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Coming to America
By Yirssi Bergman
News Editor

Short and sweet looking, at first glance it’s hard to imagine the determination and strength that hides behind Christina Doe’s features.

The Past

Christina Doe was born in Liberia, West Africa, but moved to Ghana as a child. Liberia is a beautiful country with vegetation growing lush and green, and is also one of Africa’s countries ripped apart by civil war.

“I lived in Ghana 11 years,” Doe said. Living in Ghana “for the first five or six years was pretty diffi cult because I lost my dad during a civil war in Liberia. So growing up without a dad, you know, it’s pretty hurtful because of seeing my other friends with their dads.”

She was four when she lost her father, and said she remembers little about him. “A little bit, it’s sketchy, here and there. My family did a good job of telling me stories about him to keep the memory alive, so I can see him.”

After her father was murdered, the people who did it tried to kill the rest of her family so they had to leave Liberia.

“It was just me and my mom, you know. But my mom, she’s a really strong lady.” Doe said.

Doe looks up to her mother for raising a child alone. “She did so many different jobs, she worked as a teacher, she was a secretary, she also did Home Ed. classes...”

Doe was 15 when she got to the United States as a refugee. She arrived in San Diego, Calif. on March 30, 2001. She arrived here with her mother and two of her cousins.

“Everything was beautiful in California, but you know, living somewhere where you don’t have people that speak the same as you do, or who don’t eat the kind of food you eat...” Doe said. She explained that her aunt lived here in Grand Rapids and invited them to move here, so they did.

She explains that moving here “was a little bit a cultural shock, but it wasn’t anything that extreme. I expected most stuff, because Liberia and America have almost the same way of living.

Even though I grew up in Ghana, but most of the people around me in Ghana were from Liberia, since my mom was trying to bring me up in the Liberian ways.

“The biggest change for me, I would say, was the food, you know, the food and the weather. Now I have adjusted to the food, but I haven’t adjusted to the weather.

Because over back in Africa is almost all year-round summer, and then coming over here I’d never seen snow before. It was a big difference.” Doe said.

She was put in the ninth grade when she arrived. Doe said it wasn’t hard for her to make friends, but for some reason she thought if she made new friends she was going to forget about her old friends. But as she grew older, she said she realized you make friends to keep, even if they are not close by.

The Future

Doe is majoring in Child Development, and is weighing the programs that Ferris State University, Calvin College, and Aquinas College have. She chose Child Development because she always liked babysitting and teaching kids after school.

Ghana is where the rest of her family is, but she hasn’t gone back to either Ghana or Liberia yet.

“Maybe within the next three years, hopefully. Because you know, you can’t just go without money. A round trip ticket costs $2,000. So you really have to plan, and you have to carry things for family members, because you can’t just go back, people will be expecting that you bring at least something. Everyone is expecting; once they hear you are coming back everyone is all excited.”

Her face lighted up when she talked about traveling. She’s going to Philadelphia in July and has been to nine states so far. Her goal is to visit all of them.

Doe has a positive outlook on life and on immigration, “Everyone comes over here (The United States) for a different reason, but most of us come for a better life, to get education. So if you come over here, keep that purpose in mind and try to push through.” She said.

As she talks, her strength shows through. “Be open to make new friends, and don’t let bad comments get in the way of reaching your goals, there are people who say negative things to you and sometimes the negatives kind of hurt. But at the end of the day, you know where you are coming from, and you know where you are going. So you can take those comments and use them in a positive way, it’ll help you move forward.”

She said although sometimes things weren’t easy she gave 100 percent, she focused. This paid off, since she just got accepted into the Disney internship program. She is leaving for Florida and is very excited.

“Freedom”

Twenty-five-year-old Mamu Barry and 19-year-old Alicia Toure describe Liberia a little bit more. They were also born there.

Barry was 11 when she came to the States, “I came when I was little, 11 years old, so memories that I have of it (Liberia) are of being a kid.”

Toure interceded with the word, “Freedom.”

Barry laughed and nodded, “The freedom of being a kid. It’s beautiful.” Barry is always laughing, and this conversation is no exception.

Toure has been here seven years. “I remember playing a lot, you do your homework. It’s not like here. When you go to school, you come back, you are closed in your house watching TV. We watched TV maybe once a week, we didn’t care about TV.”

Barry finished the thought, “You were always out doing something educational, whether it was helping your elders... Our TV was in our mind. You made up your own stories.”

Barry looked into the distance, remembering the landscape of Liberia.

“Physically, the water is beautiful, clean. One thing I love about Africa, as far as the beach, certain days that’s the busiest day at the beach, and with the rocks in the water, people actually go do their laundry in the water. They have the washboard, and people do the laundry in the water. Lots of trees, plants…”

Toure interrupted, “I’ve never seen a tiger or anything like that. The most I saw was ducks, cats. People will ask, ‘Have you seen any lions walking around?’”

Barry continued, “No, just like there’s zoo here. That was one question that I hated when I got to the United States. What makes it so bad is that I didn’t see any lions until I got here. The tigers, the giraffes, I didn’t see any of that until I got here.

“But it ain’t how people think it is. And then I can’t fault them either, because that’s what they show on TV. Now it’s getting better where they actually show another side of Africa, when the President or a celebrity goes or stuff like that. But before, it was like ‘OK, lets have a shot of the village,’ and they’d show America and everywhere else that is Africa. No, Africa is so much more than that.”

They said another misconception is that people walk around with no clothes on, or that they live on tree houses. Only people that live in villages in the jungle might not wear clothes, the women said. Toure came here because of a program they had available at Liberia.

Her dad came first, worked for about a year and sent for her mother. After her mother was also in the States for a little while, Alicia and her sister came. The date was March of 2000.

Alicia adjusted quickly, even though the food was “a little different.” Barry, in the other hand, snapped her fingers when asked if she adjusted well. “That was no problem.”

Her brother was in the army here in the states, and that’s how the rest of her family came.

“It just so happened that when my brother got all the paperwork done, the war started.” She said of the Liberian Civil War, the same war that killed Christina’s father. It was just Barry’s mother and her brothers and sisters, nine of them in total. Her mom raised them all, and Barry described her as “big on education.”

“All she ever asked of us (is) that we should always know who we are. No matter where we are we should keep our identity,” Barry said. “If you are from another country you have no choice but to be diverse. If you are not diverse, something ain’t right.

“Coming here as far as adjusting with school and stuff like that, yeah, it was different compared to the learning over there. Back there is like, age don’t matter, if you don’t pass in Africa you are not moving to the next grade. If you are about to be 50 in the first grade, you will be 50 in the first grade.”

Toure elaborated, “In Africa you have to do your homework, if you don’t, you get a whooping, in front of the whole school.”

Toure is going into nursing and with the degree she can go back to Africa and help others.

Barry is going into criminal justice, but she won’t be a cop, since she said “they get shot a lot.” She wants to do probation or parole work.

During the Civil War

Barry described the situation during the war, “During the war, not everyone was blessed to get that opportunity to come here to get a second chance. There is no way I would have wanted to be in that spot at that time. There’s no food, the lights are out, you are running from the army, you are thinking ‘what am I gonna feed the kids…’

“There’s no medicine, there used to be natural medicines, but with the war going on the resources are not available like they used to be, all the crops have died. Thinking about it scares me enough.”

Toure is glad to be here in the States, “I’m so grateful that I’m here, because I’d probably would have been dead, or hungry somewhere. Yeah, I’m very grateful.

My cousins back home they call sometimes for money and I feel so helpless because I don’t have any money, it hurts.”

They both believe people have to be open-minded about immigration.

“Let’s be open minded, when you are closed minded it’s like you are on your own little reality you don’t really know what’s going on out there. And there’s so much more, the world is just not one little spot, it’s not,” Barry said.

Immigration process illustrated
By Nicholas MacDonald
Collegiate Staff Writer

The sounds of Africa filled the room as pictures of their native land play in the background.

This was the scene as a quiet room greeted the African Student Organization’s advisor, Stacey Heisler, who introduced speaker Patrick Kamau.

Kamau has lived in Michigan for 12 years after coming to America from Kenya. He is attending Western Michigan University for his Doctorate while working at Bethany Christian Services. The ASO invited Kamau because of his unique experience as an immigrant and counselor to immigrants. The presentation was about the process of acculturation and how awareness is important.

The statistics shown during the presentation stated that 12 percent of the population in America is an immigrant and that every 27 seconds there is a new immigrant.

When immigrants arrive here, they are nervous, anxious, and excited, Kamau explained. Part of the problem with the process is that expectations are often too high and based in myth.

“I thought you had a card (In America) that you could just swipe for whatever you want,” Kamau said about when he first arrived here.

The members of the ASO agreed with this distortion. “We thought (in Liberia) it was a second heaven here, that Americans were gods,” GRCC student and ASO member Arthur Gwino Jr. said.

The myths perpetuated in Africa conflict with the reality immigrants face. This was all part of the process illustrated by Kamau.

ΩΩAmong the questions asked by the audience were if the Lost Boys minded that title.

"We do not mind being called 'lost boys,' because that is what we are. We have no parents, it describes who we are,” ASO President Majier Chol said.

The explanation of the process contained four parts: integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization. Each immigrant is in one or more of these steps in the process. For them, this process has a big impact on their lives.

“It’s a long, complicated, tedious process,” Kamau said.

He urged people to be more open and aware when they are interacting with immigrants. Among the suggestions mentioned that would help immigrants was being aware of the additional stress they face learning about a new culture.

Kamau praised the college for its progressive work in this direction and thanked the room for attending.

The event ended with refreshments and donations to the Red Cross to help conflict areas around the world.

Alcohol Abuse continues to be a problem
By Michelle Smith
Collegiate Staff Writer

“The majority of my friends either drink underage or they are 21 and drink just to have a good time,” GRCC student Tim Fitch said. “I know one friend who is underage, and she drinks just because of the intense risk factor. She likes to get the buzz of doing something illegal.”

In order to address the problem of alcohol abuse, April was declared Alcohol Awareness Month.

The issue of alcohol abuse seems to be prevalent among college students. Though car accident safety has improved in recent years, many young adults continue to abuse alcohol.

Samantha Mitchell, also a student at GRCC, has strong views on drunk drivers. “I feel there should be stricter drunk driving policies. Too many people get killed by drunk drivers and it is easily preventable.”

Binge drinking has become vey common in the college and young adult scene. Typically, it happens because the person drinking wants a rush, and to get drunk quickly.

They figure the best way to enjoy the alcohol is by consuming as much as possible in a shot time frame.

Binge drinking for a typical adult is when a male consumes five or more drinks, or four or more drinks for women, in a two-hour period. Women seem to be more vulnerable than men to many of the affects of alcohol.

According to research, a lot of college students and underage drinkers said drinking was routine, though it was hard for them to explain why they did it. Most see drinking as a rite of passage, or a fundamental part of college life. They feel it is easier to “fit in.”

“I drink on the weekends sometimes. I don’t think it is a bad thing unless you let it interfere with other things in your life, like school and work,” said GRCC student Kelsey Cunningham had to say when asked about her alcohol habits.

College students who drink heavily on a regular basis are more likely to miss class, fall behind in school, injure themselves, sleep around, drive while intoxicated, or even come in contact with campus police.

When people think of alcohol abuse , the image that tends to come to mind is a college student taking shot after shot of liquor or chugging glass after glass of beer. There is also the image of the underage drinker who sneaks and drinks at parties, gets access to alcohol, and might drink at sporting events or dances at their high school.

Those are just a couple of cases where alcohol is an issue. That area is the focus of attention more than the others. There is now less focus on the mother or father, the grandmother, maybe an aunt or uncle who might have a drinking problem. Now the focus is just as much on the teen or college student.

Overall, alcohol is an issue for all types of people and it should be taken seriously if there seems to be an ongoing problem. There are Web sites, different groups, and ways to get help for someone dealing with alcohol abuse and addiction.

Student workers honored
By Charles Jurries
Web Design Editor

Student workers were honored on campus as part of a week-long celebration.

Student Employee Appreciation Week honored students who spend time in-between classes to work on campus.

Luann Wedge, from the Job Placement Center on campus, organized the event.

Student Employee Appreciation Week is an “event to show our student employees that we appreciate the work that they do for the college,” Wedge said.

“I like the whole week,” Raider Grille employee Ana Priest said. “It’s pretty nice.”

According to Wedge, the event started 10 years ago. Michelle Vliem, Wedge’s predecessor, learned about the event at a conference she attended and decided it would be a nice way to show appreciation for student workers.

Since the events inception, the Job Placement Center has received for support to turn the week into “something really special for our student employees,” Wedge said.

“I love it,” Georgana Haight said about the week. Haight, who works in Student Life, said it is fun to have the college show their appreciation for them and all the work that they do.

“This campus would be nothing without us,” Haight said.

Student employees received a card they could swipe at places across campus to receive free and discounted items across campus. Students were also automatically entered into daily drawing for prizes like DVD players, flash drives, and printers, among others.

Prizes included food, games, a GPS system, a PlayStation 3, and a 19” LCD television.

Student Employee Appreciation Week was held April 14 trough 18.

Innovative prototyping
By Nicole Hoffman
Collegiate Staff Writer

GRCC was part of a federal grant to do prototyping for innovation courses.

The study took place from January to March of this year. Part of the prototyping involved the students taking part in different activities. There were 140 GRCC students that took part in this, as well as 20 other colleges. Much of the study took place online at wiredforinnovation.com.

Students from three marketing classes, and two of the management classes were given the opportunity to be a part of the study.

There are 23 skills of innovation, but students were only tested on one part of it. GRCC students focused on synthesis. The website says that synthesis shows how more than one idea may be combined, modified or redefined into something new. These activities were created to work on students skills of innovation.

“What we need in business, we need innovation and creativity,” said Felix Pereiro, one of the professors leading the activities. 

Some of the activities they participated in were watching videos, written activities, group activities, online quizzes and puzzles. One of the directors of the study Liz McCormick said, “Overall students did an amazingly good job.”

One of the big activities that students were involved in was researching, observing and simulating a restaurant, then pitching the idea to professors McCormick and Pereiro. One of the groups went above and beyond what was expected.

“The first group blew me away,” said Pereiro. This group brought in a model of what the restaurant would look like, had music playing during their pitch and also dressed the part.

These activities are being used to get ideas going for credit classes for the fall, winter and summer semesters of 2009. “I thought that the innovation project was very helpful by helping others and myself see things in a different way,” said student Ryan Tucker.

The classes will help students develop skills in creating revolutionaries. Pereiro said, “I’m interested in creating revolutionaries. Creating something so radical, we need more disruptive innovative thinkers. It’s not an age thing. It’s a cool thing. It’s a creative thing. It’s an innovative thing.”

One student Aaron Kutsche said, “Synthesis and this project have already made an incredible difference in both my life and the way that I view the future. It provided me with the beginning to a solution for what I want to do after college.”

One thing that Pereiro emphasized on was that to continue the progress they have made with this prototyping and to be able to make them credit classes, the college will need to give more funding to the project.

Tutor working for family, students
By Jeff Kranz
Collegiate Staff Writer

GRCC Assistant Director of Academic Tutorial and Testing service Raju Hegde balances his time between his work, duties, and family.

Hegde grew up in Dekalb, Illinois and Naperville Illinois. He has a bachelor’s degree with a double major in math and theater from Knox College, and a master’s degree in Education from Temple University.

“Both places were great and offered opportunities that were ideal for me. As a child it was great to grow up in a university and farming town where we were encouraged to get outside and play and learn about the world around us by touching it,” Hegde said.

Hedge has been at GRCC for two years, and during that time he has helped create several different programs that benefit the college such as the Bridge Program and the GRCC-Kettering partnership.
The Bridge Program provides early tutoring for students taking Math 003. This program was developed to mentor students. Those who complete the program get a scholarship.

The Kettering partnership makes earning a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Computer Science, or Management at Kettering much easier for Grand Rapids-area students.
Education was not necessarily part of his plans, but having both parents so involved in that field planted the seeds for his future plans to take shape.

“I don’t know if working in the field of education specifically was part of my plans, although I don’t think it was ever very far away,” he said. “My father was a professor at Northern Illinois, and his passion for teaching and learning was always present at our house.”

Hegde parents were very involved in education. His father was a professor at Northern Illinois University, and his mother completed an MS in computer science.

"Seeing both my parents so involved in education definitely influenced the decisions I have made,” Hege said.

Hegde has been married to his wife, Beth, for five years. He has two children: a three-year-old daughter named Sarahna and a one-year-old son named Lucas; he also has one dog named Oliver.

"I have very few hobbies, between work, young kids, and friends that more or less takes up all of mine and Beth’s time,” Hegde said.

Hegde vision for GRCC is to continue to provide access to post secondary education to the community and he would like to see the college continually work to improve that service.

“I would be inclined to say that I am my parent’s son and my children’s father.” he said. “The things that are most important to me are my family, my wife, and kids, my parents and brother, and my extended family of friends.”
   

Editor-in-Chief Lonnie Allen contributed to this article.

Campus Events for April 23, 2008
Compiled by Charles Jurries
Web Design Editor

Open Mic Night
April 23, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Free talent competition for students. Held in Quiet Café, sponsored by the Black Student Union.

Earth Club
April 23, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
A movie will be shown dealing with current environmental issues. Held in room 168 in the ATC building.

Commencement Ceremony
May 2, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Graduation will be held in the Ford Fieldhouse. WZZM-TV meteorologist George Lessens will give keynote address. Tickets not required.

Summer Classes
May 5
First section of summer classes begin on this date for day and evening classes.

GRCC KPO Concert
May 9, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
A performance of the GRCC Kent Philharmonia Orchestra with Dr. Mary Scanlan on piano. Held in the Royce Auditorium at St. Cecilia Music Center. Admission is free.

Kiss of the Spider Woman
May 15 - 24, 8 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
Actors’ Theatre presents the Tony Award winning musical to Grand Rapids. Tickets are $25. Performance held at Spectrum Theater.

Career Decision Making
May 20, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
A workshop on how to decide on a future career. Held in room 112 of the Main building.

Fall Semester
Sept. 2
Day and night classes for the fall semester begin on this date.

The Collegiate is taking a summer break. A new print edition will be available in the fall. Our Web site, CollegiateLive.com, stays open throughout the summer.

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Current Edition:
April 23, 2008

Next Edition:
Fall, 2008