Corporations are not people

by Paul Smith

The collusion of big business and government has swelled to glutinous proportions in this country. Over $1 billion was spent on last year’s presidential elections alone, much of that money coming as campaign contributions from individuals with direct ties to corporations and special interest groups.

Ever since the Tillman Act of 1907, corporations have been outlawed from donating money directly to political campaigns, so they have had to do it through individuals and surrogates – but all of that may be about to change.

The Supreme Court is now hearing a case that could dramatically change the way elections are financed in this country.

The current case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission will potentially decide once and for all whether corporations have a constitutional right to donate money to campaigns.

The brouhaha started when Citizens United, a conservative nonprofit organization, tried to run television ads for “Hilary: The Movie,” a scathing documentary critical of Hilary Clinton.

However, these commercials violated current campaign finance provisions under the McCain-Feingold Act and were not allowed to be broadcast, prompting Citizens United to sue the Federal Election Commission.

Attorney Ted Olson, representing Citizens United, laid the basis for the case when he argued before the court, “Corporations are persons entitled to protections under the First Amendment.”

And he is correct – partly. Under current laws, corporations are considered to be legal persons with limited constitutional protections.

This idea that corporations are people has legal precedent which dates back to the 1886 Supreme Court case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Many cite this case as the legal framework for corporate personhood.

Only there’s one problem: this case did not rule on such a thing at all.

Before giving the ruling for this case, Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite made an off-the-record remark suggesting that the court believed that corporations were entitled to equal protection under the 14th Amendment, yet his comment was not part of the official decision.

But the court reporter at the time, J.C. Bancroft Davis (a former president of a railroad company), recorded the quote in the syllabus of the case history, and this off-the-cuff remark has been cited as legal precedent ever since.

And that’s how much of history is decided, folks – by whoever writes it down first, regardless of whether it’s accurate.

Alas, after this case, corporations were considered people and were given many constitutional protections previously only available to actual living, breathing people.

Enter this current Supreme Court case, and now Citizens United claims that it is a legal corporate person that deserves free speech under the First Amendment.

Free speech – but how can a corporation speak?  A corporation can only speak one way – with money. But money isn’t speech, is it?

According to another Supreme Court case, yes, it is.

In 1976, in the case Buckley v. Valeo, the court decided that not only is money a form of speech, but spending money to influence elections is protected under the First Amendment – however, at this time, the court was only talking about real people spending money, not corporations.

And now the Supreme Court must decide whether corporations should be allowed to spend money on campaigns in the same way that real people can.

I submit that if the court decides in favor of Citizens United then this country is in serious trouble.

There is no way the average citizen can reasonably compete with the billion dollar coffers of megalithic corporations. Actual people don’t stand a chance against fake corporate people – not to mention that the legal precedent for corporate personhood is dubious at best.

If the court decides the wrong way, this will be the final nail in the coffin for allowing big business and government to merge into one grotesque, rapacious, horrifying beast – and we can’t let it happen.

Building the Maritime Park is a huge mistake

by Justin Otto

I can’t help but wonder exactly what the people of Pensacola were thinking when they voted FOR the yet to be constructed monstrosity otherwise known as the Pensacola Maritime Park, which finally broke ground on Sept. 17.

Rest assured, this park will end up being a grand affirmation that Pensacola isn’t just another city with terrible water, air and road quality problems, but one that also boasts a dying economy desperate for rescue.

When the idea for the park was initially put forth, Pensacola was a different city. Keep in mind, the park was proposed and voted on back in 2005, during the wake of Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, which brought in several transplants from out of town, some looking for work and others just for refuge. This was also before the national and local economies were in a severe downturn.

Those campaigning in favor of the park adopted the slogan, “The Right Idea, The Right Time” – but this unfortunately isn’t 2005 and the right time has passed.

With a budget of $40 million and an expected construction cost of $38 million, what we are getting is essentially a glorified strip mall that will likely remain mostly empty, much like many of the commercial properties in this town that already exist and could house any number of businesses if said buildings didn’t have the unfortunate stigma of not being ‘Downtown,’ which these days, equates to hip.

To go along with the strip mall, the park will also house a baseball field for our local team, the Pensacola Pelicans, who have been an established baseball team here since 2002. But does anyone really have an interest in local baseball? I personally could count on zero hands the amount of times that I or anyone I know has been to one of their games.

Similarly, Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Ala. was constructed in 1997 and has seen a steady decline in attendance numbers since its opening day.

City planning officials also seem to have overlooked that baseball is a summertime sport, and in our region it rains almost every day during the summer, which is not exactly conducive to a good game or a good time.

I submit that rather than building this pointless Maritime Park, city officials should have focused on ideas for actually improving the quality of life for Pensacolians.

For instance, riding a bike in Pensacola is an absolute nightmare due to the lack of bike lanes, and merely driving your car can ensure a trip to the chiropractor for a lumbar adjustment after the severe trouncing from the 8.2 billion potholes that so elegantly grace our roads like lily pads on a filthy pond (by the way, that filthy pond is without a doubt cleaner than our bays, bayous and waterways).

Initiatives such as safer and more plentiful bike lanes could be implemented and would not only ease traffic congestion, but also reduce the amount of emissions in the county.

And Pensacola is severely behind the times when it comes to “green” oriented infrastructure planning and pollution management.

How about employing ideas that could improve the water and air quality? Runoff from chemical fertilizers and industrial plants permeate our waters to such an extent that local fish are next to inedible. Finances delegated to the construction of the park could have provided incentives for citizens to switch to organic fertilizers in place of their chemical counterparts.

Rather than making sound decisions and working on issues that actually effect the citizens of Pensacola directly (and I mean all of them, not just the Downtown movers and shakers) like road improvement and water quality management, we will get a park that I would venture no more than thirty percent of us will ever go to, half full of boutique stores that seventy-five percent of us can’t afford.

We live in a city that operates as though we still have a mainly tourist-based economy, essentially likening Pensacola to a poor man’s Destin.  And until this kind of thinking changes, the vacuous water-heads in charge will keep making terrible economic decisions as long as they are in office – which if things go the way I think they will after the Maritime Park’s completion, won’t be long.

At least I hope not, because I am rather fond of swimming…

Acting for Dummies

by Madelain Tigano

Momentum: it’s the ability to get up and just tackle the fear, leaving it at the door while embracing the ability to show the weaker side.  How many times will it take to overcome? When will I feel total comfort out in front and in the spot light? These are some of the questions I asked myself. Nevertheless, the nerves still came streaming through my veins all the way into my face, leaving a pinch of red pigment in my cheeks.

This semester I decided to pursue a theater class, which, in return, I hope to set free the shakes and stutters, and become fully comfortable. “Don’t worry about looking stupid,” said Rodney Whatley, theatre department head.  “Everyone is going to look stupid.”

These words on the first day of acting class made me feel a little at ease. Then going over the itinerary, the nerves came crawling back. The thought of cold reading tests, monologues, and a final exam that ends in a five minute scene with two other classmates just kept circling my head. Round and round in a dizzy, trying not to let my emotions get the best of me, I told myself, “Stick in there; don’t give up just yet.”

The second day of class I walked in and noticed the desks placed near the sides of the walls with the chairs staked on top. “What is this?” I asked myself. I could only imagine what would happen next. Whatley then came strolling in. I watched him, not knowing what he was going to say or do next.

To understand Whatley, I would say he is a witty yet passionate character. He has many accomplishments, from once teaching at Florida State University to acting in cities across the country. He plays a part everyday in his lectures which often brings the class to a laughing fit.

As I waited nervously, Whatley began to speak. He told the class to lie on the ground. “Really, on the ground?” I thought to myself. “What could this be?” I participated with an open mind and made my way onto the blue carpet.

Next he told us to take deep relaxing breaths, in through the nose out through the mouth, and to close our eyes. After this, we spent the next 30 minutes loosening up tight muscles and realizing those in between. My nerves began to fade, and I was starting to take control.

After the therapy, Whatley asked the class to chant “hubba bubba bubba bubba.” All in sync, I participated with my classmates in saying these childish words. We all sounded quite silly, and we then took our voices louder and louder to a scream. And all of this was just the opening of the activities for the day. Another chant followed, and thereafter we boxed – well, make-believe boxed, of course.

A few classes later, I found myself standing on the small platform, front and center, about to go first in the class for the cold reading test. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I kept doing it anyway. Somehow I came out with a B plus in the end.

Two classes after the cold reading I spent a Tuesday night remembering a few lines to recite the next day in class for my first monologue. Just knowing I had to remember those lines and say them before a 60 second whistle stop made me quiver. The nerves jolted me, until I stood up there, on that platform, and tried to play the part. I took a deep breath before I started, and once I was done, I was ready to take my seat back into the crowd.

I will tell you this: I didn’t mess up my lines, nor did I go over time. However, the feeling I experienced when it was all over, after I got up there and tackled my fear, filled my body with a rush of accomplishment.  I sat there back in the crowd and thought, “Hey I might have looked like a dummy up there, but it’s an acting class, and we are all going to look a little ridiculous.”

Volleyball team plays first game in the Hartsell

MADELAIN TIGANO

The Hartsell Arena opened it’s doors Sept. 10 for the first volleyball game ever played on PJC’s Pensacola campus.

Athletic Director Bill Hamilton did the honors in welcoming PJC’s opponents North Lake and PJC President Dr. Ed Meadows to the new court. Hamilton also thanked volleyball coach, Pete Pena, for his dedication in bringing the volleyball team to and from Milton for the past 13 years.

Meadows then used the microphone to present the game ball to the officials.

“Go get them ladies; let’s play,” Hamilton said right before the game began.

The Lady Pirates started the first set with Jessica Guidry serving. The first set ended PJC 25-12 with five kills made by Jamine Scott and the winning ace serve by Kelsi New.

Roxanne Salomone took control of the second set with a 10 point serving run, including two aces, helping PJC emerge on top once again in the second set winning 25 to 7.

In the third set North Lake improved its game and came out with the win leaving PJC only five points behind.

“We knew North Lake was going to come back after their low score in the second game,” Scott said.

PJC and North Lake battled it out in the fourth match. PJC managed to stay only points ahead as Hannah Nichols blocked for match point leaving PJC with its third win 25 to 22.

“I am proud we hung in there,” Pena said. “It’s been a great evening and I’m glad it was a win.”

PJC’s ladies volleyball team currently has the record of 12 wins and 4 losses, and a conference record of 2-0.

 

PJC to soon offer four-year degrees

JUSTIN OTTO
The Corsair

PJC will soon offer a limited number of baccalaureate degrees in addition to continuing to offer associate degree programs as they have offered for 61 years.

“I think to meet the needs of the local service area we will have to look at a limited number of bachelors programs as demand comes along,” said Dr. Martin Gonzalez, vice president of academic affairs.

When the idea of offering a four-year program at PJC was first put forth in 2008, there was speculation it would not come into fruition until 2011. Now, due to the diligence of the staff involved, PJC may see change as soon as fall 2010.

“Though it might be happening sooner than expected, the reason behind the change remains the same,” Gonzalez said. “Florida has a very poor production record of people with baccalaureate degrees. In other words, for the size of the state, we graduate very few people, per capita, compared to other states with baccalaureate programs.”

Florida is on the low end of the scale when it comes to bachelor degree production, ranking 47th out of 50 states.

“That’s not ranking by size either. By size it may be worst,” Business Professor Dr. Carla Rich said. Florida’s population is also fourth highest in the nation.

PJC is requesting a Bachelor of Applied Science in administration and supervision. This BAS program would consist of four tracks: General Business, Health Care Administration, Graphic Design and Public Safety/Public Service. PJC is also asking for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which is a separate four-year degree.

Dr. Joan Ziel, who serves as director of the department of testing and assessment, feels the addition of the new programs will definitely make an impact on the economy of both the school and the future of students who decide to utilize these programs.

While UWF holds the throne of higher education in the Santa Rosa and Escambia county area, PJC hopes to fill a function that will be more accessible to retuning students as well as a variety of new matriculators. However, bachelor programs such as Journalism, Computer Science, Education, and so forth will continue to only be offered at universities.

“I think there is a definite market for the Associate in Applied Science student. It allows the Associate in Arts and Associate in

Science student an opportunity to build on the degree that they have and move directly into a bachelors program that will enable them to enter into a management level position right away. A lot of career options are available for these types of students,” Ziel said.

However there is still a lot to be done before the new programs are opened. PJC still lacks state and accrediting approval, which are both vital for the idea to get started.

“The state will hopefully approve us in January or February and then we have to submit a change request to the accrediting agency. That would go in April 15 and they would hopefully approve us at their June meeting. Once we get by the accreditation approval, we’ll be ready to get started,” Gonzalez said. “Hopefully we begin recruiting as early as July, with the first classes starting in August 2010.”

Surgical Technicians demonstrate their skills

KATIE COSEO
The Corsair

Surgical tech week was held Sept. 21- 25, a national recognition for all surgical techs in and out of the operating room.

“It’s like National Bosses day. It’s sort of a way to show appreciation for surgical techs,” explained Dr. Pat Miller-Coburn, program director at the Warrington Campus.

On Sept. 24 visitors were given a demonstration and experienced the job of surgical technicians. Surgical tech students were also there to demonstrate and explain their skills in the operating room.

The program at PJC is one year and is a vocational study. Those who attend do not need to complete prerequisites, but need a high school diploma or GED, and have to be at least 18 years old. Only 20 students are accepted every August.

“I think it’s very high paced, but very exciting,” said Nicola Rosario, a new surgical tech student who was accepted into the program after a number of years as a marine aviator.

Because many apply for the program, Rosario commented on starting on the program as, “just exciting. Just being accepted to the program is exciting.” So far since 2004, all of the surgical tech students at PJC have passed their national certification exam the first time.

Surgical technicians are trained professionals in the operating room.

“We assist the surgeon,” explained Miller-Coburn. “We are the ones that make sure the instruments and procedure is done in an aseptic manner. It’s a very exciting career,” continued Miller-Coburn, who explained that even some surgeons were once surgical technicians before going to medical school. The experience from the vocation prepared them for the surgical atmosphere.

Chiles’ ‘Worst to First’ visits SGA

MADELAIN TIGANO
The Corsair

The Lawton Chiles Foundation entered the Clyde H. Hagler Legislative Auditorium, on PJC’s Pensacola campus Wednesday Sept. 23, to speak to the Student Government Association (SGA) about their Worst to First pledge.

“As Florida’s 41st governor, my father, Lawton Chiles, understood that any investment made in Florida’s children, investment in education, health care or the building of strong, safe communities, would ultimately yield a great return for the state,” Lawton “Bud” Chiles Jr.
said on the foundation’s Website,www.worsttofirst.org.

Lawton Chiles Foundation was established to continue the governor’s work after he passed away. Grandson Geoff Chiles explained to SGA the statistics in Florida’s education. Florida ranks 42nd in state education funding; that’s an estimated 3.1 percent spending of its total resources.

“This doesn’t mean that a Florida student isn’t as smart as other state’s students,” Geoff Chiles said. “Florida just isn’t spending as much on their students.”

Florida spends an estimated $7,000 per student compared to the $9,000 national state average. Florida also ranks 43rd in high school graduates; only 60.8 percent received diplomas with a 1-in-4 dropout rate.

The Worst to First campaign started six months ago and Bud Chiles is dedicated to “walk one million steps to involve one million people.” He started his walk on Sept. 21 in Century and ended the 40 miles in Pensacola two days later.

“This is a way to unite our voices,” Geoff Chiles said.

His goal is to sign one in 20 Floridians to the pledge, for a total of one million pledges to take to the Florida’s government to “fund the education that works.”

SGA president, Matt Lamb expressed his disappointment in Florida’s education programs saying “public education didn’t prepare me for college life.” He also feels the state relies too much on “passing the FCAT.”

For more information and how to get involved visit worsttofirst.org.

Annual Greek Festival spreads Greek culture to Pensacola

Kay Forrest - The Corsair

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 1720 W Garden St. will hold its 50th annual Greek Festival Oct. 16-18. Admission is free. In addition to authentic Greek food and dancing, church tours will be offered and souvenirs will be sold.

Though locals attend the festival for many reasons, one of the biggest attractions is the large variety of Greek food sold each year. Church members spend weeks before the festival cooking huge quantities of food in preparation for the large crowds that always show up. Popular dishes include gyros (pita bread and lamb sandwiches), dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), and baklava (a Greek pastry made with filo dough).

Annamaria Gallaher, a lifelong member of The Annunciation Church, helps out with the food every year. This year, she said over 7,000 dolmathes have been made in preparation for the festival.

“We’re getting ready to take care of the folks of Pensacola,” she said.

Guests are welcome to help in the food preparation. According to Gallaher, members of the church are always happy to teach recipes to anyone willing to learn.

“If you have a desire to learn, our arms are always open,” she said. “We welcome all to come in and learn the culture and learn the food.”

While authentic Greek cuisine is a huge crowd pleaser at the festival, many people come out to hear the live Greek music played by the Kostas Kastanis band and to watch the youth of the parish perform Greek folk dances in traditional costumes.

PJC alum and longtime Greek dancer, George Pagonis, 20, says most of the festival shuts down to watch the dance sets.  “That’s why most people show up,” he said.

Two different groups take turns performing traditional dances throughout the day. The elementary school group is called Hara, which means Joy, while the high school group is named Glenzethes, meaning Merry Makers.

Festival-goers are heartily encouraged to utilize the dance floor between performances. According to Pagonis, the dancers are always more than happy to teach dances to eager audience members.

“I definitely enjoy it,” said Pagonis. “It’s fun to spread the Greek culture and give people a taste of what it is.”

Gallaher recommends the festival to any young person looking for a fun and inexpensive way to spend a weekend.

“It’s not something that the younger culture usually thinks would be enticing or exciting,” Gallaher explained. “But, once you go there, you’ll be going until you’re old and grey.”

She says this year should be especially entertaining in honor of the festival’s 50th anniversary. In commemoration of it, posters with artwork by Greek artist Euripedes Kastaris will be sold in the souvenir tent.

While most of the proceeds from the festival go towards supporting the church, a donation is made every year to a different charity. This year a donation will go to the Ronald McDonald House.

“There’s a lot of hard work and energy put into [this festival]. It’s such an exciting time for the church, because we truly love when the community comes out and partakes of our heritage,” Gallaher said.

Menus and a schedule of dance performances may be found at www.pensacolagreekfestival.com.

Festival Dates:

Friday Oct. 16 – 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Saturday Oct. 17 – 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday Oct. 18 – Noon to 6:00 PM

The Informant!

by Wade Manns

The Informant!

From Warner Bros., Participant Media, and Groundswell Productions

Starring Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, and Melanie Lynskey

Rated R for language.

 

You might’ve heard in the 1990s about a certain scandal that went on among several agricultural conglomerates, involving the food additive known as lysine. This was a price-fixing conspiracy originated at Archer Daniels Midland, one of the largest American agricultural companies in the 90s, and continued around the globe in collaboration with their competitors in Central America, Europe, Japan, and Korea. Price-fixing involves competitors making a pact to set prices of a certain good to a certain rate in order to maximize profits for the involved companies at the expense of consumers, and is a highly illegal tactic which falls under antitrust law.

 

The Informant! Is a movie that dramatizes certain events in this scandal, and stars Matt Damon as Mark Whitacre, the vice president who became the first executive of a major company to turn whistleblower against his own company to the FBI. The movie doesn’t touch very hard on the specifics of lysine, but it doesn’t need to, as it’s not a very technical movie by nature; it’s a pure dark comedy. We see how Mark Whitacre, somewhat of a likable guy by nature, is coerced by his wife to report on his company to the FBI, and specifically to an agent, Brian Shepard, played by Scott Bakula. Mark’s sanity is called into question throughout the movie, as his years of working against his own company, wearing a wire, and even making excuses for his own wrongdoing (if you’re somewhat versed in this matter, you’ll know, but I will not reveal it here) take its toll on the once well-balanced man. Eventually, playing both sides for what he believes to be his own benefit, Mark slowly breaks down, in a process that is both humorous and cringe inducing, as dark comedies usually are.

 

The acting is quite good by all involved, though I have not seen Melanie Lynskey before this movie, her performance as the concerned and cautionary wife was quite memorable, as she really had Mark’s best interests at heart through the whole affair. Scott Bakula was quite a surprise in this, as I had not seen him in any movies, really, only in a couple of TV series, but he definitely held his own here. All in all, a good movie, not spectacular, not Grade-A Blockbuster, but it’s good enough. I would give it 3 1/2 out of five stars. I enjoyed myself, and am interested enough to do a little more research on the topic; I’m sure you will be as well.

S.G.A. first post

Hello everyone, thank you for taking the time to read. This is student government president Matthew Lamb. Let me first start off by thanking the “worst to first” group that came to our school this past Wednesday. They were in the Hagler auditorium giving a presentation of the shocking statistics on how much the state actually spends on education. It was terrible to know that even before the recession hit, Florida was cutting school funds every year since early 2001. We are 42nd in the nation as far as test scores go and have a graduation rate of only sixty percent. Please visit their website to see how you can get involved in helping the community to getting a better education system in our state. http://www.worsttofirst.org/#frameh=304 .The leadership retreat that student activities sponsered friday was a huge success. I attended as well as 20 other students from Milton, Pensacola, and Warrington campus. We did teambuilding activities which enhanced leadership. We also got to meet new people and make new friends! Also, S.G.A. will be starting a survey on financial aid. If you see our tables in the hall, please take a couple of minutes to fill them out. You will be suprised how much your input will actually help us, the students, to succesfully develop a good relationship with the financial aid staff.

Thanks so much for your time,

president,

                Matt

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