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volume 16, issue 1 • November 25, 2013

{Inside the NEW Courier

WGCC Radio

Project Runway

Volleyball Team Champions

NEW Courierthe

Scan the QR Code with the camera on your mobile device to connect with all of GCC’s social media accounts. To download a code reader, open your mobile browser and visit scan.mobi.

On July 1, 2013, Genesee Community College welcomed Kathleen Schiefen, Ph.D., as the new Provost Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Schiefen had previously served as dean of Monroe Community College from 2009 to 2013 and division dean of Pima Community College District in Tucson, AZ from 2007 to 2009.

“She’s a good fit for the College,” said James M. Sunser, Ph.D., GCC’s 4th president. “I was very impressed from the first day with her credentials and background. Her work experience is very high, and she’s held similar positions at multiple institutions.”

With a big smile, Schiefen said, “I love it here at GCC. It’s amazing that the people who work here, the faculty and staff, are genuinely concerned with student success. It’s refreshing.”

The title of EVPAA holds numerous responsibilities. Schiefen is in charge of making sure GCC is following State University of New York’s (SUNY) regulations, assisting President Sunser and his cabinet, and acting as the common thread between GCC’s many committees. The EVPAA also oversees all academic divisions, including the BEST Center, the Library, the Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Program, Learning Technologies, Records and Registration, International Students, and Academic Advising. And on all committees, Schiefen acts as representative for the students.

“Because GCC isn’t a gigantic institution,” Schiefen said, “you can pilot new things and work with people, be innovative. GCC is open to change, new ideas, and constant improvement. This is a dynamic time in higher ed.”

According to Sunser, “[Schiefen] was my first choice for who would fit for us, and sometimes you get those people who are better on [their resume] than in person, but this wasn’t the case. She’s just as good a person as on paper,” he said. “She’s a very deep thinker, very knowledgeable. A true academic and a true researcher. She has the best qualities that you’d like to see in your chief academic officer. She’s an exceptional professional, a very good person, and a pleasure to work with.”

Schiefen speaks often of change and opportunity. “GCC can be a huge resource,” she said. “We need to change to be current, without being obsolete. We need ways to serve the new constituents, to serve vets and technicians along with traditional 18 to 19 year olds. I think my primary vision is that GCC stay a healthy and viable resource.”

In wake of the overwhelming demand for campus living, the GCC Foundation has decided to expand its on-campus living by adding two new buildings at College Village.

The groundbreaking on November 5th initiated construction on two additional residence halls that will increase capacity by 64 students for a total of 453 students. “We hate having to turn away students who need housing,” said John Sisson, director of College Village. The Village received 572 applications for housing this fall but only had room for 389 students. “We’re really excited that we’ll be able to accommodate another sixty-four students in Fall 2014.”

The new buildings will total nearly 11,000 square feet and will be similar to those recently built with single bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a common space. “This space will be able to accommodate learning type classroom activity as well as social recreational uses,” said

Sisson.Traditionally, college campus housing would

normally consist of basic dorm living. College Village is unique in its own way by providing its students with apartment-style living that includes a private kitchen and bathroom that traditional residence halls do not offer.

Sisson said, “I believe that students have liked having the option to live on campus since it was established. We have been off to a great start this year; students have been participating in all of our activities, and we seem to have a great group of students living at the Village.”

Established in 1984, College Village has been providing students with premium on-campus living throughout the years. Four of the College Village buildings were built in 1984, with the fifth building added in 1986. Two more buildings were additionally added in 1988.

O r i g i n a l l y , College Village was privately built, managed, and owned until 2001 when it was sold to the Genesee Community College Association. When it was privately owned, it was known as College Meadows. GCCA changed the name to College Village after the GCC Foundation purchased the property.

To date, the Genesee Community College Foundation Housing Service Inc. remains the legal not-for-profit owner of College Village. In 2007 GCCFHS, Inc.added Willow and Hickory Hall, and provisioned space to add two extra buildings in the future.

GCC has a diverse group of students who reside at College Village. Approximately 10% to 15% of the

continued on page 9.

By Amanda WolfordStaff Writer { }

By Jordan Scarborough Staff Writer{ }

GCC hires “outstanding” new EVPAA

The wait is over! Expansion of College Village is here

Several GCC campus centers seem to be missing some associate deans.

GCC President James Sunser and Associate Dean James Simon said that the missing deans are by design.

Simon has been the associate dean of Medina since the campus opened in 2007, and he has supervised both the Albion and Medina campus centers since late 2012. “This decision began with Lima when the associate dean left the College in July 2012,” Simon said. “At that point the associate dean for the Warsaw campus [Patricia Chaya] was asked to oversee both Lima and Warsaw. When the associate dean left Albion in October 2012, the decision was made to have me oversee both the Albion and Medina campus centers. The reason for the Albion and Medina decision was to provide one leadership vision for Orleans County, streamline processes, and enhance collaboration. Both centers had previously collaborated to an extent (same advisory council, one person taking care of textbooks for both locations, etc.), so the transition was relatively straightforward.”

There are advantages and disadvantages of working two campus centers. Simon said that it is beneficial to have a “one vision—two sights approach.” He said the most effective practices from both campus centers are being collectively used.

Sunser said that one dean being in charge of two campus centers creates a consistency between the campus centers. He also said that it brings forth a more consistent “academic profile and identity.”

However, some deans supervise only one campus center, such as Arcade. Simon said, “Given the geography of Arcade and its large student body, I don’t anticipate Arcade will share the dean position with another campus center.”

Sunser said that when there is a need for a dean, each campus center is reviewed with a different set of conditions, and at this point there is no need to have Arcade share a dean with another campus center.

Sunser and Simon both said that they do not think that GCC suffers from the lack of deans at Lima and Albion.

Sunser said that using a dean who already has experience in the job allows for the addition of new staff, and that there is a lot of support currently in place for the deans who are in charge of two campus centers.Kathleen Schiefen,

Ph.D.

Missing deans at GCC by design

By Kaitlyn WenkeStaff Writer{ }

2{NEW Courierthe }{NEW Courier

the

“All things truly wicked started from innocence.” --Ernest Hemingway

The New Courier StaffGenesee Community College Student

Newspaper Since 1966

Genesee Community CollegeOne College Rd.

Batavia, NY 14020

Dr. James Sunser, president

Editor-in-ChiefKristine R. Dassinger

Assistant ProofreaderTracy Ford

DesignJasmine L. Huether

Staff Writers

Ian Lawson

Bianca Nolt

Jordan Scarborough

Sarah Schneeberger

Elijah Simon

Ly Tran

Kaitlyn Wenke

Amanda Wolford

{

Letter from the EditorThis month’s guest writer is Director of Public Safety Stephen Wise, who joined GCC about seven months ago.

When I was deciding where to attend college after high school the criteria were based on three things: location, cost, and educational programs. Never once did safety enter the picture. Some 25 years later people are now adding personal safety in their higher education search. Words like Columbine and Virginia Tech are etched in our history as dark days on campuses where multiple lives were lost. I was working for a local police department during both of those incidents, and they changed the way law enforcement reacted to and worked with the educational community. I also believe those incidents and others like them led me to where I am today, as the Director of Campus Safety at Genesee Community College. This was a newly created position when I arrived at GCC in May of this year. One of my main responsibilities will be to focus on the overall safety plan of the College.

If I were to get your attention for five minutes to discuss our College’s safety plan, I would want you to know two things: The first is that our College safety plan relies on people having three main choices during a time of crisis. It doesn’t matter what the crisis is. It could be a fire, structure damage, or an active shooter. The three choices we have are to Evacuate, Hide Out, or Take Action. In primary education, safety plans rely on “hide out” or the “shelter in place.” Recognizing that we have a population of mostly self-sufficient adults, we have incorporated “evacuate” and “take action” into the safety plans.

The second thing I want you to know to effectively make your choice during a crisis is the phrase, “Your body won’t go where your mind hasn’t taken you yet.” This means that you should play out different and difficult emergency situations in your head. Think about when each safety choice may be most helpful. During a fire your best course of action may be to evacuate. Do you know the quickest route from your room to the outside and a place of safety? You probably do (as we have all done) fire drills since our earliest days of schooling. But have you thought about an alternative route if your main path is blocked? One of the stories that came from the Sandy Hook tragedy was of a teacher who chose “hide out” for her very young students. She hid her entire class in a small bathroom and then slid a bookcase in front of the bathroom door so the suspect wouldn’t know there was a bathroom and hiding spot there. This quick thinking probably saved many lives that day. Being able to think through scenarios like this and make some prior plans help immensely during a crisis. Not only should you think about the different choices you have, I believe each class should take some time on the first day of class to discuss some of the options we have during emergencies as a group, such as where to meet up as a group outside.

I believe Genesee Community College is a very safe place to be. Statistics and our history tell us that. However, we still need to be aware of the myriad of crises we may face, what our

safety plans hold, and the choices we have. The last time a student died in a school fire was in 1958 in Chicago. Ever since we’ve drilled and mandated fire alarm procedures. We need to continue to expand our safety drills into other areas to continue to maintain peak safety. I believe if we keep in mind our three choices during a crisis and do some mental preparations, we can continue to be a safe community.

If you would like to discuss the College safety plan further or have questions about our plan, please contact me. Thank you.

“Your body won’t go

where your mind hasn’t

taken you yet”By Stephen Wise

Director of Public Safety

“Your body won’t go

where your mind hasn’t

taken you yet”By Stephen Wise

Director of Public Safety

3{NEW Courierthe }NEWS

Before academic advisors were available at Genesee Community College, students were responsible for picking their own classes and majors. Advisors are here now to help guide students toward their long term goals.

One GCC advisor who truly enjoys her job is Mary Jo Dumuhosky, who started working at GCC part time in the Records office in 1979, following her graduation from GCC in 1978. In 1980, the advisement office was non-existent.

While working in Records during the evenings, she helped students pick out their classes at night. It wasn’t long before she found that advising was a good fit for her. “I found that I really like working with people,” she said. Every student is a different individual, and she finds it interesting that her work is never the same. “I enjoy helping them be successful in whatever they’re trying to do here,” she said.

Dumuhosky officially started working in the Advisement Office in 1985. She strongly believes in the holistic approach of advising, which includes deeper planning, more aimed toward the students’ future. “It’s more than just making a schedule,” she said. She likes to do more exploration into the student’s future plans, so their choice in classes helps them more in the long run.

Picking a major can sometimes be hard for students, especially if they do not have a clear decision on what they’d like to do after college. For some students, majors need to be changed a few times. “Majors are a big piece of advising,” she said. After picking a major, advisors also help students pick classes that are interesting and helpful. All advisors are there to ensure that students have everything needed to obtain their associate’s degree. They also make sure students have everything needed to transfer to other schools.

Another function of the advisors is to help students who are returning to GCC after a period of time. They are always willing to help students get back on track.

Because of the large student load, Dumuhosky believes that there are not enough professional advisors on campus. She also said that personal contact is as important today and shouldn’t be replaced with technology. “Some students pick random classes online without talking to an advisor and do not end up happy with their classes, when all they had to do was ask,” she said.

It is very easy to set up an appointment with an advisor. They are always willing to help guide you through your experience at Genesee Community College. If anyone is interested, all nine advisor’s emails can be found on the GCC website under the Advisement Department.

For years, GCC has given all students the opportunity to join the International Student Organization (ISO). Students from around the world travel here to attend GCC. ESL Instructor Kathleen Klaiber and Jenny Weatherall advise this group to ensure that students make a successful transition into this new environment.

Klaiber said that ISO is “an organization with fun events that help international students interact with American students.” Once a foreign college student herself, Klaiber has an inside understanding of being an international student. “I’ve been in their shoes,” she said. “It’s important to have someone there to help you.”

Klaiber organizes events for both international and American students, such as Darien Lake Fright Fest last October, an ethnic market visit in Buffalo, and a bake sale last month.

In general, the organization has a buddy system, where international students are partnered up with American students. This system helps international students with their English conversational skills. ISO also takes members on college visits, where they can meet up with other international organizations and take tours of different campuses.

A few first semester students from Brazil are attending GCC to improve their ability to speak English. ISO has been a very helpful organization for them since they moved here in mid-August. They enjoyed visiting the market and exploring the city of Buffalo. Recently they went to Niagara Falls with ISO, where they got to experience the Maid of the Mist.

In the small amount of time they have lived here, these students have been able to point out a few differences from their home countries. “Teachers truly care about the students here,” said Elder de Jesus Ferreira from Belém, Brazil. He also noticed that GCC has a better work environment compared to the last college he attended in Brazil. “The classrooms here are very small, and the teachers know the students by name,” he said. “They also help us a lot more, which makes class and homework enjoyable. In Brazil, teachers and students are never on time for class and most classes have almost 200 students. I like knowing my teachers personally.” de Jesus Ferreira plans to attend SUNY Geneseo after graduating from GCC. He said that he hopes to keep in contact with all of the friends they have made at GCC through ISO when he transfers.

If interested in joining ISO or for more information, please contact Kathleen Klaiber at kmklaiber@gensee.edu or Jenny Weatherall at JSWeatherall@genesee.edu.

The WGCC Radio Station continues to be one of the most popular student clubs at GCC. It is the perfect club for anyone looking to get a feel for what it is like to work at a professional radio station.

Valerie Bello, assistant professor of Communication and Media Arts and faculty advisor for WGCC, said, “Anyone can join at any time. You can have your own radio show where you control the music and what time you’re on.”

After being trained on the station equipment, students are given the freedom to choose their music as well as the theme of the show. She also said that, “Typically, WGCC has about 30 members over the course of a year, and we are always looking to grow.”

There are a variety of shows on the station. Each student has control over his or her show, allowing a student’s creativity to shine, said Bello. Every music style is represented from country and rock to rap and alternative. There are sports shows and shows centered on the Beatles.

The WGCC Radio Station is involved in more than just putting students on air.Annually WGCC sponsors a variety of events, ranging from small to large in size.

Every year the club works to give back to the community. Their biggest event is their annual Halloween fundraiser, “Play, Eat and Trick or Treat.” It is an indoor Halloween

continued on page 9.

Students seek help with major and classes

Get to know international students

with ISO

WGCC radio: More than just music

By Bianca NoltStaff Writer{ }

By Bianca NoltStaff Writer{ }

By Sarah SchneebergerStaff Writer{ }

4{NEW Courierthe } NEWS

CEO Club: Creating opportunities

for studentsThe CEO Club is providing opportunities for

young entrepreneurs at Genesee Community College. CEO is short for Collegiate Entrepreneur’s

Organization, which is part of a premier entrepreneurship network with chapters on university campuses across North America and beyond.

According to Amy Conley, the CEO Club advisor at GCC, the goal of this Club is to encourage students about entrepreneurship. Thus, CEO provides students with opportunities, events, activities, and conferences to help improve their business skills.

This year, the CEO Club has ten members; most of them are business majors. So far these members are excited by what the Club has to offer. “I know that I will learn many great things from this Club, and I can’t wait to go to more meetings!” said Abby Wilcox, first year student at GCC.

Wilcox, who owns a cupcake catering business called Coopcakes, is majoring in Entrepreneurship. She joined the Club in hopes of making new friends and connections in her major. Also, she wants to learn new things about business that she can apply toward her own shop. “I have only been to one meeting so far, but going on the Entrepreneurship Conference to RIT gave me a few new marketing ideas for my business,” said Wilcox.

Nicholas Defelice, who had been a member of the Club for one year, said, “I love it; I get to meet new people and see new ideas for my new business.” Defelice is a double major in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.

Defelice also has owned an in home bakery business with his mom for the past five years. He learned from the CEO Club to use his business card as a label

for his bakery and save the cost on printing labels.

Just like these other members, Tara Beckens, whose major is Entrepreneurship, joined the Club because it fit in well with her major. Beckens wants to start her own bakery with her own recipes, using fresh and green local products. She is working on mastering her recipe and finding out where she would stand legally for her future business. “I am hoping the CEO Club helps me to see where I stand,” she said. Beckens is also hoping that the CEO Club will “shed some light” on the things that she needs to be prepared for her bakery.

In previous years, the CEO Club tried to bring first-hand experience to their members by creating their own products. The first product the Club developed was Apple Cider Syrup, which has earned a considerable profit thus far; $4,500 was then given in forms of scholarships to the GCC Foundation, according to Advisor Amy Conley.

The second product that the Club designed is called the Cougar Crunch. This product was sold at different events by CEO members and was included in the gift baskets of last year’s fashion show.

This year, the CEO Club will look to sell the last inventory of the Cougar Crunch and decide whether they should continue that forward or design a new product. They are also hoping to get more people involving in the upcoming Entrepreneurship Week during the Spring semester.

If you are interested in the CEO Club, contact Amy Conley at avconley@genesee.edu.

{ }By Ly Tran Staff Writer

5{NEW Courierthe }NEWS

WARSAW CAMPUS CENTER NEWS{ }

GCC Warsaw Students Walk for Alzheimer’s Awareness. In the middle of a series of rainy days, the clouds separated to let the sun shine on volunteers and walkers during the first Wyoming County Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk on October 5th. Event organizers had anticipated about 75 participants for this inaugural walk starting at the American Legion Building in Warsaw Park, but well over 400 of our neighbors walked to support the Alzheimer’s cause, including a GCC Warsaw contingent organized by our Student Activities group and their Advisor Valerie Hoffman. (Photo by Valerie Hoffman)

Thinking Pink at Warsaw. Three representatives from the Wyoming County Community Hospital, the Radiology Department, and the Public Health Department visited Warsaw Campus on October 21st. Within the lobby area noticeably decorated in shades of pink, it was clear that their message was one of Breast Cancer Awareness. The dedicated reps eagerly offered valuable information and brochures, as well as treats and freebies to students, staff, and community members.

6{NEW Courierthe }

7{NEW Courierthe }NEWS

{WARSAW CAMPUS CENTER NEWS{ }

Sandra Joy (shown left), a part-time student at GCC for more than ten years, was selected as Warsaw’s Student of the Semester after a nomination by her English instructor, Nathanial Fuller, who said that Joy “has taken a great step forward in her writing this semester [and] despite personal issues, she has remained steadfast in her work ethic and asks smart, valuable questions that assist the whole class in their learning development.”Nora O’Neill (shown right) was chosen by Warsaw students as Instructor of the Semester because students have been touched by her passion for the subjects she teaches and her eagerness to spread that enthusiasm to her students. They find her to be a great listener, continuously challenging student thinking, adapting to feedback and providing every student with the opportunity to state their point of view. Her positive teaching style is sincerely appreciated by students. O’Neill has taught sociology and computer classes at GCC Warsaw for over fifteen years (ever since we offered classes at our first Warsaw Campus Main Street location “on the hill”).

Congratulations to our GCC Warsaw Campus Student and Instructor of the 2013 Spring Semester

LIMA CAMPUS CENTER NEWS{

Albion Campus’s Wellness Coalition, under the direction of Pam Lusk, has been very active this semester. Students held a bake sale on November 30th to raise funds for a potential walking trail at the Campus Center. Pictured left to right are students Aaron Mullins, Melissa Melendez, Leah Mead, and Jason Burley. (Photo by Diane Palmer)

Dedicated to the Degree.

Lima Campus Center Wellness Group

This fall, an enthusiastic group of students has been meeting two times a week to exercise together.

The staff in Lima put a plea out to students to see what type of activities might interest them, and “Walking with Leslie Sansone” was developed.

“We are excited to see the students take such an interest in healthy habits. Taking a few hours a week to work out together is a great way to decompress in addition to the obvious health benefits offered,” said Debbie Erion, Lima Campus Center part time associate.

Lima Students and Staff currently meet two days a week for a 30-40 minute work-out session including DVD’s from Leslie Sansone as well as ZUMBA! GCC Lima Student, Annette Annakie said, “It gives me the extra boost I need for the rest of the day.”

Laurie Rogers, Lima Campus Center part time associate, said, “The students’ dedication and motivation is contagious; they are eager to work out even if it means working out in socks. They show up and we get walking!”

The Lima Campus Center is looking to expand this type of program and is excited to see what happens with our Student Activity group in the months to come.

The Warsaw Campus promoted the Community College Completion Corps (C4) initiative with a week-long campaign, encouraging students to commit to completing a degree before transferring or moving on. Through the week beginning September 30th the staff asked students to sign the pledge and the Warsaw campus streamed a completion video. They held a pledging rally and offered cider and donuts. The promotion resulted in a significant number of our students signing a pledge to complete a degree.

} ALBION CAMPUS CENTER NEWS{ }

Pictured are some of our dedicated students following Leslie Sansone’s walking DVD instructions. Front row: Lima Campus Associate Laurie Rogers, student Annette Annakie Back row: Students Tricia Parham and Jenna Brado

8{NEW Courierthe } PEOPLE

“I knew I wanted something else, something bigger,” explained Project Runway season nine Winner Anya Ayoung Chee as she spoke with fashion students at GCC on October 23rd.

This monthly seminar is put on for DECA and fashion students. Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) is part of a national organization for students interested in pursuing a career in business, marketing, or fashion retailing. The event was open to the public.

Fashion Design Student Candace Cooper was project manager of the event and took great measures to make sure that Chee’s visit was highly successful. “This is like a dream come true,” Cooper said. “This event has truly opened my eyes to see how blessed I am. Anya stated that she was inspired by us, let alone how inspired we were from here. The vast amount of encouragement and knowledge she brought to the platform was very empowering; I could not have wished for a better event.”

Offering advice and sharing her journey in the fashion industry, Chee chose a more candid and relaxed approach to her presentation. While engaging students in conversation, Chee outlined her rise to fame from unknown to beauty queen to international designer through the hit television program Project Runway. Growing up in Trinidad, Chee had very limited career options and was expected to follow a strict traditional career path. It wasn’t until Chee traveled to Tokyo, Japan with her family at the age of 15 that she realized her true passion – design. She recounted how mesmerized she was by the technology and innovative designs illuminating the streets of Tokyo.

It was this experience that influenced her in choosing to study graphic design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.

Chee eventually left Parsons during her junior year and studied at the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design in London, England. Upon graduating, Anya worked a string of jobs ranging from film production studio assistant to luxury perfume packaging designer, until her life suddenly changed dramatically.

In 2007, Chee’s younger brother Pilar died in a tragic car accident at the age of eighteen. Following this tragedy, Chee embarked on a “soul searching” journey that eventually led her to the Miss Universe Pageant in 2008 where she represented her home country as Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe. Representing Trinidad and Tobago

provided a platform for her to begin designing clothing and promoting her own designs.

In 2011, Anya Ayoung Chee auditioned for the ninth season of Project Runway and was chosen as a contestant in the final round of casting. Chee recounted the weeks leading up to Project Runway, describing her motivation to be a part of something bigger than herself and the encouragement she felt as “almost divine.” Chee did, however, suffer a lapse of faith when she received a call from Project Runway producers and turned down their original offer for casting in season nine, fearing embarrassment and judgment from her family and friends. Eventually Chee did accept the offer from producers, and the rest is history. Today, Chee is working on her eponymous line in addition to her street wear line PILAR, created in memorial of her deceased brother. Her Spring/Summer 2014 line showed at fashion weeks in South Africa, New York, and

Project Runway winner visits GCC

{ }By Emma Peirick and Candace Cooper

Anya Ayoung Chee

Project Runway Winner Anya Ayoung Chee (6th from left) poses with GCC Fashion students.

London. Chee also recently opened “The cANYAval Shop,” showcasing her designs inspired by Carnival which feature strong Caribbean influences. Chee is still very involved with The Tallman Foundation, a charity that her family founded in memory of her late brother.

Chee credits much of her success to her “light-hearted approach” to the industry and to her mentor who taught her everything she knows about the technical side of design. During her presentation at GCC, Chee offered the same advice to fashion students: Find a mentor to foster and develop skills and take calculated risks.

Chee left students with the following words of encouragement, “Celebrate yourself and risk being yourself fully. It’s never worth not knowing.”

9{NEW Courierthe }PEOPLE

The story of a man following his passion in cinema and combining it with a love for teaching and a desire to serve his community surround the personality of part-time faculty member at GCC Matthew Pettit. This 32-year-old family man and trusted colleague has consistently made a name for himself as a hard-working, energetic teacher in the classrooms and offices of GCC.

Pettit has proven himself a man of many talents in his five year tenure with GCC. His duties have included secretarial positions, test proctoring, and advisement, but perhaps the role he is most well-known for is a humanities instructor. His specialty is in cinematic humanities courses, and he has taught all but one of the courses GCC offers on cinema.

After obtaining his bachelor’s in Film Production, Pettit’s original plan was to become a director. When he said he “came to his senses,” he obtained his master’s in Humanities and became a college instructor at GCC. “I wanted to become a director at first but decided to pursue a more practical direction for a career,” Pettit said.

Pettit has been married for six years and has two children. He is presently an instructor and advisor at the Medina Campus Center of GCC. Currently teaching Humanities 147, Popular Cinema, Pettit said that the best part of his job lies in serving others. “I really enjoy being able to enlighten people,” he said. “Giving students a new understanding of cinema is the best part of teaching.”

The success in Pettit’s efforts to teach and enlighten do not go unnoticed in the classroom or by his colleagues. Director of Operations of both the Medina and Albion Medina campuses, Michele Bokman, has

known Pettit for four years. “Matt is the type of person who truly focuses on the students’ success,” Bokman said. “He is always energetic when teaching but very caring and compassionate as well.”

Students also sing praise for Pettit. GCC General Studies Student Samuel Henry is attending his third class with Pettit as the instructor. “Matthew Pettit has a very deep grasp on the material,” Henry said. “He is very in-depth in descriptions and passionate about his work.”

Despite the subject matter he teaches, Pettit’s interests are not limited to cinema. “One thing you need to know about Matt is that he is an intellectual,” Bokman said.

Pettit said he has always loved history. “My favorite class to teach is American Cinema because it includes a lot of history into the course material,” he said. His knowledge of the cinema coupled with an understanding of the time period surrounding it makes for an encompassing experience for students such as Henry.

“What students see in film,” Bokman said, “Matt relates to everyday life in a meaningful way.” Bokman said that Pettit’s ability to inspire new ways to think about cinema and how it can and does affect modern society gives the students not just a great teacher, but a caring mentor.

Pettit said that his time at GCC has been well spent. Beyond his love of teaching and caring nature, he said that his fellow colleagues make GCC what it is. “The people here love what they do,” Pettit said.

Pettit directs students in appreciating cinema

By Elijah SimonStaff Writer{ }

Matthen Pettit(Photo by Elijah Simon)

population is international students, 40% to 45% is from rural areas less than an hour away from the College, and the remaining 40% to 45% is from urban areas such as Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and New York City.

“Living at College Village reminds me of living back home with my parents but better. I get to live on my own, participate in school activities, and never be late for class. What more can I ask for?” said Rob Castleton, a College Village resident.

Additionally, the Success in Residency program (SIR) is a program outfitted for College Village residents to better prepare them for the start of school and to further assist them throughout the school year to ensure success and graduation. College Village administrators work closely with GCC’s financial aid and admissions office to capitalize on the SIR program by ensuring that every College Village resident has the proper assistance and support needed for the transition into College Village living.

Anyone attending GCC can apply for housing at College Village. Sisson said, “We give everyone the opportunity to live in apartment style living in their very first year. This is preparation for life after college as they will most likely live in an apartment right out of college.”

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WGCC radiocontinued from page 3{ }

party for families in the community. Bello said that she wants to involve the students with the community. “In doing this event, they learn about the planning and event execution aspects, as well as getting out into the community and working with local businesses to solicit donations and sponsorships,” she said.

The Club also holds two alumni weekends for former WGCC DJ’s as well as sponsoring a theme/fan appreciation night with the Athletics department. Bello said that “two years ago, we gave away hundreds of foam fingers for basketball season and inflatable bats for baseball season. Last year we gave out Cougars rally towels.” WGCC has also been involved with the Boy Scouts and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

For students wanting to better their public speaking and radio skills, WGCC is a great way to do it, Bello said. The station can be reached worldwide online, and students are given a large platform to make their voices heard.

The station can be found on 90.7 FM as well as live streaming online at http://www.wgcc-fm.com 24 hours a day. More information about WGCC can be found right on their website at http://www.wgcc-fm.com.

10{NEW Courierthe } PEOPLE

There are many things that may motivate an individual to go to work each day. For some, it may be a paycheck at the end of each week; for others, it may be getting out of the house. For Charmayne Bloom, an academic advisor at Genesee Community College in Medina, NY, it is the desire and enjoyment of helping others. This inspiration has shown through her work with both students and colleagues at GCC and has earned her not just a job but a way of life that is respected and loved by all who cross her path.

Through her six years working with GCC, Bloom has always felt that her work should exemplify her aspiration to serve others. “I have always wanted to be in a helping position,” Bloom said. This can be attested to by the Associate Dean of both the Medina and Albion GCC campus centers, Jim Simon.

Simon has had a unique relationship with Bloom because of their careers with GCC. Both Simon and Bloom were members of the original staff at the Medina campus and have worked together ever since. “Charmayne’s greatest strength is the empathy she shows to her students. She knows the field of advisement very well and has a positive attitude,” he said.

Perhaps one of the reasons Bloom excels at student advisement lies in her experience with students and her personal education. “I earned my Associates in 1984 from GCC in Human Services. I always knew I wanted to get a job in which I could help people,” Bloom said. In addition, her work experience includes an extended time at Medina Central High School, giving her educational credibility that caught the eye of Simon when she was being considered for the position at GCC. “Her experience in education and personable character stood out to me,” Simon said.

Though Bloom is an alumnus of GCC and is genuinely invested in her work, family has always come first. Bloom has a husband of 27 years and a 22-year-old daughter who has also spent time as a GCC student. “My daughter has also gone into a field of study with a desire to help others. I have always tried to be an example to her,” Bloom said. This loving attitude for her family is openly shared with all who Bloom meets.

Jamie Chappius, a campus center associate at the Medina campus, has seen the effects of Bloom’s caring nature. “Charmayne is a kind and open person. She goes above and beyond for her students both personally and professionally,” Chappius said. She also mentioned the mentorship Bloom has shown her in her newly-begun career with GCC. “Whether it is sending me resources or helping me with student activities, she is always willing to help. She is also open to changes that I may suggest,” Chappius said.

Bloom tries to convey a genuine attitude when talking to students by honestly considering their situation. Her goal is to help students achieve their goals in their lives as much as she is able. “The best part of my job is helping students realize they can achieve their goals even when it doesn’t seem like it,” Bloom said.

Chappius sees this side of Bloom every day. “She is always focused on the student,” she said. “In any given situation she will be all for what benefits the student even if it doesn’t benefit her or the College.”

Medina staffer a role model for students

By Elijah SimonStaff Writer{ }

11{NEW Courierthe }PEOPLE

{ Pride. When the Planning & Strategy officer of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Executive Committee, Michael Ianni approached the library about doing a display for LGBT History month in October, the GCC Librarians were delighted. Ianni and Librarian Cindy Francis collaborated on the content and design of the display. Over 50 books were arranged in three groups: LGBT Fiction and Non-Fiction, and titles by LGBT authors. GSA Advisor, Candice Vacin provided the rainbow flag. Vacin said, “This may be the first time the Rainbow flag was hung at GCC.” Pictured from left to right is Jasmine Vogel, Fundraising chair; Morgan Jackson, secretary; Matt Ianni, Strategy & Planning chair; Marielle Brown, Communication & PR chair; Casey Arthur, Recruitment & Retention chair, and Candice Vacin, faculty advisor.

(Photo by Michelle Eichelberger)

GCC has made many changes to its Campus Safety office. One is a new director of campus safety

A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Stephen Wise joined the campus staff on May 1st, 2013. After over 20 years as a police officer with the Greece Police Department, Wise also taught Criminal Justice at SUNY Brockport and Bryant and Stratton Colleges

before taking a job as head of security for the Churchville/Chili School District for three years prior to taking this position at GCC.

In just the few short months that he has been at GCC, Wise has already started working on and currently is implementing several changes big and small to the security program. Some of the smaller changes that have occurred already include new uniforms for officers, moving Lost and Found completely to the security offices, enhanced security office hours, and more.

Also, Wise is making sure that students become more aware of services that Campus Safety provides, such as escorting concerned students to locations around campus, including College Village. He said that he is still “taking stock” of everything security related. “GCC security already had a very good program when I arrived,” Wise said. GCC’s Executive Vice President for Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, William Emm, said he has great confidence in Wise’s ability. “We wanted to turn to someone who already had law enforcement background,” he said.

Emm said that GCC did a national search when looking for candidates for the position before finding Wise. “[Wise] has a great background and a lot of emergency management exercise experience,” he said. Wise wants students to know that Campus Safety officers “are here to help.” He said, “We’re not here to give people a hard time.” He also wanted to make sure that students know that they can approach security anytime, and the officers will always try to help with any problems.

Someone

Wisedirects

Campus Safety

Stephen Wise

By Ian LawsonStaff Writer { }

12{NEW Courierthe } SPORTS

The Genesee Community College women’s volleyball team has won the Region III Division II title every year since 1996. 2013 is no different as the Lady Cougars defeated Mercyhurst North East on October 22nd to earn their 18th consecutive title.

GCC defeated Mercyhurst NE in four sets (25-16, 23-25, 25-11, 25-22).

Michelle Nagle led the way for GCC with 15 kills and 12 digs. Leyinska Quiles-Torres and Brittany Besser each added 20 digs, and Quiles-Torres also had five aces. Stephanie Maddox finished the night with 15 kills and ten digs. Nohama Garcia-Torres had 38 assists, and Andrea Pursel chipped in seven kills and four digs.

Nagle was named the Region III Division II Most Valuable Player and Quiles-Torres, Maddox, and Garcia-Torres were named to the All-Region Team. GCC Head Coach Jim Mercer earned Region III Division II Coach of the Year honors.

There are several things waiting to greet you at GCC’s gym: the heat from several bodies pursuing a ball and the smell of human sweat. Volleyballs scatter around the court, sneakers skid, and the smack of a hand serving the ball echoes through the walls. In the midst of this are the women’s volleyball team and their coach, James Mercer.

Mercer, who has been head coach of the volleyball team since 2010, is unafraid to get right in with the ladies and play, giving tips and correcting mistakes as needed. Around him, the thirteen women gather, determination etched on their faces.

The team is “predominately local,” Mercer said, “Though there are a couple students from out of state.” Most of the players are from around the Batavia, Akron, or Buffalo areas, while others have traveled from as far as California, Puerto Rico, and Japan to study at GCC. It’s here in the gym, though, they meet to practice and play as a team.

All around, the girls are seen joking with each other, cheering each other on, and helping each other out. Though things heat up a little during plays, the atmosphere remains fairly relaxed. When one player falls, another helps her up with a friendly slap on the back. “I love my teammates,” said Michelle Nagle, one of the team’s outside hitters and a past GCC Athlete of the Week. “They’re crazy, funny, and supportive.” Outside Hitter Lindsey Thomas agreed, “Definitely crazy.”

When a player is injured during a Wednesday practice, all her teammates gather around to comfort her. “We kind of look to each other [for support],” Nagle said. Thomas said, “I just love to play. It’s just fun.”

These athletes work hard to balance volleyball with academics “Every free second you’re doing homework,” Nagle said. Thomas said, “You’re social life becomes the volleyball team.”

The women waste little time, playing practice games or throwing free shots clear over the seven foot net. They work together, defending their side of the net, spiking it over the other, and cleaning up as needed. The only downside? “The knee pads get pretty smelly,” Nagle said.

“Every team is different,” Mercer said, “but they have good camaraderie. They work hard; they’re willing to do a lot for each other, and they’re getting better.”

The Genesee Community College Men’s Lacrosse Team just ended an excellent fall season.

Their record was 5-1 but Head Coach Dave Hoover said that more importantly, “we were able to play all of our players in the game.”

The team had a perfect record in their tournament on October 12th at 3-0. Hoover

said that his proudest moment this season was the “total team performance and improvement shown,” during the tournament.

Hoover has been the Head Coach of the GCC Men’s Lacrosse team since 2007, and his team really looks up to him. Craig Seneca, goal tender and number 32, said that his coach “means a lot to me. He makes me push myself to my full potential.” For Seneca, lacrosse is more than just a game. “I grew up around lacrosse, and lacrosse is part of my Native American heritage,” he said.

Hoover and the rest of the coaching staff including, Assistant Coach Derek Hoover, Assistant Coach Anthony Alexander, Assistant Coach Caleb Higgins, and Assistant Coach JD Skura all enjoy coaching. “The coaching staff really enjoys being able to play a role in the character development and growth of each player, along with producing a successful season,” said Dave Hoover.

The team views itself as a family. Seneca said, “They are all great guys who like to have fun and who love to play lacrosse.”

With a successful fall season over, the team is now looking toward the spring season with big goals in mind. Chris Lommer, number 22, said that his hope for next season is to “make it to the National Championship game in May.” Justin Wallace, number 40, shares his determination. “I want to win the National Championship next season,” he said.

Hoover is right there with them. He said, “Our team goals are to return to the Region 3 and NJCAA Final Four again in 2014, but go all the way and win the ‘Ring’!”

While the team is dedicated to having a successful season on the field, they are also dedicated in the classroom. The members of the team are required to have three hours of study hall time every week to keep up with their academics. Hoover said that “the coaching staff wants to graduate student athletes who transfer on to finish their degrees and who are ready to succeed in life and help make a positive difference in society.”

With the spring season just around the corner, the GCC Men’s Lacrosse Team’s dedication and determination have made them a force to be reckoned with. Their first scrimmage of the spring season is on February 15, 2014 at Roberts Wesleyan College.

A stellar fall season points to a promising spring season for the GCC men’s lacrosse team By Sarah Schneeberger

Staff Writer{ }Courtesy of Athletics

Department{ }

By Amanda WolfordStaff Writer{ }

Women’s volleyball team scores title for 17th year in a row

Women’s volleyball team depends on comradeship

Direct Hit! Michelle Nagle, #3 white uniform, looks for the kill. (Photo by Andrew Crofts)

Region III Division II Champion volleyball team. (Photo by Andrew Crofts)