Category Archives: Feature

Maryland’s New Gun Laws Among the Strictest in the Nation

By Mary T Mulligan

In wake of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Conn., Maryland’s General Assembly passed one of the strictest gun control laws in the nation.

The legislation would place a 10-bullet limit on weapon magazines, ban 45 different assault weapons, and require citizens who buy a handgun to submit fingerprints to The Maryland State Police. Only five other states have similar laws regarding fingerprinting of handgun owners.
As of press time for The Hawk, the bill was still waiting for Governor Martin O’Malley’s expected signature.

Although the laws will not be fully implemented till October 2013, citizens are already reacting to the news.

Jeff Morgan, criminal justice professor and head of the Administration of Justice Club, said he was skeptical about the impact of the new laws. He responded to a series of emailed questions regarding the issue.

“I do not foresee this affecting the honest, rule following men and women who purchase firearms but see it as one more cost added to owning a gun,” Morgan wrote.

HCC Police Officer Steve Scalf, who formerly served with the Frederick Police Department, said “I would imagine they’re going to exempt law enforcement [from the 10 round magazine limits].”
Maryland already prohibits straw purchasing of firearms, but some believe the punishments should be more severe for those who are caught doing so.

“My thoughts would be to strengthen the sanctions/penalties for those individuals identified, charged and convicted for engaging in straw purchases of firearms,” Morgan, who served the Hagerstown Police Department for 24 years, retiring with the rank of sergeant.

When asked about assault weapons ban, an HCC student who wished to remain anonymous said he thought more controls were unnecessary.

“After 9/11, we did not ban airplanes just because a group of people used them for an undesigned purpose. We imposed stricter searches on the people that boarded the planes,” he said.

The same student was asked about the magazine capacity limit and said “In Maryland, you can only hunt with eight rounds in a magazine, but for target practice it is nice to have a higher capacity magazine in order to not have to reload as much”.

Maryland’s new gun laws also address the concern of mentally ill patients obtaining firearms. “Personally I do not believe it is the weapon that we should fear. People with mental issues, propensity toward violence, perhaps even addiction issues involving alcohol and drugs should be of a bigger concern”, said Morgan.

Most students say they would never expect a massacre, such as the one that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut this past December, to happen in Hagerstown, even without strict gun laws. Ted Kaiser, Treasurer of the Student Government Association, said that he feels very safe on campus although “on every campus there is a possibility of a massacre happening”.

An additional concern is how students and faculty prepare for life-threatening events. In nearly all elementary, middle, and high schools, students practice for fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Morgan noted “training for an active shooter within our school or building should be done on a regular basis like fire drills”.

The HCC police officers already perform annual drills for emergencies, but “it would be nice to include both faculty and students” in those drills, said Scalf.

“We have a very safe environment and a very safe campus. I hope that nothing ever does happen here. I’d like to believe that the probability [for a massacre happening] is low, but you must be prepared. All it takes is one time, one person,” he said.

If students witness suspicious activity, they are encouraged to contact the HCC Police Office first at the number listed, then immediately call 911. “The college has the ability to send text message alerts out”, said Scalf.

Students are encouraged also to sign up for these emergency alerts by logging onto the HCC website.
• Immediately report any suspicious activity on campus.
• (List in box) – HCC Police Office number 240-500-2308 or call #2308 from any on-campus phone.
• Sign up for HCC text emergency alerts.
• Familiarize yourself with safe areas on campus – buildings or rooms without windows.

Jobs Back on the Rise in Maryland

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By Stephen Barber

The ARCC on April 19 was humming as sharply-dressed employers representing 35 firms met with more than 600 job seekers for the annual HCC job fair. While seeking a job is nearly always stressful, unlike similar events in recent years job seekers this year have reason to hope that their local job prospects are improving.

The rate of growth in the job market, however, is not improving equally across the board.
According to data from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, the top growth industry in the last two years is health care, with 19,000 new jobs. The second fastest growing industry in Maryland is the business and financial industries, with 12,000 new jobs. Computer specialists and the IT industry came in third with nearly 7,000 new jobs, and the service industry came fourth with nearly 6,000 new jobs.

The large growth of the healthcare industry was represented at the job fair by some of the area’s largest Healthcare providers. Elder care featured prominently among these employers with the areas largest elder care providers, Fahrney-Keedy, Somerford and Julia Manors, present at the fair. Meritus-Health, the largest healthcare provider in western Maryland and the top employer in Washington county, was also present at the job fair.

When asked what Meritus-Health’s objective was at the job fair, human resources representative Sarah Stottlemyer told The Hawk, “We are here to recruit people for full time nursing, phone clerical, medical imaging, and nutrition service positions. We are always looking for new hires for our facilities in the tri-state to fill positions ranging from nursing and radiology to clerical and housekeeping.”

Kimberly Hadley, human resources representative for Julia Manors, also said her company is hiring.
“Specifically, I am here looking for candidates to fill three full-time nursing assistant positions and one full-time resident nursing position at our Hagerstown facilities. We do have five other facilities in and around the area and we potentially always have an opening if the person is willing to move or commute.”

The business and financial industries were represented by First United Bank & Trust and SECU. Angela Flanagan, recruitment officer of First United Bank & Trusts, painted a positive picture of employment opportunities at the bank.

“We are looking for customer service type positions, such as bank tellers, for our local branches but we always have openings available if the applicant is willing to move for work,” she said.
The computer and IT industries only had one company, First Data, represent it at the HCC Job fair. First Data human resources representative, Amanda Heist, told The Hawk, ”First Data is here looking for job seekers interested in customer service positions. In the past, we have hired HCC graduates with computer and IT related degrees.”

The service industry was represented by Hollywood Casino-Charlestown Races and Marriott-Roy Rodgers. The entertainment complex currently is seeking to fill about 50 positions, according to a company representative.

Building project transforms HCC campus

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The STEM Building is one of the major additions to the HCC campus that has prompted positive comments from HCC staff and students.

By Shaun Eumont

As the current school year nears its end, the estimated $46 million facelift made to the Hagerstown Community College also approaches completion. The assortment of renovations and building additions that started more than a year ago has dramatically transformed the campus grounds, generating generally positive feedback, even as the administration works to refine the implementation of the new facilities.

The project included construction of the new STEM building along with two new centers and numerous renovations and updates to existing structures such as the Kepler Building and its theatre. The STEM building and Kepler Building projects added roughly 85,000 square feet of building space to the campus, said Robert Spong, HCC’s director of facilities management and planning.

Overall, these projects represent far more than just aesthetic updates, he said.

“The renovations were a great boon to the campus. Just the fact that these buildings have been around for so long, some of them since the 60s, and that we could revitalize them into what you see today is astounding to me,” Spong said.

The campus renovations serve several purposes, Spong said.

“Renovations to both the BSH and LSC were extensive and overall, these overhauls to the campus were sorely needed. They allowed us to be more competitive in the surrounding areas and have made the job for my maintenance staff much easier,” he said.

The projects were also well timed from a financial perspective, he said.

“Dr. Altieri solidified funding for these projects at a good time. The prices were at an all-time low and to get all four projects done at once was a great success for the college,” said Spong.

According to HCC’s administration and finance office, the major renovations and construction projects were combined into two projects. The first project consisted of the construction of the STEM building and the renovations of the Learning Support Center and Behavioral Science and Humanities building.

This was bundled into a single project labeled the Arts and Sciences Project. The second of these two projects consisted of the Kepler Theatre and the construction of the new Performing Arts and Visual Arts Education Center within the building. This project was aptly designated the Performing and Visual Arts Project.

The changes these two projects have brought about amount to a radically altered campus, as both students and faculty can attest to.

Sophomore Allison Ruth, like many of her peers, expressed a newfound admiration for the campus.

“I think [the new buildings] they’re great. It makes the campus appear to be much more than what I ever pictured a community college to be. It’s just a nicer place to be,” she said.

The teaching faculty of HCC also has appeared to have benefitted thus far from the effects of the renovations.

Dr. Alicia Manfre, whose office is located within the new STEM building alongside those in her department, remarked on the difficulties before the building was completed.

“Before the department was really fractured and much more isolated. I didn’t really spend much time with the other professors who were teaching the same courses as me so it was much more difficult to coordinate ourselves,” she said.

Since the completion of the STEM building Dr. Manfre reports a much different situation.

“We’ve been very fortunate; the building is great and has brought the department together. Our resources are much more centralized now and the larger space has been very beneficial to us.”

However, the new additions and changes to the buildings are not without faults. A number of students and faculty members had concerns regarding the amount of printers available for use.

“It’s incredibly inconvenient if you want to print something now. You have to go all the way over the LSC and then compete with everyone for use of a single printer,” one source said.

Another member of the faculty also commented on the design flaws of the BSH.

“There aren’t enough places for the students to sit, so many of the students just end up loitering in the middle of the halls while they wait for class to start.”

Some students even questioned the effectiveness of the Learning Support Center with certain subjects. The philosophy of the center encourages individualized learning where students are left to themselves with minimal guidance to work. However, subjects such as science don’t appear to benefit from such an approach and has some faculty members skeptical of the methods.

Dr. David Warner, the vice president of academic affairs responded to some of these concerns.

“The facilities are done. They can be used and lived in but they are still very much a work in progress. We ask that people please be patient. The buildings will need to go through a period of adjustment and while we realize there is still a gap between the potential and the actuality, it is this gap we are actively working to bridge,” he said.

When questioned about the future of the HCC campus, Dr. Warner revealed some of the plans for HCC.

“The president is very innovative and we’re committed to providing the students and staff of HCC with the tools they need. As of now there are several things planned which are very state-of-the-art such as the Energy House we hope to build as well as expand the Student Center among other things,” he said.

High hopes for decriminalization

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By Stephen Barber

The Maryland Senate passed a bill March 19 decriminalizing the possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis. The bill would make the possession of a small amount of marijuana a civil offense, punishable with a $100 fine. Maryland’s current marijuana laws, make possession a criminal offense, punishable with a possible 90 day jail term and $500 fine. The bill now awaits approval from the House of Delegates.

Senator Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), who sponsored the bill, stated that the law was needed to avoid overspending.

“It is a tremendous waste of resources,” he said, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The co-sponsor of the bill, Senator Kittleman (R-Howard and Carroll counties), stated that last year Maryland police made 47,000 arrests related to marijuana possession.

“Seems to me we should use those resources on better things. We shouldn’t put those folks in jail,” Kittleman told NBC Washington.

The issue of cannabis prohibition is hotly contested, but as Colorado and Washington became the first to legalize marijuana for recreational use, and over a dozen more states have passed decriminalization legislation, public opinion appears to be shifting towards legalization and decriminalization.

HCC students spoke out about how they felt about the possible law change. Students like Chris House and Chantelle Myers were strongly in favor of the bill.

“I personally think it is a step in the right direction. I’m against marijuana being illegal and I think states like Washington and Colorado are doing the right thing. I would like to see Maryland go in the same direction,” said House.

Myers agreed “I think it is a good thing. Marijuana should be legal. Period. I don’t consider it a drug like cocaine and heroin. You don’t read about people dying or overdosing from marijuana. Alcohol is legal and you can die if you drink too much, but marijuana, which is much safer is still illegal,” she said.

Other students like Victoria Schmidt were strongly opposed to the bill..

“I think anyone who is in possession of an illegal drug, like marijuana, should go to jail,” said Schmidt.

Stephen Scalf, an HCC campus police officer told the Hawk he felt uncomfortable about decriminalization. “Well, naturally you’ll find most police officers are going to disagree with it. I’ve been in law enforcement for a long time and I’ve seen drugs make people do really ignorant things. Right now it is only marijuana, but God only knows what’s going to be the next item on the list,” he said.

HCC cuts the ribbon for two major renovations

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HCC President Guy Altieri poses with local officials at ribbon cutting at dedication ceremony.

Carrying a message of hope in the midst of some grim economic times, Hagerstown Community College President Guy Altieri on Friday, March 22, officially marked the opening of the newly renovated Behavioral Science and Humanities Building and the Learning Support Center.

The two buildings are part of a much larger construction project that included renovations to the Kepler Performing Arts Center and construction of the STEM building. [See article by Shaun Eumont in this issue.]

The Behavioral Sciences and Humanities (BSH) Building was known as the Classroom Building when it opened in 1966. The renovation of the building began in 2012, and included creating of new faculty offices, instructional spaces, classrooms, and meeting rooms. Among the new elements of the building is the Fletcher Faculty Development Center, which is designed to be a resource for both staff and adjunct faculty. The Fletcher Center was made possible by a $385,000 grant from the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation.

The Learning Support Center(LSC) was originally opened in 1966 as the Science Building. Its laboratories and science instruction space were shifted to the new STEM building in 2012, and extensive renovations of the old structure began. The LSC now houses HCC’s developmental education program and student tutoring services.

In his remarks before the ribbon cutting ceremony, Altieri did not gloss over the challenges facing both Washington County and the nation as a whole. Economic indicators show that young people are unlikely to enjoy either the standards of living or the educational opportunities of their parents, he said. Already, statistics show an increasing percentage of the population living below the poverty level, said Altieri. In this situation, the role of institutions like HCC is increasingly important, he said.

“The solution must be to strengthen the opportunity for people of all ages to obtain a post-secondary education,” he said.

The new renovations of the BSH Building and the LSC help HCC meet the needs of both the local and national economy, said Altieri.

“They represent an extraordinary resource for generating the educated and well-skilled workers that our economy will need,” he said.

Barbara Kulusic

In addition to HCC President Altieri and Vice President David Warner, representatives of the HCC Board of Trustees, the Washington County Board of Commissioners, the HCC faculty, and the student body also spoke. Barbara Kulusic, who graduated from HCC in 2012, was given the honor of concluding the ceremony.

Kulusic was in the last class to use the Classroom Building before it was transformed into the BSH Building. The new BSH building, she said, is “much more conducive to learning.”

Kulusic, who is a veteran of the US Navy, came to HCC to earn an associate’s degree, but now is pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The challenges she faced were daunting, Kulusic said, but she met them with the help she found at HCC.

“I didn’t think I could do it,” she said. “I thought I was going to lose my mind. But the tutoring assistance I got here was just unbelievable. I would not have been able to graduate last year without their help.”