh fruit may also be available. For those who order smoothies and have a sensitivity to nuts, they are not used in the blenders. This minimizes cross exposure. Also on the menu, Perk Up offers a delicious lunch of a plain croissant, chicken salad with nuts and cranberries, a choice of yogurts and a variety of drinks such as milk, orange juice, lemonade, La Croix seltzer and Izze sparkling juice. Perk Up is not just a coffee and pastry shop but a place to grab lunch or dinner on the go. If you do not have the energy to chew or extra hands to hold plates of food, perhaps a smoothie with optional protein powder may be the way to go. Since January, I have sampled more than half of Perk Ups food with all but one receiving two thumbs up. The cinnamon buns are a bit dry for my preference but may well be perfect for dunking. My favorite afternoon pick up is a cup of steaming hot dark-roasted house coffee with room for milk and a piece of very moist apple cinnamon cake with cream cheese frosting as I curl up someplace quiet and study. The next time you are in Perk Ups proximity, give it a try. Enjoy the staffs gentle, efficient and friendly service. The price range is friendly, in fact, according to Beverlys daily accounting program, the average customer sale equals $3.50 each. Oh, and all prices include tax! Photography by Antonia Florence Page 12 Get the Help You need in The First Quadrant Jake Delaurier, staff writer It probably will not come as a shock to find out that many students have a difficulty learning mathematics. With most college majors requiring at least one math course, some students will just bear through it regardless if they understand the material or not. Luckily, the Math Center at Piedmont Virginia Community College is here to help students with difficulty in math. Located in the Main Building in room 253, the First Quadrant Math Center has been a part of PVCC since 2006. There, students can get help with the following math courses: Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Arithmetic, Pre Calculus I and II, Finite Math, Introduction to Math, Math for Liberal Arts, Statistics, Technical Math I and II, General Review of Math, Trigonometry, Computer Software, and certain STEM classes like Chemistry. The Math Center is also composed of roughly thirteen tutors. Our tutors come from all walks of life and are made up of current students, graduated students, retired teachers, and community members looking to give back to the community, said Renee Eves, instructor of Mathematics. According to Eves, the qualifications to become a tutor is to be enthusiastic about learning and the subject of math. One of these tutors includes current student Alec Traaseth. This is Traaseths first semester serving as a tutor. The most common course that Traaseth helps students with is Pre-Calculous. Pre-Calc has the highest fail rate of any of the classes at Piedmont with the pass rate just above 50 percent, said Traaseth. He believes the reason for this low pass rate is because that the class moves at a fast pace and that students are required to know that material beforehand. One student that has benefited from the Math Center is first-time college student Carter Hall. Hall, who recently graduated from Fluvanna County High School, is taking Pre-Calculus for the first time. The Math Center has been very helpful, they explain homework and go step by step, said Hall. Support for PVCC Parents Sydney Pratt, staff writer Piedmont Virginia Community College is home to many full-time students and teachers. To some, this is just an average school where people can socialize and get a great education. To others, this can be extremely overwhelming and frustrating. Some of these students and teachers may even have children. There is nothing more complicated than trying to find a babysitter five days a week for about eight hours. Not only is it complicated, it can also be extremely expensive and possibly inconvenient for these students and teachers. This is why it is extremely satisfying that PVCC has its own Child-Care Services. PVCC Child-Care Services runs through a Family YMCA and is available to those who qualify for it. In order to qualify students must have at least six credits, be enrolled at PVCC, making great academic standing, and must be Pell eligible. By doing these simple steps any student or faculty of PVCC should be able to qualify for the Child-Care Services program. However, the program is only available for no more than twenty students. Usually, full-time students have a better chance of qualifying for the program. This program offers a twenty percent discount on the average price of child watch. Children starting at the age of six weeks old to five years are able to participate in this service. The hours for the program are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is located at the Jefferson School City Center. This program can be extremely helpful to the struggling parents that are trying to get a degree while raising children. Child-Care Services at PVCC is here to help those students and faculty get a better education while their children have a fun environment that is safe. The hours and location are extremely convenient for the students and teachers. This program is PVCCs way of saying that they care about the learning of the students and that they are willing to do anything to help keep the learning process easier. Page 13 Drew Richardson playing Drew the Dramatic Fool in Help! Help! I know this title is long, but somebodys trying to kill me! Photography By Skye Scott. Drew the Dramatic Fool Entertains all Ages Skye Scott, staff writer The curtain parted to the side and out stepped a man who screamed comedy. His hair stood up on top of his head like hed just been frightened, and his clothes were brightly colored and over-the-top eccentric. As he attempted to make an entrance, his thumb became entangled in the curtain, and while trying to untangle himself, he made it worse. The show had hardly started, and the crowd was already laughing at Drew the Dramatic Fool starring in Help! Help! I know this title is long, but somebodys trying to kill me! When asked about the show, creator Drew Richardson said, This is a show about things going wrong. Like, whatever can go wrong, will go (sic) worse. When the show began, Drew discovered that all the performers had been killed; however, the show must go on, or hed be next. The audience laughed along as they watched Drew find the hardest way possible to accomplish all of the acts. Drew had to go from the juggler to the spinner to the puppeteer with the flip of a card. He also had to complete the do or die challenges that the murderer had left for him. At one point in the show, Drew pulled a slightly embarrassed woman from the crowd and brought her on stage to hold the challenge cards. He brought her back onto stage two more times, as the audience applauded them both. Drew did not speak during the entirety of the show, only occasionally making sound effects and other fun noises that went along with the tricks. People of all ages were seen in the crowd laughing right along with each other. Frank Friedman, the president of PVCC, attended the show, along with some PVCC professors as well. Drews comedic shenanigans earned him a standing ovation from the audience as the show came to a close. Everyone left the building with smiles on their faces, speaking joyfully among themselves. Page 14 Game Review: Legion: For How Many? Joe Fowler, assistant editor event began in late July and lasted just over a month during a period WoW players refer to as the pre-patch, a transition phase between expansions when Blizzard introduces players to gameplay changes and new storylines for the next expansion. Now, nearly a month into the actual Legion expansion, players can still log in every day and find dozens of things to do contributing to the development of their characters. As both a player and reviewer, my favorite gameplay component consists of an increase in mobility Currently, I play a fire mage (a wizard class that specializes in conjuring flames), and the stand still and cast method of playing seems to have passed. The playstyle now reminds me more of another Blizzard franchise, Diablo. Blizzard, like many of its subscribers, has grown up and evolved to stay current with a world constantly in flux. Even the main plot point, which entails the heroes of the Warcraft universe recruiting one of its greatest lore villians, Illidan Stormrage, seems to answer a growing call in society for a different kind of solution. That above all is my favorite aspect of Legion, the message that some of the heroes engaged in deceit and betrayal, and maybe the villains had more of a point than originally suspected. For more information on Legion, including reception and feedback from players, look for the online exclusive at piedmontforum.com With my deadline rapidly approaching, I entered 3.3 million copies for a google search. Most every result on the first five pages shared one thing in common: Legion, the latest World of Warcraft (WoW) expansion from video game developer Blizzard Entertainment. Having experienced the actual launch at 3 a.m. on August 30, I fully expected the numbers when they came out. But, despite a movie, heavy advertising and news from the public test realm, the game itself provided the heaviest promotion starting a month ahead of the actual launch. For endless months, players had experienced the limbo of a content drought, a time when most players had mastered both the current gameplay and the substantial backlog of material from over 11 years of content. Dedicated WoW players, live streamers and YouTubers began speculating that after conquering all would-be WoW killers over the years, Blizzard Entertainment would be the end of World of Warcraft. Then the invasions began. Six low-level zones in Azeroth, the land of WoW, fell under invasion by demonic forces. Hellfire poured from the sky. Essentially, the open world of Azeroth became a round-the-clock raid. In both the Alliance and Horde capitals, players turned into demons. Doomsayers handed out pamphlets promoting the Legion invasion. While the invasions occurred outside the capitals, players fell from great heights, killing their characters repetitively to collect all the pamphlets. Meanwhile, both the Alliance and Horde factions suffered heavy losses in an introductory scenario to the new continent, the Broken Isles. Both King Varian Wyrnn of the Alliance and Horde Warchief Voljin died within the first half hour of the invasions. With their deaths, a new era of WoW began. The fall of Illidan Stormrage at Black Temple This limited-time invasion Screen Cap taken by Joseph Fowler Page 15 Piedmont Profile: Beryl Solla Jake Delaurier, staff writer Few college professors have had a larger impact on their community than Professor Beryl Solla. Solla has been a professor of art at Piedmont Virginia Community College for over a decade and has also taught at James Madison University and Monticello High School. During her time at PVCC, Solla has taught Art Appreciation, Fundamentals of Design I and II, Sculpting I, and a Drawing class. Teaching at PVCC is a challenge. There is a lot of freedom which I love but a lot of work too. I tend to do more than the average bear but time is short. I much prefer teaching at PVCC. I am chair of the department. So I have more control and input. I can generate events and support my faculty in their goals, said Solla. Solla has helped create numerous art initiatives at PVCC. One of these initiatives is Let There Be Light. Let There Be Light was the Photo courtesy brainchild of James Yates. I thought it was a great idea and said lets do it at PVCC. I'm always looking for ways to bring people into our program and onto campus, said Solla. Aside from coming up with ideas for art initiatives, Solla is responsible for creating the Student Art Club at PVCC. I realized it was a way to fund a lot of the things the school and the students wanted, so I organized the art students and presto. For example, the students wanted visiting artists, but we didn't have any money. People wanted art in their offices but didn't have money for matting and framing. The Art Club funds that stuff, said Solla. Earlier this year, Solla was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence. I earned another nice award a few years ago from the college and have received grants and fellowships in years past. It's always good to be recognized. That's not what motivates me, but it is nice, said Solla. of Beryl Solla. Page 16 Piedmont Profile: Shaheen Alikhan Antonia Florence, staff writer Frightening experiences still occur even when all precautions are taken. In fact, one was quite Shaheen Alikhan is an aerial performer. She is recent. We were performing at a private event a Fairfax, Virginia, native and born to a German for a local figure, and it was insanely humid that mother, who has always been supportive of her day. Like, you'd towel off, and moving a step artistic endeavors, and a Middle Eastern father. would make you drip with sweat. Literally drip. On my mom's side, there were a lot of During our partner silks routine, we had just done performers before it was considered 'respectable'. a release, as in, my partner was holding my Musicians, genuine vaudeville performers, ankles, we flipped me, and we caught each dancers....so I suppose my heritage did feed into other's wrists. We were both so sweaty that even the performance art. I remember years ago, with rosin we ended up barely connected. That when I was working with horses professionally, was pretty terrifying, as I was about 15 feet in the telling my aunt I was dancing and riding for air, she said. work; and she looked Alikhan is also a over at my mom and just professional belly dancer. said, 'That sounds Belly dancing, with its familiar'. roots in the Middle East, Aerial silks is a Mediterranean, and mixture of acrobatics and northeastern Africa, is artistic expression thought by many experts performed in the air to be the oldest known while hanging from dance. It is a social dance, fabric without the performed by women for security of safety lines or women, and uses the full netting. There are three body with emphasis on main categories: tricks, fluidity while isolating wraps, and drops. A trick individual movements. Photograph courtesy of Shaheen Alikhan may involve a swinging As a folkloric tribal release and catch, either fusion dancer melding the individually or with a partner; wraps occur when styles of many countries, she express her creative the fabric is entwined with the body and striking license. Choreography is a large part of achieving poses; and a drop, which requires the most the right effect. She practices aerial silks and strength, can be a free fall while rotating to a dance at least 12 hours a week, is a full-time lower position. Aerial silks demand a high honors student with her sight set on becoming a degree of strength, stamina, flexibility, grace and landscape architect, works at Alloy Construction, a large dose of courage, according to Alikhan. I and maintains a busy performance schedule. She prefer dynamic moves like drops and fun climbs has taken a break from teaching weekly dance with fluid transitions, rather than relying heavily classes but still offers workshops. on poses. I do solo silks, partner silks and partner Sometimes, things can go wrong in a balance. Flexibility is hugely important. Its performance. She said, There was one duo silks vital to engage the muscles prior to putting them routine when, in the middle of a performance, my under stress, you're generally counterbalancing partner hissed at me to hold (in the super weird an additional person's weight, Alikhan said. precarious position I was in). I didn't realize what Alikhan states, Silks need a lot of core and had happened until he fixed the clasp on my top upper body [strength]; for solo silks, having good that was almost completely undone. It felt like it grip strength and staying calm, trusting your own took three minutes and would be really obvious, wraps, is necessary. Partner silks requires all of but in the video you can't tell and it was just a these, plus strong air awareness and complete second. Out of the hundreds of people watching, trust. If I don't trust my partner to catch me when ONE PERSON was at the correct angle to see we do releases or flips, I could hurt us both. what had happened. Page 17 Page 18 Riddles Brennan Tanner, staff writer A battlefield barren, with not a warrior to be seen, Viridian blades thrust into the ground, wielded by none. A world that can fit in the palm of your hand, An incomplete compendium of the sea and the land. Contrary creature, Stealthy, quiet, ever so sly, Soft and warm am I. Ribbons of sable, rivers of night, Bands of blackness a spreading blight. The end of death, the death of youth, Then comes the lie that kills the truth. PUMPKIN SPICE IS HERE by Andie Meddaugh Page 19 Classifieds Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Assistant Editors Joe Fowler Arif Michael Vega Staff Writers/Copyeditors Athena Alving Annette Cashatt Ben Cozic Jake Delaurier Haan DuVerney Antonia Florence Joe Fowler Michael Kaebler Sydney Pratt Skye Scott Charles Stish Brennan Tanner Arif Michael Vega Lindsey Woodyard Comic Artists Andie Meddaugh Caroline Morris Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. Check us out on social media @PVCCForum  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College Summer 2016 Patrick Fritz: The Man Antonia Editor Florence, Assistant Patrick Fritz has taken a 180-degree turn from his high school days in Harrisonburg where he graduated second from the bottom of his class. Fritz started working restaurant jobs at 13, and within a few years he began following the older party crowd, slipping into bars at 17. He was on a slippery slope. His income flourished as his skill-set increased; $30,00040,000 per year allowed for ready cash in his pocket, which led him to a lifestyle that he did not wish to continue. Fritz came to the realization that he had to do something else when one night he looked at a co-worker who was probably in his midforties; he had his job, an old busted up pick-up truck, and a tiny apartment in not the greatest neighborhood; no health insurance, and no retirement plan. He just did not want to be in that same place in 20 years. He knew he had to find employment that allowed for advancement and structure so he could continue to help support the family. Finances were so tight that they could not afford to register the familys car, causing his mother to walk PVCC professor wins Chancellors Award for Teaching Excellence, page 5 the 10 miles to work because the buses were not running at four each morning. No one in his family had been to college, and he felt that advanced education was beyond his reach. Fritz kept the possibility of military service in the back of his mind because of his fathers Navy career. Sadly, Fritzs father died unexpectedly six months after retiring. Luckily, the Navy recruiters were across the parking lot from the restaurant where Fritz See Patrick Fritz on page 4 In This Issue Fritz with his children. Photography courtesy of Patrick Fritz PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Foster Walk -pg. 8 Prison Program -pg. 10 Photography -pg. 12 Soccer Club -pg. 13 Classes -pgs.19-21 DATES TO REMEMBER From the Editor Elise Hansen, Editor SGA Student Appreciation Tables * April 28 to May 5, PVCC Main Campus Science 299 Poster Session * April 29, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room Movie: The Mask You Live in * April 29, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Main Stage The Fall Line Publication Party * May 2, Noon to 1 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room Final Exams May 3 to May 11 Class of 2016 Alumni Association Induction Celebration * May 10, Noon to 2 p.m., Bolick Student Center Radiography Pinning Ceremony May 10, 6 p.m., Dickinson Building Class of 2016 Commencement * May 13, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., John Paul Jones Arena, UVA PVCC Alumni Association Photos May 13, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., John Paul Jones Arena, Graduation Reception Foster Care Awareness Walk May 14, 8:30 am to 1 p.m., CATEC (see page 8) Summer semester classes begin May 23 Memorial Day: No classes May 30 Independence Day Holiday: No classes July 4 Summer class final exams Last class meeting of each course Fall Semester Begins August 22 Last day to register for Fall 16-week classes August 26 *Free Event It is a busy time of year. Final projects are due, exams are looming ever nearer, and many of us are preparing for graduation or planning next semesters courses. In the midst of the frenetic activity, it is often helpful to take a step back and consider why we are investing our time, money and emotional resources in something as tiring as education. Education is an opportunity. For many of the students featured in this months issue, it has been a life-changing opportunity. It has helped students change careers, get jobs after prison, recognize their own potential after years of disappointment, or pursue new levels of excellence in their current pursuits. Education can sharpen our minds, increase our understanding of ourselves and expose us to the perspectives of others. Education is an opportunitya chancebut we have to take that chance. If we sit passively and hope to magically absorb knowledge and its benefits, we will find those benefits severely diminished. We must seize our education; own it; use it. And then, pass it on. PVCC programs such as student clubs, career services, and Great Expectations exist to build community and help students overcome the obstacles in their way. When we participate in these organizations, we support our fellow students pursuit of their goals. Becoming involved not only enriches our own experience, but also expands the opportunities of those around us. At The Forum, we strive to highlight those opportunities, shed light on the obstacles and celebrate the triumphs. We hope to empower PVCC students to transform the opportunities of their education into change. Page 2 Student Government Association News My name is Wadah Al Mulhim, and Im the Student Government Association's president for the 2016-2017 academic year. I started attending PVCC the fall 2015 semester and plan to graduate in spring 2017. My academic goal is to graduate with an associate degree in Science, Biology specifically, and transfer to either UVA or VCU for my bachelors degree. My ultimate goal is to get into the Dentistry School at VCU. Why did I become an SGA member? Well, I first joined the International Club here at PVCC and SGA President Wadah Al Mulhim had a blast meeting new people and making new friendships. I had the desire to do more and get involved in the schools activities, so it all started during the first club day at PVCC. I went through all the clubs tables and saw many interesting clubs and causes. I ended up at the SGAs table and started asking questions about how to join the club and be a member. The SGA president welcomed me and provided me with all the details that I needed to know about the SGA. I was very interested and thought the SGA was the best chance for me to reach out to my fellow students and provide them the best college life. I became an SGA member in fall of 2015 and got involved in all the activities and events that the SGA was part of. Why did I decide to run for president? This is a serious position and it takes a lot to be the SGAs president. I want to represent the student body and ensure that everyones voice is heard. I also want to enhance the students life in college by hosting events that will help them succeed during their academic year. It is an honor to be the representative of the students, and I will make sure that the SGA is providing what the students want and need. What is my vision for the 2016-2017 academic year? I and the SGA executive board will work hard to advance student life on campus. My vision is to get most of the students involved in the SGA and the other clubs here at Piedmont. Being involved in the schools activities will help students succeed and enjoy their college life. I will work with my executive board to provide students with what they need and learn about their concerns through surveys and polls. Additionally, we will work hard to make sure the SGAs events and activities are provided with high quality that matches students expectations. Lastly, Im looking forward to working with the executive board and the faculty members to provide a convenient college life for everyone and implement the SGAs goals. Im very excited for the next year, and I hope it will be another year of success for the students and the SGA. How can students get involved and be an SGA member? I encourage everyone to get involved and be part of the SGA. It is a great experience to be an SGA member because you will get to have a voice and present your concerns or ideas. Please feel free to contact me or any of the executive board members via the SGAs email or my personal email. Email: wa292084@email.vccs.edu Page 3 Patrick Fritz, Continued from page 1 worked. He took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and the DLAB (The Defense Language Aptitude Battery). He scored equally well on both tests and found he qualified for highly technical fields. Fritz had no interest in anything other than cooking and was told that he was overqualified for a culinary position. Finally, he was allowed to follow his passion for cooking and did so, serving in the submarine force for more than 14 years. He served from 1996 during Desert Storm until March 2011. When asked if he had any regrets about following his culinary passion in the military, he said, I am the most insecure nerd, and I am terrified to fail. He did not want to learn another vocation. Cooking was comfortable to him, and he already knew that he was very good; his boss said so, and his paycheck said so. Fritz has no regrets about his military profession. Fritzs military career did not leave him unscarred. He suffers from PTSD even though he was not on the front line. Fritz lost many comrades to battle. The people he served with were his family. Fritz finds that writing helps him deal with his PTSD. He keeps a journal where he writes when he feels the need. At times, he cannot sleep, experiences nightmares, or has memories he just cannot shake. Writing is his therapy. Transitioning to civilian life has not been easy. Fritz struggled in the various jobs he was able to secure, mixed with bouts of unemployment, eviction and homelessness. He admits, I was not right. I wasnt a good husband. I wasnt a good father. I was not good to anybody at that point. I was no good to myself. The past two years became a turning point for Fritz when he began taking classes during the fall semester 2014. His first class was Professor Jennifer Kosters Honors English. He remembers his stomach churning while waiting for class to begin. He was by far the oldest student and was concerned about holding his own against all those fresh young faces. Just before the class began, an even older student walked in; their eyes met and seemed to immediately recognize Oh yeah, were gonna own this! These two students competed, but not against each other. Instead, they competed in unison against themselves. Fritzs incredible journey began in this class. The class was reading Liz Murrays book Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard. The first writing assignment was a personal narrative. Something about that assignment just clicked, said Fritz. When he got his paper back and saw he had earned an A, he was ecstatic and remembers saying to himself, I got a win, dagnabbit. I got a win. It lit me on fire. It made me feel like I had value again. He scanned his paper and emailed it to his mother with Kosters remarks written on it. He also showed it to his kids. Fritz realized that he was not a loser at that point. Along with his course work and commuting, Fritz is first and foremost a single father to his three young children: Grace, Rex, and Vinny. He actively participates in their school and extracurricular activities, serves in many PVCC leadership roles and volunteers when he can. Fritz could have graduated in less than two years because of the number of credits he took each semester, including the summer, but decided he needed to become stronger in a couple of areas. He structured his course schedule according to UVAs requirements because attending UVA is his goal. Fritz has recently been recognized for making the All USA Community College Academic Team. Of the 7 million community college students in the nation and the 1800 who were nominated by their colleges for this award, he placed in the top 20 based on academics, leadership and service. As the highest scoring student from the Commonwealth of Virginia in the competition sponsored by USA Today, Follett, Coca-Cola, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges, Fritz has also been recognized as the Virginia New Century Scholar for 2016. Fritz has been taking all of the congratulatory declarations in stride. Everybody is congratulating me, but it's the professors and students here that allowed me to succeed. I just did what they told me to do, he said. Page 4 Excellence at PVCC Owen A. Krug, Staff Writer I didn't know anything about it until I received it. I didn't know I was in the running for it. I got a call from the chancellor's office, and he congratulated me and told me I had won it, said Beryl Solla, the head of PVCCs Art Department. On April 14, Solla was awarded the 2015 Chancellors Award for Teaching Excellence at the annual Virginia Community College System (VCCS) New Horizons Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony, in Roanoke. The Chancellor's Award is given to the most outstanding and dedicated teacher within the Virginia Community College System, and while Solla was recognized for her efforts this year, she has been working with as much vigor for the betterment of PVCC and her students from the moment she began teaching at the college 11 years ago. Since first entering PVCC and the Piedmont community, Stolla has organized countless events and classroom opportunities that not only diversified PVCC artistically, but also presented a number of opportunities for students to become involved within the college. Solla created PVCCs annual Let There Be Light celebration, a fantastic light show thousands of community members come to every year to see the beautiful illuminations against the night sky. Additionally, Solla founded and implemented the 7th Annual Chocolate Chowdown. The show has been titled the 7th Annual since the first year it was implemented, an artistic touch by a wonderfully artistic woman. VCCS colleges can also submit work to three other award categories. Within the Best Practices in Teaching Face-to-Face, Online, and Hybrid category, PVCC Science Associate Professor Lawrence Tiezzi and Political Science Assistant Professor Connie Jorgensen were nominated for their work with students to make Nelsonite the state rock of Virginia. They were the runners-up for the award. Thanks to their idea and efforts, and that of their students, Nelsonite is the official state rock of Virginia. Tiezzi reflected on the awards: The number one thing is that PVCC did phenomenally. There were nine total awards in the EIE. The highest one of all was the Chancellor's award. Then there were six for excellence in education, first place and runner up, and we got two out of those six. So basically, we got three out of the nine awards, but there were 23 community colleges competing for all of these. Along with being nominated for his efforts towards the state rock, Tiezzi, as part of the science faculty, won in the Improving Student Success Institutional, category. The entire science faculty at PVCC won for their innovative project, Science 299 -- A Successful Model for Capstone Research in Science at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Professor Joanna Vondrasek led the project and presented with Associate Professor Anne Allison. When asked what the capstone project is, Tiezzi explained, It caps it off. The closest I can get [to explaining] is at a four-year school, they would have a senior thesis--its that. You come up with a hypothesis, you do an experiment, and you report the results. We are the only community college that does that. In order to graduate from PVCC, science majors are required to complete their capstone projects. PVCC is indeed an exceptional educational institution, and this is not the only year it has been recognized as such. Tiezzi said, Since the year 2000 they have given the award for the best all-around student at a community college. So they have given out 16 of them so far. Out of those 16, seven have been awarded to PVCC, even though there are 23 schools. Whether it is PVCCs outstanding science program or its creative and highly innovative art department, excellence is a goal that the school consistently strives towards and often achieves. At the core of every educational institution that pushes its students as far as PVCC does is a hardworking and dedicated faculty surrounded by an endlessly supportive community. Solla reflected on her achievements: No one does anything on their own. No one. I am the front person, so I get all the credit, but, in fact, nothing happens without a community around you. Page 5 PVCC Students go to Nerd Nation Owen A. Krug, Staff Writer On April 7, Dr. Bruce Robinson and Dr. Kit Decker took seven students from PVCC to The Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland, for Phi Theta Kappas (PTK) annual convention, Nerd Nation. Nick McCann, an officer in PVCCs PTK chapter and upcoming president, said, It was a great experience to meet with fellow members from around the country, including Guam; thousands of people were there, which was very impressive. PTK, the international honor society for community colleges, prepared and executed their convention, which hosts over 2,000 honors community college students from all over the country. The event lasts for three days. Each day, a general session is held where academic challenges, award ceremonies, and student and guest speakers address the massive body of PTK members. Students running for positions within their community colleges gave their speeches and were then voted upon. The guest speakers this year were Yanik Etan, the current international president; Dr. Paul G. Stoltz, published author; Lord John Eatwell, economist; and Katty Kay, the lead anchor at the BBC. They gave a variety of speeches regarding world issues and ways that students can improve and work towards a strong and productive future. PTK honored many chapters with various awards. While PVCCs chapter did not win any awards collectively, the president of PTK at PVCC, Patrick Fritz, was honored with one of the most prestigious awards of all. The All-USA Community College Academic Team, with support from The American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa, recognized Fritz as one of the top 20 community college students in the entire country, giving PVCC and the Charlottesville community something to be proud of. PTK is about much more than individual recognition. It is a group of motivated students who discuss topics, accomplish projects, and Photography courtesy of Bruce Robinson enjoy a close connection, both as friends and academics. Fritz reflected on his award, saying, Winning these awards has been so incredibly humbling. But these awards are not mine. They are the result of the community I built and the support system I have. The support system is not only my family, the faculty, and staff, but also the exceptional students here at PVCC. They provided the support and motivation to push me further than I ever thought possible. I will be forever in their debt for the time they spent helping me with math problems, Spanish homework, showing me the joys of theater, or just an encouraging word during the midsemester slump. I am inspired daily by the students here, and I hope to represent them and honor their stories as I move on from Piedmont. Each night, on the upper floor of the hotel, called The Casino, there was dancing, games, and opportunities to meet fellow PTK members. Tish Quarles, one of the seven students representing PVCC, said, One experience I remember is meeting another American Sign Language student. He plans on going to Gallaudet University to be a teacher for the deaf. That was a great part of attending the conference, the people you got to meet between the panels. Lindsey Woodyard, one of the students who represented PVCC at the event, said, Nerd Nation was exactly what youd expect. It was so cool to be around like-minded individuals: nerds that are too school for cool. This is why I like Phi Theta Kappa, for the nerd fellowship. Page 6 Female Gamers: Becoming the Rule Joe Fowler, Staff Writer I recently watched a YouTube interview with a long-time gamer. The gamer spoke the language of World of Warcraft. The gamer echoed many of the perspectives regarding the game shared by other players. Like many other players, the gamer grew up playing on a variety of gaming systems. Former adult film star Mia Rose sounded like any guy talking about video games. Not every female gamer has the same history as Rose. But, according to the Wall Street Journal, they comprise 48 percent of the gaming population. My experience with female gamers contradicts some stereotypes I have heard. Some of these misconceptions portray female gamers as unattractive nerds who play video games poorly, likely because they only play as a result of some appeal to their boyfriend. Other stereotypes include desperate women who will have sex with anyone at any time. These stereotypes seem to contradict the stereotype of the lonely housewife playing Candy Crush or Farmville. The reality is, an individual might fit into one or several of these stereotypes. Many others will fit into none these. Stereotypes of any sort are archetypes society creates based on certain facts as popular culture packages them, rather than on the concept of individuality. Local individual and gaming enthusiast Jessica Burruss spoke about the game Diablo 3 in a recent interview. In addition to Diablo 3, Burruss plays World of Warcraft. In years past, she played Sega Genesis and Farmville 2. Outside of the gaming world, Burruss bought her own house with money she earned from various jobs when she was barely 30. Though she currently rents a room for help with bills, she manages well alone through her full-time job as a payroll processor. Burruss is currently in a devoted long-term relationship with a math teacher who does not identify as a gamer. Q: I just want to get my facts straight. You have a successful full-time career, an athletic build, a decent relationship and a vagina, yet you play Diablo and other games? Is that correct? A: Hahaha, yes. Q In the latest expansion of Diablo 3, you killed Death. How did that feel? A: It was pretty exhilarating. He was kind of a push-over. Q: So Death is definitely a dude? A: Yes. Q: You killed him on a female character? A: Yes. Q: That's an interesting take on gender-role stereotypes. How does it feel both in game and out to literally contribute to the death of genderrole stereotypes? A: It feels pretty badass... though I think that my character could do a little more to work towards that, considering she wears high heels while running around shooting things with a crossbow. Q: What is it like being a female gamer? A: It feels like being me. Q: How do dudes react to you in-game? A: It depends on where they are relative to my location. I get comments about breasts. Sometimes people express disbelief that Im a girl. In real life, people just say its cool. Q: Do the sexual comments bother you? A: Not really. Q: Why not? A: Because Im not thin-skinned and can take a joke. Because these people are states away. There are times it would bother me if they are local or who know me and say it seriously. If someone in real life talks down to me because they think its okay because thats how they talk to women in general, I dont deal with them. Q: How many other women do you know who play video games? A: At least nine. Burruss, much like Mia Rose and any other woman I have talked to about video games, just sounded like anyone else I have spoken with on the subject. Each has her own experiences both with video games and in real life. Page 7 Walking to Foster Change Darien Tinsley, Staff Writer The Great Expectations program has a big event coming up! On May 14, Great Expectations will partner with the Virginia Chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America and Community Attention Foster Families to hold a walk for foster care awareness. Foster Care Awareness Walk will take place at Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC), a local trade school located in Albemarle county and five minutes from the Fashion Square Mall on Rio road. This event will inform people of the rise of child abuse in America for families in the Social Service system and change common misconceptions about foster families. Did you know, the United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations, losing between four and seven children due to child abuse and neglect, according to childhelp.org? Sarah Groom and Shelly Baker are the heads of this event, and have been working diligently to make it success. Thinking of ways you can get involved? They are accepting donations until May 31 and anything will help. You can also register to walk. You can visit their website, https:// www.crowdrise.com/ PIEDMONTVAFOSTERWALK or register the day of the event at the CATEC site. The walk will take place from 8:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. If you choose the register the day of the event, you should arrive promptly at 8:00 a.m. to find parking and register. An Afternoon of Jazz Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer PVCC visited the classical days of music on Sunday, April 24. Every year, Piedmont Virginia Community College holds an event known as the Chorus Spring Concert, where the PVCC Chorus class at the V. Earl Dickinson Building performs music. The concert provides free admission and everyone is welcome. What makes the Chorus Spring Concert so unique is that the performances changes each year, ensuring that the same audience will be back next year for some fresh tunes. This years theme was Jazz in the A fternoon, a 3 p.m. chorus which focused on the classical tunes of American music. Horace Scruggs III, who teaches and leads the PVCC Chorus class, conducted the entire concert. In addition to the student singers, the concert also featured a classy quartet. Michael Elswick manned the saxophone, Bill Edmonds played the guitar, Bob Bowen used the upright bass and Drex Weaver played the drums. The chorus started off with an upbeat rendition of Sing, Sing, Sing, and kicked things off from there. The concert included many wonderfully performed songs, including a duet from Jenny Matthews and Rick Bayless, and a whole quartet performance Everything. After the intermission, the music got even more interesting. The class sang Cry me a River. Halfway through the song, Elswick and his saxophone snuck in through the side of the stage, livening up the song with a jazzy undertone. Next, the next few songs included Puttin on the Ritz and ended with Route 66, which was met with a standing ovation. The Spring Concert allows us lots of variety, said Horace Scruggs, We have a good variety of students who participate. So its always nice to have a concert where we do different styles each semester. Page 8 Writers Discuss Upcoming Books, Inspiration Cynthia Beasley, Staff Writer Students filled the room, eager to hear the works by novelist Talley English and poet Amie Whittemore. Not only were they able to listen to the authors read pieces from their forthcoming books, they were also given the chance to discuss their writing processes and their inspirations. The event was sponsored by Writers Unite, PVCCs Creative Writing Club, and was held on Wednesday, April 13. Professor Jennifer Koster gave a brief introduction in which she mentioned English and Whittemore had connections to PVCC. Both women are also involved in the community. English grew up in Charlottesville. She taught English as an adjunct professor at PVCC two years ago and tutored in the writing center. Whittemore, who also taught at PVCC for a time, works at Literacy Volunteers and runs the Charlottesville Reading Series. After speaking about their backgrounds and education, English started the discussion by telling the audience about her novel, Horse. The story follows a short timeline of a teenage girl whose father left their family. She then goes away to school and is given her fathers horse. The novel tells the story of the girl and her attempt to understand the animal as well as realize the connection to her father. The story is told in two perspectives from the same character. Some sections are in thirdperson, whereas others are told in first-person. These have an almost dreamlike quality. I was playing a lot with the idea of memory across time and how we look at our own story and reinterpret ourselves over time, said English. She started the project while in graduate school in 2005 and worked on it on and off until completely committing to finishing the novel. When discussing the process of finding a publisher, she said, It was interesting to see basically a years worth of rejection. Thats a word you have to get real cozy with if you want to be published. Despite this, she continued working and rewriting, until one day someone contacted her, wanting to publish her book. After which, she said, I immediately threw up. She attributes her success to persistence and said, Do your work. Its your work and you know why youre writing it. If someone else doesnt like it, they eventually will. Just keep working. She hopes her novel will be out within the next year. Whittemore then read from her book, Glass Harvest. The book is a compilation of her poems. The book covers a variety of themes, said Whittemore, and as you can imagine with most poetry, not all are happy. The first section focuses on her family history and her personal life. Widow Variations, one of the poems in the book, features a few characters from her life and is a poem with multiple sections. My family is a big inspiration for me, said Whittemore. She then read from her Series of Odes and Meditations. The first one read was Ode to the Thermostat. This light, humorous piece articulates her strong feelings about a household utility. If you know me, you will hear me complain about thermostats a lot. . . I dont really like them, said Whittemore after reading. When the floor opened to questions, many aspiring writers and students asked them questions about their experiences and inspirations. Whittemore said, [Writing] is the way I think through things that trouble me, that delight me, and things that I dont understand. Both agreed that one of the most important aspects of being a writer is persistence and discipline. There are times when writing just comes, and there are times when it doesnt, said English. It is part of whatever causes that inspiration, but it is also learning to be disciplined as a writer. When youre ready to do the work you have that notebook at hand because the thought does not come twice. Page 9 Class Behind Bars: PVCCs Prison Program Elise Hansen, Editor Every week, English Professor Ben Sloan arrives on campus to teach English and humanities courses. His supplies include books, papers and a single key. He hands over his drivers license to expectant security guards, passes through a metal detector, undergoes a frisk search and sends his supplies through an x-ray screening device. The vigilant eyes of security cameras follow his movements across the grounds. When he arrives at the far end of campus, a security guard unlocks the classroom and remains on watch throughout the class. Sloan proceeds to teach, just as he would in any other classroom. He is teaching at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women (FCCW), a maximum-security prison. While the environment is more austere than PVCCs main campus, Sloan and John Donnelly, vice president for instruction and student services, who also teaches at FCCW, insist that little else differs. I interact [with students] as with any regular face-to-face class, said Donnelly. Women who enroll in classes can earn an associate degree and accrue transfer credits for four-year institutions. Those who seek to enter the program undergo placement testing and are subject to the same qualifying criteria as any other community college student. Each year, about 10 to 15 students earn an associate degree, and Donnelly and PVCC President Frank Friedman hold a graduation ceremony at the facility. A lot of people probably dont think these students have to meet the same standards[but] theyre good students; often better than others, Donnelly said. Sloan agreed the women at FCCW are often very strong students. The students are a faculty members dream, he said. They ask questions that go beyond the curriculumthey are highly motivated. Education to them is very meaningful, said Sloan. Its a way to grow and change their lives. The program began in 2008, and in 2013 became a credit program focused on helping students obtain an associate degree. Each year, about 70 students enroll in one or more classes. [The program] is part of our mission as an open-access institution: we provide education to anyone that can benefit, and oftentimes people who are incarcerated can benefit, said Donnelly. A 2013 study by the RAND Corporation, funded by the Department of Justice, found that correctional education while in prison reduced the risk of recidivism by 13 percentage points, increased the odds of obtaining employment postrelease, and can be cost-effective because of reduced recidivism. Earning an associate degree shows a level of accomplishment, Donnelly said. There are so many barriers [offenders] are going to deal withthis is something that helps. Many prisons offer vocational training, but Sloan believes that a college liberal arts education is also valuable, and even practical. Taking college classes improves ones ability to think, to communicate clearly, he said. He considers an associate degree a boost that can enable offenders to more easily obtain jobs and pursue a bachelors degree at a four-year institution. One former student of a similar program agreed. College credits from actual community colleges go better on a resume than job experience from prison, he said. The student was not at FCCW but took college classes in two Virginia correctional facilities during two separate sentences, accumulating about ten classes in all. Life after prison is hardI had a lot of growing up to do and dues to pay, he said, ...but I wouldnt trade those classes for anything. Donnelly, too, has witnessed students empowerment when they complete a class or earn a degree. Many have been told all their lives that theyll never accomplish anythingthis is a huge accomplishment, he said. He describes teaching incarcerated students as some of the most rewarding work Ive done in higher education. Read the complete article on our website. Page 10 Manifest Destiny: A History of Excuses Joe Fowler, Staff Writer Not long ago, the curricula of various schools taught much about Manifest Destiny, the 19th century idea that Anglo-Saxons possessed a kind of God-given right to own any land they laid claim to in the area now known as the United States. With the intent of spreading liberty from sea to shining sea, early Americans gradually settled from the east coast to the west. The only problem with Manifest Destiny was its failure to consider the people already occupying that land. Karenne Wood, a member of the Monacan Indian Nation and director of Virginia Indian Programs at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, spoke in the school auditorium April 4. Wood gave a lecture on subjects like the history of America from the perspective of those who suffered during it. Though much of the lecture contained some of the saddest aspects of America, Wood also spent a great deal of time talking about more progressive attitudes towards American Indians. Much of the progress emerged from the change in social attitudes during the 1960s. After the lecture portion of the event, members of the audience asked questions about the latest information about native people. Wood fielded the questions with ease, answering many directly, and pointing out online resources that could be used to answer more complicated inquiries. During the event, she mentioned that Virginia recognizes close to 6000 members of Indian nations. The tribal leaders of those nations meet annually with each other. Additionally, leaders also meet with the governor annually. In regards to community involvement, Woods pointed out various events that native people hold throughout the year, which are open to the public, including a powwow during the third weekend of May. One member of the audience asked Wood about Manifest Destiny and its effect on American Indians. Wood explained a concept whereby Christian princes alone could own land, simply by stepping foot on it and planting a cross in the ground. This principle carried over to the new world, thus entitling Anglo-Saxons to all of the land. The Christian settlers viewed the native people as pagans not deserving of land. Wood continued, stating that once settlers conquered the land, Congress passed the first Civilization Regulations in 1880. The regulations deprived native people of their land rights and religion while also mandating the forced assimilation of native children. Wood described the regulations as, hilarious, since native people had their own civilizations. Though the regulations ceased in the early portion of the 20th century, it was not until 1978 when the government passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Native people couldnt practice their religions for over 100 years in a country founded on religious freedom, she said. The event wrapped up with a discussion on apologies and reparations. Reparations would bankrupt America and not reach all the people entitled to them. However, a resolution passed issuing an apology for the atrocities against native people that has yet to be read aloud by the president, according to Wood. Its a sad commentary on America that we would pass a resolution and the president wont read it aloud, she said. Karenne Wood: Photography by Joe Fowler Page 11 Photography Class Visits Dogwood Festival Arif Michael Vega, Staff Writer Stacey Evans led her photography class in exercises at the Dogwood Festival Carnival April 12. Around 12 students attended the event, each with a list of inspirations to fulfill as an assignment. The students drove or carpooled to the scene and immediately began taking pictures. The carnival, held at McIntyre park, was noisy, bright, boisterous and cheerful. There were more children than adults, which concerned some students. How can you take a photo without The Roundup, Student photography by Chris Barbour someone in it? asked student Nicole Boldak. Later, when Evans asked how students felt about taking photos at the carnival, this subject was the Others ignored the issue or did not notice. first to come up. Corey Boggs mentioned that Evans assigned inspirational challenges for the when he asked, the parents were happy to pose field trip. The first inspiration was an opening with their families. Several students reported theme, or introductory picture. The others were getting dirty looks, and observing their something passing, artificial light, a detail classmates getting them as well. Boggss solution and magic hour, which is the time directly after was to set up a tripod and try to look official. sunset. The subjects were numerous. There was a Ferris wheel, carousel, roller coasters, aerial rides and several games. Food stands stood alone or in rows, lit in neon, creating a busy background to students photos of yet more neon. Students met in small groups to compare progress and share their personal inspirations. Some participated directly with the event, taking their cameras on rides or buying a product. Julian Allen, a student, found his inspirations in a caramel apple and moving pictures of the various rides. I actually took two pictures of [the apple], he said, But I didnt like the one with a bite Student Photography by Arif Michael Vega taken out of it. Page 12 PVCCs Soccer Club Heads to Playoffs Annette Cashatt, Staff Writer The Bears are Piedmonts secret gem. Many do not realize it, but PVCC has its own soccer teams supported by PVCCs Soccer Club, and the mens division II team has been ripping up the field this season. In fact, the team is headed to the playoffs Sunday, May 1 at the Charlottesville High School stadium. It is no surprise that the Bears are headed to the playoffs this coming Sunday. They have only lost one game this season. They are one of the top teams in their division and on their way to win the quarterfinals. But that is only the tip of the iceberg; many members of the team also have a long history at PVCC. In 2004, PVCC hosted a fundraiser and family day for refugee children from Kenya and Somalia. Several of those children played soccer on the front lawn as they began their new lives in Charlottesville. Some of the faculty, such as Rob McHenry, remember the children from years ago and have had the opportunity to watch and mentor them as they grew into college-age adults. According to McHenry, I am very proud of them and it has been fun to be part of their lives and watch them grow into fine young men. Now, the Soccer Club is includes a diverse, international group of students, several of which had their first experience with PVCC as children playing soccer on the lawn. Muse Mohamed is a current team member and also happened to be one of the refugee children from 2004. Both he and another team member, Baker Osman, state that the chemistry and atmosphere surrounding the team is the most enjoyable part of the Bears. Player unity is a sentiment echoed by Edwing Alicandu, the team leader and president of the Soccer Club. He explained that one of his favorite aspects of the team is the way that each team member aids each other and how they work together as a team. He recalls one situation when several team members were unable to make a game, yet they still played short-handed and won because they truly supported one another. Alicandu encourages people to join the Soccer Club and participate in the sport. He says that the club is open to PVCC students, and he has hopes of one day expanding the club to include more officers and even games against fellow community colleges. Currently, there is also a co-ed soccer team as well as the mens division team. The Piedmont Bears, Photography courtesy of Edwing Alicandu Page 13 Review: Polaroid Stories Darien Tinsley, Staff Writer On Sunday, April 17, I was invited to see a production that Gorilla Theater Productions was putting on. The name of the production was Polaroid Stories by Naomi Iizuka. This play was inspired in part by Ovids Metamorphosis; it mingled classical mythology with the real-life stories of street kids. The cast was divided into five women and five men, and took place in an intimate setting. Even though Gorilla Theater is a small space, I felt like it was the exact size needed to draw the audience in and help them to feel the emotion. The show starts off with phrases uttered to futuristic music and a gritty, dingy, grungy woman appears, singing the lyrics to the Beatles hit song Blackbird and writing sayings on a chalkboard structure in a lethargic state. In this production, there are also numerous real-life themes such as drug use, prostitution, rejection and abuse. Jonathan Karns, a seasoned actor in the Charlottesville community and a PVCC student, and Emily Lien, phenomenal actress and PVCC faculty member, were among the cast of fabulous innovators. Anna Lien, the theaters creative mind, artistic director, and an actress, spoke about the show and Gorilla Theater and its hopes for the future. When asked why she chose the production Polaroid Stories, Lien replied with, Polaroid Stories was a story with which I fell in love in undergrad. The fusion of the dirty street life with the lofty quality of the classics I thought brilliant, and I've been waiting for the right time and place and people. When I was talking to my co-star Kendall one evening in a late night artistic conversation, it came up, and our mutual passion for the piece lead us to pull together a team and move forward with producing it. In describing Gorilla Theater Productions mission and vision, she said, GTP has been an educational theater company for kids, teens, and adults for the last five years, and it currently shows no signs of slowing down. As artistic director I work to keep my finger on the pulse of the community that surrounds the project and provide opportunities that fuel individual creativity and artistic fulfillment. We have a fusion of classic and avant-garde aesthetics and I think that it allows our students and artists to develop in powerful and innovative ways. On the horizon we're about to put up a Mad-Max style Romeo & Juliet with our teens, our summer shorts festival is about to bloom, A ntony and Cleopatra is in full wing, and the fall brings us the Phantom Tollbooth (kids/teens) and Marat/ Sade (teens/adults). Onward and upward! Clearly, GTP is in it for the long run. If you missed out on seeing this show, you missed an absolutely life-changing moment. The actors in the show were phenomenal and it will go down in history as one of my favorite productions. Photography by Darien Tinsley Page 14 The Fall Line Debuts May 2 Cynthia Beasley, Staff Writer PVCCs many clubs and organizations give students a way to express themselves and share common interests. The Fall Line, PVCCs literary magazine, gives students a way to share their work as well as gives their peers an opportunity to see some of the talent we have here at PVCC. This years edition of The Fall Line features creative writing pieces and artwork from students. The magazine includes writing that was chosen by the Creative Writing Club as well as pieces from the winners of the Writers Unite Three-Minute Fiction Contest. This publication includes many student groups. Student art from the Art Department archives will be featured and the Communications Design Class II worked together to design the layout of the magazine. I think what I love about it is its a collaboration between lots of people, said Professor Jennifer Koster, faculty advisor of the Creative Writing Club. Fourteen students will have writing published in the magazine while 13 will have art featured. A comic by Abigail Woodward is being featured about her experience of cutting her hair. Throughout the comic, you see the personal journey and results of her experience. Its about the gradual process of cutting my hair, she said, Its been a personal thing to enjoy my short hair and do cool things with it. Telling another true story, Antonia Florences piece is called Why then This piece tells the story of her as a young tomboy whose father was in the Navy and was often out to sea. Her story is about her experience of growing up and being socialized as a girl. I grew up as an independent individual. I was born that way, said Florence. Pick up the 2016 edition of The Fall Line Monday, May 2 in the North Mall Meeting Room at 12 p.m. Students Enjoy Art and Chocolate at PVCC Kaitlyn Duvalois, Staff Writer Johnny Cash played through the speakers, while students and onlookers praised artwork hanging on stark white walls. On Friday, April 26, PVCC Art Department threw the Seventh Annual Chocolate Chow Down. PVCC student artists are encouraged to add pieces of their own artwork to the art show each year. These works can be anything from graphic design projects to ceramics. The paintings must be matted and framed; ceramics are held in glass cases; some students even put them up for sale. Some artists wore beaded necklaces handed out by adjunct instructor of art Fenella Belle. I think seeing all of the artwork hanging on the walls and kind of being finalized is really cool. You really get to see how hard the students work during the semester, said PVCC student Molly Brennan. Although this is the 11th year doing the student show, it has always been referred to as the Seventh Annual Chocolate Chow Down. Focused Girl by Sarah Stremel Photography by Kaitlyn Duvalois Page 15 PVCC: Past and Future Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer the college; the first was Wanda Birckhead. We had such a good time that first year with classes, said Birckhead. We knew that we were special, that we were in the spotlight because this was a new venture. Since the college building was still being constructed, PVCCs first few semesters had to be held in different locations, including the University of Virginia and Albemarle High School. According to the History of PVCC article on the PVCC website, it was not until Fall 1973 that Piedmont Virginia Community College was ready to hold classes on 501 College Drive. From there, the college continued to grow and improve. In December 1979, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools gave full accreditation to PVCC, which allowed the school to give associate degrees. In July 1981, construction began on PVCCs library, which was completed in September 1982. Construction also began on a new wing in August 1985, which was completed in May 1987. But PVCC does not stop with just three buildings. A new building for the science wing is in the works, which means that things can only get bigger and better for Piedmont Virginia Community College. The college has expanded, said Frank Friedman, And I think this gives you a bit of an idea as to how PVCC has grown. Even though it has changed throughout the decades, PVCC remains a center of learning. It has educated people in the past, it educates them now, and chances are that it will continue educating them well into the future. Piedmont Virginia Community College has served as a center of education for students for over 50 years. Around 213,000 students have taken classes on campus, more than 12,000 associate degrees and certificates have been awarded to students, and over 500 students transfer to four-year schools each year. Moreover, local businesses rely on PVCC to bolster their workforces with graduates who are seeking employment. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach his or her potential and excellence in our programs and services, says the summary on the colleges webpage. PVCC is a thriving community college that has been around for decades, but like all colleges, there was a time when the idea for a college by state Route 20 was fresh and new. The idea for a new community college first struck the local steering committee in 1969, and at their request, the Virginia State Board for Community College granted permission to build a new college at a recently-purchased parcel of land located at the corner of Interstate 64 and state Route 20. PVCCs first president, Harold J. McGee, was elected in September 1971. He served as president for four years. Despite the State Board approving a college in 1969, it was not until April 1972 that the college was built, and at the time, it only consisted of a single building. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place April 17, 1972. Over 450 Photography by Krista C. Petzold students applied to Page 16 A bit about Charlottesville Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer Many students of Piedmont Virginia Community College have lived in Charlottesville for most of their lives, and some have lived there since birth. They have walked through the towns lush and verdant countryside, strolled through the hustle and bustle downtown, and attended the prestigious University of Virginia. The city of Charlottesville originated in Albemarle County, and before that, there was a Native American village that existed five miles north of the towns center. Another notable feature of the city was a path that led from Richmond to the Blue Ridge Mountains known to travelers as Three Notchd Road. Around the mid-1750s, various land grants secured a substantial amount of land surrounding Albemarle County, which, according to visitcharlottesville.org, was named after the Governor of Virginia at the time. At first, Albemarle County was much larger than it is today, but eventually it was divided into multiple counties. Charlottesville was named after Princess Charlotte, who eventually went on to become the Queen of England. Though established as a settlement, Charlottesville did not become an official city until 1888. A year later, Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, and Charlottesville continued to evolve from there. Today, Three Notchd Road includes Downtown Mall and Main Street. Albemarle County was home to three of Americas founding fathers, Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. PVCC is just a short distance away from Jeffersons home, Monticello. No one can know if Charlottesvilles rise and development would have impressed the founding fathers, but as Jefferson once said, I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. Opinion: Supreme Court Selection Tucker Poe, Staff Writer The Supreme Court has a profound impact on all of our civil liberties. With the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia on Feb. 13, there was speculation about whether President Obama would select a successor. Obama said, I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor in due time. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said, The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president. With the Republicans holding majorities in both houses of Congress, they could easily reject any nominee that they deem too left-leaning. McConnell is already in a position to do this without having to state it. With Obamas selection of centrist Merrick Garland on March 22, this statement makes McConnell look like a flipflopper if the already tentative situation were to change. In a best-case scenario for McConnell, a Republican wins the presidency. McConnell, who endorsed Rand Paul for president, has become the majority leader by being a party man. Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are not party men. The mainstream GOP at this point is hoping that none of the candidates can get the required delegates. Former Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner said, If we don't have a nominee who can win on the first ballot, I'm for none of the above. Suppose a Democrat is elected and they decide that it is now in their power to delay a selection until after congressional elections in hopes of a more favorable split between the parties. By waiting until after the election, Congress is creating a precedent. Page 17 Charlottesville Subbredit Tucker Poe, Staff Writer The Charlottesville subreddit is a fascinating place to learn all kinds of things about the city. Whether you are looking for an apartment that will not check your bad credit score or wondering if anyone knows what the zxcv cats are, the Charlottesville subreddit is a great way to learn things about the city that Google could not otherwise answer. User jxf said, What's with the zxcv cats around town? Do they mean anything or are they just fun art? The zxcv cats refer to a series of chalk drawings of the same style cat with the letters zxcv often written on the cat's forehead. While the drawings remain a mystery, user meekohi said, I've seen the artist around doodling them. Not exactly Banksy. On April 19, user kintaeb said, I'm on Grounds and have noticed that the air is full of a thin smoke and there is a slight smoke smell. A co-worker ran some errands up 29 and said that it was also up there. Does anyone know what the source of this is? Almost immediately, users responded with articles about the wildfires in the Shenandoah National Park. Along with discussing local mysteries, the Charlottesville subreddit has a nice mix of useful and not-so-useful content. Beside information about the soon-to-arrive Alamo Drafthouse Theater and Ubers morning availability is a call to all guinea pig lovers. User badkarmaclub is looking to start Charlottesvilles first Guinea Pig social club. They said, I love guinea pigs and am interested in getting to know pig fans in the area. I have three of my own and thought it'd be a fun warm weather activity to take the pigs to the park for a meet up. The image of someone trying to wrangle three pigs running around DardenTowe was not enough to warrant a response. We can only assume they are still looking. Enjoying Ivy Provisions Ryan Winkler, Staff Writer One of Charlottesvilles premier delis and locally-sourced grocers Ivy Provisions lies just minutes from the UVA Corner. A relatively new addition to Charlottesvilles food service industry, Ivy Provisions offers local meats, cheeses, and vegetables on a multitude of different gourmet breakfast and lunch sandwiches and wraps. Additionally, they stock an extensive selection of beer and wine, including a plentiful variety of inventory from local wineries and breweries. Not only does Ivy Provisions provide a broad selection of food and drink, upon entering the store one is immersed in a truly unique atmosphere. With old, stylized wooden walls, Ivy Provisions gives off a truly rustic vibe and makes one feel as one might have stepped into a time machine, headed to what a grocery store might have been 60 or 70 years ago. Aside from offering walk-in service, Ivy Provisions also offers an extensive catering menu of Sandwiches by the Box, which includes eight sandwiches of the customers choice and an option for large green salads. Despite established Charlottesville delis Foods of All Nations and Bellair Market surrounding Ivy Provisions, the store has held its own as a stand-out popular breakfast and lunch destination in the UVA area. Charlottesville native Emily Wood said, Ivy Provisions is amazing. Whether it is breakfast or lunch, its hard to not find something you like at that place. I personally always go for the Notorious P.I.G. sandwich when I stop in for lunchIts great to see another deli spring up and hold its own in the competitive Charlottesville restaurant environment. Page 18 What is Your Excuse? Tucker Poe, Staff Writer Many people have a go-to excuse. One person can use the same excuse many times over with different people. Being able to adequately defend or justify a fault or offense is a skill that many students hone over their years in school. In the computer age, saying your dog ate your homework no longer works. The excuse I hear most often is that I thought I turned it in or I turned it in and there must have been an error on Blackboard. I also hear about computers catching viruses all the time and deleting everything, one communications instructor said. This is an approachable excuse. Most people have had computer issues at some point in their lives. By having an excuse ready that is relatable and realistic, the hope is to inspire sympathy. The success of your excuse often depends on who you have to present it to. Professor Jessica Kingsley said, I like to give students the benefit of the doubt...Life happens and pays no attention to our due dates. There are other instructors who no longer believe their students deserve the benefit of the doubt. One said, After teaching for almost 15 years, I can usually tell when a student is lying, and I actually ask that students just refrain from trying to offer me an explanation unless they can provide documentation for it. This way, no one has their time wasted. They later said, Believe it or not, I also hear about dead relatives quite often as well. I now ask for some sort of documentation about deaths in the family because of how frequently this particular excuse is utilized. Other excuses are so good that they dont even seem like excuses. One instructor said, I had one student recently that is a bank teller and they were held at gunpoint and had to be the person that handed the money over to the bank robber...the story was in the news, so this particular absence was definitely excused. Sure, you could have a buddy come to your job and hold you at gunpoint, but wouldnt it just be easier to go to class? Sociology: A Pathway to Understanding Tucker Poe, Staff Writer Sociology is the study of all societal behavior. There is the sociology of sleep, road rage, education, and work. Taking a sociological look at anything, leads to a well-rounded perspective on a given topic. For sociology, I think its vital to being a good citizen, said Dr. Kim Hoosier. In this class we talk about very relevant issues we talk about race relations, social class inequality; we talk about deviance in the criminal justice system; we talk about culture, inequality from a gender perspective so real kind of real world issues that all students probably have or will encounter in their lifetimes. The sociological perspective is the crux of sociology. It is a view on human behavior and its connection to society as a whole. It invites people to look for the connections between the behavior of individual people and the structures of the society in which they live. The sociological perspective allows you to even understand how certain tribes in Papua New Guinea have masculinization rituals where starting between six and ten boys are taken from their mothers and are transformed into warriors through ingesting semen. Sociology is not common knowledge all the time but its things that are commonly occurring. It gives you a different perspective on the things that are already happening in the world around you, Hoosier said. My most important goal is that you think about things a little differently, Hoosier said, I want all of my students to come to sociology with an open mind, an open way of viewing the world and then leave sociology just thinking a little differently than maybe they had before. Page 19 Start the Presses: Take Journalism Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer Many students and faculty at Piedmont Virginia Community College are avid readers of The Forum, the schools student paper. The Forum contains all sorts of stories, discussing classes, campus and local events. But while The Forum helps keep people up-to-date on classes and restaurants, it does not go into much detail about the people who write the articles. In fact, there is a whole journalism class. In it, students help create The Forum and do various writing exercises. The class welcomes anyone regardless of their writing skills. You dont have to be a good writer to succeed in the course, said Assistant Professor Tamara Whyte, who teaches the class. In PVCCs Journalism classes (ENG 121 and 122), students learn about news writing and reporting, as well as skills for layout and editing. Students are tasked with writing one article a week. First, the students choose a topic for a story. It could be about an event or club in college, something in the community, or even general history about a place. Once that is done, students go out after class and gather information about their subject through note-taking and interviews. After the students have gathered enough information, they write a draft of the article and submit it to the teacher for editing. When that is finished, the teacher hands back the articles for students to make corrections. Afterwards, another student goes over it and makes recommendations for the author to edit the articles. Next, students set up the layout for their articles, and then the articles are ready to be published in the latest Forum. The Journalism class uses a smooth system to publish its articles. Everybody should take it, says Arif Vega, who has attended nearly two semesters of Journalism classes at PVCC, I think it should be a required course. PVCCs Journalism classes are a good opportunity to show others your work, and you do not have to pursue a career in journalism to join the class. Journalism helps students improve their writing. All students can benefit by being better writers and critical thinkers, said Whyte, The skills we cover in Journalism improve clarity, precision, writing, and communication. The course is an approved transfer elective and is offered in both Fall and Spring semesters. Interested students can sign up for ENG 121 this fall, a late-start class starting in September. The second class, ENG 122, is offered in the Spring. Journalism students practice their headline skills with a card game. Photography by Katya Beisel Page 20 Seeing Literature from a New Perspective Cynthia Beasley, Staff Writer While many college composition classes focus primarily on writing, Professor Jennifer Koster has a different approach. In her honors college composition course students must learn to think critically and see things from different perspectives. I remember learning in college about a theorist who said that the most significant learning takes place when a student learns something about themselves, said Koster. I try to keep this in Professor Jennifer Koster assists student Abbigail Traaseth. mind. Photography by Cynthia Beasley Throughout the course, students read short stories and poems by authors such as Ernest Hemingway, dont wait to write. They have been building Marjane Satrapi, Bobbie Ann Mason, Jamaica upon or working with the ideas so they have Kincaid and more. things to work with when they sit down and Ive tried to loosely organize these stories as write. a kind of coming of age . . . childhood through Another unique aspect of the class is the adulthood. I feel students can connect to it in intriguing, thought-provoking group discussions. some way, said Koster. I think it helps you get Through the discussions, students are able to through your own issues or things that you think think about the issues and make arguments about in a kind of sideways way, and then it helps relating to stories or research. They are able to people grow. discuss how they perceived a story or poem, yet She incorporates different forms of informal also learn about different perspectives. writing in an effort to help her students generate This course is more critical-thinking ideas. These include reader response journals, oriented . . . so some of the stories are not about exploratory and creative writing, and focused and what is happening in the story, but whats the reflective free writing. larger issue or point the writer is trying to make, These exercises are introspective, reflective said Koster. and beneficial for planning formal essays. This course will improve a students writing The course places a large emphasis on ability and teach them how to think critically. It critical, argumentation and research essays. will broaden their thoughts, as they must view Kosters process involves multiple drafts and stories from a different perspective while revisions, as well as workshops with fellow incorporating their peers ideas and classmates to understand the readers perspective interpretations. and reactions. This course can not only expand their Koster said, One of my hopes is that knowledge about literature and composition, but students learn to gather ideas together so that they teach them something about themselves. Page 21 Summer Puzzle Brennan Tanner, Staff Writer I/J M/N Q X OU U/V Space The sets of symbols listed below each correspond with a single character based on the grid seen above. Some of the letters have been filled in for you. Replace the pairs of characters with letters to solve the puzzle. Fill in the grid as you guess the right letters. It is a encoded phrase in keeping with the theme of this years summer issue. Seven of the letters are already placed in the grid; it is up to you to find the rest. Page 22 Riddles Brennan Tanner, Staff Writer I live in the sky, I live in the sea, And they together make me. Finality walks shrouded in black, Shadows drape its ancient bones, It visits all, from manors to shacks, And topples kings from thrones. A landscape shifting neath your feet, Filled with joy and laughter, or shadows fleet, Your darkest fears, your most heartfelt wishes, Sumptuous banquets of fragrant dishes. In teardrops, tis held in liquid form briny with salt, And if it grows too big to bear, it brings life grinding to a halt. Comic by Andie Meddaugh Page 23 Classifieds Looking for Fall classes? Consider these: SOC 210Survey of Physical and Cultural Anthropology. Why are humans the way we are? From the human body to human behaviors, anthropology will take you on a journey across time and space to answer this question and more. ENG 121Introduction to Journalism. Interested in seeing your work in The Forum? ENG 121 offers students a chance to learn about journalistic writing and get their work in print. This 12-week class will start in September and is an approved transfer elective. Know of any Community Events, Announcements, or Advertisements youd like to list? Contribute and Submit to Contact us at theforum@pvcc.edu for more information or visit our website : www.piedmontforum.com Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact twhyte@pvcc.edu with any questions. Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Managing Editor Elise Hansen Assistant Editor Antonia Florence Staff Writers/Copyeditors Morgan Barr Cynthia Beasley Annette Cashatt Joe Chafetz Claudia Cruz Kaitlyn Duvalois Haan DuVerney Antonia Florence Joe Fowler Tyler Gaines Elise Hansen Sam Jefferson Hamed Karama Owen Krug Tucker Poe Brennan Tanner Darien Tinsley Kellyn Torres Arif Michael Vega Ryan Winkler Comic Artist Andie Meddaugh Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College April 2016 PVCCs Got Talent! Firstever Talent Show April 8 Elise Hansen, Managing Editor PVCC students and staff are gearing up for the colleges first talent show, scheduled for Friday, April 8. The show will be in the Dickinson Theater and is free and open to the public. Our goal for this show is for the performers, the audience and even the ones working behind the scenes to have great memories of a lifetime, said SGA President Camron Perry. The show will include between seven and ten acts, about an hour and a half of performances. Martez Anderson plans to rap, a skill he has been honing since he was nine years old. He has performed across Virginia at multiple talent shows and conventions. Ultimately, he hopes to perform on tour, possibly with the help of a label. He aspires to connect with people, change their lives as well as be innovative to the game, he said. Thomas Harton plans to play guitar. He is no stranger to the spotlight: he has played for a crowd of 300 in the past and recently played at Firefly in Charlottesville. My biggest influence on my original music is anything I generally go Preview PVCCs production of The Tempest page 10 through in life, he explained, including previous romantic relationships, which feature heavily in his songs. He hopes to play professionally in the future, in front of thousands of people on an almost-daily basis. The show is sponsored by The Kroger Company and Pepsi -Cola of Central Virginia. This is the first time an international company has sponsored a PVCC event. Getting corporate sponsors is extremely See Talent Show on page 4 In This Issue Thomas Harton auditions for the PVCC Talent Show PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Food Festival -pg. 4 Fathers Rights -pg. 8 Festival of the Book-pg. 15 PVCC Services -pg. 17 Classifieds -pg.20 DATES TO REMEMBER From the Editor Elise Hansen, Editor The Tempest March 31-April 2, 7:30 p.m., April 2, 2:30 p.m. Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater Advance Summer Registration March 28-April 10 Advance Fall Registration March 28-June 19 Lecture on VA Native American Tribes* April 4, 12 p.m.. -1 p.m., M229 International Food Festival * April 6, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room PVCC Talent Show * April 8, 7 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Charlottesville Municipal Band * April 10, 3:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Guest Speaker: Matthew Morgan from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory * April 13, 12 p.m.. -1 p.m., M229 One Mic Stand * April 14, 7 p.m., Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater Free Movie Friday: The Revenant* April 15, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Ping Pong Tournament Semifinals * April 18, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ping Pong Room Ping Pong Tournament Finals * April 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bolick Center Spring Fling * April 20, 11 a.m.3 p.m., Student Terrace Student Art Exhibition Opening and Chocolate Chowdown * April 22, 5-7 p.m., Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater Improv Night * April 22, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater PVCC Chorus Spring Concert * April 24, 3 p.m., Dickinson Theater Auditorium *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available In a world inundated with national and international news, why should we care about local events? Why should we care about a school talent show when American Idol shows us performers from across the U.S.? Why should we care about a neighborhood bake sale or the latest gallery exhibit when scores of innocent Pakistani citizens have been murdered in a brutal terrorist attack? We live in an age in which time can feel like our scarcest resource. We also have near-constant access to a flood of informationa Google search for U.S. federal election returns over 23 million results. And, thanks to the internet and social media, online communities can feel just as real to us as the communities we physically inhabit. So how much time should we devote to understanding events in our local communities? The answer will look different for different people, but at The Forum, we believe that local events are worth our time and effort. Often the events that impact our lives the most happen closest to home: potholes in the street, zoning laws that determine where we can and cannot build homes, spring break dates, property tax ratesthese decisions take place at the state and local level. When we vote in local and state elections, we are voting on whether Charlottesvilles Downtown Mall should put up security cameras, or whether the statue of Robert E. Lee should remain in Lee Park. These questions matter, and we have a voice in deciding the answers. Of course, national and international events are important, but let us also remember to make an impact in the places where we live, work and study. Plug in to what is happening in your neighborhood and on PVCC campus! We are here to help you in that mission. Page 2 Student Government Association News Hi everyone! My name is Anna Gage and I serve as the Director of Student Voice for PVCCs Student Government Association (SGA). The Student Voice Board meets to discuss how we can improve our school and help students have a wonderful time while attending Piedmont. The board works diligently to ensure that all students needs are met. The main reason I took on the director of Student Voice is because I felt I lacked a voice for a long time. I began to ponder and understand that I needed to stick up for those people who are like me. I want all voices to be heard regardless of race, religion, gender, social class or status. I hold on to the saying greet the janitor the same way you greet the CEO. As director of Student Voice, my job is to make sure students are aware of upcoming events. I am proud to say that the SGA is hosting its first annual talent show on April 8 at 7 p.m. This event will be very exciting, so join us as we open the door for our first talent show. Show your support for all the individuals who are showcasing their talent! SGA Director of Student Voice Anna Gage Upcoming events: April 8 - TALENT SHOW April 18 - Ping Pong tournament semifinals April 20 - Ping Pong tournament finals in Bolick Center April 20 - Spring Fling April 28-May 5 - Student appreciation tables Come join us at these events if you are free! If you have any questions please feel free to send me an email. Remember to smile; life is a gift! Anna Gage Director of Student Voice amg2117@email.vccs.edu Student Government Association Let Your Voice Be Heard sga@pvcc.edu Page 3 Talent Show, Continued from page 1 difficult, said Perry, whose efforts were key to securing such prominent support. Most SGAs at universities cannot pull corporate sponsors for their eventsif they do, they usually dont have two of them, he said. As a community college SGA we are extremely proud to push beyond what others say is impossible. Kroger supplied money for cash prizes and will have a table outside the theater featuring its products and a hiring table for those interested in employment. Von Hill Jr auditions for the PVCC Talent Show Photography Courtesy of SGA Prominent members of the company are expected to attend the event along with regional employees. Up to 500 Pepsi products will be available outside the auditorium, according to Perry. We want people to walk away from the theater in awe about the performance, Perry said. We also want our sponsors to walk away feeling that it was well worth their time and money to sponsor our eventWe want to bring [the students] what they deserve. Dont Miss the International Food Festival Cynthia Beasley, Staff Writer Learning about different cultures is important, and what better way to learn than through food? The International Club, along with multiple other student groups, is giving PVCC the opportunity to experience cuisine from around the globe. This years 27th annual International Food Festival will include foods from local restaurants as well as dishes made by PVCC students. Kristine Swanson, advisor to the French Culture Club and one of the many people involved in planning the festival, said, I think [the original goal] was to give our students and the PVCC community an exposure to international cuisine. The festival does just that, as it will include traditional dishes from many countries and cultures. Some of the types of food that will be represented are German, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, French, soul food, and more. The Black Student Alliance, the International Club, the Spanish Club, as well as other PVCC students and faculty members involved in planning the event, will make these dishes. In addition to the dishes prepared by members of the PVCC community, multiple locally-owned restaurants will be at the festival. These include Mican, The Bavarian Chef, East Garden, Pad Thai, and Crperie Pimontaise. For some of these restaurants, this is not their first appearance at the festival. One of our steadfast restaurants is The Bavarian Chef. They have come almost every year They really are the mainstay of the restaurants and they put on quite a display, said Swanson. Each year, the proceeds from the event benefit a charity. In past years, the profits have been donated to earthquake relief in Haiti and tsunami relief in Japan. This years charity has not yet been decided. Students can purchase items using tickets; tickets will be sold upon entry and can be redeemed at any vendor. The festival will be in the North Mall Meeting Room on April 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is a great way to support local businesses, fellow students and classmates, and a charitable cause. Page 4 Coming Soon: Music to the Moon Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer Looking to experience the sensation of indie music? A fan of progressive rock? If so, then this April, dreams will begin to come true as the rock band Moon Taxi will be coming to Charlottesville. Moon Taxi began to form several years ago when musicians Trevor Terndrup and Tommy Putnam moved to Nashville, Tennessee. There, they met with fellow musician Spencer Thompson, and began rocking it as the indieprogressive rock band Moon Taxi. Though their performances were at first confined to the dormitories of local colleges, Moon Taxi began gaining more fame and recognition. Eventually, after many sit-ins, keyboardist Wes Bailey became the newest addition to Moon Taxi in fall 2006. Pretty soon, Moon Taxi was performing onstage in front of a live, cheering audience. Since then, they have even been featured on a few Late shows. Their first album, Melodica, was recorded in Nashville in 2008. Afterwards, they continued publishing albums named Live Ride, Cabaret, Mountains Beaches Cities, and Daybreaker. The songs include Mercury, River Water, The New Black, Year Zero, and Running Wild. When we release a new album, we enter a new chapter in our story; an experience we share with our fans, said Wes Bailey. When the day breaks and the sun rises, changes happen and the world we know illuminates. That's the same kind of effect we hope to achieve when we share new music. Moon Taxi will be performing at Charlottesvilles Jefferson Theater, located on the Downtown Mall on Madison Street. They will perform at 8 p.m. from April 3 to April 4. Tanoshii Anime! Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer No college is complete without a host of clubs; someplace where people of similar interests can go off to enjoy themselves. Most clubs are commonly found throughout any college, such as the Chest Club or the Writing Club. These are the sorts of classic clubs that have existed in colleges long before the turn of the century. PVCC proudly pushes the boundaries of common interests by hosting all sorts of unique and interesting clubs. There is the Brony Club, the Smash Club, and last but certainly not least, there is the Anime Club. The Anime Club serves as a central hub for those who share a common interest in anime, or Japanese animation. Stationed at Room 154, the Anime Club meets every Friday from 3-5 p.m., where anime is viewed through the classrooms projector. While the anime is being aired, viewers often have open discussions about the present anime characters and stories. Everyone is welcome to discuss and state their opinion, but anything that could be a potential spoiler is to be left to yourself. Two different animes are screened each week, and the decision as to which anime is to be showed is decided by a viewer vote. This April, the Anime Club will host a special event. On April 27, the Anime Club will host the Anime Cafe, where everyone is welcome. People will dress up as their favorite anime characters, and there will be finger foods, tarot readings, and tea ceremonies. The event will last from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the North Mall Meeting Room. Though not as traditional as the Reading or Chess Club, the Anime Club has proven to be an effective club nonetheless. Its friendly social atmosphere is welcome to those who have never even watched anime before. Yonde kurete arigat. Translation: Thanks for reading. Page 5 Presidential Primaries Explained Cynthia Beasley, Staff Writer Geoffrey Skelley, the media-relations coordinator for the University of Virginias Center of Politics, came to speak to the PVCC community about the upcoming presidential primaries. He discussed the systems and processes used by both the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as some predictions for the election. Geoffrey Skelley is a political analyst and is an associate editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball, UVAs Center of Politics nonpartisan newsletter on American campaigns and elections. The Crystal Ball provides analysis and information for elections all over the country and has been a leader in predicting past elections. Before starting his presentation, Skelley said, This has to be the most confusing, complicated, byzantine, ridiculous thing . . . The system we use to nominate the Presidents could not be any murkier than it is. Jonathan Campos was one student in attendance. Campos, a Marine Corps Veteran said, I believe that it is every citizens duty to understand what is going on because we have to care. If we dont care about something, it will usually get taken away. He then explained how the Virginia Democratic and Republican Parties select a candidate to represent them on the presidential ballot. His presentation included many charts and graphs in an effort to help the audience understand this confusing process. There is a lot more transparency than there used to be, but it still says something that the process is confusing for, basically, most people, said Skelley. He discussed the fact that Virginia is typically a state to watch, as it has gone Democratic in the last two elections. Skelleys predictions on whether or not Hillary Clinton would win Virginia were correct as he said, It would be surprising if Hillary didnt win. He believed that if Sanders wanted a Photography by Connie Jorgensen chance, he would have needed to do well in Northern Virginia. But will this be the case? Obviously, there is no way to tell yet, but he wins pluralities in every group and the media loves him. He has received 30 million dollars of essentially free advertisements from the three major networks. There really hasnt been a candidate like this, ever. Trumps appeal is not based on ideology, its not based on his viewpoints, its based on his personality, said Skelley. He believes that both sides have reasons to be optimistic. The Democrats should be optimistic because of demographic changes in our country that favor them. Obamas approval ratings have risen, and Clinton will have a lot of allies and money for her campaign. The Republicans also have reasons to remain hopeful, as it is hard for one party to continue winning, because our country always wants change and it is hard for one party to hold onto the White House. But, what we may think we know, isnt necessarily right, said Skelley. After answering questions from students, the conversation turned to the possible outcome of the election. To that, Skelley said, If it were Trump against Clinton . . . You think you have seen a lot of ugliness in our politics? Well, they may manage to do worse than ever before. Page 6 PVCC Hosts Positive Action Conference Elise Hansen, Managing Editor politics can be an approachable subject and that anyone can get involved, said Elena Muraca, a member of the Student Planning Committee. Almost all of the speakers insisted that local and state elections significantly impact students daily lives. Because voter turnout for these elections is relatively low, Senator Deeds explained, each voter has a prominent voice in determining the outcomes. Erika Garrett admitted that this was new information for her. I knew voting was a good thing, but I didnt know what a big impact it had, she said. Means agreed: I knew the presidential votes matter, but I didnt know the smaller votes were so important. Asked how the conference went overall, Student Intern Daniel Berti said, I think it went really well. The speakers and panelists were incredible; they did a really good job. Its been really inspiring. Professor Connie Jorgensen, the events faculty sponsor, agreed: The conference was great! she said. She hopes that PVCC can host another conference in the future; ideally, one that can accommodate a larger number of students (registration was limited to 100 students this year). Its such a great opportunity to hear from local and state experts, she said over email. She and Muraca insist that the conference supports an important cause. I believe that politics has the ability to create community through people coming together to improve the lives of their fellow citizens, and this is precisely what the PAC promotes, said Muraca. Students listened attentively as Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds and Virginia Delegates Rob Bell and Steve Landes discussed the importance of local and state government to students lives. The speakers were a part of PVCCs first Positive Action Conference (PAC), designed to expose students to local issues and to inspire civic and political engagement at the local level. The conference featured numerous speakers and panels, each addressing different aspects of local government. Topics included privacy and policing, LGBT rights, women in politics, and race and class divisions. I learned a lot of things Ill apply to my views about different political topics, said Grayson Katzenbach. She especially enjoyed the Privacy and Policing Panel because it presented contrasting viewpoints on a relevant topic. We got to hear opinions for and against the use of security camerasand we got to hear it from experts, she said. I liked [the conference], said Logan Means. Especially the [panels] I could really relate to, I loved. She attended the LGBT Panel, in which she learned about some of the issues facing the LGBT community. I didnt know you could be kicked out of a restaurant for being gay, she said. The conference began Friday night with a catered dinner and speakers and continued through Saturday afternoon. Breakfast and lunch were catered by Panera and Harvest Bread Company, and each meal featured speakers, with topic-specific panels in between. My goal for this conference is to show PVCC students that Ethics and Good Government Panel at the PCA. Photography by Elise Hansen Page 7 Debating Lee Parks Statue Ryan Winkler, Staff Writer There is a debate about the future of the statue of Robert E. Lee in Lee Park, located on Market Street in downtown Charlottesville. Charlottesville Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy has been calling for the tearing down of this monument, along with other historical objects. He believes the statue to be a glorifying symbol of slavery, and a symbol of hate. The whole discussion began when a local high school student started a petition to remove the statue, which garnered the attention of the Vice Mayor. There are reasonable arguments on both sides of this debate. First, those who support the removal of the statue are correct in saying that this statue represents a time of hate and severe racism. Robert E. Lee was a Confederate General, which is the side that supported continuing slavery. However, Lee himself was not a supporter of slavery, in fact abhorring the institution. Lee was also a member of the Union Army before defecting to the Confederacy in order to defend his home and family in the state of Virginia. On the other side, those that oppose the removal of the statue have a strong argument as well. They argue the statue is a symbol of our history, even if it is a history blighted with issues like slavery. They also argue that it is important to remember our history, even if it is one that we might not be entirely proud of. Charlottesville local Whit Zirkle said, It is ridiculous to consider taking down the statue. No one is proud of slavery, but that is not what this statue represents. It represents an important, yet tumultuous time of our nation's history, and it would be a mistake to purposefully try and forget that. Fathers Rights Movement Kaitlyn Duvalois, Staff Writer Im her father; why should I have to be supervised? said Shannon Chidester, a man fighting for his right to see his daughter after three years. The Fathers Rights Movement is a social movement that is advocating for the rights of fathers in custody battles and child support cases. According to fathersrightsmovement.us, most of the members of the Fathers Rights Movement simply want shared custody with their childs mother. According to the U.S Census Bureau, there are 24 million children in the United States and one out of three of those children grows up in a household where they do not have a biological father present. In recent years, according to the National Coalition for Men (NCFM), fathers have usually asked for just 50 percent custody, whereas mothers have asked for 80 percent and have gotten that. Fathers are basically just there to visit occasionally and to pay child support. Men represent 87.1 percent of child support payers and on average pay $4,250 in child support each year, according to DadsDivorce.com. This has become a problem and many people are looking at our court systems. Virginia is an interesting case because we already have the rights in place, but they just arent socially acceptable yet, said Arif Vega, a PVCC student in the battle for more parental rights. The main goal for the Fathers Rights Movement right now is to help people going through similar situations to see what they can do to make this process easier. It is like were fighting over a piece of property, said Vega, referring to his experiences with the court system. Vega and many others are trying to fight the system just for the right to be in their childs life. Page 8 Great Expectations for Foster Care Students Darien Tinsley, Staff Writer PVCC has numerous programs that help college students with academics, finances, and other college-related needs. Down the 100 hall in the colleges main building, there is a program called Great Expectations. It is designed for currently enrolled students who have been in foster care as adolescents to ensure that the needs of these students are met financially, hygienically, and, of course, academically. The organization is statewide and was started in 2008 by then-Governor Tim Kaines wife, Anne Holton, who is now the secretary of education. Sarah Groom, the Great Expectations coach for PVCC, was in foster care as a youth. She prides herself in the students successes, seeing their potential and helping them to shine. No person in the program is a throw away; we are here to help peoples gift shine, said Groom. She explained that the organization is present in other community colleges as well, such as J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Danville Community College, Southside Community College, Blue Ridge Community College, and others. Groom said, Forty-eight percent of foster youth in Virginia do not graduate high school and less than two percent of former foster youth were pursuing post secondary education. Groom knows what it is like to pay for college and how hard it is to fully make ends meet, so here at PVCC the organization offers financial resources that it calls emergency funds. They are mostly used for transportation and housing assistance: they buy bus passes for the students in the program, help with car repairs, help students find apartments or assist with rent. Most colleges Great Expectations do not have emergency funds as PVCC does. Groom said, PVCC is one of the most supportive colleges in the state for the Great Expectations program. PVCC student Kiara Miller has been in the program for more than five years and has gained much from the program. She said, It has helped me with my college expenses, but most importantly with my educational growth. Most importantly, Groom also wants the office to be a place for individuals looking for a starting point, a place of acceptance that gives hope. Shelly Baker also works in the office, as do other student workers. Groom said, As a professional, vulnerability and figuring out the whole picture, is about getting deep and not superficial. Photography Courtesy of PVCCs Great Expectations Program Page 9 The Tempest Strikes PVCC All Photography by Tucker Poe shadow play, in the cramped confines of the Black Box pulls the audience into the performance by putting them within arms reach of the actors. Having a theatre program that, is in wonderful shape with several dedicated students who have been returning to do many shows, as Stoller said, is vital for the success of students with a passion for acting. Jennie Bottas, playing Miranda, the leading female role, said, I've been acting here and there since I was three. I definitely want to continue doing theater for the Tucker Poe, Staff Writer Believed to have been written and first performed over 400 years ago, The Tempest is playing at PVCC on March 31, April 1 and 2. The cast of 18 includes students from PVCC and members of the local community who will be performing an inspired take on Shakespeares classic. Adjunct Coordinator of Theatre Productions and director of this springs play Brad Stoller said, I have always wanted to direct this show after a one man Tempest I saw 30 years ago that used shadows inventively and has always stayed with me as a wonderful way to explore the nature of illusion. The pageantry of the show with its Page 10 rest of my life. It started off as a hobby, but has grown into a true passion of mine. Four-hundred years is a long time for a play to be performed and it has given people a lot of time to interpret and criticize The Tempest. From colonial to feminist implications the play has sparked discussion for centuries. I feel that theatre is the best medium to approach issues that are so difficult to discuss about our human condition, specifically the nature of reality. Theatre has the ability to transcend the ordinary perceptions of morality, ethics, religion, identity etc, with movement of time and space as well as a fluidity of interactions between characters, Stoller said. With a cast that Bottas described as full of talent, PVCCs The Tempest is an innovatively entertaining look at one of Shakespeares classics. Stoller said, I hope that the students here can take advantage of this opportunity to see this production, they will regret it I guarantee it if they miss it. It's a fast paced, under one and half hours, show full of dance, song and spectacle of shadows and projections. Page 11 PVCC Celebrates Pi Day with Pie Owen Krug, Staff Writer Albert Einstein is far more than just a name, it is an adjective. To be called Einstein is synonymous with intelligence. He was so brilliant and so dedicated to his craft that his name alone designates genius. Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany, and died thousands of miles away on April 18, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey. Many years before his birth, a striking relationship Math instructor Justin Storer within the mimics a famous Einstein picture circle was found that would influence mathematics forever. While the exact person is unclear, a discovery was made determining that the ratio between a circle's circumference and diameter is constant. The ratio is called Pi, and its numerical value can be rounded to 3.1415, although it continues far beyond those few numbers. This universal law not only showed the relationship of diameter and circumference, but eventually, a more obscure relationship with the modern-day godfather of mathematics. Whether it was by chance or mathematical destiny, Einsteins birth date, 3/14, directly corresponds to Pis numerical value of 3.14. It is a correlation PVCCs math club, Mu Alpha Theta, did not overlook. Diane Valade is an assistant professor of Mathematics at PVCC and was heavily involved with the idea, formation, and execution of PVCCs second-ever Pi Day. In keeping with the idea of Pi, not only was the day dedicated to the number 3.14, but also to the more tangible translation, food. Upon arriving at the event attendees could make a number of decisions, one being to discuss math and enjoy the company of fellow mathematicians, another to eat a delicious piece of pie, and finally to poke their heads through a cardboard cutout of Albert Einstein and snap a picture. There were no worries of attack when exposing your head through the cardboard. While there was ample amount of pie, Valade reflected on the decision to leave the pastries in students stomachs and not on their faces, saying, No, we did not do pies in the face; we talked about it, but we did not do pies in the face. This years Pi Day was a great success and well-received; however, last years event held even more mathematical significance. On 3/14/15, Valade said, We didnt get three digits of pie. We got five digits of pie last year, so it was really cool. In the end, what is Pi day all about? Beyond the tasty treats, the artistic cutouts, and the mathematical relationships, Valade feels Pi day serves a special purpose: The goal wasnt [to make money], we ended up making $34, we were just having fun with math; it's Pi day. Lets celebrate Einsteins birthday. Associate Professor Wendi Dass takes a turn as Einstein. Photography courtesy of PVCC math department Page 12 Review: Lotus at the Jefferson Ryan Winkler, Staff Writer The unique band Lotus visited the Jefferson Theater February 9. Having performed as a single act for about 15 years, Lotus has proved to be an excellent example of self described jamtronica. As a true crossover band, Lotus craftily blends the genres of jam band music and electronica. Lotus is not a new act to come around town but is indeed an appreciated and popular one that always draws a large and vibrant crowd. As a band that appeals to both fans of electronic music as well those who appreciate the jam band scene, Lotus often finds themselves at festivals or concerts either as the only band or artist performing live with instruments, or completely surrounded by instrument laden musical acts. For instance, in the same year they played All Good music festival, which is almost strictly non electronic music, they also played Ultra, which is electronic dance music. They play festivals with thousands of attendees, as well as more intimate venues such as the Jefferson Theater, which has a capacity of 750 people. This versatility adds to their allure as an act. At one of their shows, it is not difficult to find someone who has something positive to say about their performance. Live music fan and Charlottesville resident Alex McGrady said, This is my third time seeing Lotus live, and its always a good time. I appreciate their instrumentation and musicianship, as well as their proficiency at music production. Im not a huge fan of electronic music, but I can definitely get down to Lotus in concert, because they always rock out and put on a great show. A great thing about seeing Lotus is experiencing the work they put in on their track production. Jesse Miller, the bassist for the band, is also the sampler, meaning he operates his soundboard with pre-recorded and mixed tracks while playing along on his bass with the band, making for an intriguing experience. Another Lotus fan and Charlottesville resident Scotty Floyd said, The show was fantastic. The light show is crazy, and it is especially impressive how the bassist includes tons of samples and tracks along with the live band playing. Review: Yearbook Tacos Burritos Morgan Barr, Staff Writer Thursday night before the big snow storm, Yearbook Taco was quiet, with a few dimly lit booths full of patrons and an empty bar. The atmosphere was casual and seat yourself with menus and cutlery in a caddy on the table, but wait staff was prompt to greet guests and take drink orders. Yearbook Tacos prices were all reasonable, even for those watching their wallet. The restaurant is a good way to skip the fast food and grab some good eats with friends after class. One taco is $4, three tacos are $11 and a burrito is $9, making them slightly pricier than Chipotle. My burrito arrived shortly after ordering. It looked so beautiful and delicious I completely forgot to take an artistic picture of it for Instagram; I was ready to dig in. It was large, certainly bigger than a Chipotle burrito, making the price seem more appropriate. The burrito was served on a slider with a metal plate that liked to slip around every time I tried to cut into my burrito. A standard plate would have been a better choice for the king-sized meal. My frustration over the poor choice in platter was lessened by the wonderful taste. When it first arrived I only planned to eat half; however, it was so good my plate was bare before I knew it. Located on the ice rink side of the Downtown Mall, parking can be an issue, but it is definitely worth the trouble. Seating for larger parties could also prove troublesome, as the restaurant is lined with only four-person booths and one larger table towards the back. It is a good place for a small gathering as they will split the check up to four ways. Bottom line, Yearbook Taco is a fantastic place to hang out and get food for a small check. Page 13 Winters Ruin: The March of Metal Madness Joe Fowler, Staff Writer After weeks of research into the events leading up to the chaos of 2016, I needed a break from the intensity of modern life. On March 25, I entered the Ante Room in downtown Charlottesville for Winters Ruin Metal Fest. Winters Ruin featured eight bands and several hours of heavy metal music. I arrived halfway through an instrumental performance by Charlottesvilles Lamaze... I lost myself in the music. So began the ride. Shredding guitar riffs, bass grooves, percussion precision and vocals serving as the combined voice for generations of defiant outcasts filled the Ante Room well past the midnight hour. Just outside the doors, a wide variety of people stood talking about a variety of subjects from politics to life as restaurant employees. The various forms of shaming Photography by Joe Fowler found beyond this haven ceased to exist. Members of the crowd made friends for life with perfect strangers without having to remember a single name. People engaging in a plethora of lifestyles gathered under one common flag. Back inside the venue, one act followed another with none seeming to have any desire to outdo the other. There was equality in what some would consider a sea of chaos. I stood in the back of the venue, losing myself in the music as much as I could. Five sets in, I realized I needed to get some work done. I clipped my press pass onto my hoodie and pulled a notepad from the pocket of my camouflage cargo shorts. Having transformed into seasoned truthseeker and chaos junkie extraordinaire, Joe Fowler, I went out in search of an interview. The guitarist for the psychedelic doom metal trio, Heavy Temple, was to the left of me. I approached Archbishop Barghest who seemed to be enjoying refreshments from the bar at a decent pace. After introducing myself, I went after the most important facts I could possibly think to ask about. How drunk are you? I asked. Barghest responded that on a scale of one to ten, he was at a six. I spoke with Barghest for several minutes, before bassist and singer, High Priestess Nighthawk joined us. After talking for several minutes, the three of us walked outside to talk shop about metal music and anything else that came to mind. Drummer, Siren Tempestas, joined us a little while later. Nighthawk spent much time talking about heavy metal, as its own mainstream. In the 46 years since Black Sabbath released their selftitled debut, her point has become increasingly more difficult to argue against. I went with it. The four of us continued talking for about an hour, the details of which can be found on piedmontforum.com. One of the most passionate points we discussed was the reputation metal heads unfairly get based on stereotypes. I could hardly debate against the existence of the many misconceptions associated with metal heads. However, the members of Heavy Temple provided an extremely common counterpoint to those stereotypes. Barghest holds a degree in physics. Nighthawk favors classical music and ranks Tchaikovsky as one of the top inspirations for her music. Tempestas identifies her taste in music as eclectic. She plays a variety of instruments including drums, trumpet and saxophone. The scene at the Ante Room on March, 25, 2015 provide fulfilling and fascinating fun for many, both inside the venue as performers and fans, and outside in the spring air as a community. Page 14 Starlings, Cats, and Wiregrass Kaitlyn Duvalois, Staff Writer The room was full to the point where no seats were available, fans were anxiously awaiting their new favorite authors to read excerpts from their most recent works, and he authors looked somewhat nervous. On Friday, March 18, three authors, Nine de Garmont, Ed Tarkington, and Pam Webber, gathered for a Virginia Festival of the Book. Im sorry if I sound dramatic. Im sort of nervous says de Gramont as she reads the first chapter of her new book, The Last September. De Gramont is from North Carolina and is a professor at UNC Wilmington. The excerpt from The Last September was chilling, however it was almost addictive. De Gramont has also written Gossip of the Starlings, and Of Cats and Men: Stories. Ed Tarkington is the author of Only Love Can Break Your Heart. This is Tarkingtons first novel and it even includes little glimpses of Charlottesville. Only Love Can Break Your Heart is comical, but its a rather mature comical. It has somewhat of a Southern charm to it. Pam Webbers novel The W iregrass has been compared to works of the late Harper Lee. The Wiregrass is filled with humor and the excerpt that Webber read made everyone in the room laugh. The Wiregrass felt how coming of age books should feel. This is Webbers first novel, however she has also co-authored three editions of nursing textbooks. Finding God in All the Wrong Places Tucker Poe, Staff Writer of how an intern at her church convinced her that she needed to address this in her sermon that At the Virginia Festival of the Book, in an Sunday. Ok, but I want to register my objection auditorium at Newcomb Hall, every possible seat to Gods grace, she said. was taken. A number of attendees sat right on the Bolz-Webers first book is called Pastrix: The stage. All came to hear Nadia Bolz-Weber; a Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint. Read tattooed, recovering, Lutheran Pastrix, the the Spirits web site defines the word pastrix as, founding pastor at House term used by certain for All Sinners and Saints unimaginative sections of the in Denver, Colorado, help church to describe emergent them find God in all the female pastors, a term she wrong people. has not shied away from. Bolz-Weber has The honesty she is published two books and regarded for was apparent developed a strong during her question and following. She said, answer. Overflow seating led to attendees sitting People wait in line to say I hope one day I can go on stage at VA Festival of the Book thanks for not lying. How Event. through a yoga class without Photography by Tucker Poe high is the fucking bar? getting angry, she said. Bolz-Weber gave a Your PC language doesnt sincere talk about having change the fact your great-great granddad was to speak to her congregation in December of 2012 raping his slaves. shortly after the Newtown school shooting and When asked about how to talk about Donald her slow realization that even, as she said, this Trump and his current political rise, she said she horrible person Adam Lanza deserves to be looks for, where is the thing I hate about Donald remembered as a child of God. She told the story Trump in me? Page 15 A Jumping Headache Tucker Poe, Staff Writer As you walk into Jump Charlottesville, you hear the screams of little children and prepubescent boys. A room full of trampolines, a kid's dream come true, but there is a sinister side to all of the fun. Twenty-two trampoline-related deaths occurred between 2000 and 2009, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. All the over protectiveness of modern society will evaporate as soon as you enter this timelocked temple. Not only is dodgeball, a game that infowars.com says one New Hampshire school BANNED, allowed, it is played on trampolines and has its own blocked off area just for slinging balls at anybody. You may think that these dodgeball battles are six-on-six melees of six years olds, six a side with six balls a piece. But the sad reality is, that all too often some over sized man child ends up popping some six year old in the head. But do not get hung up on that. We have larger issues in mind. If you choose to purchase your ticket on the jumpcville.com website, you will be presented with, Please note: Children two years and younger are free with adult ticket purchase. They will however still require a waiver. We are just barely being able to understand Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) effects on the brain or how it is caused, but two year olds and children even younger jumping on trampolines, shaking up their little brains will in no way protect them from what appears to be a crippling disease. I know it seems bad, but if you add in the wild 13-year-olds, or the drunk 18-yearolds running in like bulls in a china shop with a crew to match, it only gets worse. These trampoline factories are advertised to children, to teens, to college students and they are all allowed free range indiscriminately. I know that I can look back and see my terrible 12-year-old self coming in hot and taking out someone's baby and having irreversible consequences. Working it Out in PVCCs Fitness Center Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer Feeling anxious about a test? Need to work off some stress? For anyone who needs to vent some energy, head down to Room 179 and 180, the fitness center for Piedmont Virginia Community College. At the fitness center, students are able to put in a healthy workout, strengthening their bodies through various exercises. The cardio equipment is located in Room 179. There are various sorts of machines to workout on, such as treadmills, cycles, ellipticals, and recumbents, which are similar to cycles, only the user sits in a reclined position while working out. Room 179 also has a rower and a Stairmaster, however, there is only one of each, so sharing is recommended. All cardio machines are quite advanced. Room 180 is generally used for weightlifting, with over half a dozen machines designed to strengthen various muscles in the human body. Room 180 is also equipped with various weights, and padded benches to lie down on while lifting. The fitness center is also stocked with exercise and medicine balls, and rubber cables for stretching. There are also moist wipes for sanitizing the exercise machines. Its always important to clean up after yourself. A fitness room, when given some thought, is actually a very useful place for a school. The physical body being strong and healthy is going to enhance the students ability and the professors ability to teach, says fitness instructor Carol Rogers, Because we know that physical fitness leads to better and clearer thinking, and a strong, physical, body. And a healthy body leads to better aptitude in core subjects. Page 16 Making PVCC SAFE Tucker Poe, Staff Writer PVCC has taken steps to ensure a safe and healthy campus community. PVCC SAFE is a program that provides students with services ranging from access to mental health and crisis counseling to establishing a clear medium to report sexual misconduct, assault, harassment, or stalking to the school. In big bold letters on the PVCC SAFE website it says, See something? Say something. PVCC SAFE is committed to fostering a community that protects each other. One of the first links you will find if you are on the PVCC SAFE home page is a link to the smoothly named Incident Reporting Form. This form has a slew of possible grievances you can choose from. Questions of academic integrity, misconduct, issues involving title IX, automobile accidents, and more can be reported through the Incident Reporting Form. If you cannot find the right incident for you, no fear, there is plenty of space to write your own narrative. At the end of the report you can choose among thirteen copy recipients which include deans, vice presidents, counselors, and others in a position of authority within the school. Half way down the homepage it reads, Attention New Students. All new students are required to view Not A nymore. This is a program designed to increase awareness and education of sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and bystander intervention. Being a new student, I had never heard of such a video and questioned how many new students had ever heard of it. Let Career Services Work for You Kaitlyn Duvalois, Staff Writer Virginia, and his MBA at Regent University. He enjoys people and likes to watch students Picking a path in life is difficult, confusing, achieve their goals when it comes to job seeking. and ultimately terrifying. One day you are sitting Luck has a background in human resources, in your high school chemistry class, fast forward which makes working in career services a great fit two years, and you are expected to pick a for him. program of study. However do not fret. Here at For the last 32 years, Piedmont has held an Piedmont, they provide career service assistance. annual job fair with local business that are Career services is the answer to all of your looking for possible new confusing, futureemployment. This is a related prayers. They great way for students to help with all sorts of network with people from things, such as writing around the area. Luck a resume or helping said, It takes a village to students set up prepare for the job fair. interviews for There is a lot of potential jobs. They coordination that goes on, also help one choose a and a ton of pre-planning Photography by Kaitlyn Duvalois possible college major with returning employers if you are about to and new ones. transfer to a four-year school. This years 32 Annual Job Fair was held on Andre Luck is the career services coordinator; March 23, in Piedmonts Main Building from 10 basically, he helps students figure out what they a.m. to 2 p.m. Lucks advice to students who are want to do with their lives. Luck earned his looking for a career path, is to do your research bachelors in psychology at the University of and have a plan. nd Page 17 Who is Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin? Haan DuVerney, Staff Writer Putin on the Fritz, a lecture by Dr. Rachel Stauffer of Ferrum College, gave PVCC students the opportunity Rachel Stauffer and to Kristine Swanson Photography by Haan DuVerney understand the current and past relations between the U.S. and the Russian Federation. Dr. Stauffer also took an in-depth look into the perception of Vladimir Putin by Russian citizens, and by his critics in the west. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born October 7, 1952 in Leningrad, now modern-day St. Petersburg. It would seem that from the very beginning he would be destined to be a powerful individual. In Russian, the name Vladimir means universal ruler, and the Put in Putin translates to the right path. Dr. Stauffer went on to explain that unlike most leaders of other nations, Putin takes on the role of a national celebrity. His entourage includes oil tycoons from Gazprom and Rosneft as well as music artists like the top Russian rapper Timati. Dr. Stauffer highlighted that in Russian culture, great leaders are immortalized. Catherine the Great, Stalin and Lenin are among many who inspire the Russian people. So, what kind of man is Putin exactly? An avid sportsman, Putin participated in a hockey match with his cabinet comrades for his 63rd birthday; they played against former NHL All-Stars. Putin scored 7 of his teams 15 goals in the match. In addition to hockey, Putin is known for his love of the outdoors and hunting wild game. Shirtless photos of Putin grasping a hunting rifle in search of game, or riding horseback -- again shirtless - with a knife at his side, evokes imagery consistent with that of a superhero. Dr. Stauffer delved into the history of the importance of a leaders image to those living in the Russian state. Athletics and fitness seem to be high on the list of priorities for Putins day to day activities. From an early age, young Vladimir began to practice sambo and judo martial arts. Many photos and videos have circulated of Putin taking down his opponent using moves learned in those sports. It is a powerful gesture, one that presents him as a strong individual who the people will naturally follow. However, a competitive attitude while playing a sport is different to authorizing acts of aggression. Putins recent intervention in the Crimea raise questions to this figures leadership. The lecture also highlighted some of Putins more controversial relationships with other world leaders, namely Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. In recent years, Putin has made questionable interventions in various eastern European states, in particular the Ukraine; leading to economic sanctions from both the EU and the United States. This puts pressure on the Russian economy, however in the long run it strains relations between western nations and Russia as we attempt to work together in the global community. Thanks to the research of journalists, and academics like Dr. Stauffer, pertinent information on the enigmatic figure of Vladimir Putin is accessible for those who keep an eye on issues in the international community. Such information will likely present itself to be useful in interpreting these events as they unfold in the coming weeks and months ahead. This knowledge and the process in which it is obtained enable readers to learn how to perceive and interpret international news. Page 18 Riddles Brennan Tanner, Staff Writer A golden sunburst, Green lances thrust from the ground, Swaying in the breeze. A single crocus, In a stretch of fresh green grass, After the snow melts. A spring symphony, A song of celebration, Always from above. Pink, white, and cream, Their heady scent fills the air, A moment of peace. Sadly their lives pass so swift, Leaving just a memory. A castle for birds, With its numerous towers, To hold their bowers. Black in winter, green in spring, Tis from these the birds do sing. Find out the answers on PiedmontForum.com Comic by Andie Meddaugh Page 19 Classifieds FosterWalk 2016 Help build safer, stronger communities by walking with us in our Piedmont Region FosterWalk! EVENT DATE: May 14, 2016 DONATAION DEADLINE: May 31, 2016 Location: CATEC; 1000 Rio Rd E, Charlottesville To learn more about the walk, how to register or donate online, you can visit our Crowdrise site here: www.crowdrise.com/PIEDMONTVAFOSTERWALK Know of any Community Events, Announcements, or Advertisements youd like to list? Contribute and Submit to Contact us at theforum@pvcc.edu for more information or visit our website : www.piedmontforum.com Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Managing Editor Elise Hansen Assistant Editor Antonia Florence Staff Writers/Copyeditors Morgan Barr Cynthia Beasley Annette Cashatt Joe Chafetz Riley Clark Kaitlyn Duvalois Haan DuVerney Antonia Florence Joe Fowler Elise Hansen Sam Jefferson Hamed Karama Owen Krug Tucker Poe Brennan Tanner Darien Tinsley Kellyn Torres Arif Michael Vega Ryan Winkler Comic Artist Andie Meddaugh Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com Piedmont Virginia Community College March 2016 PVCCs Hidden Gem: The Giuseppe Center Antonia Florence, Assistant Editor Set against the Blue Ridge Mountains and above Greene Countys branch of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library lies PVCCs hidden gem. The Eugene Giuseppe Center is located in Stanardsville, Greene County, and first opened its doors for classes in August 2012. PVCCs main campus is generally thought by many to encompass the college in its entirety, but this leaves its two satellites well-kept secrets. The Giuseppe Center in Greene County and The Jefferson School Center in downtown Charlottesville are little-known but worthwhile extensions of PVCC. The Giuseppe Center offers many of the same services that are offered on the main campus. Many classes are taught in the traditional manner with the instructor present; however, remote instruction and online options are also available. Its close proximity to the county high school makes it ideal for dual enrollment students, and the Guaranteed Admission Agreement between PVCC and Old Dominion University Check out our tips for transfer students on page 6! allows students to earn a bachelor's degree without ever leaving Greene County. There is even an academic advisor present on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The centers 14,000 square feet of well-thought-out space fills many needs: five state-ofthe-art classrooms that are completely web-delivery equipped, a fully-developed computer classroom, instructional lab space, and a proctored testing center. See Giuseppe Center on page 4 In This Issue Students enjoy BSA event, see p. 9. Photography by Kellyn Torres PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Lockdown -pg. 5 Textbook Cost -pgs. 12-13 Art news PVCC Profile -pg. 18 Classifieds -pg.20 -pgs. 16-17 DATES TO REMEMBER From the Editor Elise Hansen, Editor Spring Break Feb 29-Mar 4 Richmond Ballet ^ March 2, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium SGA Faculty and Staff Appreciation Event March 9 VCCS Veterans Demonstration Project March 15, 3:15-7 p.m. Womens History Month Talk: American Womens Legal History at 3 Key Moments * March 16, 12-1 p.m., Main Building M229 Free Move Friday: Carol * March 18, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium PVCC 32nd Annual Job Fair March 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Main Building Fourth Fridays Improv * March 25, 6-8 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Positive Action Conference * March 25 to March 26 William & Mary Middle Eastern Music Ensemble^ March 26 7:30 p.m. Last day to drop a course with a grade of W March 28 Putin on the Frtiz * March 30, 12-1 p.m., Main Building M229 Health and Happiness in Tibetan Medicine* March 31, 12-1 p.m., Main Building M229 The Tempest ^ March 21-April 2, 7:30 p.m., April 2, 2:30 p.m. Dickinson Building, Maxwell Theater International Foods Festival April 6, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Mall Meeting Room PVCC Talent Show * April 8, 6-8 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available Federal policies affect our everyday lives. Often what goes on in Washington feels outside our control: politicians make deals behind closed doors, compromise on policies we feel strongly about, or hold firm but legislation passes anyway. It is easy to feel powerless, but remember, we are powerful. We the people, the first words of the U.S. Constitution, allow us to choose our politicians; we have the right to make our voices heard about the policies that affect us. The U.S. political system is complicated. It is a labyrinth of caucuses, primaries, debates, Super Tuesdays, and political conventions. Educate yourself: know when to vote, where to vote and how to vote. Know what each candidate stands for so your vote reflects your beliefs, not the person whose voice you have heard the most in media outlets. PVCCs political science and journalism students have created a Virginia voter guide with highlights of candidates platforms on key issues. Read it; learn it. Voting is significant; not voting is also significant. As David Foster Wallace, covering John McCains 2000 campaign for Rolling Stone, bluntly put it, By all means stay home if you want, but dont bullshit yourself that youre not voting. In reality there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehards vote. If you do not vote, you are boosting the other side, whoever the other side may be for you. Not everyone residing in the United States can vote. Remember, voting is a U.S. citizens right, but it is also a privilege. Do not take it for granted, and do not let your opportunity to affect the course of this nation pass you by. Page 2 Student Government Association News My name is Caleb Russell, and I am currently serving as the Director of Events for PVCCs Student Government Association (SGA). My job as the director of events is to lead and manage the Events Department, which organizes and runs SGA-hosted social events across the campus and the community. In doing this, I work in collaboration with the SGA Executive Board, SGA General Body, and the College Administration throughout the semester in planning and hosting student focused activities. This past semester, we sponsored a Halloweenthemed Casino Night where students were able to participate in a costume contest, raffle, and mock gambling. We also managed to host a Welcome Back Social for students, a Night Student Appreciation table, and a cosponsored Power Hour with the Mary Baldwin College on Campus. If you werent able to make it to any of these events, fear not! We have several events coming up this semester that we are very excited about. SGA Director of Events Caleb Russell We will be hosting PVCCs first ever Talent Show this spring, April 8, in the Dickinson main theater. We are currently accepting auditions and would love to have you participate! Dates to remember: March 9 Staff and faculty appreciation April 8 Talent show April 18 Ping pong tournament semifinals April 20 Ping pong tournament finals in the Bolick center. April 20 Spring Fling April 28-May 5 Student night appreciation tables Be on the lookout for flyers for these events throughout the school, and if you have any questions, suggestions, or would like more information, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Caleb Russell PVCC SGA | Director of Events Cmr2171@email.vccs.edu Page 3 Giuseppe Center, Continued from page 1 In addition to a reception area filled with caring, helpful staff, there is a huge student lounge equipped with comfortable seating, worktables, computers, and a small vending area. Available for rental to the general public is a 250-person capacity community room with a catering kitchen and a meeting room. It did not take long for the Giuseppe Center to come to fruition. During the summer of 2010, the Greene County Board of Supervisors offered PVCC use of the unfinished second floor of the countys library. It was up to the college to raise the necessary funds to finish out the space and furnish all of its educational necessities. Within a year, nearly 100 major donors and many other donors contributed approximately $1 million to make PVCC a reality in Greene County. This generosity allowed construction to begin in December of the following year. According to a PVCC news release dated March 7, 2012, Mrs. Giuseppes $500,000 gift was recognized by naming the facility after her Photography by Antonia Florence Photography by Antonia Florence late husband to honor his legacy. Mr. Giuseppe died in 2006 and was a lifelong champion of education serving the Greene County school system in many capacities. Mrs. Giuseppe stated, "My husband, Eugene Giuseppe, believed that education was the path to success-to being able to lead a meaningful and productive life," Mrs. Giuseppe further wrote, "As a school principal and coach, he devoted his life to working with young people.This center in his name ensures that those who wish to pursue a college degree will have the opportunity right here in Greene County." It is through the generosity of citizens, the dedication of the Greene County Supervisors and the areas taxpayers that PVCC now leases the building from Greene County for $1 per year. If you are in the area, take time to explore this treasure. You do not need to take classes in this building to use its facilities. If you are a student at PVCC, you are welcome to use its computers, make copies of assignments and study in its lounge. Page 4 How solidarity can change PVCC Joseph Fowler, Staff Writer PVCC Police conducted two lockdown drills on Jan. 21. The main purpose of the drills were to test emergency notifications systems and to evaluate if students and faculty followed directions. This is the first of many things we are trying to do to make this campus safer for everyone, Campus Police Chief Chris Wyatt said the day before the drills. The schools PA system was of particular concern to Wyatt. After the drills, he said that the PA system remained a problem. Another area of concern involved the E2Campus system, which sends texts to students and faculty who sign up. For some, the system worked fine. Many, however, reported a delay in receiving notification of the drill, according to Wyatt. The school worked on the PA system between the two drills. Though the school was able to improve the systems performance by the second drill, Wyatt said there was room for improvement. The college plans to fix the PA system and conduct weekly tests in the future. In an email after the drills, PVCC Vice President Kim McManus summarized some of the feedback from faculty and staff regarding the drill, particularly the PA system problems: An overwhelming majority of feedback was in regard to the inability to hear and/or understand the PA system. We are working to immediately rectify the situation. Technical and process adjustments have been made. Tests of the PA system later on the same week showed improvement, according to McManus. Many of the faculty voiced concerns over the lack of follow up by authorities after the drill in order to insure that everyone in the school knew the drill was over, McManus said. We will be sure to have the appropriate authorities positioned in various areas for future drills, he said. One area of the drill worked better than expected; the coordination faculty and students showed in following safety instructions was superb. I couldnt ask for more, Wyatt said, while also mentioning the positive feedback from students in regards to the drill. It is easier to fix notification systems than campus solidarity, he said. The focus of lockdown procedures shifted from less serious drills to the legitimate need for them. The term unthinkable often comes up in regards to school shootings. This term is now inaccurate with America averaging over one mass shooting per day in 2015. Though it remains unlikely that PVCC will ever see a mass shooting on campus, any possibility is still a possibility. On the subject of mass shootings, Arif Vega, a writer and photographer for The Forum described his experience during the second drill as being somewhat eerie: I was in a corner in the dark theater with light coming in under the door, thinking about school shootings. Wyatt discussed the matter of school shootings openly, often referring to the saying, Run; Hide; Fight. He also provided a link to an informational video on how to survive an active shooter. Though he did not endorse killing a shooter, if in the position to disarm one, Wyatt said to use as much force as necessary, which brought into question the rights of students who have lost certain rights, such as the right to bear arms, as a result of past crimes. The question at hand involved the possibility of a convicted felon disarming a shooter and possibly wielding the shooters weapon in an effort to neutralize the threat. No probation officer would issue a warrant for the violation of the a felons probation for an action taken in selfdefense and the defense of others in a situation like that, Wyatt said. The two lockdown drills on Jan. 21 made a couple of problems apparent. That was one of the purposes of the drills. Despite that fact, the students and faculty can take peace in the fact that they all have one anothers best interests at heart. Solidarity saves lives. Our safety is everyones responsibility, Wyatt said. Everyone who took part in the drills seemed to agree. Page 5 The Puzzling College Application Process Owen Krug, Staff Writer The wave of regular applications is over and the transfer students are close to follow. During the next three months colleges and universities will be veraciously reading applications and determining who the next generation of students will be to represent their institutions. When the final words are typed and the applications are submitted there can be a strong sense of relief, followed by an even stronger anxiety. Once that application is sent, the applicant has done all they can, and the decision is in the hands of the school. Every student wants to be as competitive as possible and as attractive to the school as possible; however, are transfer students at a disadvantage from the moment they submit their applications? Colleges are continuing to see an increase in applicants. A 2014 survey done by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, determined that during 10 of the past 15 years, colleges have reported a 70 percent increase in student applicants. Given the increase, colleges are recognizing the changing body of undergraduate admissions. Many institutions are now reaching out beyond the usual pool of students and finding ways to develop relationships with community college transfer students. In a 2013 NACAC survey, 80 percent of colleges reported community college partnerships. Seventy percent of colleges reported attending recruitment events on community college campuses and only two percent expected recruitment of community college applicants to become less important, while 58 percent expect an increase in recruiting efforts over the next five years. The bottom line is that colleges are looking for transfer students. However, being a community college student surrounded by college applicants working towards the same goal can be overwhelming. The question on many students minds is, How can I stand out from the rest? The NACAC has continued to report that grades and the academic rigor of a students courses are the most important factors in the admission process. Standardized test scores, high school class rank, and the applicants demonstrated interest in attending the school follow. Knowing the statistics and understanding what colleges claim to be the most important factors, can only take one so far. In the end, students need resources to help them navigate this incredibly difficult and complicated process. At PVCC there are two academic advisors whose roles are specifically oriented towards transfer advising. Kemper Steele is the transfer advisor associated with UVA, and Kristen Greer is the other advisor who experienced the process first hand when she transferred from PVCC to UVA to earn her bachelors degree. They are available for all enrolled students and can help with many of the anxieties and questions a transfer student may have. Greer said, I think the biggest thing with students is when they come in, you dont necessarily have to have a plan, but an end game, knowing you want a bachelors degree, of course, or if you have a major we can help you with that. If you are unsure, being willing to come talk to someone, to figure out, maybe you know what the right school might be; what the best fit is. Communication is key. An application is often very impersonal and may not give the school an accurate understanding of who their applicants are. Effective communication can show the school that the applicant is more than a name on a piece of paper. They are a person, and better yet, someone who has actively taken the time to reach out and show an interest in the school they wish to attend. To Greer, being happy is the number one goal for a student making their decision. Greer strongly advised visiting the school one is applying to, rather than making a decision based on its website or application. Greer said, Visiting is huge; no one visits. I think it is really important to go there not just on spring break, not just over winter break or over the summer; you have to go when class is in session. If you go to Tech for a day, what does being around more than 30 thousand students feel like. Thats very different than Piedmont. Page 6 PVCC Learns the History of Gospel Joe Chafetz, Staff Writer It was 7:25 p.m. on a Saturday night, and the line was out the door of Dickinson and then some. Groups of music fans and life-long learners chatted while waiting for their tickets to be collected. The crowd shuffled into and eventually packed the auditorium. It was a full house. Despite the variety of people attending, there was an atmosphere of familiarity and shared interest. The house lights dimmed and the crowd erupted into applause as Horace Scruggs and his band took the stage. Were gonna talk tonight about the history of gospel, said Scruggs, as the band took up their positions, and it might not be as straight and narrow as you may think. The band - with Scruggs on the piano - played an upbeat tune, Oh Happy Day! Scruggs then went on to give a half-hour presentation on the evolution of the genre. The lecture covered everyone from Sam Cooke to Big Mama Thornton and explained how over time Gospel came to be influenced by the contemporary music surrounding it. Despite some technical difficulties, Scruggs had members of the audience clapping along, singing, and even, at points, dancing. In one video demonstrating the difference between sacred and secular blues, a group of women performed a choreography that could have been taken straight from a modern music video. Hey, I guess we know where Beyonc got her moves from, Scruggs joked. After concluding the lecture, Scruggs and the band performed several more pieces including a South African piece called Siam. The audience received the music with an air of newfound appreciation. I hope people come away from this with an idea of the living history of Gospel. Its one thing to study the history, but to hear the music youre studying live is just a different experience. Im also trying to break down some of the stereotypes people may have about Gospel. Theres this idea that Gospel has sort of always been on the straight and narrow, and thats not true. Gospel, like any other genre, has influenced and been influenced by the music around it, said Scruggs. Horace Scruggs is a music teacher in Fluvanna County and a professor of Jazz history and piano at PVCC. Faculty Holds Recital on Another Note Antonia Florence, Assistant Editor Between relentless rain other events going on in the area, overcrowded seating was not an issue for PVCCs Faculty Recital on February 21. However, the performers did not disappoint. The afternoon began with Ruth Ann Bishop and Melody Day, both sopranos. They sang duets to English composer Henry Purcells Sound the Trumpet and Lost is My Quiet For Ever. Gina Tuck accompanied them on piano. A medley of German lieders followed from the Bishop and Gina Tuck duo. Lieders characteristically are of poetic text and performed as a collaboration of voice and piano, with both equally robust and playful. Bishop came to life on the first selection, Heidenroslein, as Tuck commanded the keyboard. Six Songs, a selection of Norwegian composer Edvard Griegs work, was a collaboration of Kay Bethea on the piano and David Wilson on the saxophone. Day and Tuck returned for two arias from Susannah by American opera composer Carlisle Floyd, Aint it a Pretty Night? and Trees on the Mountains Are Cold and Bare. The program concluded with three preludes of George Gershwin. These were arranged by Gregory Stone for four hands, a duet played on one key board. Bishop, this time on piano, and Bethea looked like they were having fun as they melded their talent and produced a lively and full piece which lifted spirits for the walk outside into the rain. Page 7 PVCC Instructors Exhibit at Mcguffey Arif Michael Vega, Staff Writer Adjunct instructors Fenella Belle and Stacey Evans displayed collaborative work Feb. 5 at McGuffey Art Center. The monthly First Fridays in downtown Charlottesville was busy, with hundreds of visitors at a time. According to Belle, around 1,000 people visited the exhibit throughout the night. It is hard to say, but I did have to buy four cases of wine, she said. The exhibit, named Looplab (pling pling), included draperies, paintings and two interactive installations. One was moving photography, with participants encouraged to step into the projection with lab coats or large white cards. The participant was to observe small portions as a separate entity. The second interactive piece was a magnetic amalgamation of cut-up photographs by Stacey Evans. With this, participants were encouraged to rearrange the photos in any way they saw fit. Both have been on display at PVCC prior to their display at McGuffey. The projection was on display for Let There Be Light and the interactive magnetic sculpture in the West Gallery of the Dickinson Building. Looplab is an experiment in social feedback loops. The exhibits aims for the multiplication and expansion of participation, conversation and collaboration. Evans said, Its kind of circular. If someone steps into it, someone creates something, and it just kind of continues. In the projection piece, called Space Scrambler, participants stand in front of a projector and use large cards to examine smaller parts of the work. By holding the cards closer or farther away, the participant can zoom in and out on their view of the project. Its about pulling somebody in it to start to transform the space onto these different cards. And then understanding that the more they move in and out, the actual light falling on the card is changing in scale and color. If you distort it or change it, small changes impact the overall scene, said Stacey Evans. The collaboration for the exhibit began about a year ago when Nia Stoddard, a mutual friend, suggested it. The two had also been working together at PVCC for years and collaborated on a summer camp at McGuffey in the past. The exhibit is on display at through Feb. 28. Return of the volunteer club Arif Michael Vega, Staff Writer The PVCC Volunteer Club has been revived. Former adviser Kim Hoosiers close colleague, Dr. Todd Platts, volunteered as faculty adviser. After three preliminary meetings, officers were appointed, a budget submitted and three projects begun. Officers are Ashleigh Killiebrew, president; Yolanda Espinoza, vice president; Natalie Greene, treasurer; Arif Vega, secretary; and Asa Cohen, student government representative. A budget request of $1500 was submittted. Projects voted into action are a Super Smash Brothers tournament, which is a fundraising collaboration with the SSB club, an Easter event and HIV testing. Working with refugees is also a possibility, with research pending. Ongoing actions to increase participation was also identified as an important element of the clubs efforts. The volunteer club was disbanded for over a year. Several members continued the efforts through the winter with Santa Matters, a holiday party for the children of inmates of the regional jail. The club has a rich history with PVCC, organizing events such as the battle of the bands, Halloween and Easter events, coat drives, food drives, community outreach and awareness programs. They have also worked with several local organizations such as SARA, local food banks, the Environmental and Horticulture Club and Habitat for Humanity. Page 8 PVCC Celebrates Black History Month Hamed Karama, Staff Writer To honor Black History Month, the Black Student Alliance led a celebration of Black culture in the North Mall meeting room on Feb. 24. It included music, dancing and refreshments. From 12-2 p.m., students had the opportunity to drop by and enjoy poetry, lively swing and smooth jazz. With the help of Chef Ralph Brown, one of its leading members, the BSA provided food including chicken wings, pizza rolls and vegetable platters. The Cotton Club, as the event was called, focused on the Harlem Renaissance and celebrated the artists who rose to popularity in the 1920s. Poetry included selections from Langston Hughes. The intimacy of the small space in the North Mall meeting room was juxtaposed by the energy exuded from the dancers, and though it was a little dark, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves eating and chatting. Cameren Grooms, a member of the BSA and an organizer for the event said, The idea for the event came from the feeling that Black culture and history were not being celebrated enough. For Grooms, an Education major, Black History Month is about learning from the lessons of the past. He believes it is a time in which the sacrifices made by those before him are brought to the forefront of his mind. Grooms said it was a time for me to look at what people did to allow me to be where I am today. When asked which people in particular came to mind, Grooms mentioned Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Dr. King is most inspiring. Throughout the event, Grooms also discussed contemporary Black culture. People need to listen to what hes saying, not just what hes doing, Grooms said in reference to rapper Kendrick Lamar. Artists should be aware of their influential position and use it wisely, he added. As the event was winding down, Grooms pointed to the man who catered it, Chef Ralph Brown, to thank him for making the event a success. He also thanked the BSAs advisor, Dr. Wert, and all the students that stopped by. Its about having fun, said Grooms. With all the soulful sounds and even more soulful food, there was no shortage of fun. Cameren Grooms enjoying the music. Photography by Kellyn Torres Page 9 Reflections of the Oppressed Joe Fowler, Staff Writer Several seemingly hypnotized people swung, swayed, danced and played in the black room with florescent lights. Led by the random whims of their partners, the participants existed only for an outstretched hand no more than a foot from their faces. Tasked only to keep their faces level with their partners hand, attendees at the Theatre of the Oppressed workshop in the Black Box of the Dickinson building, engaged in a process of letting go and trusting. The basic aim of the Theatre of the Oppressed is to humanize Humanity, reads the first principle on the Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) website. Brad Stoller, coordinator of theater productions at PVCC, and drama therapist Mecca Burns accomplished just that when they hosted a TO workshop on Feb. 9. We try to show rather than tell," said Stoller regarding TO. Participating in the event provided a far more fulfilling experience than anything revealed by prior research. According to an announcement for the workshop on the PVCC website, TO was first developed in the 60s and consists of various theatrical practices designed to address social issues through acting while also incorporating audience participation. Both Stoller and Burns learned the techniques involved with TO directly from its founder, Augusto Boal. In a form of image theater, Stoller and Burns began a dialogue involving a conflict over work conditions. Stoller represented one party, Burns another, the party considered to be the oppressor. Two other participants represented the image of one party from the perspective of the other. The first phase of the exercise involved both Stoller and Burns whispering into the ears of their images. In a highly dramatic manner, a performer named Alexandra presented the concerns whispered by Stoller to the oppressor, a man who apparently did not wish to be bothered by what seemed to be petty and exaggerated complaints from Alexandra. Gradually, Burns and Stoller stepped away and let the images engage in their conflict. The exchange became more heated with each argument before Burns and Stoller stepped back in to whisper into the ears of their images. The tone gradually became less intense. The images stepped aside, leaving only Stoller and Burns. I wish we could hear each other, said Stoller, also adding that he thought Burns wished the same. I hear that, said Burns, concluding the demonstration. The activity humanized two opposing parties in the eyes of one another, while carrying a strong message regarding the often overlooked half of communication: listening. Stoller and Burns then broke the participants into groups of four to act out their own conflicts using the previous example. I found myself fifth in a group of four, an observer. An older woman named Lynn expressed her feelings over a breakup with a younger man. For the performance, Lynn perceived the younger man as a type of oppressor for taking her for granted. The exact form of oppression involved how society seems to cast aside older, wiser women for their younger counterparts. Alexandra, in a kind of repeat performance, served as Lynns image. A younger man, named Rob, acted as the offending party. A performer in various acting troupes with Stoller, Malik, played the role of Robs projection. The performance played out much the same as the prior example. In the last stage, Malik and Misty talked calmly to one another. Lynn eventually broke into tears. The other four of us waited and watched until Lynns tears ceased. We then received gratitude, hugs and a smile from Lynn. Burns then addressed the boundaries of TO. Was there a way to take things too far using projections as in the exercise? Is there protection in this liminal realm between real and make believe? she said. I had to let go more than I have in years while engaging as a participant in this workshop. I found it both fulfilling and safe. Page 10 Inside the Bernie Sanders Campaign Arif Michael Vega, Staff Writer Around 150 people gathered at Charlottesvilles City Space to coordinate the volunteer efforts to support the Bernie Sanders campaign. On Jan. 9, a room full of supporters sorted themselves by their location and availability to staff call centers. Dan Epstein, the Virginia coordinator, called for local leadership and about 20 people from across Virginia answered. Call centers were established for Luray, Staunton, and Nelson County, among other localities. The mood was light, with a host in Luray even promising to serve beer and wine in his effort to win supporters for Sanders. Volunteers were encouraged to bring a laptop to the call center of their choice, though the program allowed for two callers per computer. Volunteers were also encouraged to be polite with those supporting other candidates. We do not want to disparage other candidates, said Dan Epstein, the Virginia coordinator. Another difference with this campaign is that Virginians were calling Virginians, a practice Epstein labelled unconventional. Nic McCarthy, an area director for the campaign, hosted one call center held at the downtown Jefferson-Madison Regional Librarys McIntire Room on Jan. 18. Seven people chatted with citizens about the Sanders campaign. A script was provided, though generally not adhered to. The calling list, provided by the Democratic Party, included supporters of both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. In addition to providing volunteers with the contact information of potential supporters, the program also allowed volunteers to collect demographic information for future campaigns. A list of descriptions was attached to each phone number, with the operator prompted to enter information such as Did not answer, Do not call, Strongly Clinton and Undecided. Operators grew tired during long bouts of unanswered calls or brusque answers. Their energy was revitalized, however, every time a Photography by Arif Michael Vega caller had a good conversation or secured the promise of another volunteer. One operators voice grew excited, animating the others, and the pitch grew to a cacophony of one-line greetings: I am calling with the Bernie Sanders campaign and I am a volunteer with the Bernie Sanders campaign. A phone was set down, an announcement of the latest success was yelled out, and the cacophony ended with a cheer. After two hours, McCarthy left to pick up pizza. Operators broke and took ten minutes to eat, then promptly returned to calling. Volunteers calls reached a diverse audience. Some were volunteers for other campaigns. While others were staunch Sanders supporters. One woman insisted the operator not call her boyfriend anymore. Many of the calls were made at the traditional dinnertime, prompting complaints from some call recipients. According to McCarthy, over 10,000 calls were made in the first week of the phone banking drive alone. The Sanders campaign also hosted voter registration drives at UVA, registering around 20 new Virginia voters per hour. A team of volunteers traveled the state holding similar events. One follow-up phone banking campaign was organized by students Ariana Miklowitz and Allen Mendez at PVCC. Six volunteers agreed to host for three hours a week, using the data obtained in the first round to target the refined audience, defined by information gained by previous phone banks drives. Page 11 The Bank-Breaking Cost of Textbooks Elise Hansen, Staff Writer Three hundred forty-eight dollars and fifty cents. I know [it] exactly, said first-year student Talur Martin. The cost of her textbooks this semester is indelibly printed on her mind. I spent only about 45 dollars because I didnt buy one of the textbooks I was supposed to get, said fourth-semester student Graham Farnsworth. He estimates that he would have spent about $145 otherwise. Mathew Trimm used to spend between $400 and $500 each semester. After changing majors he paid around $140, which, in comparison to other semesters, is really cheap, like extremely cheap for him. PVCCs in-state tuition per credit hour is $135 ($148.15 with fees). How can a textbook cost as much as a college credit? Dr. John Donnelly, vice president for instruction and student services, calls the textbook publishing industry a near monopoly in which students are essentially hostages to exorbitant textbook costs. I think [the costs] are ridiculous, he said. PVCC is in the process of helping students reduce textbook expenses and is all over the spectrum in the methods it employs, Donnelly said. In addition to offering used and rental textbooks at the bookstore, some professors are using brief editions, a shorter version of the original text for only a fraction of the cost. PVCCs Textbook and Educational Resources Adoption Policy strongly encourages faculty to seek out lower-cost materials of comparable quality, including previous editions of textbooks whenever possible, so that students can purchase or rent used books from year to year instead of paying more for the newest editions. Online resources have also played a large role in reducing textbook expenditures and have the potential to revolutionize education and the publishing industry. [Online educational resources] is the newest, transformative thing happening in higher education, Donnelly said. He believes it will open post-secondary education to students who currently cannot afford it and transform how students will pay for educational resources. Online content exists in different forms, from public-domain Online Education Resources (OER) to e-books to reputable Web pages. As more classes transition to using online materials, faculty find themselves drawing from any number of these sources. We try where we can to make classes textbook-free, said Instructor of Information Technology Mike Ferero. Because many technology resources are available online, technology courses in particular have made substantial strides toward eliminating textbook costs. ITE 119, an Information Literacy course, now uses only online materials, as does ITE 120, Principles of Information Systems. ITN 170, Linux System Administration, uses online documentation in place of textbooks, and network security-related classes use e-books and online readings. PVCC is also participating in the Zx23 Project. According to the projects webpage, it is a one-year grant for participating VCCS colleges, that is used to support and train faculty and staff at sixteen Virginia community colleges to build Z -Degrees at their institutions. A Z-Degree is a set of courses in a specific program area that allows a student to earn a college credential, such as an associate degree, with zero textbook costs. The project utilizes Open Educational Resources, which are free and openly licensed, to meet this goal. Crystal Newell, coordinator of library services, is a key member of the Zx23 program at PVCC. She helps participating faculty evaluate resources and navigate the complicated terrain of copyright and licensing details. Overall, Newell estimates that 11 or 12 courses have now eliminated textbooks, which amounts to significant savings for students. The VCCS as a whole has saved dollar amounts in the millions through participation in the program, she estimates. Page 12 Spring 2016 is the pilot semester for the Zx23 Project, so the program has accumulated little formal feedback; however, many faculty and students have created or experienced a textbookfree course and can speak to the pros and cons of the shift. Ferero names quality control as one of the main hurdles to assembling a curriculum solely from online resources. However, in some cases, he found that online resources have improved the course material. For some classes, weve developed or found better exercisesthan what was in the textbook to begin with, he said. For instance, sometimes students begin to read more primary sources, rather than a secondary-source textbook. Brennan Tanner, a fine arts major, noticed this trend in his History of Western Civilization class. Readings can be from a lot of different sources, he said. We read excerpts from historical sources, plays from the period were readinglast week was the letters by Plutarch. However, going digital has some disadvantages. Ferero acknowledged that because online materials are often in a variety of locations, you do have to bounce around theres no one place for students to go to read [the material]. Donnelly, too, has spoken with students who voice similar concerns. Some students say they want to have a real book in their hands, he said. And some online resources might not be entirely user-friendly. Talur Martin describes her online math text: It sucks. Its really hard to find what you need, and you have to type in the page number every time you want to turn the page. The web-assign math courses are not a part of the OER movement, since they do still have associated costs. However, they demonstrate the conflict between a desire to incorporate technology in the classroom with the practical realities of a user interface that has not always caught up. Some disciplines are less suited to online material. More creative or modern content makes public-domain resources more challenging to find, said Newell. Subjects such as literature usually have to rely on other cost-reducing strategies, such as shrinking the number of Photography by Elise Hansen required textbooks and providing used or rental copies for students. Ferero, Newell and Donnelly all noted the time investment required by faculty in order to move class resources to online material. The time and effort involved on individual faculty is very large, said Newell. Donnelly, a strong advocate of online resources, admits that his History 101 and 102 classes still use a textbook in part because of expediency. It takes time to switch over to digital content, he explained. Ultimately, though, the benefits to students far outweigh the problems or challenges, said Donnelly. The effects for students and colleges have become sufficiently dramatic that the textbook publishing industry has begun to take notice. Publishers are responding as a result [of the changes], and I hope there will be some compromises made as a result, said Newell. Its huge, said Donnelly, speaking of the impact on the industry. [Publishers] are definitely paying attention. Some have begun to consolidate highquality OER materials and make them available for a one-time, lower cost, he said. Ultimately, PVCC faculty and administrators recognize textbook costs as a barrier to student achievement, and VCCS names textbook costs as an impediment to its six-year plan to triple the number of credentials that students earn. College tuitions are increasing, textbook costs are increasing, but wages are not, explained Newell. This is not something we can ignorewe need to do something. And this is something we can do. Its 2016. Its time, she said. Page 13 Wintergreen Resort Finally Gets the Ball Rolling Ryan Winkler, Staff Writer It has been a tumultuous start of the 20152016 Ski and Snowboard season at Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County. In fact, calling it the 2015-2016 season is a bit misleading. The mountain did not even open until about a week into January, a far cry from the previous season, when it opened over Thanksgiving weekend. However, this year, with near record-breaking warm temperatures throughout the month of December, it appeared as if Wintergreen would never open for the denizens of central Virginia who enjoy seasonal winter sports. PVCC student and Wintergreen season pass holder Jamal Scott expressed his frustration at the conditions thus far and his thankfulness for the blizzard central Virginia received. After spending $250 on a season pass in early December and not seeing any cold weather for pretty much the entire month, I was seriously regretting my decision. But its just been one of those years. The snow we got last weekend was awesome, and Im glad Wintergreen is up and running, he said. Wintergreen received over two feet and now is completely up and running. With a base of up to 80 inches in most places (Wintergreen uses an artificial snowmaking system called SnowPower, aside from natural snow), the resort has finally reached their goal. On Sunday, Jan. 24, Wintergreen saw its first powder day of the season, and was completely packed from sun up to sun down. With a forecast of potential rain and warmer temperatures throughout the next two weeks, it is anyones guess how long the good conditions will last at Wintergreen. For the casual skier or snowboarder, one or two weekends like the previous one are enough to satisfy their appetite for winter sports. However, for season pass holders and avid skiers and snowboarders, it is a daily ordeal to worry about how long the snow will stay on the mountain to be enjoyed. Charlottesvilles New Skate Park Ryan Winkler, Staff Writer For quite some time now, Charlottesville has been home to a fairly vibrant skateboarding culture in relation to the size of the city. With several skate shops that have come and gone, the resilience of skateboarders throughout the city has shone through the tough times. Charlottesville skateboarding faced adversity when the original McIntire Skate Park was torn down in order to make way for the new bypass bridge off of McIntire road. Since then, the skate park has been moved across the 250 bypass to a much smaller space just on the edge of the former McIntire golf course. With a serious reduction in features, space, and amenities, many skaters feel that the new park, frankly, just does not compare to the old one. Fortunately, there is a beacon of hope on the horizon. The city of Charlottesville has a multi-million dollar plan to advance skating in the city by constructing an all-concrete skate plaza where the current park stands. The plans and concepts for the new park have been approved by all regulatory agencies, with the budget also having been submitted to the city and Parks and Recreation offices. Former PVCC student and skater Shiruna Ntenda said, It was a travesty to see the old skate park get torn down, and for Charlottesvilles skaters to only be provided with a fraction of what we had all grown to know and love about skating in town. However, all of my friends and I are ecstatic to see what the future will bring, but most of all we are stoked to ride a perfect concrete park right here in our hometown. Page 14 New Coffee Shop Perks Up PVCC Cynthia Beasley, Staff Writer welcoming, and inviting, Along with the New Year and new semester, and we want Piedmont Virginia Community College has the students to welcomed a new local business onto their campus realize that this month. What used to be Mermaid Express this is has been replaced by Perk Up. They are offering a completely wider variety of drinks, snacks, baked goods, and different from many healthy alternatives such as hot teas, Mermaid smoothies, and fruit. Express. I have always wanted to get into business Perk Up is offering a greater variety of after watching my parents run their own business. choices of both drinks and food. They are now Im a very hands-on learner, said new owner serving dark, medium, and light roast of coffee Ellie Beverly. along with lattes, mochas, espresso, and other hot So when the owner of the previous coffee and cold drinks. The coffee is brewed fresh daily shop across from the library, Kristin Cole, and is from local coffee house, Shenandoah Joes. decided it was time to sell Mermaid Express, For non-coffee drinkers, there are many other Beverly saw this as the perfect opportunity to set options as well. These include herbal teas and her plans into motion. fresh smoothies that include half of a pound of At the age of 21, Beverly made the bold fruit. decision to start her own business after previous If you are looking for a quick snack on your experience of working at Greenhouse Coffee. way to class or the library, Perk Up also has that When asked about the name change and new to offer. And like their coffee, their fresh pastries look, she said, We want it to look warm, are baked locally at Greenhouse Coffee. These include anything from cupcakes, muffins, breakfast cookies, and even kettle corn. They are also offering many gluten free and healthier alternatives such as apples, bananas, and granola bars. Perk Up is conveniently located right across from the library. If you are looking for a quick pick-me-up, stop by and meet the friendly staff and grab one of their delicious pastries and a hot drink. It is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m Photography by Elise Hansen Page 15 Ix Art Park Appoints Executive Director Arif Michael Vega, Staff Writer The Ix Art Park formally adopted executive staff Jan. 4. This move, by Monticello Associates board of directors, marks the change from ephemeral experiment to formal establishment. Radical expression has been homeless for several years, since the bulldozing of Random Row Bookstore. Brian Wimer will now take the lead at the Ix Art Park and Lounge, directing events, artists and professionals to speak, perform and present. The Ix Art Park and Lounge are a social experiment in free thought and accessibility. According to Wimer, society does not allow enough space for free expression. You can go to the library, you can go to Lee Park, but you can probably count on one hand how many accessible free spaces there are in the city, he said. There are a lot of coffee shops, but I want to make this space more accessible throughout the day. Beryl Solla, professor of art at PVCC, praised their efforts. I think Ix provides people with an index to the arts, and generates lots of events that are interesting to people of all ages. Many of the events at the park are hosted as potluck, with people bringing food and drinks to share with the community. All of them are free. At the recurring Drink and Draw event, people bring beer or wine and sketch a live model. Other events offer products for sale, such as the fall concert series, which generates revenue providing beer from Three Notchd Brewery. Fall concerts are also funded through Levitt AMP, a matching grant of up to $25,000. Last year, this program extended free concerts in Charlottesville for weeks after the end of Fridays After Five. Praise was heard at city council for the project, and its free events. Previously holding the unpaid position as primary instigator, Wimer is now an employee with a small stipend for running the park. Its about a quarter of what it would take to run the park. The rest I have to raise myself, or generate with revenues from events or rentals, he said. Under his leadership, Ix will be hosting a diverse and collaborative community according to Wimer. Participants have created a crowded schedule of presentations at Ix Lounge, a free and open venue for all ages. Repair Caf teaches people to fix things. Make Out Mondays features experts in psychology talking on intimacy and relationships. A host of programs with names like Solstix, Ixuinox, and Summer Olympix are anticipated too. The focus is on open participation. The process Wimer prefers is collaborative instead of restrictive. He repeatedly said, I want you to give yourself permission. Citing an upcoming program from Charlottesville Pride, he outlined the importance of inclusion for self-awareness. For LGBT youth, its the ideal space, because its a space that has not decided what it is. He said, And here are some young people who are trying to find out who they are, and perhaps they never will. But its ok this isnt codified. Wimer also cited an American disaffection with community participation, and a pervasive fear of public space. He compared Charlottesville activities with his experience abroad. In England there are people with strollers out at 10 p.m., he said. He hopes to extend activities later in the evening with more illuminated art for safety. The art park is his project, but Wimer stays hands-off when it comes to installations and events. I can instigate all sorts of weird stuff, he said. But its better if I just hold the space, and I have an open door, and an invitation to people who bring to me, ideally, fully baked ideas. Community outreach is an important aspect of Wimers plan. He has been working with Tandem, the Renaissance school, schools in the county. He is hoping to reach the Boys and Girls Club and the Boy Scouts. Solla has organized a collaboration with her design and sculpture students at PVCC and Clark Elementary School, building planters and other work based on the kindergarteners painting. Page 16 Fins and Feathers of Fralin Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer The Fralin Museum of Art is located near the University of Virginia and has free admission. It is home to a wide range of paintings and sculptures, created by artists from different eras. What makes the museum a constant interest is that it switches its exhibits every few months. One of its current exhibits, Fish and Fowl, focuses on the various aspects of art through a common subject, which are birds and fish. The location of this exhibit can be found in the room across from the front entrance, and though the exhibit is only limited to one room, there are over a dozen different works of art complete with plaques. There are many works of art that will capture your interest. For example, there is a small handsewn cloth titled A ppliqu Cloth, which has different images woven in which makes a powerful statement. Another interesting art piece is the photograph Fish Tank. Hagi, Japan. From the viewers perspective, it is a picture of an occupied fish tank with the city of Hagi in the background. Though it might seem random, there is symbolic meaning to an art exhibition of fish and birds. The idea for the exhibition originated from the anthropological theory that humans place connotations onto live animals, and those associated thoughts and feelings are translated into a representation of the animal, said curator Alicia Dissinger, Birds and fish have captured imaginations throughout history because they possess innate capabilities - flying and swimming - which we, as humans, do not naturally possess. And those things we do not easily possess, are things we tend to admire or find inquisitive, and want to replicate in art. The Fish and Fowl exhibit is open for free public viewing until June 19. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer If you wish to experience foreign art in a local building, visit the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art collection. There, you can get a look at art that was first introduced thousands of years ago. Aboriginal art is an ancient style first practiced by indigenous Australians. Using tree bark and stone as canvases, the Aboriginal Australians would use crushed clay, ochre, and other minerals as their source of pigment. This gave their paintings an overall earthen color. Often times, the painting served to tell stories, sometimes being conveyed through simple circles and lines. My experience visiting the museum was enjoyable, and the paintings and exhibits were interesting to view. One display was a pair of log coffins displayed in the middle of the room. Apparently, whenever someone passed away, their bodies were laid to decay on platforms while their family members went about building and painting the coffin. Once the body was properly decomposed, the remains were placed in the coffin, which was set upright to mark the final resting place of the deceased. The coffin and grave marker were one and the same. The display rooms were small, and I was told by the receptionist that only 1 percent of the collection was on display at the time, with the rest to be eventually cycled out. In spite of this, what few exhibits on display were interesting, and viewing them felt like Australia. I highly recommend this exhibit to anyone with an interest in foreign art. In addition to the fascinating paintings and exhibits, the staff is also quite friendly. Indigenous Australians have been painting for 70-80,000 years, said receptionist Nicole Wade, And their painting at that time, on the body and on the landscape, isnt permanent. Since the 1970s onward, we are able to collect works that are portable and permanent in an effort to continue telling those stories and traditions. Page 17 Piedmont Profile: Susan Hannifan Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer Like any educational institution, Piedmont Virginia Community College can be difficult for many students, including those who suffer from disabilities. Fortunately, Susan Hannifan, the Disability Services Counselor, is here to help any students who find themselves struggling in class. Located in the Main Buildings Room M125, Hannifan can provide all the help that students need to make it through the semester. Born in a small town in Rhode Island, Hannifan was the first person in her family to attend college. During her undergraduate studies, an interest in education led Hannifan to start a career in teaching, but disliked the classroom environment and reconsidered her options. While taking a sociology class, Hannifan had to complete specific service requirements. She fulfilled this requirement by volunteering at a local group home for children. There, she would tutor children outside of the classroom setting, and even take them for recreational activities. Hannifan eventually changed her major from education to social work, and with a great deal of effort, she obtained a bachelors degree in social work from Rhode Island College and a masters degree in rehabilitation counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. From there, she eventually settled into Disabilities Services at PVCC. It is fulfilling to work with students, said Hannifan, and assist them by providing the support they need. My favorite day on my job is graduation day when I see the students I have worked with through the years cross that stage to receive their degrees. Susan Hannifan has many hobbies, including cooking, gardening, and reading. She also works out at the gym to keep herself in physical health. She lives in Fluvanna County and enjoys the rural setting that it provides. Hannifan enjoys spending her free time with her dog who is part beagle and part Jack Russell terrier. Photograph courtesy of Susan Hannifan Page 18 Riddles Brennan Tanner, Staff Writer One seen as seven, As the raindrops made it so, After the storm still. A bridge made for many gods, To stretch from heaven to earth. A harsh blade of ice, That cuts right to the bone, chill, Breath of Boreas. Four green hearts for luck, On a stem they join as one, Waiting to be plucked. A crest of sea-foam, Long and graceful limbs and neck, Dancing through the waves. Coat of ivory velvet, Silver shoes on cobbles chime. Comic by Andie Meddaugh Page 19 Classifieds Three Facts about Virginia Festival of the Book Most of the events are free. Events will be held throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Locations include: The Onmi Hotel, UVA Culbreth Theater, the Paramount Theater, Barnes & Noble, various local schools, libraries, and other bookstores. This year, they are celebrating the centennial of the Pulitzer Prize. Attendees can meet Pulitzer Prize winning poets Rita Dove, Gregory Pardlo, and Vijay Seshadri on Mach 18. Learn more online: http://vabook.org/ Know of any Community Events, Announcements, or Advertisements youd like to list? Contribute and Submit to Contact us at theforum@pvcc.edu for more information or visit our website : www.piedmontforum.com Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu The Forum Staff (Listed alphabetically) Managing Editor Elise Hansen Assistant Editor Antonia Florence Staff Writers/Copyeditors Morgan Barr Cynthia Beasley Annette Cashatt Joe Chafetz Riley Clark Melanie Couzzo Claudia Cruz Kaitlyn Duvalois Antonia Florence Joe Fowler Elise Hansen Sam Jefferson Hamed Karama Owen Krug NiaIfe Mukasa Krista C. Petzold Tucker Poe Brennan Tanner Kellyn Torres Arif Michael Vega Kelly Wilmer Ryan Winkler Comic Artist Andie Meddaugh Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...

... Read more at: Piedmontforum.com February 2016 Piedmont Virginia Community College Look inside for PVCC club information Let There Be Light: Lighting up the Night Lindsey Woodyard, Staff Writer Let There Be Light is an annual, lightthemed, interactive exhibit hosted on the grounds of PVCCs V. Earl Dickinson building. Celebrating the winter solstice, Let There Be Light aimed to comfort and inspire in the midst of the longest night of the year. Upon entering the Dickinson building, guests were welcomed with complimentary maps of the grounds, flashlights and refreshments. Outside, lighted trails led the way amongst the exhibits as guests gleamed with light themselves. Families, students and community members enjoyed works of art in every direction from the Dickinson building. Mark Nizers The Lake and Monolith was projected behind the Dickinson building onto the trees by the lake and onto a cube wall with accompanying music. Nizer said the work was created using video mapping software over three weeks. He said, It is all about collaboration and making something new. The scene evoked a sense of human connectedness to each other and nature, with the message We are all connected appearing during the show. James Yates curated the event, and Beryl Solla says this event makes PVCC a part of the communitys holiday celebration. Let There Be Light shines an inspirational light onto the New Year and sends a message of hope and brilliance to PVCCs returning students. Jeffrey Justice, an engineering student and workstudy participant at PVCC, says, The event brings about the greatest sense of community at PVCC. Mark Nizers showcase inspired me to continue pursuing my dream to connect humans and nature through engineering. In This Issue Photography courtesy of PVCC Facebook Page PVCC Events -pg. 2 SGA Update -pg. 3 Math Lab -pg. 4 Piedmont Profile -pg. 5 Club Details -pgs. 6-17 Comic Page -pg. 19 Classifieds -pg. 20 DATES TO REMEMBER . Open Auditions for The Tempest Jan. 17, 6-8 p.m.; Jan. 19, 7-9 p.m.; Jan. 20, 6-8 p.m Dickinson Building Fourth Fridays Improv * Jan. 22, 6-8 p.m., Maxwell Theatre, Dickinson Building Last day to drop a course with a refund Jan. 28 Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop * Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dickinson Building One Mic Stand * Feb. 11, 7 p.m., Maxwell Theatre, Dickinson Building Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception * Feb. 12, 5 - 7 p.m., Dickinson Building Free Movie Friday: Brooklyn * Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium History of Gospel ^ Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium PVCC Music Faculty Recital * Feb. 21, 3 p.m., Dickinson Building The Presidential Primaries: Whats Next? * Feb. 22, 11:50 a.m., North Mall Meeting Room, Main Building Spring Break Feb 29-Mar 4 Richmond Ballet ^ March 2, 7:30 p.m., Dickinson Auditorium Positive Action Conference * March 25 to March 26 Register online Feb. 1 *Free Event ^Student Vouchers Available From the Editor Antonia Florence, Editor PVCC is about learning and achieving goals. It is about classes, homework and tests, but it can be so much more. We make new friends and build a network of support that can last a lifetime. One of the logical places to meet these new friends is in a club. Clubs are also a good way to explore the possibility of expanding your interests. What if playing your favorite board game was part of your academic day; would you play? It could be, if you join the Board Game Club. Do you like playing in dirt but live in an apartment? Maybe dirt sounds like fun, but you are not sure what to do with it. Perhaps recycling efforts or harmful pesticide usage is a concern of yours. The Horticulture and Environmental Club might be your cup of tea. If your academic focus cannot be broken, what about the schools Chapter of Mu Alpha Theta (), the mathematics honor society? There are many options to choose from; just go to Student Activities on the schools website or read the rest of this issue of The Forum. Throughout each semester, the school hosts a myriad of activities, many of which are sponsored by clubs or other school organizations. They are here for us. Would you like to attend concerts, ballets and other shows held at PVCC but feel you cannot afford them? Pick up your free student voucher from the receptionist desk at the cafeteria entrance to the main building. It covers admission for you and a guest into many performances. Always remember, whatever you do, wherever you go, you are in control of your own destiny. Page 2 Student Government Association News On behalf of your Student Government Association at PVCC, I would like to welcome back all our returning students and welcome our new students. Fall semester proved to be a success for the members of SGA and its executive board, but now the bar is getting pushed higher as the SGA is prepared to accomplish new heights to improve your experience here at PVCC. Last semester, the Events departments held free events for all students like Casino Night and Welcome back social while partnering with different clubs and departments at PVCC. The Student Voice Department had a table set every other week at different PVCC buildings for students to voice opinions and ideas while implementing the student voice process to be set into place before each semester allowing SGA members to come into SDV Classes and inform student about SGA and review projects that will come out from those SDV courses! The PR department always keeps everyone posted on everything that SGA is doing from TV advertisements to flyers and pamphlets. Senators attended the College senate representing the students and a large amount of our committee members served on numerous committees to also provide student needs and opinions. This semester, new committee positions have been created for anyone to serve on to further student voice deeper into the college structure and administration. A first time Talent Show will be held at PVCC this semester, and as always we will continue our returning events such as Spring Fling and Ping Pong Tournament! For more information check us out on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PVCCstudentgov. Remember, dont hesitate to email any of our board members including myself about any questions at all! Now a couple of dates every student should be marking on their calendars for the semester: SPRING CLUB DAY Jan. 20: Join any of the wide variety of clubs including SGA! TALENT SHOW April 8: Auditions will be prior to this date and more information will be announced through mass email! Spring Fling April 20: Dunk tank, FREE FOOD, music and tons more! As always good luck to each of you to the new semester and we are blessed to serve a great student body; we love and are very excited to have you back on campus. We cannot wait to experience another semester with you here at PVCC. Student Government Association Let Your Voice Be Heard sga@pvcc.edu SGA President Camron Perry Photography courtesy of SGA Camron Perry SGA President cfp@email.vccs.edu Page 3 First QuadrantWorking With Mathematics Emily admitted that there are times when its difficult to help a student understand how to Whether students need math tutorials, a place solve a problem, but she had an optimistic to complete online course assignments or just a perspective. A lot of people just get frustrated quiet place to study, First Quadrant math lab is and give up. But you can just keep trying, Emily equipped to accommodate their needs. The math said. One setback that Emily noticed is that many lab is in the 200 wing of PVCCs Main Building of the students that come for tutorial have been and is open to all students. About 400 students struggling with their course material long before visit the Math Quadrant per week, said they sought help. She says that she wants to be Byadunia Buluma, a Desk Staff member in the able to reach students before the subject gets too First Quadrant as part of hard for them. Emily says PVCCs SLA program. teachers encouraging students Though most students to come here earlier can help make an appointment to meet that goal. when they need to see a Some of the students who tutor, help is always visit First Quadrant feel they get available for any student enough time with their tutors, that comes in. Some but adequate time does not students come just to always result in understanding study, but end up getting the material. Diane Payne, a stuck and asking a tutor student taking a math course for help, Buluma said. online, said sometimes she Byadunia Buluma, Front Desk Emily, a tutor in the First understands but sometimes Photography by Arif Michael Vega Quadrant math lab, says they dont explain it the way the that she helps students teacher explains it; I get with their online homework whenever they ask. confused. Payne also said she doesnt think the Students taking online math courses will find that tutors know enough about the on-line math there is adequate space and computer availability programs. I dont think they understand the for completing their assignments. Hawks system, Payne said, adding that the Emily said that the tutors work with students tutors do help her to get the right answer but not for as long as necessary depending on their the way the online system wants it to be done. needs. You can pre-schedule appointments and Despite these challenges, Payne does not think that gets you 30 minutes of dedicated time, said the math lab needs any improvements: I think Emily, but walk-ins usually get five minutes. its good, she said. Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer FITNESS CENTER OPEN-USE HOURS - SPRING 2016 Monday & Wednesday 9:50 to 11 a.m.| 11:50 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday 9 to 11 a.m. | 12:15 to 4 p.m. | 7 to 9 p.m. Friday 9:50 to 11 a.m. | 11:50 to 4 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to noon Page 4 Piedmont Profile: Steve McNerney Elise Hansen, Staff Writer Steve McNerney admits he has a heart for the marginalized that drives much of his lifes work. While he is quick to add that he considers himself far from perfect in his pursuit of the common good, many of his roles personally and professionally demonstrate a desire to provide support and opportunity for others. McNerney came to PVCC in 1978, he was an instructor of physical education at the time; today, he serves as an Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Coordinator of Student Activities and Faculty Advisor to the Student Government Association (SGA). He also manages the PVCC fitness center. Each of his roles are united by the overarching goal of expanding offerings for students, he said. The increase in student population over the years has come with an increase in the number of clubs and extra-curricular opportunities for students. As Coordinator of Student Activities, he supports club faculty advisors and helps students who seek to create new clubs. When students come to me with an idea for a club they want to create, I do my utmost to say yes, he said. That way, students who might otherwise have trouble finding a place at PVCC can begin to find community, he explained. McNerney also serves as faculty advisor to the SGA. SGA continues to amaze me, he said. Each year, the leadership seems to outdo the previous year. Which is really amazing, because from the very beginning it was excellent. How do you improve on that much excellence? He also oversees the PVCC fitness center. Gyms have a strong social component, he explained. We have the greatest small gym in the universe. PVCCs fitness center receives faithful financial support from the school and is so appreciated by the students who use it, he said. That sense of ownership means the gym is respected and well taken care of. McNerney received a bachelors degree in history and later a masters in education from the Steve McNerney Photo courtesy of PVCC website University of Virginia focusing on physical education. Today, his PE classes allow students to pursue their love of a sport or to branch out and try something new. On the first day of class, I have the students name their level of enthusiasm from one to ten, he said. I get most excited about students who say zero or one, because its my goal to change their minds. Outside of PVCC, McNerney spends a great deal of time reading. I read all the timeI probably read too much, he joked. Some of his reading relates to his job as an instructor, but other current reads, such as Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few by Robert B. Reich and A ccidental Saints: Finding God in A ll the Wrong People by Nadia Bolz-Weber. McNerney is also Chairman of the Board of The Haven, a multi-purpose community space in Charlottesville that offers a variety of services for the homeless. He acts in an advisory capacity to the executive director of The Harlem Wellness Center in New York, which provides social, economic and generational reconciliation in the context of a lifestyle wellness space, according to its website. Asked why he has chosen to remain at PVCC for nearly 38 years, McNerney replied, a conflation of Charlottesville, friends, and PVCC students and colleagues has made it easy to remain here. Page 5 Club information Adult Student Life Club Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer Looking for a peer group that really understands the challenges in your life? Being an adult Gina Edwards student returning to Photography by school can bring a Kellyn Torres unique set of challenges and opportunities. The Adult Student Life club is dedicated to supporting adult students and engaging them in the wider student body. It is also a support group, helping adult students juggle the many facets of life, including work, family, and school. ASL has held seminars about time management, financial planning, and other real-life concerns students face. For more information, contact Gina Edwards at gle235@email.vccs.edu. The Anime Club welcomes anyone interested in animation and comics, with a focus on Japanese tradition and style. The group focuses on new animations, while leaving room for the classics. Club president Kayla Paschall says the group votes on what to watch. Contact Kayla Paschall at kdp2460@email.vccs.edu. Art Club Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer The Art Club is a fun club for all students who are interested in crafts and art education. The club sponsors a variety of art-related events like the Seventh Annual Chocolate Chow Down, Art Attack, Arts Day at PVCC, art workshops and the monthly free film series. For more information contact the club President Julia Grammer, grammerjm@gmail.com, or Faculty Advisor Beryl Solla, bsolla@pvcc.edu. Black Student Alliance Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer All Living Creatures Kaitlyn Duvalois, Staff Writer Here at PVCC we have a wide array of clubs. If you are an animal lover, then All Living Creatures is for you. Its goal is to educate people about different animals. Staff advisor: Frances Rees, frees@pvcc.edu. Anime Club Arif Michael Vega, Staff Writer Photography by Kellyn Torres Photography by Kellyn Torres The BSA is a social and educational club for all students who are interested in being more involved with African American culture. They have a community that meets every Wednesday at noon in the main building. Feel free to drop in for their meeting hours. BSA brings students together to become better academic students and to focus on their next step for colleges. For more information please contact the Faculty Advisor, Page 6 Justin Wert, jwert@pvcc.edu or the student contact Clarence Johnson, cjohnson0628@email.vccs.edu. Business Club Katya Beisel, Staff Writer Board Game Club Joe Fowler, Staff Writer The Board Game Club at PVCC meets every Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 6 on the third floor of the Dickinson Building. Members play a wide variety of games ranging from card games to more involved games such as war games and beyond. Contact faculty advisor, Bruce Glassco, at bglassco@pvccc.edu for more information. Brony Club Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer Are you a selfproclaimed Brony? Do you love the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic? Looking for a peer group that values honesty, generosity, compassion, optimism, devotion and leadership? Then Brony club is for you! With weekly activities focusing on one of the core values highlighted by the show, members focus on watching the show and on fan-created content. They also participate regularly in fundraisers and service projects, providing a judgment-free environment while making a positive impact on the larger PVCC community. For more information, attend a meeting, Mondays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. or contact Morgan Eppard (co-president), at mle2431@email.vccs.edu. Photography by Kellyn Torres The Business club has three goals: leadership development, entrepreneurship, and personal finance. They frequently invite business professionals and entrepreneurs to speak at PVCC so that students can learn from the experiences of seasoned professionals. The Business club also strives to foster a more educated, professional community, with an emphasis on professional etiquette and deportment. Contact Business club Founder and President Scott Cast at sac2689@email.vccs.edu for more information. Chess Club Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer Interested in chess strategy, or looking to learn? Are you looking for a new place to put your chess skills to the test? Try Chess club, a fun and safe learning environment for first-time learners and experienced veterans alike. The club meets weekly on Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. in the Main Building, room M158. For more information, contact Hunter Hough (co-president) at hbh215@email.vccs.edu or Abel Pors (copresident) ataep22252@email.vccs.edu. Page 7 Cru Christian Fellowship (Cru) Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer CRU at PVCC is the club formally known as Christian Student Fellowship. CRU at PVCC provides an opportunity for students who share a common interest in the Bible to engage in Bible studies and discussions and pray together. The club meets every Wednesday during College Hour and all students are welcome to join. For more information you may contact either the clubs president, Marcus Fraticelli, at mef2233@gmail.vccs.edu, or the clubs staff advisor, Andre Luck, at aluck@pvcc.edu. the staff advisor. For more information contact Presidents Annette Cashatt at alc2711@email.vccs.edu and Russell Wright at rlw2897@email.vccs.edu or Jennifer Koster at jkoster@pvcc.edu. Dance Club Kelly Wilmer, Staff Writer Do you love to dance? Then get up and moving with dance club. Whether you have experience or not, all levels of dancers are welcome. Dance club offers a wide range of opportunities for dancing each semester. They even offer free dance classes. For more information on this club contact Staff Advisor Michelle H. Cooper at mcooper@pvcc.edu or student contact Kai Filippucci at kcf283@email.vccs.edu. Engineering and Technology Club Creative Writing Club Kelly Wilmer, Staff Writer Creative Writing Club allows your imagination to roam freely through the stroke of a pen, surrounded by those who share an interest in writing. Every year, the club produces the schools literary magazine The Fall Line, the three-minute horror story contest and has a special event with fun activities on The National Day on Writing. I would say that anyone can come to our meetings. We meet every other Monday at 3 p.m. in the Writing Center Lab. We do some writing, talk about writing, and encourage writing among ourselves. It is a place where people can learn about creative writinglow stakes and friendly, said Annette Cashett, Jennifer Koster, club co-president The PVCC Engineering and Technology club is designed to gather PVCC engineering students for social and career-oriented purposes. Student contact: Mark Potter, mpotter5001@email.vccs.edu. Staff advisor: Hunter Moore, hmoore@pvcc.edu. Film Making Club The mission of the Film Making club is to bring together students who are interested in film and filmmaking in order to encourage and provide support and guidance for student filmmaking interests and activities. Faculty advisor: Kay Page 8 Bethea, kbethea@pvcc.edu. The first club meeting is Jan. 26 at 3:30 p.m. in M174 on main campus. The Film Series Joe Fowler, Staff Writer Staff Advisor: Tamara Whyte, twhyte@pvcc.edu Student Contact(s): Club President Antonia Florence, aflorence0004@email.vccs.edu The film series is part of the art club at PVCC. The film series meets twice a semester, usually weeks two and ten. The meetings typically follow a studio art class on a day such as Wednesday when most students are on campus. Look for information posted around campus for upcoming meetings. According to Beryl Solla, films for next semester include Spotlight, Brooklyn and Carol, all of which fall into the independent genre. Club President Julia Grammer says, "For the art club film series we try to choose compelling films that appeal to critics and audiences alike; that cover topics of interest to artists and have meaningful social content and interesting visual elements." Contact Faculty Advisor Beryl Solla by email at bsolla@pvcc.edu. The Forum Joe Fowler, Staff Writer The Forum, PVCCs newspaper, provides a voice for the student body. The Forum offers students the opportunity to report their news and voice their opinions while also learning the fundamentals of the journalistic experience. Faculty advisor Tamara Whyte said, We welcome any level of commitment or skill. The Forum meets once a month at varied times depending on student scheduling. Web site: www.piedmontforum.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/PVCCForum Twitter: @PVCCForum Instagram: PVCCForum French Culture Club Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer The French Culture club emphasizes the language and culture of France by providing an atmosphere and activities in which students can experience both. No prior knowledge of the language is required for students to join, but the club does encourage students to join whose first language is French. For information about the French Culture club, contact the club president, Evangeline Poten, at elop23091@email.vccs.edu or the staff advisor, Kris Swanson, at kswanson@pvcc.edu. Gender Equality Club Our mission is to promote gender equality by educating the PVCC community about gender inequality and Photography by Kellyn Torres providing a forum to discuss issues related to gender. Gender equality does not imply that all people experience and express gender identity in the same way, but that all people should have equal rights and be treated with the same respect. For more information and details about this club please contact Connie Jorgensen, cjorgensen@pvcc.edu. Page 9 German Club Jackie Layton, Staff Writer Photography by Kellyn Torres Horticulture & Environmental Club Jackie Layton, Staff Writer Started in 2007, PVCCs Horticulture & Environmental club was formed to provide students and community members with an organic garden to learn about environmentally-sound horticulture and sustainable practices. Each year, produce from the garden is donated to local food banks in central Virginia. Club member and natural science major Fletcher Gore said, I like how our garden is making a difference and how it was created for us. One of the clubs 2015 goals is to have all eight garden beds filled with vegetable plants. Information is available on the Horticulture & Environment club page, Facebook page and blog. Contact co-advisors David Lerman (dlerman@pvcc.edu) or Jennifer Scott (jscott@pvcc.edu) for further information. The German club promotes knowledge of and interest in German language, history and culture in a relaxed setting. Members engage in various activities such as watching German movies, practicing their German speaking skills, playing German board games, and organizing parties periodically, such as Oktoberfest and Karneval/ Fasching. Contact staff advisor Patricia Jassmann, pjassman@pvcc.edu for more details. Graphics Club Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer Do you enjoy graphics, and are you interested in learning about how design impacts daily life? Are you interested in generating high-impact designs, or learning about how others do the same? The Graphics club is geared towards graphic design students but open to all. The club hosts a regular Graphics Hour where they host speakers, watch films, work on projects, and discuss all areas of design. This past October, the club hosted a Comics Jam, where students ate pancakes and came and left as they pleased for a 24 hour long period of comic creation. For more information on the Graphics club, contact Aubrey Tomlin at atomlin8755@email.vccs.edu. Photography by Kellyn Torres International Club Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer The International club is a social club for any student who wants to be involved with cultures. The club likes to welcome students from many different countries to help them be part of the schools international community. The international club likes to host many events, from potlucks, picnics, bowling excursions, trips and more. Meetings are held every two weeks on Wednesdays. Student contact: Edwing Alicandu, eja2215@email.vccs.edu. Faculty advisors: Mahmood Moghimzadeh, mmoghimzadeh@pvcc.edu and Jorge GjaralesDiaz, jgrajalesdiaz@pvcc.edu Page 10 Investment Club Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer For more information about the Japanese club, contact the clubs President, Rachel Mlcoch at rmm28857@email.vccs.edu or the Staff Advisor, Noriko Donahue at ndonahue@pvcc.edu. Latter-Day Saints Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer Photography by Kellyn Torres The Investment Club is one of the oldest clubs on PVCCs campus. Its mission is to help students improve their knowledge of the economy and market of our country. They hold meetings every other week on Wednesdays. They like to take trips throughout the year. For more information please contact the president of the club Nate Thomas, nt25252@email.vccs.edu Japanese Club Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer The goal of the Japanese club is to share knowledge and experience of the Japanese culture and language with PVCC students and the surrounding community. Japanese card games and cuisine are two of the many ways Staff Advisor Noriko Donahue seeks to accomplish this goal. Annual karaoke nights and a cup of tea in a Japanese garden give students the opportunity to experience the customs native to Japan and enrich their understanding of its culture. The goal of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Club is to spread an understanding of the scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The club endeavors to share the peace that is experienced during the study of scriptures. All students are invited to join the LSD club which meets every Tuesday. For more information, contact the Staff Advisor, Andrew Renshaw, at renshaw@pvcc.edu. LGBTQA Club Katya Beisel, Staff Writer The LGBTQA group seeks to raise awareness of the issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people and their allies. Outreach and inclusion are top priorities for the LGBTQA club, which seeks to foster a community of acceptance and tolerance regardless of sexual orientation or gender. Events sponsored by the LGBTQA club include the Ask-a-Queer booth, which centers on opening dialogue between queer students and their curious straight or cisgender peers, and answering sensitive questions without fear of judgement or offending. Contact Eddie Edwards at eme2730@email.vccs.edu for more information. LIFE (Life Is For Everyone) Club Joe Fowler, Staff Writer The LIFE (Life Is For Everyone) club promotes life with a pro-life stance on abortion. The goal of the LIFE club, according to its profile on PVCCs website, is to learn and educate about fetal development and abortion realities, and to promote discussion of its medical, economic, and Page 11 social effects. We also seek to educate women about alternatives to abortion. To find out meeting times for LIFE, check out their website or contact faculty advisors Nicole Winkler, nwinkler@pvcc.edu and Kemper Steele, ksteele@pvcc.edu. Web site: https://sites.google.com/site/ lifeclubpvcc/ Masquers Club (Theatre) Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer Photography by Kellyn Torres Interested in drama? Love the spotlight? Maybe youre more of a behind-the-scenes person with an interest in lights, costume or sound? There is room for all kinds at the Masquers club; all that is required is a love of theater! Started by Kay Bethea decades ago, their goal is to support both the Departments official productions and student-run productions. In addition to regular weekly meetings, beginning in January, they will host a monthly improvisation series called the Fourth Friday Improv., which in past years has been held the last Friday of each month from 6-8 p.m. The event is open to all students, staff and the general public free of charge. Want to try acting for the first time, or just flex your muscles between performances? This is the place for you! For more information, please contact Brad Stoller, bstoller@pvcc.edu. Mu Alpha Theta Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer Mu Alpha Theta is a math honor society; qualifying students are voting members for projects, constitutional amendments, and get to wear honor tassels at graduation. Math club is open to all who are interested in math topics or just want to have fun with math. Part of the national mission of this honor society is to share the fun of math with everyone possible. The club has guest speakers and a big project in the spring. In its first first year, it held Starry Night in conjunction with the Charlottesville Astronomical Society. Last year, it held a Super Pi Day event for area fourth and fifth grade students. For more information contact Diane Valade dvalade@pvcc.edu, the chapter contact at MAT@pvcc.edu, or President Fintan Horan fhoran0001@email.vccs.edu. Music Club Kelly Wilmer, Staff Writer Music club is a place where people who share a love for music gather together to play music with one another in jam sessions at The Maxwell Theater (Black Box) in the Dickinson or just to discuss their appreciation of music. I would recommend the Music club to anyone that loves music. It's a great way to meet new friends that share an interest in music - the best art form, in my humble opinion, said Michael Baize. The club meets every Monday at noon at The Black Box Theater. For more information contact staff advisor Kay Bethea at kbethea@pvcc.edu or student contacts Mike Baize at mbaize6274@email.vccs.edu and Jacob Brumback at jrb264345@email.vccs.edu. Page 12 Native American Student Union Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer The Native American Student Union (NASU) aims to highlight Native American culture and the issues Native Americans face. The club is a mix of students who are native and non-native. NASU offers students a chance to mingle with those who share their interests in Native American Culture and desire to educate the public on the subject. The club also provides information on local events pertaining to indigenous culture. Outdoor Club Arif Michael Vega, Staff Writer Natural areas are the focus of the Outdoor club. Target events include hiking, camping and other exploratory activities. Student contact for the outdoor club is Andrew Little, arl2381@email.vccs.edu. People Empowering People (PEP) Club Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer People Empowering People is dedicated to helping people overcome the challenges that people with disabilities encounter. Looking for a helping hand, or want to help others? This is the place to be! Help raise awareness and tear down boundaries to build a more fair and inclusive world. For more information, contact Susan Hannifan at shannifan@pvc.edu. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer Photography by Kellyn Torres Phi Theta Kappa is the national honor society for two-year colleges, and PVCCs chapter is active in our community. This club organizes fundraisers, attends a regional conference in the fall and creates college-wide projects. An application to join PTK can be found on its webpage, along with the requirements for membership. However, all meetings are open to non-member students and provisional memberships are available for curious, undecided students and those who do not meet eligibility requirements. For more information contact Patrick Fritz, pfritz@email.vccs.edu. Political Club Joe Fowler, Staff Writer The Political club at PVCC is place for students to discuss the political climate on all levels, be it school policy or international politics. The Political club is currently working with the VA 21 Photography by club to bring a chapter Kellyn Torres of the statewide organization, Virginia 21, to PVCC. Meeting times for the political club vary based on student availability. For more information, email Staff Advisor Connie Jorgensen at cjorgensen@pvcc.edu. Pottery Club Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer The Pottery club offers a creative outlet for students enrolled in the ceramics courses and those who love art. In this club, students have the opportunity to hone their skills with pottery clay and make them manifest in works of art. This artisan club nurtures the skills already gained and develops those yet to be mastered. The Pottery club meets in the Dickinson building. For more information on the Pottery club, contact Tom Clarkson at tclarkson@pvcc.edu. Page 13 Radiography Club Kelly Wilmer, Staff Writer Science Club Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer Are you interested in how science has a realworld impact on our daily lives? How about the creative aspects of science, and how it can improve the world? Science club is the place for you! Be on the lookout for their Semester Kickoff meeting, where the club decides on meeting days and plans events as well as holds elections. Though their focus is most tailored to students focusing on sciences, all are welcome. Their meetings are held in the Keats Science Building. For more information, contact Anne Allison at aallison@pvcc.edu. Soccer Club Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer Radiography Club is a club for radiography students and a requirement for the radiography program. Its a club designed to help radiography students raise funds to send its senior students to a conference. This conference lets students about to graduate meet other students from across the country, network in the radiography community, go to lectures, and take a mock board exam, said Megan Ford, the clubs vice president. Ford described how closely bonded club members are: As radiography students, each student class has all of their courses together during the two year program. So, the club actually meets just after class for a few minutes each week or, if you think about it, all the time since we basically become a family and do everything together for two years. For more information on this club and the radiography program itself contact staff advisors Nicole Winkler at nwinkler@pvcc.edu and Adriea Clarke at aclarke@pvcc.edu. For more information on the club contact President Chuck Kovacik at clk2974@email.vccs.edu or Vice President Megan Ford at mford7271@email.vccs.edu. The soccer club invites members to be part of this great sport. You dont need to be experienced with the sport; if you are interested in trying it for the first time they will make you feel welcomed. They have many members that play soccer tournaments throughout the semester. All students are invited to come and cheer for the schools soccer team. Edwing Alicandu, captain of the Soccer club, said, indoor season is coming up and everyone is welcomed to participate or cheer at the bleachers. Dates and locations will be posted in the spring semester in all the campus. Alicandu also hopes we might have a chance to see the PVCC Bears play against other community college teams. For more information, contact the captain Edwing Alicandu, eja2215@email.vccs.edu, or Faculty Advisor Steve McNerney at smcnerney@pvcc.edu. Sonography Club Kelly Wilmer, Staff Writer This club helps prepare students for a career in Sonography focusing on the use of ultrasound equipment. Sonography club is for students enrolled in the sonography program at PVCC and for students interested in the program. Staff advisor Lisa Burrington describes a typical Page 14 Sonography club meeting: Students may determine how they will raise funds and plan for that. In the past students have arranged tutoring meetings and have arranged to have guest speakers. It depends on the club officers, as the students decide what they will do. If this club sounds like something you might be interested in, contact the clubs president, Jennifer Davis. Staff advisor Lisa Burrington can be reached at lburrington@pvcc.edu. club president Alexander Urp ( axu2db@virgnia.edu ) or the club advisor Jorge Grajales-Diaz, jgrajalesdiaz@pvcc.edu. Student Government Association (SGA) Melanie Couzzo, Staff Writer Spanish Club (El Club de Espaol!) Claudia Cruz, Staff Writer Photography by Kellyn Torres Spanish club is a great opportunity for students to get involved with languages and South/ Central American cultures. This Club also helps students taking Spanish practice their speaking skills. The Spanish Club seeks to promote the Spanish culture and language throughout the college. The club meets weekly; students of all levels are welcome to attend, or native speakers. During its meetings, the club has Spanish presentations and engage in arts and crafts using the typical piata paperPapel Picado. The club also organizes field trips to the Casa Bolivar at the University of Virginia and to the downtown salsa classes on Wednesdays. For more information contact the Want to get involved in making the school a better place? Have ideas, but not sure how to implement them? The Student Government Association works to represent the interests of the student body to the staff, administration and governing bodies of the school. Working together with the staff and administrative bodies, the SGA promotes open communication with the end goal of representing the rights and concerns of students to the school administration. Hosting many events throughout the year, the club brings students and faculty together to talk about issues in an open and inclusive space. It also promotes the founding of other clubs. There are many different levels of involvement. Each club within the PVCC community nominates a representative to speak for the club in SGA meetings, while other SGA members serve as senators, college-wide committee representatives, or at-large representatives. To learn more about SGA, attend one of their two monthly meetings, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8 a.m. in the North Mall Meeting Room. Page 15 Student Veterans of America Nia Mukasa, Staff Writer The Student Veterans of America (SVA) club offers a circle of peers who can relate to each other in a unique way. Students who have served our country in the military branches have experienced things that others are not often able to relate to. It can mean a lot to veterans to have a network of support that helps them transition into student life. The mission of the SVA club is To provide military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation. With activities like bowling, hiking, snow tubing and water tubing down the James River, these vets have an opportunity to relax and enjoy the country they fought to protect. The SVA club also hosts an annual cook-out. The club meets every first and third Wednesday at noon in the veterans trailer on the east side of PVCCs Main Building. For more information about SVA club, please contact Staff Advisor Jackie Fisher at jfisher@pvcc.edu. Tennis Club Kelly Wilmer, Staff Writer For those who love to play tennis or always had a burning desire to play, here is your chance with tennis club. Tennis club is open to people of all skill levels. The clubs main goal is to promote tennis throughout PVCC. For more information contact student contact Tom Cude at tec2453@email.vccs.edu. Ultimate Frisbee Club Joe Fowler, Staff Writer Led by team captain Calvin Biesecker, the Ultimate Frisbee club meets on Fridays at noon. Though hampered by a slower year than usual, the club has met and played continually for five or six years, according to Staff Advisor John Gulley. The Ultimate Frisbee club is one of the longest- running sports clubs currently on campus, if not the longest. Gulley has much to say about the club, including reports of heaven shining its light down upon club members, perhaps explaining the clubs lasting appeal. If youre interested in joining, look up and join the PVCC Ultimate Facebook site, said Gulley. The club is co-ed. All are welcome. The Spring semester might start off slow for practices in January and February, but the club will be back for the semester. Contact staff advisor, John Gulley at jgulley@pvcc.edu. Photography by Kellyn Torres Virginia 21 Joe Fowler, Staff Writer The VA 21 club works alongside the Political Club to bring a chapter of the statewide advocacy organization Virginia 21 to PVCC. The organization holds a monthly meeting in Richmond. According to its website, Virginia 21 is a generational advocate that provides nonpartisan information and support to young voters and students in three ways; we coordinate action focused on: keeping college affordable; increasing jobs for graduates; engaging young people in politics. Faculty Advisor Connie Jorgensen encourages students to look at the Virginia 21 website and to get involved. She can be contacted via email at cjorgensen@pvcc.edu. Website: http://www.virginia21.org/ Volunteer Club Interested in helping out the local community or making the campus a better place? Join the volunteer club. The club is relaunching this semester, and plans on engaging in various activities on and off campus. Faculty contact: Todd Platts (tplatts@pvcc.edu). Page 16 ANIME ART BSA ASL BOARD BRONY BUSINESS CREATURES CRU WRITING CREATIVE DANCE ENGINEERING FILM FORUM FRENCH GAME GENDER EQUALITY GERMAN HORTICULTURE ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT JAPANESE LGBTQA LIFE MASQUERS MAT NATIVE PEP PTK POLITICAL POTTERY RADIOGRAPHY SCIENCE SOCCER SONOGRAPHY SPANISH SGA VETERANS TENNIS ULTIMATE FRISBEE VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER Page 17 Dont miss these upcoming events Positive Action Conference: A Civic Leadership Experience You are invited to attend Piedmont Virginia Community Colleges first Positive Action Conference: A Civic Leadership Experience, an event designed to increase democratic engagement and civic leadership among PVCC students. The conference will be held on Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26, 2016. Some panel topics include: Race & Class, Privacy and Policing, Local Politics, Women in Politics, and Student Involvement. Confirmed speakers include: Senator Creigh Deeds, Delegate David Toscano, Delegate Rob Bell, Charlottesville Vice-Mayor Wes Bellamy, and Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership Executive Director Bob Gibson. Check out the conference website www.pvcc.edu/pac for more panels and speaker information. Registration opens on the web on February 1. The conference is free, but space is limited. The Presidential Primaries: Whats Next? Virginias Presidential Primary is Tuesday, March 1. To get ready, please join us on Monday, February 22 at 11:50 in the North Mall Meeting Room to hear Geoffrey Skelleys presentation The Presidential Primaries: Whats Next? Geoffrey Skelley is media relations coordinator for the University of Virginia Center for Politics and associate editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball, the Centers nonpartisan newsletter on American campaigns and elections. As a political analyst, Geoffrey has been quoted or cited in numerous print and online publications, such as the New Y ork Times, Politico, Newsweek, and Huffington Post, among others, and does frequent radio and television interviews with local, national, and international media organizations. He also speaks to organizations around Charlottesville and Virginia on a regular basis. Geoffrey has been with the Center since 2011. Riddles Brennan Tanner, Staff Writer All together we form words used to shape nations with our influence. First give me a sound of a chill, or a seed that is prickly with spines, Next you must find the tip of a leaf, or the primary part of a limb, The third is the center of ancient, the start of idols of old, terrible and grim, the ultimate piece is the start of nothing, nobody, never, and nines. First comes two of a kind, meant to always be together, Be they cups, jewels, or shoes shoes of fine leather. The next can be found in the birth of an island in the middle of the Seine, And the last is in the founding of Notre Dame and Nice, places to have seen. Page 18 Interesting Facts: PVCC Edition Antonia Florence, Editor PVCC is one of 23 community colleges in Virginia that comprise the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). PVCC was established in 1972. Since 1972, an estimated 213,000 students have taken credit and noncredit classes at PVCC. PVCC has awarded over 12,000 associate degrees and certificates since 1972. Each year, more than 500 students transfer from PVCC to a four-year college or university. To date, more than 2,400 students have transferred to the University of Virginia. More than 1,400 of our nursing students have become registered nurses with most working all or part of their career in our service region. Source: www.pvcc.edu Comic by Andie Meddaugh Page 19 Classifieds Make sure you vote for Fall 2016s One Book Project! Contact Us PVCC The Forum 501 College Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22902 theforum@pvcc.edu www.piedmontforum.com Check out these titles for the upcoming One Book Project The Forum offers classified space to the PVCC community free of charge. Please send announcements along with full name, email, and phone number to: theforum@pvcc.edu Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan The Forum Staff Now I See You: A Memoir by Nicole C. Kear The Circle by Dave Eggers (Listed alphabetically) Managing Editor Elise Hansen Assistant Editor Antonia Florence Know of any Community Events, Announcements, or Advertisements youd like to list? Contribute and Submit to Contact us at theforum@pvcc.edu for more information or visit our website : www.piedmontforum.com Check us out on social media @PVCCForum The Forum is a voice for all students. Accordingly, materials published in The Forum, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the VCCS, Piedmont Virginia Community College, or any stakeholder thereof. The paper welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns, questions, photography or any other ideas or submissions one may have for the upcoming publications. Please contact pvccforum2014@gmail.com with any questions. Staff Writers/Copyeditors Morgan Barr Cynthia Beasley Annette Cashatt Riley Clark Melanie Couzzo Claudia Cruz Kaitlyn Duvalois Antonia Florence Joe Fowler Tyler Gaines Elise Hansen Sam Jefferson Hamed Karama Owen Krug NiaIfe Mukasa Krista C. Petzold Tucker Poe Brennan Tanner Kellyn Torres Arif Michael Vega Kelly Wilmer Comic Artist Andie Meddaugh Faculty Advisor Dr. Tamara Whyte  ...