From the Editor

David Aston
Montgazette Editor-In-Chief

The hot summer is falling away and a contentious presidential election is still to come. In between is Montgomery County Community College pressing on with a new academic year.

This year heralds a bunch of firsts for Montco and The Montgazette.

Dr. Kevin Pollock begins his first full academic year as the college’s president. Starting with this issue, The Montgazette is bringing back the sports schedules. Also, you’ll see we’ve added a new section called “College Spotlight.” Each month, The Montgazette will showcase a MCCC partner college or university. These spotlights will present important information you need to know so you can make an informed choice on where to transfer so you can continue to achieve your dreams after your time at Montco.

For all of the new students for this academic year, Welcome! The Students Office of Leadership and Involvement hosted the club fair at the start of the semester and numerous students clubs were represented. I am here to encourage you to get involved! We have included in this issue a few highlights from the club fair. Enjoy!

If you would like to join the team here at The Montgazette, we welcome your story perspectives. During my time at Montco, I have put my all into making this paper thrive in a climate that says the paper is dead. You, the readers of The Montgazette, have proven the naysayers wrong. You see the value in bringing your voice to the world and I am humbled to be the leader that has made that a success.

So this, in the words of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a famous novelist, “Stories matter.”

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Minority Students Mentoring Initiative Helping Students Take Control Of Their Future

By: Genotra Vinson
Montgazette Contributing Writer

Wendell Griffith, Coordinator of Mentoring Services and Ed Brown, Academic Advisor for the program, introduced Montgomery County Community College students to the Minority Student Mentoring Initiative, or MSMI at a meeting of new students, returning students and mentors at the start of the semester.

Currently, MSMI has 165 members at both Central and West Campuses. Griffith explained how the program has seen many students through to graduation and on to rewarding careers. Members of MSMI are often aided with obtaining scholarships. Griffith stated students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher are in a better position to earn a scholarship. However, according to Griffith, internal college scholarships are offered to students who commit to the program’s expectations and are actively persisting to degree completion. Tutoring isalso provided for students who need the extra help.

MSMI has mentors who meet with students to provide guidance and help new students to navigate through the college’s student website and portal. Griffith made it very clear that members would receive support no matter what the need. He went on to explain that the program’s support goes beyond the campus. Often mentors will assist students with personal issues as well, seeing to it that they are able to continue with studies.

Members of the program connect with one another by sharing advice, making career goals and participating in community service events. Students also attend college trips to colleges and universities such as Bloomsburg and Mansfield. On these trips, students meet with faculty members, advisors and make useful connections for securing acceptance to a university.

MSMI is dedicated to providing all the support and resources needed to ensure the success of their members. The MSMI is excited to welcome new students as well as returning ones to their program.

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Scenes from Club Fair at the West Campus

Photos by Bridget Depew

 

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2016-17 Mustangs Athletics Schedule

Men’s Basketball

November
Thu. 10 at Valley Forge Military College 7:00 PM
Sat. 12 at Raritan Valley Community College 2:00 PM
Tue. 15 Bucks County Community College 8:00 PM
Thu. 17 Johnson College 7:00 PM
Sat. 19 Sinclair Community College 3:00 PM
Tue. 22 at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology 7:00 PM
Tue. 29 Community College of Philadelphia 7:00 PM

December
Thu. 1 at Northampton Community College 8:00 PM
Sat. 3 Harrisburg Area Community College 3:00 PM
Wed. 7 at Delaware County Community College 8:00 PM
Tue. 13 Ocean County College 7:00 PM
Thu. 15 at Luzerne County Community College 8:00 PM
Sat. 17 Lehigh Carbon Community College 3:00 PM

January
Tue. 10 at Bucks County Community College 8:00 PM
Thu. 12 at Lehigh Carbon Community College 7:00 PM
Tue. 17 Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology 7:00 PM
Thu. 19 at Johnson College 7:00 PM
Tue. 24 at Community College of Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Thu. 26 Northampton Community College 8:00 PM
Tue. 31 Delaware County Community College 8:00 PM

February
Thu. 2 Atlantic Cape Community College 7:00 PM
Sat. 4 at Harrisburg Area Community College 3:00 PM
Tue. 7 Luzerne County Community College 8:00 PM
Thu. 9 at Williamson Free Trade 7:00 PM
Tue. 14 at Camden County College 8:00 PM

Women’s Basketball

November
Tue. 8 Middlesex County College 6:00 PM
Thu. 10 at Valley Forge Military College 6:00 PM
Sat. 12 at Raritan Valley Community College 12:00 PM
Tue. 15 Bucks County Community College 6:00 PM
Sat. 19 Sinclair Community College 1:00 PM
Tue. 29 Community College of Philadelphia 5:00 PM

December
Thu. 1 at Northampton Community College 6:00 PM
Sat. 3 Harrisburg Area Community College 1:00 PM
Wed. 7 at Delaware County Community College 6:00 PM
Tue. 13 Ocean County College 5:00 PM
Thu. 15 at Luzerne County Community College 6:00 PM
Sat. 17 Lehigh Carbon Community College 1:00 PM

January
Tue. 10 at Bucks County Community College 6:00 PM
Thu. 12 at Lehigh Carbon Community College 5:00 PM
Tue. 17 Manor College 5:00 PM
Tue. 24 at Community College of Philadelphia 5:00 PM
Thu. 26 Northampton Community College 6:00 PM
Tue. 31 Delaware County Community College 6:00 P

February
Thu. 2 Atlantic Cape Community College 5:00 PM
Sat. 4 at Harrisburg Area Community College 1:00 PM
Tue. 7 Luzerne County Community College 6:00 PM
Thu. 9 at Cumberland County College 5:00 PM
Tue. 14 at Camden County College 6:00 PM

Keep up with the action at: mustangsathletics.com

 

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West Parking, LTD.

By: Logan McCoy
Montgazette Contributing Writer

Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus in Pottstown is a small, satellite campus that has limited room for parking.

West Campus has four buildings, South Hall, North Hall, University Center and Schuykill River Academic and Heritage Center, all with their own small parking lots. The main parking lots at North and South Halls are used up by MCCC students. Once the North and South Hall parking lots are full, students are forced to park at the Schuykill River Academic and Heritage Center, over a mile away, then either walk to class or wait for a shuttle van to transport them.

The college reported there were 1,778 students enrolled at West Campus during the 2016 spring semester, but there were only 600 parking spots in the lots used by students.

C.J. Nairn, a student at West Campus, said, “I do not think the parking was adequate for the number of students enrolled in the school. Every morning it was a madhouse and it was a joke finding a spot unless you came really early.”

Many students said that the worst time to park was from early morning until noon. After that, it seemed there were more parking spaces available throughout the day. Students are not happy with how limited parking is, but it doesn’t seem like it will ever change.

“We are always looking to expand our parking lots, but we have absolutely nowhere to expand,” Russel Del Rosario, Director of Campus Safety and Facilities Management for West Campus, said. “We have looked into purchasing the hotel lot across from North Hall, but the owner doesn’t want to sell. So there are no immediate plans to expand the amount of parking spaces in the future.”

Despite students’ cries for more parking at West Campus, the situation remains the same because there is nowhere to expand. However, Jake Matters, a business student at West Campus, said it best, “We need more parking spaces at West Campus.”

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Spotlight: Temple University

Established in 1884, Temple University is a graduate-level, public, coed university. The main campus is located in urban downtown Philadelphia, PA. There are also many subruban campuses. Temple offers many student services including nonremedial tutoring, a women’s center, placement services, health services and health insurance. In addition, Temple has campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, a late night transport and escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways and sidewalks, controlled dormitory access using keys, security cards and other methods. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Temple University.

Montgomery County Community College signed a Core-to-Core Agreement with Temple University in 2002. This agreement allows the following:

Dual admissions: Any MCCC student who has earned an A.A., A.S. or A.G.S. degree is guaranteed admission as long as the student has a minimum GPA of 2.3 and completes a letter of intent before completion of 30 MCCC credits. The student must also complete a minimum of 30 of the last 45 credits at Temple to earn a Temple degree. This agreement also entitles an MCCC student to a waiver of the application fee and is eligible for renewable, merit based scholarships between $1000 to $2000 per year for full time students.

Core-to-core agreement: Students who earn an A.A. or A.S. degree have all requirements of the undergraduate general education waived.

Program-to-program agreement: Students who earn certain A.A. or A.S. degrees have most or all requirements of the respective undergraduate programs waived.

-Special Scholarships. Even if a MCCC student has not enrolled under dual admissions, the student is entitled to numerous special scholarships.

Temple University:

• endowed for $372,337,000 (2014)
• ranks 115 in National Universities, 94 by Best Colleges for Veterans, 85 by High School Counselors (2016)
• selective in acceptance with an acceptance rate of 61.7 percent (Fall 2014)
• enrollment of over 37,000 students
• 4-year graduation rate of 41 percent
• tuition rates of $15,096 in-state and $25,122 out-ofstate (as of the 2015-16 academic year)
• average room and board of $10,738 (as of the 2015- 16 academic year)
• 69 percent of students receive financial aid
• average need-based grant of $6401
• 125 majors available • majority class size: 20-49 students
• student to faculty ratio of 14:1
• NCAA Division 1 Athletics

Application deadline: March 1 | SAT/ACT deadline: March 1

All information sourced from Montgomery County Community College’s Student Resources webpage and sub pages and U.S. News & World Report’s Higher Education Rankings webpage.

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Espanol en West Campus

By: Anthony Padilla
Montgazette Contributing Writer

“Tomar español en el Campus Oeste!” Don’t know what that means? That’s why there are Spanish courses at Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus.

Students at West Campus have many languages to learn. One of the easiest is Spanish because there are no prerequisites. Spanish courses at West Campus are taught by Spanish Senior Lecturer Alberto Perez who has been with the college for eight years.

Elementary Spanish I, SPA 101, focuses on the fundamentals of the Spanish language. This class teaches sentence structure, as well as Hispanic culture through various media selections. Spanish 101 is open to students with no experience or only one year of high school Spanish.

Elementary Spanish II, SPA 102, reinforces what is taught in SPA 101 by teaching the four essential skills of speaking, writing, listening and reading in Spanish. Students must have completed SPA 101 or have instructor permission to enroll in this class.

Perez is a native Spanish-speaker from Chile who promotes his classes as a chance to connect. “Learning about other cultures and lifestyles will bring people closer,” he said.

Having a second language on a college transcript can help any student interested in transferring schools or applying for jobs. So maybe “usted debe hablar español” this semester at West Campus.

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Spotlight: Jim Ferguson

By: the ESL 005 Students
Rokshana Akhter, Arfa Athar, Michael Bebawy, Yarith Bendezu-Mesinas, Hea Jung Gweon, Elia Habib, Nam Sook Kwon, Thanh Le, Randa Megale, Seval Ozcan, and Shazida Zamil

Jim Ferguson is a clerk in the Tutoring Center at Montgomery County Community College.  His job is to help students find a tutor.  Jim communicates with tutors and students by sharing any announcements and information they may need.

Jim starts every day early and makes a cup of coffee.  He writes announcements on a whiteboard and makes copies of important papers.  He says the most important part of his job is communication.

Jim adds that a Tutoring Center clerk must have patience, be good at listening to people and keep a positive attitude.

In the past, Jim was a student and a tutor at Montgomery County Community College. After he graduated, he started his own business.  Because of his background and his time as a tutor, Jim wants all students to leave with a smile.  He really wants them to get the help they are looking for.

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Spotlight: David Aston and The Montgazette

By: Sean Laughlin
Montgazette Staff Writer

As I was exploring the club fair, the first table I came across was for The Montgazette, Montgomery County Community College’s student-run newspaper. I was welcomed so warmly by student Editor-in-Chief David Aston. He really made me feel comfortable about joining The Montgazette. Immediately, I wanted to see how I could make the newspaper better.

David said that the paper is not just some boring old school newspaper. It is something much more. The newspaper is really for us, the students, faculty and community of Montgomery County Community College. In its current form, The Montgazatte has been active since 2007. It is also an award-winning newspaper because several of the writers have won Collegiate Keystone Press awards in the last couple of years from the Pennsylvania News Media Foundation.

David then told me how he has always been interested in history and how you understand history by living it. He said, “when you print it, it makes that history permanent.” He also told me that he likes everything about media because you can get personal and have the ability to interact with other people you could not have met in any other way.

I feel like this club and this school will really help me with my passion of being a sports writer and that Montco is going to give me plenty of opportunities to do so. That’s what drew me into The Montgazette. It’s not scary or intimidating, it’s welcoming and encouraging. I know the things I write about in the future will represent this community and newspaper well.

Photo by Sean Laughlin: The Montgazette Editor-In-Chief David Aston invites Club Fair attendees to join the student newspaper as he holds up a previous issue.

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Forming a New Club: The National Organization for Women

By: Amy Wisniewski
Montgazette Contributing Writer

In the 2015-2016 academic year, a new club was established at Montgomery County Community College—The National Organization for Women, or NOW. NOW was organized at MCCC’s West Campus by Dr. Rebecca McGovney-Ingram, former MCCC lecturer and advisor, and Lavinia Soliman, student and co-president.

“The impetus to create a feminist club came from several students, most notably Lavinia Soliman,” McGovney-Ingram said.

“Dean Michele Cuomo brought Lavinia and I together in [the] fall 2015, and I recommended that we create a Campus NOW group as I had worked with the organization before and knew they had an excellent framework for the feminist and social justice education and outreach activities Lavinia was interested in.”

The club holds events to raise awareness of women’s rights and to support local organizations that help women. In February 2016, NOW collaborated with the West End Student Theater (WEST) to produce “The Vagina Monologues,” a play written by Eve Ensler. The show was open for one night and raised almost $200 for Laurel House, a domestic violence shelter and prevention group in Montgomery County.

In March, NOW sponsored a “Young Women in Public Service” panel at MCCC’s Central Campus as part of Women’s History Month. Partnering with other student clubs and campus groups, NOW focused on women in government and public service and raised awareness and money for gender issues.

Campus NOW has big goals in store for the 2016-2017 academic year.

“I hope that NOW continues to grow, both in membership and in impact on campus,” McGovney-Ingram said. NOW meets every Friday at both campuses via video conference. If you’re interested in learning more about the club, visit their website at http://www.orgsync. com/126380/chapter.

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