Volume 28, Issue 3 Wednesday, April, 22, 2015

Economics at work- Photo by Robin OConnell

Economics is known as the staple between any transaction known to man. Simple actions such as going to Starbucks, or getting a pack of gum from the gas station, consists of economics. Although these trivial actions may seem unprolifi c they have large scale impacts on the total economic status of the area you are in. Moreover, economics may and likely is simple as a concept, but there many branches of economics that add to its complexity. Thankfully, Matthew Wilson, Economics Ph.D. holder from the University of Texas and a current macroeconomics professor at FRCC’s Westminster campus has agreed to help answer some very interesting questions regarding economics.

The two most common economics classes taken at FRCC Westminster appear to be macro and micro economics. What truly is the difference between these two separate branches of economics? According to Wilson, “microeconomics focuses on individual decision makers,

including individual people and also organizations, like business fi rms.” Essentially, microeconomics is the study of individuals and companies, hence the micro. Contrastly, when Wilson was asked about macroeconomics, he stated, “Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole. It studies business cycles, which are the recurring periods of expansion and contraction in the general business environment. It also studies the long-run growth trend of the economy.” Despite the fact that these two different types of economics may seem to be confl icting of each other, they act as complements and are very useful when tied together. Taking these classes in two consecutive semesters is highly recommended.

How does economics affect the daily lives of the FRCC students? Well, economics as an idea does not only deal with currency. There are numerous concepts within economics that can be broadly applied to multiple

areas of one’s life. Take opportunity cost as an example. Wilson clearly states the true defi nition of opportunity cost by saying, “It is the highest valued thing that you sacrifi ce in order to pursue a course of action. The true cost of anything is its opportunity cost.” This applies to any action you do. Deciding whether or not to study has its own opportunity cost. Your highest value thing you sacrifi ced may very well be the time you could be spending with your friends, or working, and the decision to study is what you sacrifi ced your time for. Albeit opportunity cost may seem trivial at fi rst, but it has a large amount of advantages when planning out the future. Deciding to pursue an education for various students is a big decision. You have an opportunity cost of the time that could have been spent elsewhere, instead you spend that time in pursuit of a degree or more knowledge.

The economic state of the area or society you are in is constantly

changing. Every microtransaction creates a cascading effect that furthers or inhibits the progress of the area’s economy. The money you spend repairing your car is paid to the mechanic who can then spend that money on food for his family from a grocery store and that grocery store can then pay their workers and the workers are now capable of paying for their needs and so on and so forth. This makes decisions very hard for economist. They need to account for a myriad of details when creating an economic program. One example of the cascading effect is tax cuts. “Tax cuts increase disposable income,” explains Wilson, “ When people spend their tax cuts, the money they spend is received by the producers of goods and services. This amounts to additional income to those producers, who, in turn, spend these additional incomes, which provides even more income to the sellers who they buy from.” Economists call this the “tax multiplier” because each dollar of tax cuts cascades into multiple

What is economics? Written by Jacob Hallberg

Story continued on page 6

The Front Page Page 2 April 22, 2015

Learning another language can be an incredible experience by bringing to life dreams of visiting abroad and speaking the romantic languages we had studied hard to learn. With these dreams of walking the banks of Venice, speaking perfect Italian, it’s easy to see how many would lean towards French or Spanish while overlooking American Sign Language (ASL).

Although it is easy to miss, American Sign Language is actually a top contender for widely used languages in the United States; making the need for interpreters and speakers of the language all the more valuable. Even if a career

as an interpreter does not sound exciting for you, the skill has a wide array of uses that could help in the work field. Many customers or business partners may know

ASL and your proficiency would make you an asset to the company.

ASL classes are available through Front Range Community College in a

variety of options. The Westminster Campus also offers an Interpreter Preparation Degree organized and lead by Michelle Stricklen.

The academic p r o g r a m ' s d e s c r i p t i o n , found on F R C C ' s website, gives i n f o r m a t i o n on what it is like to be an Interpreter, the requirements of being admitted to the program,

as well as special activities offered. Students who want to be accepted into the program must be fluent in ASL, as well as English, and are

American Sign Language Written by Alyssa Ojibway

Not every adult has had a form of mental illness, yet most have been affected by one. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that 1 in 5 adults suffer from mental illnesses annually. If twenty percent of adults feel the effects of these common ailments on an intimate level, chances are you may too. Despite the public knowledge regarding this concern, many of those who struggle with these challenges are too uncomfortable to look for a solution.

With increasing awareness about mental health through channels like social media, help is becoming more readily available. As wonderful as this has been for those who actively seek it, there’s a high portion of the population that are too embarrassed to do so. Countless comics, blog posts, and status updates express the frustration that comes with the social stigma of mental illness. A popular advocate for raising awareness, George Takei (Star Trek actor), recently posted an article on Facebook about anxiety and the way it is perceived by those who do not have it. A common misconception is that you can “just get over it”, or think the problem away. To put this idea in to Ricky Gervais’s (creator of The Office) words, “Telling someone with depression to pull themselves

together is about as useful as telling someone with cancer to just stop having cancer.” Celebrities may be able to help spread the truth more easily than the rest of us, but is it

enough for the 10 million Facebook users who follow these two celebrities to skim over this information in their News Feed? While there have been positive changes towards the attitude

and perception of mental illnesses, we still find ourselves in the midst of people who refuse to believe that the brain can’t possibly have a debilitating illness affecting emotions. As a personal sufferer of anxiety, it astonishes me how often I hear “get it together” instead of “someone can help you work through this.”

As is the case for almost all illnesses, there are multiple support groups, physicians, and anonymous services that provide a multitude of avenues for help. Whether you or a loved one suffers from anxiety, depression, OCD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or any other malady, there is a method of support available. The only time a mental illness cannot be treated is if the affected person(s) does not seek treatment.

If an untreated mental illness goes unnoticed it could become more obvious when placed under the pressure we are all placed under in order to succeed. Students are affected by stress factors that are unique to the school lifestyle; such as studying, homework, juggling life outside of school, student debt, and endless other sources of stress. Luckily for Front Range Students, our college is very understanding about

the struggles that students endure individually, and as a student body. Under the Resources tab in eWolf there are many options available to find someone who will be able to help you. Each FRCC campus has a free counselor who can help with stress management, overwhelming feelings, and they can offer an open ear. These counselors are confidential, supportive, and full of information regarding outside help if that is what is best suited for your concerns. Understandably, it can be intimidating to approach someone for assistance when you feel negatively about your mental health. These counsellors may be reached through telephone, or email, if coming appearing in person is not your ideal setting. If you have a concern regarding another student who may suffer from an illness, do not hesitate to fill out a Student of Concern Report (under Resources>Academic Resources). This report is kept confidential (and can be anonymous) and may help someone who is too apprehensive to reach out for help. Another way to help is to offer support to those you know who are affected by mental illness. Sometimes a simple compliment, or reassuring word here and there, can do more than you are aware of.

Mental Illness Affects Us All Written by Alexis Bauer

Telling someone with depression to pull themselves together is about as useful as telling someone with cancer to just stop having cancer.

-Ricky Gervais

expected to attend classes on a full-time basis (no part-time enrollees). These activities include the IPP lab where students can watch videos available through the lab library that cover everything from the basics to situational instances that an interpreter would encounter.

Non-accredited classes are also offered through the Larimer Campus for a flat rate. They normally meet twice a week and are taught by a certified interpreter. You could also sign up for classes directly through the Westminster Campus for the basics all the way up to being accepted for the Interpreter Preparation program.

ASL may not send your mind to the Louvre in Paris, but like learning any great language, it will still open up great doors and opportunities. For more information, please contact Michelle Stricklen @ Michelle.Stricklen@frontrange.edu.

The Front Page Page 3April 22, 2015

Since 2002, every April, museums across the country have taken to following the Smithsonian in a celebration of one of America’s most widely beloved and unique

contributions to the world, often considered its “original” and sometimes only true art form: Jazz music!

Jazz has deep and complex roots in our country, intertwined with some of the largest and most important societal and cultural periods in American history for the better part of the last century and Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) aims to bring this to the forefront of the public’s attention, explaining where the musical art came from and how it came to be what it’s known as today.

Jazz is a distinct and influential part of African-American history and music culture, which is particularly relevant as music played a huge and integral role in the eventual process of dismantling societal segregation in the states. The origins go as far back as 1817 New Orleans where slaves in French colonial districts would gather in a government-sanctioned public park, deemed “Congo Square”, on Sundays for community performances celebrating the music and dances of their diverse heritages. Though this was, in general, frowned upon by white slave-owners and eventually stifled by increasingly oppressive laws, the unique sound and personality of the performances like these captivated onlookers and contributed greatly to the ongoing presence of music in early African-

American communities in the south.

The harsh and unjust conditions endured by African-American peoples during this time gave limited opportunities for musically-inclined

individuals to flourish, much less pursue their own careers, but two distinct musical styles would eventually emerge: Ragtime and The Blues. The former, an upbeat style of music played in dancehalls and parlors in the red-light districts of Missouri and Louisiana, would eventually go on to become quite popular across racial boundaries. Rags, as arrangements in this style were often called, supposedly stemmed from marching tunes

and carry an energetic tempo that encouraged dancing and a good time. Unfortunately, as rags grew in popularity with white c o m m u n i t i e s they were i n c r e a s i n g l y subject to racist alteration. In time, the genre degraded into d e r o g a t o r y “coon songs” to meet with popular demand, a harrowing shift in tune right at home with the underlying sentiments of the other major musical genre to emerge before jazz.

The Blues, an emotionally charged and often wistful alternative to the airiness of ragtime ditties gains traction in the working south, as well. Soulful, and evocative of the hardships and struggles faced by African-American laborers for many, many years, the Blues call upon influences as old as field hollers and slave working songs and are meant to be a positive, cathartic listening experience in spite of their often sorrowful or tragic lyrical content. Influential African-American composer and musician W.C. Handy, while traveling through Mississippi in 1903, recounts his first exposure

to this uniquely southern music as follows in his 1941 autobiography:

“…As he played, he pressed a knife on the strings of the guitar in a manner popularized by Hawaiian guitarists who used steel bars....The singer repeated the line three times, accompanying himself on the guitar with the weirdest music I had ever heard.”

Handy describes the singer as a “ragged man”, and the repeated line in question was about “goin’ where the Southern cross the Dog”, apparently a reference to making tracks across a pair of prominent southern railroads to look for work and a new life elsewhere.

Handy was fascinated by the man’s haunting musical soliloquy and as he travelled further south he was

r e p e a t e d l y e x p o s e d to similar sounds and performances that he would learn was called The Blues. Inspired by the unique sound, which he would d e s c r i b e

again as “haunting, though not unpleasant”, Handy became the first composer to transcribe sheet music for traditional blues music in 1912 with the hit “Memphis Blues” which is often accredited with helping to grow the popularity of the genre outside the working south and making it more readily available to a much wider range of musicians.

With Ragtime and The Blues both enjoying a great deal of popularity, especially in New Orleans, always known for its music, a new style would begin to emerge. Inspired musicians began to improvise and would begin playing their own instrumental solos as a sort of emotional “call and response” during breaks in the music,

charging each member of the band with their own personality and artistic inflection. This new personalized hybrid movement marked the very beginnings of jazz. Influenced by the personality and emotional weight of the blues and the upbeat tempos of rag, it very quickly exploded out of New Orleans and became one of the most popular musical styles in the south. The deeper complexity and variety in jazz songs began to put ragtime on the decline, but racism’s tight grip on the city and the closing of many of New Orleans’ most prominent musical districts pushed many jazz musicians northwards out of the city and towards Chicago, bringing the music to new ears.

Despite these migrations, jazz remained alive and well in New Orleans for many years to come and a large and colorful cast of characters and beloved musicians arise out of the movement, including, but not certainly not limited to, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Jelly Roll Morton, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, and King Oliver. Because the heart of jazz music is improvisational, each of these musicians, among many others, brought their own unique flavor and flair to the genre and contributed wildly different techniques, ideas, and instrumental styles into the melting pot of music. Further expounding on the collaborative nature of jazz, and contributing greatly to its diverse nature and perpetual growth, is the concurrent prominence of the blues, which unlike ragtime never faded out of popular favor, and the overlap of these two genres, one young and one

http://wemu.org

Jazz Appreciation MonthWhat is it? Where does it come from? Written by Julian Hamilton

Continued on page 6

http://www.nmjazz.org

www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org

The Front Page Page 4 April 22, 2015

Midterm Madness!

Photos Courtesy the CEC

FRCC’s Community Engagement

Committee (CEC) sponsored a

midterm dodgeball tournament on

April 7, 2015 to build community

amongst the Faculty, staff, administration and instructors.

The Student Services

team won the competition.

Good Job Student Services!

Thank you for helping us build

community across the Westminster

campus!The CEC team:

Jessica MahoneyMike Ruberto

Steven YamiolkoskiHeidi Strange Brandon Stow

The Front Page Page 5April 22, 2015

Upcoming EventsWednesday, April 22nd,

11:30 am -12:30 pm, Rocky Mountain Room C0770Enjoy a FREE MEAL* as we present the Hunger Banquet! Nearly 1 in 7 Coloradans struggled with hunger in 2013, facing times when there was not enough

money to buy food for their families or themselves. If you receive “food stamps” your

average allotment per meal is only $1.38. Join us to learn more.

Presented by students in the CCR 093 course taught by April

Lewandowski.

Saturday, April 25, 2015, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Rocky Mountain

Room C0770

The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)

Spring Induction Ceremony

Monday: April 27, 2015 - Thursday, April 30, 2015, High

Plains Fitness Center

Intramurals Volleyball: Playoffs

ENGLISH FACULTY READINGPUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTHS AREWHENApril 28th 6 pm – 730 pm WHEREFRCC College Hill Library Room L2113645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031

FEATURING · Prose · Poetry · Creative Non-Fiction · Essays · and MORE! ·

EVERYONE WELCOME!

FREE EVENT!

FEATURINGJonathan MontgomeryNick MorrisMark DucharmeVictoria AshfordApril LewandowskiKathy MullinsTino GomezAnd MORE!

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED!

The Front Page Page 6 April 22, 2015

much older, created some of the most memorable sounds of the era. One of the most famous blues singers of her day, Mamie Smith, incorporated the new inspirations of jazz into her work during this time and renamed her band the Jazz Hounds, for instance. Though born out of the unfortunate, racist, and heavily segregated circumstances of the time, “Color Records” creates a separate music industry for African-Americans. This does nothing to dissolve social tensions or relieve discrimination, but it does allow for a broader range of opportunities and audiences for African-American musicians.

In the 1920’s jazz picks up across the country as it moves further out of the south, following the earlier migration of blues artists. King Oliver’s band, with Louis Armstrong in tow, starts performing out of Chicago as does Jelly Roll Morton, who brings with him collaborative performances with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Louis Armstrong develops the singing

JazzContinued from page 3

amounts of the initial value.

Many of you may have previously heard of market monopolies. Monopolies can be extremely detrimental to the economy of an area depending on the type of the monopoly. Competition is needed to create successful markets and return the economy to equilibrium, the point when supply and demand are even. Standard monopolies “restrict the output and charge a higher price,” explains Wilson. Monopolies with full market control are able to supervise most variables of sale, meaning they are able to restrict the amount of product released as well as the price. This leads to an inefficient use of resources, the exact opposite ofan economist’s dream. According to Wilson, perfect competition, the near opposite of an monopoly “leads to the efficient use of resources.” Perfect competition is when a market is extremely saturated with

EconomicsContinued from Cover

technique of scatting which he puts to use in his first commercially successful original arrangements with the help of his own recording group, the Hot Five (later the Hot Seven). Meanwhile in New York, jazz pianist James P. Johnson records a song called Charleston for a Broadway production which becomes an international sensation, inspiring the famous dance of the same name and up and coming artists, composers, and bandleaders like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway begin to frequent the Cotton Club. Though the establishment was “whites only” it was famous for its black music and entertainment.

Jazz’ cultural relevance and popularity carry over into the 1930’s when the great depression hits. The uplifting musical stylings and feeling of collaboration in jazz performances keeps dancehalls alive and pioneers the term “swing” to describe the collaborative rhythm between the musicians and the dancers alike. In 1932, Duke Ellington records “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If You Ain’t Got That Swing)” which marks the formal acceptance of the term and its first official

appearance in a recorded song title.

By this point jazz had infiltrated the heart of American culture and was booming in the largest and most successful parts of the country. The most popular and famous venues were alive with the vibrant sounds of this rich music and foreigners visiting the establishments of up and coming America took notice. It wasn’t long before they began bringing the sound overseas with them in the form of tours and radio broadcast. Louis Armstrong in particular enjoyed a wide number of international tours, playing for a great number of different audiences.

Swing jazz dominates airtimes and concert halls for much of this era but yet another change was on the horizon. The 1940’s saw what some might call the last great age of jazz, the introduction of more complex styles such as bebop and “free-form jazz” heralded by Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gylespie. The improvisational core that has always been at the heart of jazz was taken to new extremes as bands and artists experimented with further freedoms and influences than

any artists before them. Musical tastes in America were beginning to expand, opening new avenues and opportunities for the art form.

Though it would finally begin to see its decline from mainstream popularity in the 1950’s when electric instruments became more popular, jazz would not be forgotten. The blues, one of the primary building blocks for and contemporaries of the jazz movement, would enjoy a large resurgence at the onset of the age of rock ‘n’ roll with artists like Muddy Waters ushering in a new age of contemporary music from the south. Jazz became considered a more classical style of music as times changed and today it is not only remembered as one of the most beloved and influential eras of American music, but as an important part of our national history as ongoing exhibits and celebrations like JAM attest.

Information Researched at PBS.org, americanhistory.si.edu (The Smithsonian), and jazzinamerica.org (A Timeline of Jazz). Additional information cited from W.C. Handy’s autobiography “The Father of Blues”.

buyers and sellers. This leads to no individuals having any direct impact on the total control of the market. Although that may seem unfavorable at first it actually grants better gains for buyers because they know they have variety when considering a product.

With the decrease in the cost of moving a product from point A to point B market efficiency has the capability of rapidly improving. “Markets have geographic boundaries. These boundaries are determined by things like transportation and communication costs as well as returns to scale and population density,” Wilson added, “Decreasing transportation and communications costs, in particular, have caused the geographic boundaries on some markets to expand so drastically that, basically, a market may now be the whole world.” In essence this may seem inadequate to have a global market, but as proclaimed in the perfect competition explanation, greater amounts of buyers and

sellers improves resource efficiency.

Resource efficiency appears to be the driving force behind the study of micro and macro economics. If you think you are capable and are interested in being more efficient in

your spending of multiple resources, not just currency, then the micro and macro economic classes may be right up your alley. The Front Page would like to thank professor Wilson for answering some of these thought-provoking questions.

Spring 2015 OPEN HOUSE! Date: Thursday, April 30, 2015

Time: 4:30-7:30pm - Stop by at any time!

Location: FRCC Westminster Campus - Rocky Mountain RoomLearn about our academic programs and talk with our faculty members.

Get detailed information about financial aid, advising, and transfer options.

Take a tour of campus.

Talk to current students and find out if FRCC is the right fit for them.

Enjoy food, giveaways, and other surprises!

The Front Page Page 7April 22, 2015

Coloring Corner

The act of balancing every avenue in one’s life has long been a trait many have wished for, especially when taking those fi rst few steps into the college life. As important as schooling is one can always fi nd themselves with too many things to do, so many new people to meet, and so many dreams to pursue. Current Front Range student Viktoriya Martinez, is taking anywhere from two to three classes per semester while maintaining a full time job at a local grocery store. Furthermore, she is the mother to two young children.

Though her work schedule varies from week to week she takes care of her children before and after

work; making sure her son makes it to his swimming and karate lessons and picking up and dropping off her daughter at daycare. All while still fi nding the time to take them to the

park nearly every day.

This workload alone puts her at fi fty-plus hours a week she is devoting to the necessities. Yet,

Martinez says, “Currently I am enrolled in the Retail Management Program. I am also on the waiting list for Nursing Program at FRCC.”

How is this all even

possible? Balance is defi ned as “a state of equilibrium or parity”; the act of maintaining equal parts, effort, and enthusiasm throughout. Martinez states, “I choose the life I

live. It can be hard sometimes, but I can't imagine it any other way.”

These are the people who take on the challenges of obtaining a degree with every other activity they have in their lives. Whether it is their growing families, working full-time, or juggling part-time positions to obtain a forty hour work week, there is always something keeping them occupied. Along the lines of discovering one’s self, they can become lost in the schoolwork and fall behind. When asked if she had any advice for us to better balance our lives, Martinez shared,

“Don’t ever slow down! Everything is worth it!”

Balancing Life With School Written by Alyssa Ojibway

Wolf Play Intramurals

For Wolf Play Intramurals Final score was 63 Flint Tropics, 57 Ball is Life! Playoffs were a double elimination tournament with Flint Tropics ending undefeated. Ball is Life fought back from a loss in the second round to make it to the championship game. 32 High Plains Fitness Center members participated in our inaugural Wolf Play 4 on 4 Basketball Intramurals Spring 2015 season, we are excited to offer it next year. Stay on the Lookout to register at www.imleagues.com/frcc

Final Game Rosters:

Flint Tropics: Andrew Jauregui (captain), Matt Lieberman, Dillion Medina, Stuart Miller, Ruben Pena, Elijah Smith, Cody Strock.

Ball is Life:Dirk Bowman (captain), Keith Artis, Kody Bettcher, Edwin Lopez, Matthew Pike, Noah Proskey.

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The Front Page Page 8 April 22, 2015

The entire content of The Front Page is Copyrighted by the FRCC Board of Publications. No part of the publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The sta� of The Front Page is encouraged to subscribe to the principles of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Inquiries may be referred to the O� ce of Human Resources, 3645 W. 112th Avenue, Westminster CO 80031-2199, (303-466-8811); The Director of A� rmative Action for the Colorado College System, 9101 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver CO 80230-6011; or to the O� ce for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education, 1961 Stout St., Denver CO 80204

303-404-5534 | Frontpage@frontrange.edu

AdvisorsJulie Beggs

Tino Gomez

Nick Morris

Managing & Layout EditorRobin OConnell

Copy EditorKoa Avery

Staff Reporters

Alexis Bauer

Andy Goad

Jacob Hallberg

Julian Hamilton

Alyssa Ojibway

Wednesdays: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, located in C0501

Thursdays: 10:00 am - 11:00 am, located in C0501

Rae Gandy / President of Active Minds, FRCC Westminster Chapter sgandy2@student.cccs.edu

Tracey Carreon / Faculty Advisor of Active Minds, FRCC Westminster Chaptertracy.carreon@frontrange.edu

Genders&

SexualityAlliance

For more information, please contact:Alana McCoy

Academic Advisoralana.mccoy@frontrange.edu

All clubs meet in the Student Organization

Center C-0501

Monday:

Student Government

4- 5 pm

Tuesday:

PTK 12-1 pm

Astronomy 3-4 pm

Wednesday:

Future Business Leaders of America 12- 1 pm

Active Minds 1- 2 pm

Thursday:

Future interpreters of Colorado 9-10 am

Active Minds 10-11 am

Friday:

Writing Club

12:30- 2:30 pm

The Science Society

1-2 pm