Odds may be in AACC's favor when it comes to slots

The Arundel Mills campus is not far from sight of the casino

 Many students at the Arundel Mills AACC campus think it will be too much of a gamble to build the new slots parlor so close the college.   

“A lot of people won’t want to come here because of the negative environment, the gangs, the prostitutions,” says student Melissa Presscop, 19, who says she voted against slots at the mall from the start. 

Cordish Cos. plan to have the Maryland Live! casino open for business in 2012.  Voters approved the building of the casino on Nov. 2, many hoping it would create jobs and revenue for the county. The casino is expected to draw 6 million people each year.

Every student interviewed expressed concern for the possible rise in crime the casino's presence might bring.
“It’s definitely going to bring a different crowd, a different atmosphere, and I don’t think it’s a good atmosphere for learning,” says Jeff Benita, 21, who is studying alternative sustainable energy at AACC.

Officer Robert Berk of AACC Public Safety does not think students have much to worry about.

“We’re expecting [crime] to go up a little bit but…I don’t think it’s going to affect us that much,” says Berk.
A study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice agrees with Berk’s statement. Dr. Grant Stitt , chairman of the criminal justice department at the University of Nevada, Reno, researched different cities across the U.S. to see what the odds were that a casino would increase the area’s crime rate. In St. Louis for example he looked at 22 major crimes. The following six all increased.

·         Larceny

·         Simple assault

·         Sex offenses

·         Drug violations

·         Family offense

·         Liquor violations

The following 11 decreased.

·         Sexual assault

·         Aggressive assault

·          Burglary

·         Vehicle theft

·         Forgery

·         Fraud

·         Check fraud

·         Credit card fraud

·         Prostitution

·         Public drunkenness

·         Disorderly conduct

And five crimes experienced no change

·         Homicide

·         Robbery

·         Arson

·         Embezzlement

·         DUI

.   

Dr. Dan Natf, director of the Center for the Study of Local Issues at AACC, still feels it is a bit of a crap shoot as to whether the slots parlor will in anyway affect the students at the Arundel Mills campus.

“The question is the timing of people coming in and out of the casino and students coming in and out of classes,” says Nataf.

Nataf feels that the addition of more officers as well as security devices will help keep things in check.

“[The additional security officers] are going to compensate for whatever level of crime the casino might bring,” Nataf says

 

Odds in AACC's Favor when it comes to slots





The Arundel Mills campus is not far from the sight of the casino.

 Many students at the Arundel Mills AACC campus think it will be too much of a gamble to build the new slots parlor so close the college.   

“A lot of people won’t want to come here because of the negative environment, the gangs, the prostitutions,” says student Melissa Presscop, 19, who says she voted against slots at the mall from the start. 

Cordish Cos. plan to have the Maryland Live! casino open for business in 2012.  Voters approved the building of the casino on Nov. 2, many hoping it would create jobs and revenue for the county. The casino is expected to draw 6 million people each year.

Every student interviewed expressed concern for the possible rise in crime the casino's presence might bring.
“It’s definitely going to bring a different crowd, a different atmosphere, and I don’t think it’s a good atmosphere for learning,” says Jeff Benita, 21, who is studying alternative sustainable energy at AACC.

Officer Robert Berk of AACC Public Safety does not think students have much to worry about.

“We’re expecting [crime] to go up a little bit but…I don’t think it’s going to affect us that much,” says Berk.


A study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice agrees with Berk’s statement. Dr. Grant Stitt , chairman of the criminal justice department at the University of Nevada, Reno, researched different cities across the U.S. to see what the odds were that a casino would increase the area’s crime rate. In St. Louis for example he looked at 22 major crimes. The following six all increased.

·         Larceny

·         Simple assault

·         Sex offenses

·         Drug violations

·         Family offense

·         Liquor violations

The following 11 decreased.

·         Sexual assault

·         Aggressive assault

·          Burglary

·         Vehicle theft

·         Forgery

·         Fraud

·         Check fraud

·         Credit card fraud

·         Prostitution

·         Public drunkenness

·         Disorderly conduct

And five crimes experienced no change

·         Homicide

·         Robbery

·         Arson

·         Embezzlement

·         DUI

“[The additional security officers] are going to compensate for whatever level of crime the casino might bring,” Nataf says

.   

Dr. Dan Natf, director of the Center for the Study of Local Issues at AACC, still feels it is a bit of a crap shoot as to whether the slots parlor will in anyway affect the students at the Arundel Mills campus.

“The question is the timing of people coming in and out of the casino and students coming in and out of classes,” says Nataf.

Nataf feels that the addition of more officers as well as security devices will help keep things in check.

Campus Cleanliness

The leaves may have faded, but AACC continues to stay fresh and green, thanks to recycling and the hard-working custodians.

Recycling rates rose last year due in large part to the single stream system now employed by the campus.  The college’s recycling tonnage has increased 27 percent from 210 in 2008 to 267 in 2009.

The system, called “easy and painless” by Facilities Director Mike Wilson (pictured left) and is as simple as this:

      - All recyclables can be put in a single bin with no separation needed
    
      - The green bins are located throughout the campus providing easy access for students

While system has increased recycling, the true reason for campus cleanliness is the custodians and janitors that work behind the scenes.  

“[The campus is] clean, safe, and healthy because of their contributions,” says Wilson.

Not only do they promote a better learning environment, says Wilson, but their efforts better the lives of all at the campus, as was seen in the 2009-2010 swine flu scare.

“I truly think the custodians’ effort[s] helped to keep down the outbreak of flu around here.”

Wilson makes sure the custodians know just how much they mean to the health of the campus and their impact on college life.

“People like to come because it’s clean and neat,” says Wilson. “It attracts people.”

Mother to replace Green Party nominee for Senate

Kenniss Henry steps in after daughter Natasha Pettigrew was killed in accident

By Julie Bykowicz, The Baltimore Sun

The Maryland Green Party has nominated Kenniss Henry to replace her daughter, Natasha Pettigrew, on the ballot for U.S. Senate, the party announced Wednesday.

Pettigrew died this month after a sport utility vehicle struck her while she was cycling in Prince George's County.

 Henry's name was submitted Monday to the Maryland State Board of Elections for the seat long held by Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski.

The party's coordinating council voted unanimously Sunday night to nominate Henry.

"Natasha's supporters will still have an opportunity to make their voice heard by casting a vote as her mother carries her message forward to the election," Karen Jennings, co-chairwoman of the Maryland Green Party, said in a statement. "Even in her death, Natasha's voice and passion will carry on."

Henry said she is honored to run her "daughter's race to the finish line." She said in a statement she would continue her daughter's theme of campaigning "for the people."

Pettigrew, a 30-year-old law student at the University of Miami, was training for a half-triathlon when she was killed. In honor of her daughter, the Green Party said, Henry seeks to bring attention to bicycle safety and the need for bicycle lanes on all Maryland roadways.

The Maryland State Police are investigating the Sept. 19 accident. Police said the driver of the Cadillac Escalade that struck her before dawn on Route 202 drove off, thinking she'd hit an animal. The woman called the police when she arrived home and found a bicycle lodged under her vehicle.

Grammer

This is the sign for Rams Head Roadhouse. There is possession here so there should be an apostrophe in Rams:
Ram's Head Roadhouse.

Leonard Turner Jr. plans to break into Hollywood in a different way than most people would expect.


Instead of trying to go the rout most think of such as singer, actor, song writer or director, Turner hopes to immerse himself in the world of show biz through his chosen profession of journalism.

Turner a student at Anne Arundel Community College, says he would be satisfied covering any branch of the news, but he has a special passion for the entertainment world.

“I love reading up on the latest gossip and celebrity news because I think it's fascinating to see people you see perfected in movies, music, and television - have more drama and conflicts in their real lives than we do.” Turner said via email interview.

Turner’s zeal for journalism, can be traced back to his father, Leonard Turner Sr., who started out as a camera man and is now an editor at Comcast Sportsnet.

Turner confirmed that constantly being around that environment throughout his childhood played a big role in his choice to enter the journalistic field.

After graduating high school from the Western School of Technology & Environmental Science in Baltimore County, Turner enrolled at AACC, were he began to take courses that would aid him in his journalism career. He is also involved with the school news paper.

Upon graduating from AACC, Turner hopes to transfer to a full time university, such as University of Maryland College Park, or Towson. His time table for after college is still a little vague for him, but he knows he definitely wants to be involved with the media upon graduation.

His long-term goal however, remains the same. To cover the flamboyant lives of the stars who give life to America’s vast entertainment world. To go from the boy who grew up watching the man behind the camera, to the man who will bring to light the lives of those in front of it.

News blog

 Here is the link the news blog guardian.co.uk:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog