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Articles by Abby Carr
MCCC’s first student retention specialist retires
Angela Acosta, student retention specialist, retired Feb. 27 after over two years at MCCC and over 30 years in financial aid administration. Acosta has already “popped by” to visit since her retirement about a month ago, Amanda Althouse, director of Student Success, said. Angela Acosta “We loved working with Angie,” she said. “She was a wonderful advocate for our students, she handled our early alerts, so she was really involved, you know, with student issues and concerns and needs.
‘The Art Thief’ author visits MCCC for OBOC Author of ‘The Art Thief’ shares his writing experience
(Left) Michael Finkel smiles with Audrey McEachran as he signs her copy of “The Art Thief” at the One Book, One Community keynote on March 25. Michael Finkel (right) speaks with event attendees. Michael Finkel displays a brochure that Stéphane Breitwieser, the titular art thief, stole from a museum while Finkel was with him. MCCC Board of Trustees Secretary Nicole Goodman (short hair) makes a purchase from Hope Chinchak, owner of The Wandering Librarian book shop.
CTC Building locked down after threat to instructor Identities of student and instructor involved in incident not released
An MCCC student was banned from campus on March 4, leading to additional security measures on campus. “Monroe County Community College (MCCC) will always err on the side of the health and welfare of its employees and students,” wrote Scott Behrens, vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Success, in an email to all students.
Proposed values change approved by MCCC councils
The Access and Engagement Subcommittee proposed rewritten MCCC values to the shared governance councils in February. MCCC President Kojo Quartey requested that they review them for diversity, equity and inclusion related terms. Quartey said he asked the subcommittee to evaluate the values because of both a dear colleague letter from the Department of Education and because Trump “pretty much outlawed anything to do with DEI” with an executive order on his first day in office.
Dean, registrar give presentations on local and national Underground Railroad movements
MCCC hosted two Black History Month presentations about the Underground Railroad for its employees. The presentations were given by Beverly Tomek, dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and interim dean of Business, on Feb. 18, and Sarah Mason, registrar, on Feb. 19. The presentations were held via Zoom and each had 25 attendees. Linda Torbet, executive director of Human Resources, wrote in an email, “We try to get speakers who are local.
Career Technology Center floods
A rare piping issue led to leaks in the Career Technology Center on Monday, Jan. 26 and Wednesday, Jan. 28. Michael Neaves, supervisor of Power Systems Operations, said this is the first time he had seen a propress fitting, which is a type of pipe connector that is crimped together, fail in his career. Three propresses failed in the same week in the CTC. “I’ll probably never see it ever again in my life, a propress fail,” he said.
Campus reacts to winter storm closure
Professors shifted in-person classes to online or pushed back plans when MCCC’s campus was closed Monday, Jan. 26. The Jan. 26 Board of Trustees meeting was cancelled due to weather, and its agenda items were moved to the Feb. 23 meeting. Bryan Molnar, supervisor of Custodial Operations and Grounds Maintenance, said when the forecast calls, for snow his crew prepares their equipment, salt and brine in advance.
Aviation courses, flight simulator to come to MCCC
A noncredit pilot ground school course and two drone courses will be available to MCCC students this winter semester. Private Pilot Ground School Barry Kinsey, director of Workforce Development, said the pilot ground school course will prepare students for the Federal Aviation Administration Airmen Knowledge Test, which is the first of two tests needed to become a licensed pilot. MCCC purchased a Redbird MCX flight simulator, which is set up to look like a Cessna 172 from the inside.
From 1968 to 2025: The people of the Agora
At the Agora, we try to cover as many topics as we can. In this process and in our daily lives, we have spoken with many community members who were once a part of the Agora staff. Here are their stories. Bobb Vergiels He was alumni of the year at MCCC graduation in 1999. He was a keynote speaker at graduation in 2000. He emceed an event when Vice President Dan Quayle spoke at MCCC. He once introduced President Bush at the Monroe Power Plant. He announced for the Detroit Tigers games for 15 years.
New Husky Portal
The new Husky Portal, a website allowing students and staff to access MCCC related links with single sign-on, was released on MCCC’s website Aug. 27. The old portal only allowed students to sign-in. Chris Gosset, manager of Enterprise Data Services, said the old portal is only accessible to students, but the new portal is designed for students and staff. It contains the links from the old portal as well as new links.
State police works with MCCC club on outreach events
The Criminal Justice Club participates in community outreach events throughout the school year.
Repeat failure of MCCC millage
MCCC’s millage proposal failed for the second year in a row, on Nov. 4. The proposed Monroe County Community College Maintenance And Improvement Millage Renewal failed with a 53.89% vote no. There were 15,789 votes no with just over 29,000 votes total on the 2025 millage. There was approximately a 62% decrease in voter turnout on the millage vote from 2024 to 2025. The millage will expire at the end of 2025, Joe Verkennes, director of Marketing and Communications, said.
Strategic Plan approved by board
The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan focuses on addressing students’ needs and improving their experience at MCCC. It was approved Sept. 22 by the Board of Trustees. The Strategic Plan’s outcomes are to increase student retention, establish and meet student achievement rates, and improve student and employee satisfaction surveys.
New counselor starts weekly mental health group
Greg Bedner began working as a mental health counselor at MCCC in April. He has worked as a substance abuse therapist, a case manager and a private practitioner prior to coming to MCCC where he started the open mental health group, Mental Health Mondays, in October. Both students and faculty have participated in the sessions. Bedner said he gives attendees educational tools, but if the attendees feel comfortable, they can share their struggles.
Food bank available to students who lost SNAP
Students losing SNAP benefits Nov. 1,due to the federal government shutdown may put strain on Heck’s Market Food Pantry. The shutdown began Oct. 1.
Poetry Night returns after winning program of the year
The Writing Center will host two events on Thursday, Oct. 23, a bake sale and Poetry Night. Lori Jo Couch, professor of English and Writing Center faculty adviser, said the bake sale will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the S Building. The bake sale typically makes about $100, and the money is used toward different needs that the Writing Center has, she said. This year the money will likely go toward T-shirts for the writing fellows.
Millage, mayor, council seat on November ballot
The 2025 general election is on Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the city of Monroe, the mayor, clerk-treasurer and council seats are up for reelection. The only contested candidates are the mayor and the precinct 3 councilperson. The city of Monroe will have two days of early voting: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Annamarie Osment, Monroe County clerk, said. Residents of Monroe County will vote on MCCC’s millage renewal.
Bomb threat closes MCCC
MCCC is closed due to a bomb threat, and all classes are canceled. A text update sent to students said, “As of 4:07 p.m. this evening, all buildings have been officially cleared and declared safe.
Honeybees come to MCCC Community Farm
Dan Pederson, co-owner of Farm House Honey LLC, pried the top off of the beehive, which was installed on the MCCC Community Farm in late April. The beehive, located in a small clearing in the woods behind the farm plots, was surrounded by honeybees illuminated by the morning sun. It is composed of several wooden boxes stacked on top of each other, all of which are on cement bricks to reduce rodents and insects entering the hive and to prevent the wood from rotting.
Administrative changes at MCCC
Several resignations and a promotion lead to staff changes at MCCC and the arrival of a new face, Brian Bertram. Vice president of Finance and Administration Former director of Financial services, Frank Thomas, was promoted to vice president of Finance and Administration after Curtis Creagh resigned on May 8 and left the position on June 30. Creagh declined an interview but said in an email he appreciated his time at MCCC. In his resignation letter, he wrote he had served MCCC as best as he could.
Administration hosts winter town hall
During the winter 2025 President’s Town Hall, which was held in the Meyer Theater on April 10, administration discussed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; diversity, equity and inclusion; mental health; bathroom safety and MCCC’s upcoming strategic plan. “I don’t care what anybody says, there hasn’t been a single ICE raid on any college campus,” President Kojo Quartey said. He said ICE is legally allowed on campus, but not in classrooms.
Restroom signs torn off campus walls
A survey conducted on campus early this year was a major factor in the recent removal of signs outside of the restrooms. Because of this, MCCC administration held a town hall meeting on April 10 from 12:30 to 1:30 in the Meyer Theater to address the results.
My experience in ‘Sherwood,’ MCCC’s play
Trying new things can be scary, especially new things that put you in the spotlight. This year, my first year of college, I have had opportunities to experience many new things. One of those new things was acting. Last semester, on a day when I was feeling lonely, I decided to audition for the annual play put on by MCCC. To my surprise, despite my subpar acting skills, I was accepted into the ensemble. The play, “Sherwood,” is a Robin Hood retelling, which featured both emotional scenes and comedy.
MCCC introduces multiple new programs for students
The professor pinches and swipes the air in his office as he demonstrates the augmented reality headset. The headset overlays an iridescent digital model of a building created by students of professor Emrah Kazan, associate professor of construction management technology, in the air above his desk. The extremely detailed model, which contains everything from furniture to texturing to plumbing, can be rotated and resized by the wearer of the headset.
Abby Carr
My name is Abby Carr and I am 18 years old. I was homeschooled and graduated in 2024. I work part-time at a coffee shop. This is my first semester on the Agora and my second semester at MCCC. I have no prior journalism experience, so I look forward to the experience and knowledge I will gain from working on the Agora. Outside of school and work, I enjoy reading and writing. My favorite genres are fantasy and historical fiction.
Maryland Pot Law Impedes Police Efforts to Stop Drug-Impaired Driving
Must Reads Big Tech Border Crisis China Critical Race Theory Election Integrity Letters Podcasts “They call it dope for a reason,” anti-drug campaigns used to say. These public service campaigns were referring to the people who use drugs, but a marijuana law recently passed by the Maryland General Assembly shows that the slogan could apply to some legislators too. That’s harsh, but accurate. Why?
The opioid crisis keeps getting deadlier
Xylazine—a tranquilizer approved as a sedative for veterinary medical use but not for any use in humans—is currently worsening the opioid crisis. Known on the street as “tranq,” xylazine has become a common additive to substances such as fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, whether taken orally, by smoking or snorting it, or by injecting it.
Adding Xylazine to Fentanyl Could Be Joe Biden’s Next Crisis
Xylazine—a tranquilizer approved as a sedative for veterinary medical use but not for any use in humans—is currently worsening the opioid crisis. Known on the street as “tranq,” xylazine has become a common additive to substances like fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, whether taken orally, by smoking or snorting it, or by injecting it.
Adding Xylazine to Fentanyl Could Be Joe Biden's Next Crisis
Xylazine—a tranquilizer approved as a sedative for veterinary medical use but not for any use in humans—is currently worsening the opioid crisis. Known on the street as “tranq,” xylazine has become a common additive to substances like fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, whether taken orally, by smoking or snorting it, or by injecting it.
Adding Xylazine to Fentanyl
Must Reads Big Tech Border Crisis China Critical Race Theory Election Integrity Letters Podcasts Xylazine—a tranquilizer approved as a sedative for veterinary medical use but not for any use in humans—is currently worsening the opioid crisis. Known on the street as “tranq,” xylazine has become a common additive to substances like fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, whether taken orally, by smoking or snorting it, or by injecting it.
Handing Out Apples and Oranges: The Media’s Uneven Portrayal of Conservative Judges
The Supreme Court has been the recent target of a relentless and strategic campaign aimed at undermining its credibility and impartiality. Left-leaning publications such as ProPublica, Slate, and The Guardian have orchestrated an assault against conservative judges. These claims are bolstered by Senate Democrats who conjure a new ethics “scandal” against the Court every week, while remaining eerily silent when confronted with the same type of actions from liberal judges. Their motive?
A federal court just handed Biden's Ministry of Truth a big defeat Original
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! In a landmark decision that should have all Americans cheering, a Louisiana federal court recently upheld their First Amendment right to speak without being censored by the government. Judge Terry Doughty said the case, Missouri v.
Tim Walberg, Meg Kilgannon, Abby Carr, Macy Petty, Matt Carpenter
On today’s program: Tim Walberg, U.S. Representative for the 5th District of Michigan, shares his reflections on the upcoming one-year anniversary since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court and reacts to the DOJ whistleblower claims about the investigation into Hunter Biden and the White House missing the deadline to release further information on the origins of COVID.
Court Corrects Flawed Ruling on Voter-ID Law Driven by Ideology, Not Law
Must Reads Big Tech Border Crisis China Critical Race Theory Election Integrity Letters Podcasts In a decision that did not get the attention it deserved, the newly reconstituted North Carolina Supreme Court recently reinstated, as the court said, one of “least restrictive voter identification laws in the United States.” Liberal judges on that court—two of whom are no longer there after losing their 2022 re-election attempts—had previously thrown out the law, erroneously claiming that it was...
Tommy Tuberville, Abby Carr, Nicole Neily, Michele Bachmann
On today's program: Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator from Alabama, shares why it’s important for the federal government to protect women’s sports. Abby Carr, Harvard University Women’s Varsity Swimming team member, voices her urgent plea for Congress to protect women’s sports.
Congress, We Have A Problem
While watching President Biden’s State of the Union address this past January, I was shocked by the apparent lack of civility from members of Congress. From Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene’s outbursts to Rep. Lauren Boebert’s attempt to begin a “build the wall” chant, the behavior of our elected officials was deeply inappropriate.
Close Brush With Insanity: Maryland’s Pot Law Impedes Police Efforts to Stop Drug-Impaired Driving
“They call it dope for a reason,” anti-drug campaigns used to say. These public service campaigns were referring to the people who use drugs, but a marijuana law recently passed by the Maryland General Assembly shows that the slogan could apply to some legislators too. That’s harsh, but accurate. Why?
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