Penny on a railroad track A final recital for GRCC classical guitar
students Kyle Thompson and Matt Berrios
was performed last Friday. The night started with Thompson, 22,
playing John W. Duarte’s three-piece melody,“English Suite.” The introduction to the piece
started slow and gentle, but by the end the
vibrating chords danced with his fingers. His last solo, “Jubilation, an introduction
to Sunburst, Sunburst,” was Thompson’s favorite
to perform. During the piece, his body
movement suggested enthusiasm and excitement. Afterwards, Thompson said it was the
highlight of his personal performance. He described
his thoughts during
the act. “It’s like a penny on a
railroad track, it just goes
really fast and you keep
your fi ngers going and pray
to God that you don’t screw
up,” Thompson said. The performance ended
with claps and cheering from
the audience. GRCC student Dan Matthews
said the recital was“awesome and entertaining,”
and that “they both did a
good job.” Music director Brian Morris said Berrios
and Thompson both “did
fabulously.” He said because
GRCC is a two-year
school, most students normally
do not get a chance
to do a recital. He said
most university musicians
do not perform a recital
until their senior year. Brian said both students are excellent performers and have promising futures. He was pleased with their performance. Fiesta time The Hispanic Cultural Fiesta brought a colorful display to the
dance floor Friday night. GRCC’s Hispanic Student Organization invited guests to a “Hispanic
Cultural Fiesta” to “create awareness of the Hispanic culture,
provide an opportunity to integrate culture in GRCC community, and
to promote the HSO,” HSO’s advisor, GRCC provost Gilda Gely said. The event happened April 4 at the Raider Grille, where approximately
300 attendees enjoyed food, dance, and music from different
Latin countries. Sanjuana Gracia tagged along with a GRCC student. “It was really
cultural, and we ate food from a lot of different countries. I really
liked that,” she said. The buffet included food from five different countries, such as
bisteck ranchero from Mexico, and empanadas and mofongo from
Dominican Republic. Performances displayed folkloric dances from Argentina,
Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Brasil.
Skirts flying, feet tapping, and dancing stories all entertained
at the fiesta. Arrays of Tango, Polka, Merengue, Salsa and Capoeira
took place. The audience was energetic throughout the cultural party.
During the dancing performances, people stood up and started
dancing to mimic the performers. Later, the stage turned into a
dance floor welcoming the guests to join as well. The Martial Arts group “Capoeira Mandinga” came from GVSU.
GRCC student Edgar Maldonado, 22, said the Brazilian Capoeira
dance was the best. Capoeira moves include flips and other ranges
of movement, and is combined with fighting techniques. “I think everything was good, it was perfect” Maldonado said.
He plans to attend next year’s fiesta too. Another group represented the Dominican Republic’s dance
style. The youth group of the Methodist Church “La Nueva
Esperanza” performed a Merengue dance. 15-year-old Yira Alvarez was one of the showcased dancers.
Her dress was white with red and blue lining, which floated as she
twirled. After the dance she said, “I was excited, I like performing in
front of people.” HSO also held a free raffle for attending. They raffled an iPod
shuffle, a $50 certificate to Best Buy, and a $100 certificate valid at a
number of restaurants around town. Gely said she donated the iPod, but the group members took care of
everything else. “The students have been running the
show, our role as advisors here has been
merely support,” Gely said. “They contacted
artists, groups, restaurants... they came up
with the concept.” She described the group as “Small, very involved, very
enthusiastic.” Lissa Polanco, HSO’s
secretary, explained that she
wanted to plan the event,“to get people to learn about
our culture, and to have
fun doing good things, not
violence or anything like
that.” Second year GRCC student
Joan Carlos de la Cruz said he
helped with the event, and even
though he is transferring to
Davenport University next year,
but he will come back to help
again. Eric Mullen, Director of Student
Life, said, “The students did an
amazing job. (It was a) Great
showcase for the many
Latin cultures,” Jose Espinoza,
father of a GRCC
student, also
attended the event
and said he really
liked it. “There
should be more
events like this
to burn the kid’s
energy.” Students who want to be part of the Hispanic Student Organization can send an email to HSOgrcc.email.grcc.edu. The meetings are Thursdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Channels make a move Television is going to change. Starting on Feb. 17, 2009, all local
stations will be switch over from analog
transition to digital. With that switch
will come better picture, better audio,
and new terminology to learn. The change is to free up
airwaves for use by public safety
communications (first responders,
police, etc.) and also for companies who
provide wireless Internet and phone
services. Janet Mason, President and General
Manager at WZZM Channel 13, said
digital television will benefi t the regular
person. “Consumers will have access to
high definition television, dramatically
better television picture, more
channels, and better audio,” she said. Each station will also be able to broadcast multiple channels of programming at once, which is known as“multicasting.” According to Mason, the
switch also allows stations to provide
data services, such as “significantly enhanced
closed captioning, that are not
possible with analog technology.” The Federal Communications Commission
assigned TV stations their digital
channels. In the Grand Rapids area,
that meant different numbers than they
use for their traditional signal. Diane Kniowski, General Manager
of WOOD-TV, WOTV, and WXSP, said“Consumers will now get even more
channels for more voices and more
information. The picture will be cleaner
and clearer. The community will benefit as it will take less power to send the
digital signal.” “I think most people don’t know that
if they subscribe to a cable or satellite
service, they will not have to do
anything. They will still receive their
television signal,” Kniowski said. “The
service will translate the signal for
them.” According to Kniowski, the transition
to digital started 10 years ago. Each station had to build a digital
channel, while maintaining their analog
signal. Next February, the analog channel
will be shut down and each television
station will broadcast exclusively
on digital. According to Mason, the digital
channel numbers should not matter, because
a technology called “PSIP” allows
stations to assign their current channel
position to TV sets. Mason said they are currently
broadcasting their digital signal on
assigned channel 39. But if you have a
high defi nition television set attached
to an external antenna, the HD channel
comes up as 13-1, because that is how
the channel is assigned with PSIP. Each channel can also split signals to broadcast another channel. WZZM has a subchannel with their 13 On Target Weather Network channel, which broadcasts on channel 13-2. The move does not mean stations
will change their position. “The channel positions will remain
the same,” Kniowski said. “And WOOD
TV will still be known as WOOD TV8.”
All analog televisions that receive
transmissions from either rabbit ears
or an outdoor antenna will see their
channels go dark on Feb. 17, 2009. “This represents about 600,000
households in Michigan or 18 percent
of the population of West Michigan,”
Mason said. The Federal Government has set
up a coupon program to buy converter
boxes for television sets, which will
allow televisions to receive the digital
signal. Rosemary Kimball, a spokesperson
from the Federal Communications Commission,
said the FCC is taking steps to
educate people about the switch. According to Kimball, the FCC is
using news media, consumer groups,
workshops, and other mediums to educate
consumers about the switchover. Kimball said target groups include “senior citizens; non-English speaking and minority communities; people with disabilities; low-income individuals; and people living in rural and tribal areas.” Guitar purchase creates future band When Anthony Buchanan
bought a bass guitar in 2003,
he never realized what an
impact his purchase would
create. After Buchanan began
learning how to play the guitar,
his friend, Seth Schaefer,
became interested and
started playing on a drum
machine. This lead up to the
creation of the band now
called The Scraps. The Scraps have had
numerous changes since
their start in 2003, including
a name change from The
Double Whammy, along with
complications of members
coming and going. Through
it all they have persevered
and are now made up of four
strong members. Schaefer, 23, plays bass
guitar and is one of the original
members. Buchanan, 22,
also plays bass guitar and is
a vocalist. Mike Dangremond, 24, is
the lead vocalist and plays
bass guitar. He joined the
band in December 2004. The youngest and newest
member of just over a year
is Danny Dirksen, 18, who
plays the drums. “Our music sounds like
when you’re so frustrated
you can’t function,” Schaefer
said about their punk-rock
style music. The Scraps offers more
than just good music. All
of their lyrics are based on
Biblical scripture and good
ethics. “What’s the point to a
song if there are no morals?”
asked Buchanan. All four members help to
write the lyrics, which offer
insight and variety to The
Scraps. One of their favorite
lines is: “If we fill our fists
with hatred and they fill their
fists too, then all that will be
changed is our eyes to black
and blue.” The Scraps are also
unique in that all of the
members have had little or
no prior teaching behind
their instrumental abilities. Schaefer and Buchanan
both began playing bass guitar
in 2003 when The Scraps
started. Dangremond didn’t
own a guitar until he was 20 and received it as a graduation present. Dirksen has only been playing
drums for three years. They have played in a variety of locations, including bars, churches,
skate parks and coffee shops. Their favorite place to play is at Skelletones
which is located in downtown Grand Rapids, features in local and
nationwide bands. Although none of The Scraps’ members are majoring in music, three
of the members are attending or have graduated from GRCC. Schaefer graduated in 2005, Buchanan will be finished this year, and
Dirksen is taking one class at GRCC while attending Godwin Heights
High School. Schaefer and Dangremond are both married and Schaefer and his
wife are expecting a child in the fall. “I will be supportive of my child if he or she wants to play music, just
like my parents were supportive of me,” Schaefer said. Throughout all of the changes, successes and failures, The Scraps
have continued strong and have never given up. Buchanan’s advice to others trying to start a band is “never seek fame
or fortune.” For information on The Scraps and to find out about future shows check out their Myspace page at myspace.com/thecrapyoucantresist. Mix it, blend it, drink it: Comedian "Smooth-e" entertains at GRCC Stand up comedian, rapper,
and actor mixed together, Eric
Schwartz a.k.a. “Smooth-E” comes
to GRCC. “Smooth-E” will perform
his comic act in Winchester Alley
April 8. Trying to create a new platform
for students at GRCC, CAB President
Delee Herminitt invited Eric
Schwartz for both entertainment
and laughter for the students.
CAB first met “Smooth-E” in
St. Charles, Illinois at their conference. He was one of the exhibitors CAB fell in love with. He has also performed in Detroit at a variety of clubs, colleges, and celebrations. His material is in tune with selective audiences, so with students he connects easily. The students“are in for a treat,” Herminitt said.“He’s a funny, very versatile, rap artist, and a stand-up comedian.” Schwartz has been on TV shows
including “The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno,” “Comics Unleashed,” “E!
News Daily” as well as other broadcasting
performances including
radio, Internet, and live. His raps incorporate humor as well; he derives his satire from a assortment of news or Hollywood stories. On his website suburbanhomeboy.com his rap videos derange from “Crank that Kosha Boy” to “L-i-n-d-s-a-y Suicide.” Ask the Princess: Waiting for Prince Charming Every now and again, I will watch a “chick
flick” and almost instantly begin dreaming of
my future “Prince Charming.” My thoughts first capture the
physical feature, preceding with the
romance, and most important the hope
of him loving me forever until death
due us part. I get caught in the moment
of picturing the “perfect” man, but he is
nowhere to be found. The strange concept is how fake movie
characters and plots are and how real they
are portrayed. Every single character is
playing someone constructed out of his or
her own identity. Someone else created
the scripts; the characters do not speak
their own words. Woman get wrapped up into this “Fairytale”
and believe somewhere in time a
man with the exact qualities internal and
external; we generate this perfect man
which is impossible for any human being
to live up to. Over the years my attraction for movie
stars has been squashed. When looking at
their lifestyles, how they treat people, and
how unfulfilling their
lives are; it brings me
back to reality. The mind wants
someone who “looks
good” and sadly sometimes
this is where the line is
drawn. I watch women daily try
to get the attention of men who
are pleasing to the eye, but
treat them like nothing, but
a toy. One minute they pick
them up and the next discarding
them because they
are bored. Attraction cannot be
focused on simply the
outward appearance. Yes, he may have a great
bod and a nice smile, but
how is he on the inside?
What is he doing when
nobody else is watching? One way to see if a
guy is going to treat you right is to watch his
relationship with his mom. Is he respectful or
does he snap at her with every breath? Just because he acts like this humble,
self-righteous man around you, doesn’t mean
he won’t change once a confl ict arises or he is
done with whatever was pleasurable to him
before. You know what I mean. Stand up for yourselves. You are beautiful
and smart and do not deserve to be treated
like dirt. I for one am sick of settling for the
guy who is simply physically attracted and
does not care about my feelings. The guy who
is gorgeous, but you can never get him to open
up and he is so occupied with what he wants,
he tosses the woman aside. Settling. I grew up hearing my parents’ saying; “never settle for someone less than you want” and I never listened. I am at the point in my life where I quote those words whenever someone asks for my number. It is not to be mean or anything, but why would I want to waste my time or someone else’s when I know they are completely wrong for me, when I could be missing out on the right one? Right now I am content with being single. It
is worth waiting for the one God has chosen for
me. I know he has plans for me great plans and
in the long run, in the bigger picture everything
will turn out all right. The man I want is not going to be a movie
star wannabe with women chasing around
hoping he’ll leave me. He is not going to be
someone who pretends to love me and then
abandons me for someone else. My “Prince Charming” will be genuine.
He will treat me with respect and love me
unconditionally. Our relationship will be based
on friendship and not lust. His words will be
encouraging and not condescending. When
life gets patchy, the bond between us will grow
and never separate. Most important of all,
my prince will have a relationship with Jesus
Christ and will want him to be the center of our
relationship together. I believe the foundation
of any relationship, God must be at the core. The media produces images of men who
are nothing more than attention getters. If
you notice how many marriages celebrities
have been through, most have had failures. It
continues to be a pattern and their marriage
seems to fail every time. Something is just not
working. Marriage is supposed to be for life
hence the “until death do you part,” then why
are their so many divorces? Media shows sex, adultery, and divorce as a
form of entertainment. Celebrities are getting
married to someone new everyday. People feed
off this information and a repetitive theme gets
played in the mind and some people will start to
believe it. Wake up people, it may be all smiles
on the red carpet, but underneath they are
being destroyed. All I am saying is just be careful not to jump into relationships for an immediate gratification because it will fail. Even though movies portray this perfect life, remember there is no such thing as perfect, we all struggle and deal with real life issues. Look at the surroundings,
how do they treat other people, who are they
hanging out with, is this the person you want
to spend your life with, or is it just another
mistake which could be avoided?
What do you think? Who is your “Prince
Charming” or future and why? I would
like to hear something from you, respond at
asketheprinces.blogspot.com or collegiatelive.
com. Love, The Princess A&E Briefs for April 9, 2008 Seven Mary Three Minus the Bear Bernadette Peters Def. Leopard with
R .E.O. Speedwagen& Styx Jimmy Eat World
and Paramore Speak Out! Have something to say? Sound off to The Collegiate at grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com for your tips or views on the current news, sports, arts & entertainment and opinion. |
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