October 23, 2012| Volume 111 | Edition 1B Campus Updates pgs. 2-3 Campus Life pgs. 4-5

Beyond Kettering pg. 6 Entertainment pg. 7

McLaren Today Keeps the Doctor Away

by Nicholas Koprowicz, staff

Starting October 1st, Kettering University ceased to provide doctor’s hours at the Zel-pha McKinnon Wellness Center. Instead, the University has partnered with the McLaren Family Residence Center to provide services to students.

According to Betsy Homsher, the change in services has been in the works since last year. Due to increasing costs, doctor’s hours at the Wellness Center were becoming increas-ingly draining on the school. Over the last few years, the university has cut hours in an attempt to still provide on-site care to students.

One reason for the high costs was that, due to legal red tape, the university could not bill any insurance plan (even the default plan provided by the university) for any services ren-dered in the Wellness Center. Students lauded the “free service” nature of the facility, but the university had to absorb all the costs.

The shift to McLaren was officially an-nounced by the university September 20th in an email. The intent was to try and give ample time to students in B-section without alarming or confusing A-section students during the last few days they might be on campus.

The delay in this announcement has caused trouble and provoked ire in many B-section students, though. Many students previously received regular services through the university that will no longer be available with the loss of doctor’s hours, including but not limited to, getting allergy shots and written accommodations for taking tests and exams.

Many students feel cheated or angry

about this change. It is not, however, as simple as it appears to be. In talking with Betsy Homsh-er, it came to light that due to policy changes, even if the Wellness Center retained doctor’s hours, they were no longer going to be able to provide the two aforementioned services.

As it is, the Wellness Center acts as a satellite branch of McLaren. Paul Lazar, from McLaren, expanded on this explaining “because allergy serums are formulated outside of [the McLaren] system and not coming in under the control of McLaren pharmacy,” they cannot be administered at a McLaren medical facility. Students seeking to receive allergy shots should see a community allergist. The nurses in the Wellness Center can provide contact informa-tion.

Considering evaluations, Wellness Center doctors were no longer going to be able to provide these, either. McLaren placed more stringent requirements on what qualifications doctors required in order to make these evalu-ations.

In the new arrangement, Kettering stu-dents will receive preferential status in regards to seeing physicians and scheduling appoint-ments at McLaren Family Medicine Residence Center. Open clinic hours are from 12:00PM to 1:15PM Monday through Friday. To be seen at other times, students can schedule an appoint-ment. Campus Safety will be available to shuttle students to and from campus and the Medical Center.

The shift in physician services has its inherent ups and downs. Time will tell if this will be a beneficial change for the university.

Mott Foundation Pledges $15.5 Million to Ketteringby Danielle Jensen, staff

In May of this year, Kettering received what is to become its largest grant ever. The $15.5 million grant by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation will be dispersed to the University over the course of three years, but will have a reverberating impact on the years to come.

The Mott Foundation strives to better the Flint area in as many economical ways possible. According to the Mott Foundation’s website, “The mission of the Flint Area program is to foster a well-functioning, connected community that is capable of meeting the economic, social and racial challenges ahead.”

Through this grant, The Mott Foundation hopes to help Kettering increase their new

student enrollment and better life on campus which will ultimately have an effect, not only on the University, but the Flint area as well.

Because Kettering has been seeing a dramat-ic increase in freshman enrollment throughout the past few years, The Mott grants will help Kettering grow in numbers and retain its cur-rent student body by redesigning the admis-sions criteria and graduation requirements in programs outside of the school’s engineering curriculum.

In addition, the Mott grants will help Kettering strengthen its name recognition and notability in the United States and, hopefully, around the world and increase alumni support and participation in the University’s future.

Increased student enrollment will also strengthen Kettering’s economic contributions to the region. Strategies for helping to revital-ize the Flint community also include programs devoted to helping entrepreneurs create new products and businesses, as well as the rede-velopment of properties near the Kettering campus.

Because of this generous offer by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the future for Kettering University and the Flint area as a whole seem bright due to the fantastic change that is to come.

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Koprowicz

BJ’s Updateby Ryan Dontje, Layout Editor

As many are now aware, BJ’s Lounge is closed for the duration of the Fall 2012 term for remodeling. The details of the remodeling, however, are not as widely known. While noth-ing is absolutely certain yet, as the budget for the renovations has not been finalized, the plans for the space contain some radical changes that will no doubt prove popular once BJ’s opens its doors again.

BJ’s Lounge will undergo a complete over-haul, with the front area becoming a cafe-style eatery open on extended hours. The back of the lounge will be split, with one half planned as a game room containing darts, pool, foosball, and ping pong. The other half is set to be a dance floor with a new booth for WKUF’s DJs.

The Commuter Lounge is also planned to see some big changes, including a total redesign of the seating and much of the floor space. The new plans are much more open and contribute to a positive studying environment. Much of the seating and tables will be easily adjustable as well, allowing for the room to continually adapt to student needs. One of the coolest additions, however, is an interactive whiteboard next to the WKUF studio, which will allow students to save any work done on the board and share it via email or other options. Reportedly, this board will also be able to display messages for a variety of other reasons or uses.

That is not all though, as the Commuter Lounge is also getting its very own stage. Com-plete with multiple wall-mounted monitors that can be controlled individually or separately, this space has been proposed as a gaming/me-dia area during the day. By night, the stage can be configured for a live show setup, with the monitors possibly being used for visualization or to enhance the show.

Overall, the renovations to these spaces look incredible. These rooms have proven vital to the Kettering community, whether they’ve been used to host events or just for a few students to hang out and watch TV. While nothing is definite yet, if the final plans are anything like the ideas currently proposed, the students of Kettering have a bright future to look forward to when these renovations are complete.

Photo courtesy of Kettering University

October 23, 2012

Campus UpdatesKettering University - The TechnicianPage 2

Technician Staff Editor-in-Chief:Matt Gessler

Assistant Editor:Laura Correa

Copy Editor:Rebeccah MacKinnon

Advisors:Betsy HomsherChristine Levesque

Submission PolicyThe Technician welcomes submissions from Kettering

University students, faculty, and staff as long as writers identify themselves and their affiliation with the University and provide contact information. No anonymous submissions will be accepted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Technician staff or of Kettering University. We reserve the right to edit for length. Kettering University is a private institution; as such, it need not extend freedom of speech protection as described in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

S u b m i s s i o n s m u s t b e s e n t e l e c t r o n i c a l l y t o btechnician@kettering.edu.

ColophonThe Technician is published triweekly by the students of

Kettering University and financed, in part, by the Kettering University Student Activities Fee.

Meetings are Thursdays at 12:20pm in the Technician Office

Submission DeadlinesSecond Edition - 6th WednesdayThird Edition - 9th Wednesday

Layout Editor:Ryan Dontje

Staff:Ashwin ChackoJackson ColoskeNicholas KoprowiczNickolas JenningsDanielle JensenCara NorwoodJose SchwengberAlexis SiegelNick Wohlfert

C-Store Grand Re-Opening

by Laura Correa, Assistant EditorThe C-store in the Sunset cafe is having a

“grand re-opening” on 4th week Wednesday (the 24th) at 7 PM. A-section cut the ribbon in July and the video is on Kettering’s website. Check it out by searching for “Kettering Video Zone” and looking for the video entitled “Dy-namic Dining”. This term, B-Section gets to enjoy the grand re-opening which includes Chef Bill’s Banana Foster, Upscale desserts, and more. There will also be chances to win prizes from Coca-Cola including a Coca-Cola refrig-erator that holds 10-12 oz. cans. For a chance to win this prize, eat delicious desserts and have fun, stop by the sunset café on Wednesday, the 24th.

WKUF Policy Changes

by Ryan Dontje, Layout Editor

WKUF would like to inform the Kettering community of a recent change to policies re-garding requesting DJ services for events. They are now asking for two weeks notice for any event that requires their services. This is an ef-fort to increase the quality of their services as well as to provide a better experience for the students and faculty. With this new policy in effect, they can start planning earlier, allowing them to ensure that their equipment is fully operational and that DJs are available to run the equipment at events. For those requesting their services, this means a much timelier and smoother setup, as well as increased sound quality, which will contribute to a more pro-fessional experience overall. They apologize if this causes any inconvenience. If there are any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact WKUF at wkuf@kettering.edu or at (810) 762-9725.

Budget Analysis

Athletics Budget Requested GrantedGranted Last Term

Aquaneers $6,189 $4,000 $6,189Cliffhangers $4,995 $3,440 $3,856Golf Club $800 $760 $5,660Martial Arts Club $2,000 $2,000 $2,000Outdoors Club $5,240 $5,010 $6,120Triathalon $707.50 $599.50Fencing Club $600 $360 $600Baseball Club $750 $660Athletics Total $21,281.50 $16,829.50

Activities Budget Requested GrantedGranted Last Term

Asian American Association (AAA) $2,190 $1,800 $1,970Black Unity Congress $2,210 $1,815 $1,776Dance Club $1,350 $1,160 $1,580Firebirds $4,700 $4,180 $4,150Green Engineers Organization $700 $515 $550Grill Club $2,480 $1,690 $1,450International Club $3,540 $2,090 $1,825Mud Boggers $2,720 $1,755Paintball Club $4,700 $2,725 $3,840Pre-Med Club $700 $520 $480Physics Club $1,495 $742 $1,209Chemical Engineering Club $670 $422 $650KLUG $846 $474 $341Model United Nations $5,360 $1,915 $1,040KU Robotics $1,055 $725 $1,125Activities Total $34,716 $22,528

KSG Budget Requested GrantedGranted Last Term

Student Senate $4,570 $4,480 $3,808Finance Council $700 $700 $1,340Academic Council $810 $580 $780Operations Council $8,047 $5,698 $8,920KSG Total $14,127 $11,458

Communications Budget Requested GrantedGranted Last Term

Technician $1,682.58 $1,562.58 $1,667.58WKUF $2,555 $1,987 $2,584Communications Total $4,237.58 $3,549.58

SAE Heinz C. Prechter Award for Automotive

Excellenceby, Kettering Communications

This award is available to graduate engi-neering students from Kettering University or the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor for developing entrepreneurial ideas that will positively impact the automotive industry. The recipient(s) will receive $10,000 in seed money to help alleviate expenses associated with the execution of their entrepreneurial idea. Applicants will be judged on the basis of the creativity, ingenuity and practicality of the entrepreneurial idea and how it will positively impact the automotive industry. The deadline for the submission of applications is October 31, 2012.

October 23, 2012

Campus NewsKettering University - The Technician Page 3

Sigma Chi UpdateWelcome back to Kettering from the broth-

ers of Sigma Chi! We are all looking forward to another great term. Coming up later this month on the 26th and 27th Sigma Chi Zeta Theta will host our 40th annual haunted house! It is a great event that allows us to have some fun and interact with the community. If you are interested in haunted houses we strongly recommend that you come check it out! We are located at 704 East Flushing Rd. in Flushing. The charge is $5 at the door; all proceeds go to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

by Clayton Roehrig

To the Googles, or Rather Harvard Business School

Qasar Younis, a graduate of both Kettering University and Harvard Business School, for-mer President of Kettering Student Govern-ment, and member of Phi Delta Theta, present-ed the successes he encountered throughout his career last Friday. Great advice was given to students that may have had a few questions about their educational path.

Younis started by remarking on how dif-ferent the campus seemed to be, after being away for several years; noting that it was sur-real. He stressed the importance of cooperative employment, and how it helps students find what area they want their career to take them. One of the best pieces of advice given was to take advantage of many different areas of work, such as manufacturing, design, or marketing for instance.

Having worked for both GM and Bosch for several years before, and with a push from the Harvard Business school, Younis started a

business from scratch. He mentioned a few of the reasons why he did so: he was “annoyed” with big businesses, had the desire to start up

something small, wanted something to call his own. In addition to that, Harvard Business School offered a push for start up companies.

By now, a large portion of the audience was wondering why a Mechanical Engineering Ma-jor went to a business school. Younis explained

that a coworker told him that to understand the company better, getting an MBA would prove to be very beneficial in the long run, and would also open up different possibilities in a business.

Younis also started a second business, funded by Y Combinator, that was acquired by Google, where he and his team currently work. He described the initial phases of the acquisi-tion, with a fair amount of humor and detail, describing up to the day when he received a phone call from Google, asking if they (he and his team) would be able to come into the office to talk about the intent to first fund, then acquire the business. After negotiating terms, the team soon found themselves as a crucial part of the Google conglomeration.

Overall, the presentation was enlightening and gave a lot of insight into both post gradua-tion plans, and the possibilities that are open to students who are willing to take a leap of faith and try something that they never knew they could achieve.

by Jackson Coloske, staff

Asian American Association (AAA)

Black Unity Congress

Dance Club

Firebirds

Green Engineers Organization

Grill Club

International Club

Mud Boggers

Paintball Club

Pre-Med Club

Physics Club

Chemical Engineering

Club KLUG

Model United Nations

KU Robotics

Activities Spending ($22,528)

Aquaneers

Cliffhangers

Golf Club Martial Arts Club

Outdoors Club

Triathalon

Fencing Club Baseball Club

Athletics Spending ($16,829.50)

Student Senate

Finance Council Academic Council

Operations Council

KSG Spending ($11,458)

Technician

WKUF

Communications Spending ($3,549.58)

Athletics Total

Activities Total

KSG Total

Communications Total

Overall Spending ($54,365.08)

Students stop for a moment to take a picture with Qasar Younis. Picture courtesy of Jackson Coloske.

October 23, 2012

Campus LifeKettering University - The TechnicianPage 4

One of Kettering’s best kept secrets is its performing and fine arts programs. Check out what exciting opportunities Kettering has to offer, all free of charge! Kettering Band

The Kettering Band meets on Thursdays from 7:30 - 9:30 PM in the International Room (5th floor, Campus Center). During second week, seven students attended band practice. Rob Kratz directs KU’s band and the band will perform a concert during 10th week. This concert will be in collaboration with the piano students. Be warned, however, that students must supply their own instruments. Choir

The Kettering Choir meets on Thurs-days from 7:30 - 9:30 PM in McKinnon The-ater (3rd floor, AB). During 2nd week, fif-teen people attended the first choir lesson. Throughout the term, Director Glen Halcolm from the Flint Institute of Music will teach several musical pieces of varying styles.

Performing Arts at Ketteringby Cara Norwood, staff

Starting a ClubAfter being on campus for a few weeks,

most students have found a club or two that matches their interests. With a campus as di-verse as Kettering, though, people sometimes have a common interest that does not already have an official club. In these cases, interested students can create their own club or organiza-tion through Kettering Student Government.

To start a club, one needs to go to the Stu-dent Life Office on the third floor of the Campus Center. There, one can get a packet with the procedures to start a new club. Be prepared to fill out a form stating what club you intend to create. After that gets approved, each club must then complete a packet of information, including a constitution, list of members, and a petition signed by one hundred Kettering students who do not wish to become members. From there, the packet is submitted to KSG for final approval.

The process may be somewhat detailed, but the resulting new club becomes part of KSG and all of the benefits that affords: the potential for funding and the addition to the official list of clubs so that others can join in on all the fun the club has to offer.

by Rebeccah MacKinnon, Copy Editor

Every Fall Term, Kettering University hosts an orientation program for incoming freshmen to help acclimate them to the Kettering community. The orientation photos in this collage have been provided by Jorge Horcasitas and Kettering University.

Piano LessonsPiano lessons are taught by Ina Yoon

and Joy but scheduled through Debbie Stew-art, the Director of Student Life Programs. These lessons occur once a week for thirty minutes. Students can bring their own music selections or allow the instructor to assign music. There is a concert during 10th week in which piano students can show off what they learned, if they feel so inclined. There are currently twenty-one students taking piano lessons but more are welcomed to participate! Dance

Dance classes are currently taught by Terri Herrick through Dance Club on Wednesdays from 8:30 - 9:30 PM in the International Room (5th floor, Campus Center). This term the Dance Club is learning the tango until 6th week, at which point they will learn waltz for four weeks. Rumor has it....

There may be an opportunity for painting or clay modeling classes in the near future. Stay tuned!

October 23, 2012

Campus LifeKettering University - The Technician Page 5

Here at Kettering, there are ten active Fraternities and two active Sororities. During the first month of classes, each chapter hosts a variety of events to expose students to Greek Life. These events range from barbecues on ‘The Beach’ to mini-golf and go-karts. With so many events going on all the time, it can be hard to keep track of what events are taking place during the week. While word of mouth and social media are great ways to find out about these events, here is a compiled list of future events, along with each chapter’s web-site. Beta Theta PiEvery Tuesday, Burgers with Betas, Outside BJ’s Lounge, 6 PMhttp://Kubetas.com Delta ChiNo future Eventshttp://Facebook.com/pages/Delta-Chi-Kettering-B/223520734377774 Delta Tau DeltaOctober 25, Stromboli & Casino Night, 6 PMOctober 27, Parents Day Dinner, 6 PMOctober 29, Breakfast @ The Pool, 9-11 AMOctober 30, Study Night with Prof. Alzahabi, 7-9 PMhttp://Kudelts.org Lambda Chi AlphaOctober 26, Euchre [and other games], 6:53 PM http://facebook.com/groups/KU.LCA Phi Delta ThetaOctober 23, Phi Delt Rally, 8 PMOctober 24, Ping Pong Tournament, 8 PMOctober 25, Bacon & Bonfire, 8 PMOctober 30, Rave from the Grave, 8 PMIf no location is given, then the event is at the Phi Delta Theta House.http://Ketteringphidelts.com Phi Gamma DeltaNovember 2, Fiji Fryday, 6 PMNovember 11, BWW Night, 6 PMhttp://Ketteringfiji.com Pi Kappa AlphaOctober 23, 30, November 6, Pickup Football with the Pikes, Recreation Center, 7 PMOctober 27, Food Bank, 12 PMhttp://Websites.omegafi.com/omegaws/pikappaal-phakettering/ Sigma ChiOctober 24, Viking Dinner, 8-11 PMOctober 26 and 27, Sigma Chi Haunted House, 8-11 PMThursdays, Chapter Dinners, 6:15-7:00 PMhttp://Ztsigs.org Theta XiOctober 23, Seafood Dinner, 7 PMhttp://Thetaxi-ku.org Alpha Gamma DeltaEven Mondays and Odd Sundays, Sisterhood din-ners, Great Court, 6:45 PM4th Tuesday, All Grab a Donut, 8 PMhttp://Facebook.com/AGD.KetteringUniversity Alpha Sigma Alpha(House address: 924 E. 6th Street, Flint, MI 48504)October 24th, Costumes and Carving, ASA House, 7-9 PMOctober 27th, Tricks for Treats & Mutt Masquer-ade, Woof Woods Dog Park in Flushing, MI, 12-3 PMNovember 1st, Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, ASA House, 6-9 PMhttp://Aplhasigdeltanub.moonfruit.com

Let’s Go Greek TonightI was born in Rio Grande do Sul, about two

to four weeks south of here by car. You might want to go there by airplane though, because passing through Amazonia might be too much of an adventure. I’ve always had a deep inter-est in knowing how stuff worked at its core. Since I was a child it amazed me how moving a computer mouse resulted in a cursor moving on a screen in front of you. It seemed to me like it could be an unanswerable question. So when I was eighteen and faced with the responsibility to choose what I could be studying the rest of my life, computers seemed like a good answer. That, added to the fact that Brazil is paying eighty thousand students to study for one year abroad in the next four years, is why I am here at Kettering, writing for so many good looking people. Yes, if you are reading this, you are pretty.

One of the things that I think North America is amazing for is its education. Brazil is big, and you could argue that we do not have as many opportunities to receive a good education. Back home, public schools in the great cities are good compared to those in small cities. I say that because in the country side, having a roof over your head while you are attending classes might be considered a perk. The way public service in Brazil works is like this: You can’t get fired unless you commit a crime in service. So public schools do not necessarily have a responsibility to do a great job. Here in America I see a lot of people from small cities coming to college, which is existent, but not a common option back home.

I was not expecting anything in particu-lar from Flint. This changed one day before I departed from Brazil, when a professor of mine told me that Michael Moore was born here. I usually like his movies, so I was look-ing forward to it. Other than that, I was just expecting an opportunity to live one year away from my parents. Brazil is usually advertised to be a rather dangerous place. On my way to Kettering, I was thinking, “Wow, that seems like a nice place,” which resulted in the follow-ing conversation with the woman picking me up from the airport: “Hey, do you happen to know where one would be able to buy a map of Flint, so he/she could walk around without all the getting lost business?” She made a re-ally concerned face and replied, “Eeeh, that is probably not a good idea... I mean the city has safe parts, but wandering around alone might not be safe.” This puzzled me. Did she not know I was from Brazil? I’ve even been to Rio

de Janeiro and walked out unharmed (check out the movies City of God and Elite Squad for a better idea of what I mean). During the next few days, I asked roughly twenty locals about whether or not walking to downtown would be a good idea. Nineteen of them said it was a bad plan, three of which guaranteed me brand new bullet and knife holes. Some quick research on the internet warned me about Flint being the third most crime-ridden city in the U.S. While opening a bank account, I asked the woman behind the counter about the fact that Flint was the third most dangerous city in the U.S. To this she replied: “No, that is not true. This year we are making first.” Hurray.

Food has a strange dynamic here. In Brazil, if you want to have junk food, you’ll find it much more expensive than the healthy options. When I arrived in the Atlanta airport, I had to wait for five hours for my connecting flight, so I started looking for food. A bag of chips cost one dollar, while a natural sandwich wrap cost eight or nine. Regarding barbecue, let’s just say this: Give me a sheep, coal and twelve hours, and I shall teach you how to have a proper barbecue. Unless you’re from Texas, that is; I’ve heard some stories that make me believe you guys are okay.

I was expecting Americans to have little knowledge of geography. I used to hear, from other people that travelled here, that the fol-lowing exchange was a frequent occurrence: “Where are you from? Brazil?! Wow! Do you have a monkey or a snake for a pet? Have you ever been to your capital, Buenos Aires? How do you deal with not having electrical energy at home?” I did not get any of this, unfortunately, which is kind of a pity. I had all sorts of cool, made up answers prepared!

I am taking sixteen credits: two in electri-cal engineering, one in math, and another in computer science. I am overwhelmed by work. I would have to take at least twice as many cred-its back home to have this kind of workload. We don’t have nearly as much homework in Brazil, but here it is usually a couple of assignments per class a week. We usually do our exercises during class time, while the professor answers any questions on the material. Another thing I found peculiar was that when the professor comes into class and says “good morning”, no one answers back. Come on, don’t be that guy!

I’ve interviewed a few other international students as well, but in the interest of space, I’ll save that for a later edition.

International Student Profileby Jose Schwengber, staff

by Jackson Coloske, staff

STOP! Tower Time!There always seems to be at least

one bell tower on a university campus as sign of prestige.

One may ask himself, “What does this pillar of bricks, steel, and bells do for me?” In ancient times, bell towers were rung to signify time. Nowadays people hear the bells ring and ignore them, but I indulge in the melodies of the clock from time to time.

The ways of the clock are quite simple, and all one needs to do is know how to count. A bar contains four notes of increasing notes or de-creasing notes and stands for fifteen minutes. Odd bars go up the scale in notes, while even bars go down. When one bar is played it means it’s quarter past the hour. Two bars, first bar going up the scale and second going down, means half past the hour. Three bars, of course, imply three quarters past the hour. If four bars are played it means

a whole hour and then the clock will then ring one note at a time. The total of rings after the four bars corresponds to the time of day in an integer value.

At 12:05pm, when music is played, the bells ring joyous tones to lighten the hearts of engineers throughout campus. To send a

friendly reminder days are bright, and filled with happiness through music. Once in a while, the tower will ring for special recognition. September 11, 2012 at 8:46am the bell tower tolled in remembrance of lives lost, and then followed by patriotic tones.

The bell tower is meticulous in its ringing and now that you know, you will not be able to resist the urge of counting the notes. Stop! Tower Time!

by Nickolas Jennings, staff

photo provided by Kettering University

October 23, 2012

Beyond KetteringKettering University - The TechnicianPage 6

Election 2012by Matt Gessler, Editor-in-ChiefEditor’s Note: In attempt to gain unbiased information on the stances of both candidates, the information to the right came from votesmart.org. Because both candidates refused to answer political surveys that were requested by the Vote Smart organization, the national media, and other political leaders, the positions listed below were inferred based on the candidates’ public records (previous debate statements, voting records, pledges, endorsements, etc.). To view the reasoning and evidence for these inferred standpoints, check out the political courage tests for both candidates at votesmart.org.

Budget, Spending and TaxesIn order to balance the budget, do you support reduc-ing defense spending?Inferred Responses: Obama-Yes, Romney-NoIn order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-NoEconomyDo you support federal spending as a means of pro-moting economic growth?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-NoDo you support providing tax incentives to business

Ballot Information

Proposal 1 – A referendum on public act 4 of 2011 - The Emergency Manager LawProposal 2 – A proposal to amend the state constitution regarding collective bargainingProposal 3 – A proposal to amend the state constitution to establish a standard for renew-able energyProposal 4 – A proposal to amend the state constitution to establish the Michigan Quality Home Care Council and provide collective bargaining for in-home care workersProposal 5 – A proposal to amend the state constitution to limit the enactment of new taxes by state governmentProposal 6 – A proposal to amend the state constitution regarding construction of interna-tional bridges and tunnels

As with all elections, there will be more on the ballot come November than a list of presidential candidates. There are several other important elected positions and proposals that need to be voted on. Some of the less advertised political positions that will be decided include: U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, Justices of the Supreme Court, Representatives for state legislatures, board of education members, and local township positions. Doing some research on ballot proposals and the candidates for pre-viously mentioned positions before heading out to vote may be a good idea. To make things a little simpler, the titles of the six Michigan ballot proposals are included below.

Debatable MaturityThe esteem that comes with the role of Presi-

dent of the U.S.,comes with some requirements as laid out in our Constitution: one must be a natural born U.S. citizen; one must be at least 35 years of age; one must have lived in the United States for at least 14 cumulative years.

Last election cycle, the hot topic issue was the legitimacy of the President’s citizen-ship. This year, the issue is the actual age of the President. Obama (51) and Romney (65) both more than qualify for the position, and yet they both insist on acting with the maturity of 4 year olds. Both have insulted the people of the United States with their childish composure during the debate cycle. Their actions retarded the pace of these events and made a mockery of their intent.

Debates began Oct. 3rd with the Presi-dent and challenger duking it out in what should have been a high rhetoric exchange where the two could lay out their visions for their potential terms as president. Instead, Obama came to the debate in a stupor, while Romney talked circles around the President with clever zingers and one-liners, devoid of any real political value.

The second debate was, somehow,

even stranger. This town-hall style debate, like the first debate, allowed two minutes to each candidate for a talking point, and subsequent counter-point. Further counter points were timed at the discretion of the moderator. Truth-fully though, any time limit imposed would have meant little to either speaker.

In the first debate, it was strange when Obama continued to talk for well over a minute after being told by the moderator, Jim Lehrer, his time was up. In the second debate, both Obama and Romney talked over the modera-tor, Candy Crowley, and each other in a series of jejune ego matches that likely accounted for 15 minutes of total time in the hour and a half debate. At one point, the debate came to a screeching halt as the Romney, Obama, and Crowley all fought for control in an incoherent shouting match.

The most disappointing part of the de-bates though, is the disrespect the candidates paid to the American people by not actually answering questions they are asked. Americans rely on this information to make educated vot-ing decisions. Of course, the candidates could not prepare for every conceivable question, but they could have done better than the formula they did decide to follow: 1. Ignore the question,

2. Attack the other candidate , 3. Repeat until the moderator moves on to another topic.

Perhaps there is still time for the candi-dates to redeem their behavior. At the time of the writing of this article, there is yet one more presidential debate scheduled for October 22nd. Constructive debate changes could be as simple as cutting the candidates’ microphones after their allotted time to speak has expired. This would force them to stay succinct and on topic as opposed to rambling or wasting their time on attacking the other candidate.

One can also hope that the moderator for this debate, Bob Schreiffer will be more engaging than the nearly invisible Lehrer and overly talkative, though ineffectual, Crowley.

It is saddening to see that the presi-dential debates this election cycle have been so devoid of substance as the candidates have relied on using vague accusations towards one another while dodging specifics on potential policy for the next four years. Their antics have evoked a playground shouting match - lots of noise, but no real substance from the angry mouths of two small children.

by Nicholas Koprowicz, staff

for the purpose of job creation?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-YesDo you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-YesEducationDo you support requiring states to implement edu-cation reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-NoAbortionDo you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?Inferred Responses:Obama-Pro-choice, Romney-Pro-lifeForeign PolicyDo you support United States’ combat operations in Afghanistan?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-YesDo you support targeting suspected terrorist outside of official theaters of conflict?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-YesGunsDo you support restrictions on the purchase and possessions of guns?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-NoHealth CareDo you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act (Obama Care)?Inferred Responses:Obama-No, Romney-YesShould individuals be required to purchase health insurance, as mandated in the 2012 Affordable Care Act?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-NoSame-Sex MarriageDo you support same-sex marriage?Inferred Responses:Obama-Yes, Romney-No

October 23, 2012

EntertainmentKettering University - The Technician Page 7

photo courtesy of IMBD

A Maid’s Murder: A Bunchy the Rabid

Squirrel Murder Mystery

by Rebeccah MacKinnon, Copy Editor

Bunchy, the rabid squirrel, arrived on the scene of a gruesome murder late in the morning. Under a beautiful stained glass window designed to capture the sunrise over the lake, lay the body of Count Chocula the Third, heir to the Chocula ballpoint pen empire. He appeared to have been stabbed multiple times from behind before he bled out, judging by the number of holes in his pajamas and the puddle of blood on the ground surrounding the victim.

Allaya, Bunchy’s detective and best friend, came over to him with her notepad. “Mr. Chocula was watching the sunrise with his cup of tea, a morning ritual. His maid,” she said, gesturing over her shoulder to a young woman with an ice pack to her head, “came in to ask him if he wanted breakfast when she saw him laying in a pool of blood. She rushed to him, but just as she reached the edge of the blood, she noticed a shadow that wasn’t hers on the body. She turned to see who else was in the room, but was knocked unconscious before she could identify anyone. The next thing she knew, it was mid morning and the front door was wide open.”

Bunchy took a sip of his acorn juice, process-ing what was just said. “Take her down to the station,” said Bunchy. “Something doesn’t add up. She knows more than she’s telling us.”

What tipped off the squirrel detective?

Movie Review- Looper by Ryan Dontje, Layout Editor

Time travel is a fascinating subject. It can rewrite the past, explore the future and pro-vide nearly limitless knowledge. For the mafia of the year 2074, it’s also an efficient way to dispose of bodies. Rian Johnson’s Looper is set approximately 30 years before this, where Joe Simmons (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) makes a living as an assassin killing people sent back in time from the future’s mafia. Eventually, these “loopers” will have to kill the future versions of themselves in a process known as “closing the loop”. This is where Looper’s story takes off, as the future Joe (Bruce Willis) is sent back and overpowers his younger self, leading to the most thought provoking and suspenseful 118 minutes you’ll see this year.

Looper’s story is set in a dystopian future that feels both believable and alien at the same time. Atmosphere goes a long way in making a science fiction story a memorable one, and it definitely does not disappoint here. The film seems to play with interesting anachronisms, combining elements from past, present, and future in a perplexing way that seems to draw you in. Revolvers and pickup trucks exist in the same world as hovering motorcycles and telekinesis. The juxtaposition is a novel one and gives the film a unique identity among the other sci-fi films to appear this year. The film also feels very smart. The rules of its universe always hold constant, making events feel more believable. Additionally, Johnson has avoided a mistake that many make with films of the genre. Looper’s time travel is never really explained in full and the audience never really knows the details of how it all works, but this is a good thing. You’re given just enough information to suspend disbelief and no more. In terms of enjoying the movie, it goes a long way to avoid plot holes and over analysis of trivial details, immersing the viewer even more in the grip-ping story.

The performance of the two is captivating to watch. They are vastly different - the result of a 30 year age gap - yet there are just enough subtle similarities between the two that they are more than believable playing the role of the same person. Levitt handles his role with the calm and cool attitude he’s becoming known for, and in the context of the film, it plays well against the crazy world he’s surrounded by.

Bruce Willis gives old Joe a sense of despera-tion and badass recklessness that almost seems like an extension of his earlier action hero roles. Yet, this Bruce Willis is much more flawed than previous characters. His reasons for going back in time are truly heartbreaking, giving the old Joe a frenzied determination that radiates every time he’s on screen. Willis injects his character with reckless desperation and leads him to some truly despicable acts. While he’s techni-cally the antagonist of the film, he’s a very easy one to sympathise with, however, as the old Joe is clearly a good man attempting to run from his past and at the end of his rope. Both Levitt and Willis create complex, fully realized characters, making the battle between the two men even more emotionally investing.

Looper is one of the best films of 2012 and one of the best serious sci-fi films in recent memory, standing tall with such works as Moon and District 9. The performances are amazing and the world is believable. The story is engag-ing, and one I’ve avoided talking too much about to avoid spoilers. This film is best seen with as little knowledge about it as possible and with an open mind. No matter what, however, Looper is well worth the time and the price of the ticket. You’ll definitely want to check this one out. Do not miss it.

The superb performances from all of the leading characters, however, are the real heart of the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, despite the weird makeup, is excellent as Joe, while Bruce Willis also does an amazing job as the older version of Joe.

Memes

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Tzc zfq qf eyfpoba oaop/Uxnyo owolaqxnzi hvlzp.

-Zfu fl Zowol, Btcnzt Ytro

Cryptoquote!by Rebeccah MacKinnon, Copy Editor

by Nicholas Koprowicz, Staff

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