March 2013

Veterans inPursuit

Green & Gold News Matanuska-Susitna College Business Professor Holly Bell was published in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, February 8th. Her article “Regulator, Go Slow on Reining in High-Speed Trading “ provided insight into high-speed algorithmic trading. Professor Bell has been teaching business classes at the college for five years. In addition, she has recently been published in The Journal of Investing (September 2012) where she authored the “Velocity of Information in

Prof Bell on Wallstreet

Efficient Financial Markets: A Theory of Market Value Change” and The Chronicle of Higher Education (October 2012) where she wrote “Online Learning, Only Better”. Her research and insights into business and educational issues has been increasingly recognized on an international level. MSC Director Talis Colberg notes how unusual it is for a professor in a remote state like Alaska to be recognized as an authoritative financial commentator on a national, even international scale. “For Professor Bell to be approached by the Wall Street Journal as a contributor to the world’s leading financial publication is a remarkable accomplishment on her part. Professor Bell’s recognition is even more amazing given the reality that our campus is not even designated

By Philip Jean A military veteran who earns a college diploma joins a very small minority: only 3% who start college will graduate. According to a 2012 news article, 800,000 veterans attend college, and 97% of them will either drop out or fail. Rusty academic skills, family responsibilities, and a sense of alienation from younger classmates contribute to the high failure rate. Soldiers learn their battle drills by physically training, using repetition to gain muscle memory until their actions are flawless. College work involves cerebral skills such as critical thinking and creativity, including having to corroborate ideas and use deductive reasoning. Military classes are designed for most soldiers to pass, and their lessons are spoon-fed to them. The lack of required critical thinking results in veterans entering college

without good academic skills. Most veterans focus on fulfilling family, work, and financial obligations in addition to college commitments. The combined weight of these responsibilities is overwhelming and frequently leads to discouragement. In contrast, many traditional students enter college just starting their adult lives without the responsibility of supporting their own household. Veterans usually apply for Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits and end up having to borrow money while they wait for their funds to arrive. It is easy for them to conclude that finding on-the-job training is more valuable than going into debt. Military experience can cause veterans to feel alienated from younger classmates. Some students lack sensitivity by asking questions such as “Did you kill anybody?” or “Did you see anyone die?” Because many veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), they may be perceived by other students as ‘damaged goods’; this

Professor Holly Bell’s feature on The Wall Street Journal’s website.

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02 COLLEGE NEWS COLLEGE NEWS 03

Veterans

Wallstreet Beyond Coal

“Clue: The Musical” Review

Gerygone & Twig

Continued from front pagemagnifies the differences between them. To combat the challenges veterans face, some colleges have established programs designed to improve success rates; the University of Colorado has a three-tiered program that aids veterans in adapting to a college environment. This program assigns former-military upperclassmen to mentor veteran students academically and socially; this is similar to programs used on military bases, which are intended to help acclimate soldiers to their new environments. Sierra Community College in Rocklin, California, established a program called Boots to Books, designed to help veterans develop good English and study skills. After everything our veterans have done for our country, providing them with more support when transitioning

Continued from front pageas a ‘research campus’. She has done this in her ‘spare time’. This is the third time in less than a year where a national publication has selected her work for dissemination under a respected banner. It is an honor to be associated with her.” said Colberg.

Mat-Su Monitor Have you noticed the poster in the Art Department’s glass case across from the elevator? This elaborate poster, titled “Beyond Coal,” is the product of the Maine-based artist organization known as The Beehive Collective. The organization’s mission statement is “To cross-pollinate the grassroots by creating collaborative anti-copyright images that can be used as educational and organizing tools.” The Beyond Coal poster is the result of a collaboration between the Collective and Appalachian grassroots organizers fighting Mountain Top Removal Coal Mining. According to the collective’s website, “Our team of volunteer

By Stephen Warta Débuting director, Lori Zulliger, does an excellent job in creating a lighthearted and entertaining play that keeps the audience engaged. “CLUE: The Musical” is straight out of the

board game, with the audience being tasked with solving who killed Mr. Boddy (played by Josh Anderson), with what weapon, and in which room. Mr. Boddy and the suspects

By Robert Rootes What makes music fascinating? Why does it live in our hearts and flourish in our minds? Some of us may never know those answers. However, there are three young people in the Matanuska Valley who might know the secret. Separately, these young adults are talented artists, and each have experiences with multiple musical instruments. United they make an eclectic sound that is unique and pleasing. Celebrating that sound, Grace, Alex, and Rainy have collaborated on their first CD. Grace Kari, aspiring filmmaker and photographer, is currently a student at Mat-Su College on a scholarship program studying communication and color design. She began playing music at an early age, starting with a recorder. She can play saxophone and steel drum. On the album, Grace plays guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Alex Lindgren is a multifaceted musician who plays instruments that range from upright bass, banjo, and mandolin to synthesizing static noise with Gameboys. Currently he is teaching himself how to play violin and has extensive interest in experimentatal music. Rainy Hastings, a Colony High School junior, plays banjo, guitar and xylophone. The trio shares in the entire

process of music making when it comes to their band: Gerygone & Twig Inspired to perform together by friends and family, the trio were encouraged to put together a CD and continue to play gigs throughout the Valley at various venues. Gerygone & Twig’s music style is much like the band’s name, eclectic. Making music professionally since August 2012 after encouragement from music teachers, Janet Stotts of Alaska Children Choir, and Julia Cannon, Gerygone & Twig play dynamic harmony jazz with influences by groups like Sufjan Stevens, Laura Marling, Andrew Bird and Fleeting Foxes. The trio sometimes tours with Marching Band Solo.

The album came together through a collaborative effort because friends and family “wanted to share our bounty, and there was no other way without making an album,” Grace stated. With Kickstarter, an ingenious funding platform for ambitious and imaginative people, Gerygone & Twig’s debut album is about to become a reality. Since Kickstarter’s inception in 2009, they have funded over 35,000 creative project and raised over

“Sometimes being an artist isn’t about money.”

$450 million in pledges. With a creative drive the trio maneuvers through technical challenges with a strong understanding of music theory. While Grace can sometimes spend a while evening with 2 to 3 measures of songs, Rainy has volumes of poetry from which she extracts lyrics for songs. Alex writes music first, and lyrics fill in the spaces for the songs. Gerygone & Twig claim to not have a lead singer, and they pool resources for harmony and chorus. While performing on stage, the trio encourages other musically inclined people to perform with them, provided they have the same musical tastes. Between sets they encourage people to share poetry and spoken word performances. Gerygone & Twig feel that it’s important to love what you’re doing. Sometimes being an artist isn’t about money. Even in winter, there’s opportunity to enjoy their music. While everyone seems to take a break, it’s even hard to get gigs, tavern owners expect people to stay at home; however, Gerygone & Twig feels, “winter needs music.” Currently Gerygone & Twig are performing music from their debut album at Sophie’s Café at 9191 E. Frontage Road, Palmer. Find Gerygone & Twig on Facebook at gerygoneandtwig. Editorial note: Gerygone & Twig’s name comes from the Acanthizidea peep-warbler song bird from

artists and educators put in countless hours designing a visually-stunning multi-tool for activists and ordinary folks. We sought extensive feedback from our Appalachian collaborators and audiences nationwide to make sure we created a graphic that honors history, respects complexity, shows everyone’s place in the big picture, and inspires real solutions.” Steeped in history and symbolism, the poster requires an explanation to fully appreciate. Fortunately, a member of the Beehive Collective will be on the Mat-Su College campus to provide a presentation and explanation. The presentation will take place Wednesday, March 20th from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in FSM 202.

into college is a small price to pay. A more structured system and programs designed to meet the specific needs of veterans could potentially increase low graduation rates. When all is said and done, our vets deserve that much.

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Gerygone Humdinger’s Pizza Women’s Self-Defense

Deathtrap Review

Game Review: Resident Evil VI

Continued from Page 3South East Asia to New Zealand. According to Rainy, “Twig is a verb and ties in the imagery, encompassing the whole existing metaphase.” “And it’s fun!”

By Paul Broderson Excitement, humor, and surprises all rolled into one! These three words appropriately sum up the play Deathtrap, which showed at Valley Performing Arts. Directed by Vanessa Warner, the production gave a solid performance. The setting and stage were

By Keelan MangusAs Resident Evil 6 opens, the player is thrust straight into the thick of it. Starting out as the familiar BSAA Agent Leon Kennedy, it quickly becomes clear things are very, very wrong. It’s like Raccoon City all over again, with zombies on all sides, helicopter crashes, and pure chaos. During this opening scene, the player is introduced to the new controls and mechanics of the game, which are fairly consistent with that of the series with minor useful changes; allowing the player to store herbs for healing, instead of sifting through inventory. Also, there is a total change of the inventory system, completely removing the need for space; instead, the player is allowed to carry all choice guns at once with slots for extra ammo. After the intro cliffhanger, you actually get to go to the menu. There are three campaigns to play through, in any order you’d like (order of events are simultaneous, so don’t fret about playing out of order) and after beating those events, an additional single-player-only mode is unlocked. But don’t worry; if you’re playing alone, the AI is not a fraction of the stupidity that was Sheva in Resident Evil 5. Instead your companion is not

only invincible, but actually helpful from time to time. As for actually playing with friends, split-screen is available as well as online with the appropriate difficulty settings. The game can still prove to be grim, horrifying, and challenging, even with a buddy at your side. Each of the initial three campaigns appeals to different aspects for Resident Evil fans. Chris Redfield’s campaign is like playing an extension of Resident Evil 5, with combat galore. All in all, Resident Evil 6 offers a fantastic horror experience that fans of the genre, veterans of the series or newcomers, should not miss. The game presents the gripping story and vivid characters that Resident Evil has led us to expect, and doesn’t disappoint in terms of gameplay. At the end of the day you’ll find yourself weeping bitter tears of terror as the words form across your screen: “You are dead!”

magnificent, the plot was very intriguing, and the actors did very well. The entire play takes place in Sidney Bruhl’s study and set designers did a remarkable job. The walls were decorated with a variety of killing instruments, leaving the audience to ponder which of the weapons would be used during the play. The whole study had a look of authenticity, with plush chairs, lamps, desks, and even a glowing fireplace. At stage back there was a hallway and a wonderfully built set of stairs, optically implying the study has a room above it. The plot of Deathtrap is very interesting. Viewers were given a certain expectation from the actors, and then a new twist is introduced and so on. This left viewers on the edge of their seats with no idea of how the whole story would turn out. Another intriguing element is how the entire plot of the play was referenced in the play. Actors actually call out how their own actions would make a good thriller and attention was called to this throughout the production. The acting in the production was superb in some areas and sub-par in others. The parts of Sidney Bruhl and Clifford Anderson (played by Tom Jacobs and Matt Jenson, respectively) were performed astonishingly well. The timing and pitch by Jacobs was absolutely perfect, with jokes delivered in with a note of dire cynicism that had the audience rolling. Jenson’s immediately responded to anything thrown his way and one could tell the pair had a lot of synergy. The part of Porter (played by Phil Vincent) was not quite as genuine. His timing and voice were good, but his lines seemed scripted with not enough emphasis in any of the right parts. This threw off viewers, and some felt it wasn’t the best idea to have Porter in the last scene. Overall, Deathtrap was satisfying. The set was authentic and appropriate, the main roles of Sidney Bruhl and Clifford Anderson were acted out impeccably, and the plot was incredibly interesting and suspenseful, with moments of true fear. Director Vanessa Warner and her crew pulled off a very solid job.

By Hattie Schmidtkunz Humdinger’s Gourmet Pizza Company is downtown Palmer’s newest place to enjoy stone-fired pizza. The new business serves a variety of tasty pizzas, salads, and appetizers. There is even a “Build Your Own Humdinger” option where customers can pick from a variety of sauces, cheeses, meats and vegetables to order the pizza of their dreams. Humdingers also offers the option of gluten-free for all of their creations. I visited the establishment one weekday evening to try their pizza out for myself. I had heard many raving reviews and looked forward to adding mine to the clamor. The parking lot was full when I arrived, and most of the seats had been taken by pizza-loving patrons, too. The small restaurant had a warm atmosphere, with wood and stone accents. While I looked over the menu of unique and delicious-looking pizzas, one of my dining partners ordered the “Thai Chick” salad, complete with sweet chili sauce, chicken, onions, carrots, cheese, cucumbers, and bean sprouts. Our server was friendly and polite, graciously taking a few moments to make a personal connection even though the restaurant was busy. I ordered a 16 inch $22.50 pizza dubbed “Gimme the Greek,” topped with feta cheese, mozzarella, Kalamata olives, pepperoncini peppers, onions and tomatoes. While we waited, we admired the interior design work and the lovely art done by a local artist who decorated the walls. A plus for college students, business folks, or other computer users was the availability of an outlet at every table located against the wall. From the seating area, the big open oven could be seen, as well as the chef who kept an eye on the wood fire heating the oven and the pizzas cooking inside. The friendly restaurant manager came out of the kitchen to make the rounds and ensure the customers were happy. He told us that Humdinger’s was one of the few restaurants around that relied solely on wood to cook their pizzas. When our pizza arrived, we immediately all remarked how good it smelled and how tasty it looked. The thin, crunchy crust turned out to be just right, and the toppings were full of flavor. I was especially a fan of the pepperoncini peppers. The feta and mozzarella cheeses were an excellent compliment to the rest of the toppings. I was pleasantly surprised at the absence of excess grease on the pizza; it wasn’t greasy at all! Looking over the menu I had noticed there were a few desert options, but the pizza turned out to be plenty filling. I would certainly recommend a trip for lunch or dinner to Humdingers—it’s worth it. Humdinger’s is located at 173 South Valley Way in Palmer. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Humdinger’s is closed on Mondays.

By Robert Rootes It’s important to understand that you don’t have to know martial arts to protect yourself. Women respond positively to the idea that it won’t take years of dedication to stave off the potential attacker. Perpetual Fitness and the Alaska Center for the Martial Arts present Women’s Self-Defense’s “Girls on Guard,” a defense training seminar for women and teen girls. The class is specifically designed for female students and offers practical self-defense techniques for women in realistic assault situations. After some recent tragedies involving women victims in Alaska, Mark and Debbie Passmore decided they wanted to do something that would empower women to fight back. After a few years of research, Mark Passmore, a twenty-three year army veteran, found a program that wasn’t so involved in martial arts. Passmore has almost thirty-six years in martial arts and understands the series of movements needed for defense. Ultimately, Passmore found a technique that was easy for the average person to understand and was specifically “designed for women by women.” Research led Passmore to Defend University. Passmore is currently certified in level 1 and level 2 of a 4 part program and must recertify every 2 years. The “Girls on Guard” training teaches women in a few hours what they need in holding and positioning techniques that could potentially save their lives. Women’s Self-Defense teaches women to be empowered to get free and get away. Debbie Passmore stresses that it’s important that you don’t have to know martial arts to participate in “Girls on Guard.” Debbie doesn’t know martial arts and is active in the class

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Self-Defense JuneauContinued from Page 5participation. “There are no men allowed,” Debbie stated. This is a rule that was enacted to create a safe place for women to learn. “Since this is an emotional topic and some of our students may be survivors.” Women are more comfortable in the company of other women without worrying they have to interact with men. There are only 2 men involved in the defense course, Passmore and Logan from the Alaska Center for the Martial Arts. The “Girls on Guard” incorporates a brief lecture and information about stats, awareness and laws. “You don’t have to be an athlete to use these techniques,” Debbie said. Debbie Passmore is a secretary for the Mat-Su Borough and assists with the program training and believes in the program. By the end of the first 4 hour class women will recognize and act on intuition as well as be able to use 10 techniques for self-defense. “This program is new to Alaska,” Debbie said. “Alcohol is the biggest date-rape drug,” and sometimes acquaintances can be dangerous. “Girls on Guard” will teach women what to do when they’re scared. The program helps women understand how to mentally prepare to fight back if needed. “This program teaches women not to be victims,” Debbie stated. Mark Passmore adds, “Culturally women are taught to be passive. This program teaches them to be loud, to fight back, and get to safety.” It teaches women how to act in crisis and relies on easy to learn practice, is easy to remember, and is exciting. Mark Passmore works for the Alaska branch of Homeland Security and is a personal fitness trainer. He is an MMA Fitness and Conditioning Trainer and licensed through ”Burn

Continued from Page 6of their respective campuses. By sharing information the group prioritizes which issues to take on. While attending the 29th Alaska Legislative Conference these students get to see Alaska lawmakers hard at work. The students meet with their local representatives and senators as well as others to deliver the message; essentially “speed-dating” with the lawmakers in mostly 15-minute appointments. This year the message was to support the UA Board of Regents budget high priority project list. On this list the top four priorities were funding for comprehensive advising, needs-based scholarship opportunities, e-learning upgrade initiatives, and last but not least, deferred maintenance funding for existing campus buildings. So why would students choose to support the UA Board of Regents initiatives and budget? The answer simply is because the University has taken many more steps to hear what matters to students. Over the last two years the University president and the UA Board of Regents have chosen to request information and seek out students to discover what really impacts students attending higher education. The comprehensive advising issue is a direct result of these efforts. Through e-learning many university students are able to attend classes from multiple campuses and obtain degrees they might not have been able to get previously without leaving their home towns. For example, Mat-Su College only offers two-year programs (Associate degrees). E-learning allows our students to be in an associate program on our campus and also in a Bachelors (four year) degree program affiliated

with another UA campus. The UA Board of Regents listened carefully to students about the challenges of credits transferring between one UA campus to another. To solve this issue the entire UA system statewide now allows credits to transfer for all lower division General Education Requirements. This was my first experience traveling on behalf of the Coalition of Student Leaders. I found all of the legislators to be gracious and engaging. The common characteristic I noticed was genuine care and concern for the present and future of the State of Alaska. I highly recommend the experience for all future student leaders; I believe we made a difference through our conversations and advocacy efforts.

with Kearns” program for individual conditioning targeting personal needs through efficient and natural means. Passmore does one-on-one training secessions at his home or on location. Mark and Debbie believe in this program and look forward to the next “Girls on Guard” training seminar. Perpetual Fitness, the Alaska Center for the Martial Arts and Women’s Self-Defense training takes place on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7 from 2:00 to 6:00pm. For those interested in participating in the program, contact the Passmores directly at (907) 376-9966 or 373-7148 or go to www.perpetualfit.net.

Select the link for “UAKJobs.com”

UAKJobs.com is the university systemelectronic recruitment process that

allows applicants to search foremployment opportunities based onlocation, job type or job posting #

Please contactMSC Human Resources

at (907) 745-9725

CommunicationsCold Climate Construction

MathematicsAnthropology

Type in “Employment” on the MSChome page under the search option.

Juneau Leaders

Valley GlassBy Denise Reeve Matanuska-Susitna College student government leaders visited Juneau February 9-12th to advocate on behalf of the University of Alaska system. David Johnson, Denise Reeve, Chad Stone, and Stephen Warta took time out of their studies and volunteered their time to take student issues to the Alaska legislators. Sponsored by the Mat-Su College Student Government Council (MSC SGC) our local student leaders met with legislators to discuss issues pertinent to all students who attend college on any of the statewide campuses. These students are not only active in their local campus student government but also participate in a statewide Coalition of Student Leaders. This year the coalition chose to send thirty plus students to Juneau with four students sponsored from Mat-Su. Working with the Coalition of Student Leaders for an entire year, the coalition leaders decide what issues are important enough to advocate for when the legislature is session. These student leaders learn about issues by meeting monthly to discuss what happens on each

By Robert Rootes Very soon, Valley residents will be able to recycle post-consumer glass containers. In conjunction with Central Recycling in Anchorage and VCRS, residents will soon be able to bring glass containers to VCRS. Currently, Central Recycling is looking at options to expanding operations for glass disposal in the Valley. Shane Durand, Project Manager for Central Recycling says they are looking to build a facility for glass container transport from the Mat-Su Valley to Anchorage Central Recycling. Durand says the facility will not be open to the public; however, it will be part of a back-haul plan from a location in the Mat-Su Valley. The proposed site is on the Glen Highway near the Mat-Su Gun Club.

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Valley Glass Literature

The Importance of Literature

Soldier’s PoemContinued from Page 7 Eventually customers will be able to drop off used glass containers to VCRS receptacles. Once full the dumpsters will be transported to the proposed glass facility run by Central Recycling. “Since the trucks are coming back to Anchorage the differential offset for fuel costs is nominal,” Durand says. Central Recycling has been allowed to use 3/8th minus pea gravel for pipe bedding and sub base fill for roads. The consumer glass is used as an aggregate product and is not toxic to the environment. It Presently there are approximately 500 tons of glass waste from Valley residents, according to Durand. That is a minimal weight for any company to use as marketable material. There is no interest to pursue glass for high dollar material for sand blast media.

Continued from Page 8classical, offers insight into manymodern questions. For example:why do witches use magic wands?Why are one-eyed giants, whocould possibly be very humble andnice creatures, always turn out to beangry, man-eating monsters? Whyare people today so preoccupiedwith strong, tall men that don’t shyaway from violence? Read Gilgamesh. Read the Odysseyand the Iliad. It is ironic how many“new” storylines were practicallywritten thousands of years ago byancients—these things have beenaround since ancient Sumer andGreece.

By Michael DiBattista The two subjects students complainabout the most in high school andcollege are mathematics and literature.Many students ask, “Where will Iever find this in the real world?” Mathematics is applicable in a plethora of fields, including carpentry,engineering, banking, informationtechnology, and numerous others. Ourlives are so inundated with literaturehowever, that its importance in modern society is easily overlooked.To examine this phenomenon, let’sstart with the beginning of literaturein society. The oldest piece of popularliterature in the world is one that manycollege students read every year—Gilgamesh. The story of the eponymous hero

By Anonymous (Submitted by Chad Stone)For all the free people who still protest, you’re welcome,We protect you and you are protected by the best.Your voice is strong and loud, but who will fight for you?No one standing in your crowd.

We are the fathers, brothers, and sons,Wearing the boots and carrying the guns.We are the ones that leave all we own,To make sure your future is carved in stone.

We are the ones who fight and die.We might not be able to save the world, well at least we tryWe walked the paths to where we are atAnd we want no other choice than that.

So when you rally your group to complain,Take a look in the back of your brain.In order for that flag you love to fly,Wars must be fought and young men must die.

We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear,If that’s not respected, we would rather stay here.So please stop yelling and put down your signs,And pray for those behind enemy lines.

When the conflict is over and all is well,Be thankful that we chose to go through hell.And we want no other choice than that.

So when you rally your group to complain,Take a look in the back of your brain.In order for that flag you love to fly,Wars must be fought and young men must die.

We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear,If that’s not respected, we would rather stay here.So please stop yelling and put down your signs,And pray for those behind enemy lines.

When the conflict is over and all is well,Be thankful that we chose to go through hell.

Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu are a relatively simple read and offer a source of varying entertainment, depending upon the reader. The epic, however, contains many elements that are prevalent in modern television,movies, stories, and even real-life situations. Gilgamesh is among the first pieces of literature to depict man’s frantic struggle against inevitable death, as well as one of the earliest examples of a man coping with the death of a lovedone—after the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh searches high and low for anything that will prevent his own death. He realizes, after much sojourning (and a thieving snake), thathis legacy as King and the great wallsof his city already serve to immortalize

him. The hunger for immortality and legacy seen in Gilgamesh is a theme in almost any good story—the Evil Queen in Snow White, Achilles in the Iliad, Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean—all fall victim to this hunger. Gilgamesh teaches us that though it is impossible to live eternally our actions can have a lasting impact on the world, if we choose to make a difference. The aim of this piece however is not to stand on a soap-box—Gilgamesh also serves as a basic model for the modern hero tale—Gilgamesh has absentee parents (one of them a goddess represented as a cow), a strong hubris, a misfit frienda misfit friend that leads him into an

adventure (and later dies, which causes him to go on yet another adventure), lots of fighting (and glorification of battle prowess), a flood story similar to the one in other religious texts—just to name a few of the basic elements with which the modern reader/movie-viewer/video gamer may be familiar. The same can be said for Homer’s Odyssey, where the concepts of one-eyed giants (Cyclopes—Cyclops), malignant women with magic wands (Circe—witches), seductive songstresses (the Sirens), and vengeful gods (Poseidon—innumerable examples) originated, just to name a few. The “moral” of this story is that literature, particularly ancient and

Even with 1500 to 2000 tons of glass waste from the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage combined it does not make cost effective economics for profitable returns. Central Recycling has been adding glass aggregate to sub base road layers at a break-even price point for awhile. Between the transporting, processing and labor, there is no market for glass processing for sand blasting options at this time. According to Molly Boyer, director of VCRS there is no date set for Central Recycling’s glass collection facility proposed in the Valley. Boyer says there is opportunity for moderate recycling in the Valley for residents. Alaska Target stores have a program where costumers can bring post consumer glass to the stores. Eric McCauley, Manager for Wasilla’s Target stated they accept clean glass containers. “We can’t take large volumes of glass all at once,” McCauley said. However, Target welcomes shopping bags full of glass

at a time. Glass recycling is currently handled in Anchorage at Roseland and Dowling by Central Recycling.

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Clue: The Musical

Mat-Su College Leadership Opportunities

GRAND OPENING

Continued from Page 2present evidence throughout Act I, and the audience determines which guest murdered Mr. Boddy with the help of the detective (played by Amanda Heath) in Act II. The lighting and sound worked seamlessly, other than a slight hiccup in the beginning of the production, which was quickly fixed. Pam Kroon conducts the well-composed score while playing the piano. Scott Allred is on cello, and Lene Kennison plays percussion. The lighting and music works well to support the mood of the play and provide necessary cover during the many and sometimes lengthy scene transitions between rooms. By Denise Reeve

Your student government leaders here at Matanuska-Susitna College form a governing body known as the Mat-Su Student Government Council (MSC SGC). This council is made up of an executive team, a president (Denise Reeve), a vice-president (Michael DiBattista), and a secretary (Andrea Bennett); these students maintain an office here on campus located in JKB 129. Additionally, the council is comprised of senators (Marie Fremlin and Stephan Warta are just two of the many), and each campus club has a representative as well. These student leaders meet each week on Wednesdays in FSM 105 (or occasionally FSM 205) to discuss issues pertinent to the student body, find solutions to these issues, and decide activities to be held on campus. Each of these students participates in this council in addition to their regular scholarly endeavors here at Mat-Su College. So the question is really, why would these students who are very busy already, give up their limited time to be involved in the MSC SGC?There are three major reasons: they participate in a

club activity, they care about issues facing students in college, or they want to make the MSC campus experience better. Clubs on campus offer opportunities to meet students who have common interests. These clubs enrich the experience available here at Mat-Su College. Getting involved in a club often makes the time here at MSC better because you meet and make friends! Our campus offers more than 18 clubs this semester; to find out more, please check out the MSC SGC clubs page. There is also a calendar of events offered by these clubs. A campus like Mat-Su has a diverse group of students with varied backgrounds, cultures, interests, and even age groups. A disconnect sometimes occurs, and we find issues that need to be resolved. Student leaders discuss these issues and try to find ideas or solutions best for the group. The MSC Student Government Council provides the forum for these discussions and seeks synergistic

communication that creates better solutions. In my case, I wanted to make my college experience more fun. I began by getting involved in clubs (Metl Hedz and Team Art) and found a few issues where I felt a student perspective would add value. I have supportive friends and colleagues who I might not have met had I not spent time in these groups. The Mat-Su College SGC offers opportunities to not only change your college experience, but to network and connect to students, faculty, and staff. These connections and the time invested make the Mat-Su College community here better for all of us. In short, MSC Student Government Council works for you, the student, and we make a difference here! Do you want to make a difference? We would welcome you.

The acting ranges from good to excellent. Tabitha Bailer steals the show with her performance as Mrs. White. She perfectly embodies the character’s quirks and tops off the performance with hilarious minute actions in the background and an amusing accent. She is always busy on stage, being either the industrious housekeeper or the ignorant and uncouth person surrounded by sophisticated people. The detective enters the play in the beginning of Act II and investigates Mr. Boddy’s death. Heath, who comes across as a calculating, yet somewhat insecure detective, plays her part very well. She personally investigates all of the suspects, who try to cow, seduce, or elude her. Heath tries to meet their antics with severity, but she occasionally cracks a smile when the actors crack an exceptionally funny line or do something particularly ridiculous. Anderson does a good performance as Mr. Boddy as he leads the storyline through Act I as the characters are introduced and their personal stories and reasons why they would want to see him dead are revealed. He also gives clues and hints to the audience as to who the murderer is. After his murder, Mr. Boddy stays on stage as host of the game and continues to gives out clues. “CLUE: The Musical” runs through March 17, playing at 8 p.m. on

Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Fred and Sara Machentanz Theatre, 251 W. Swanson Ave., in Wasilla. Tickets may be purchased online at valleypreformingarts.org or by calling 373-0195. They cost $17 for students and seniors and $19 for adults. Make sure you play the game and record your findings as you attend the play, because any winners among the audience can enter a drawing to win a copy of the board game version of Clue at the end of the show.

MSC Student Government leaders during their trip to Juneau.

The Mat-Su Monitor would like to thank the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman for

all of their support. Call (907) 352-2250 to learn about home

delivery.

New Paramedic and Nursing facilitySnodgrass Hall

Friday, March 8th3:00 PM