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By: Ian Essling
A lot of major news outlets do a "year in review" type of feature, but often these features either pick irrelevant stories for their lists, or they lack focus.
Why rehash what has already been said? Instead, I am focusing on Waubonsee and only Waubonsee; what follows are my picks for the top news stories of the Waubonsee fall 2006 semester. Instead of fluttering around the national and local news scene, I have zeroed in on specific events that occurred on campus. Some items present on (or missing from) this list may surprise you; without further posturing or prognosticating, I present to you my picks for the top Waubonsee news stories of the year.
After three years of planning, approving and building, a much-requested stoplight at Waubonsee's south entrance was finally enabled by late November. Full details available on page 3.
Building on a successful spring 2006 semester, Insight broke a number of records this fall, including producing a twenty-four page paper for two months straight, both of which are larger than any issue of Insight in history.
In addition, Insight expanded from just two full-time staff members at the start of the fall semester to over twenty-five by finals week.
The first big snowstorm of the winter led to nearly eight inches of snow on the ground in the area, but Waubonsee administration, claiming that at 4:30 in the morning the snow was just "slush," did not close its doors and instead attempted to hold classes.
Many teachers either were not able to make it to campus or they sent students home as soon as they arrived.
Coinciding with Waubonsee's 40th Anniversary, a Chief's Hall of Fame will be established. The first group of inductees will be honored at the May 4, 2007 Athletic Banquet, and will cover athletes from the first decade of the college's existence, 1966 to 1976.
Waubonsee students, working with Ceramics Instructor Doug Jeppesen and ceramics expert Simon Levin, created a rare Anagama pottery kiln on WCC's Sugar Grove Campus.
The kiln can reach temperatures higher than 2400 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Jeppesen, who also mentioned that Waubonsee is the only community college in the state with such a kiln.
On Aug. 25, Waubonsee kicked off their 40th Anniversary Celebration with the opening and dedication of the new Science Building.
The nearly 47,000 square foot building contains a number of high-tech labs and devices, including camera systems for anatomy labs and a seismograph.
Along with a new package that offers many more registration and course planning options, Waubonsee also moved away from using student's social security numbers by implementing "X numbers," new nine-digit ID numbers issued to students.
For the first week of classes this semester, Waubonsee students had an adventurous time finding a parking space, as contractors failed to finish a new parking lot on the west side of campus in time.
Blame was thrown around as to who exactly was at fault. Students voiced displeasure at the administration, which in turn pointed at the contractors.
Regardless of fault, as a result of the massive construction taking place on campus, enough parking spots had been taken away that students and faculty ended up parking on every available square foot of land on campus.
This included medians, shoulders, and a hill.
Students won the 2006 Illinois Department of Transportation college video challenge with a video entitled "Reasons."
The 30-second public service announcement featured various Waubonsee students and was an anti-drunk driving ad. The PSA aired on local network and cable channels around Halloween.
More details on this student accomplishment are available in our November 2006 issue.
Unfortunately, the most important story on my list is also the most tragic.
Jennifer Wesson, a student at Waubonsee and student senate President, was killed in a car accident Thanksgiving weekend.
Other features about Wesson in this issue include a news story on the front page, and a tribute on the back page.
Jennifer touched many people in her time here at Waubonsee, and she will be missed by them for more than her title of President. |
