Volume 26, Issue #3	North Iowa Area Community College	October 6, 1999

MEETING Y2K CHALLENGE...  article by Josh Frayne, staff reporter

Making one’s computer hardware and software Y2K compliant is a simple task. But try to fix those same problems on over 900 computers in several locations and you’ve just changed a relatively simple task into a project that requires much thought and many hours of tedious work.  And even then, you’ve only fixed any foreseen problems. That is the exact task Bruce McKee, director of NIACC’s Technology Services, and seven other computer programmers and  technicians have been trying to do. Buying and installing software upgrades and patches, as well as ensuring all of NIACC’s 900 computers hardware is current, both on campus and on satellite campuses, is a time consuming and pricey project that McKee and his staff have been working on, while still performing all of their regular work on campus. McKee explained how the Y2K, or the Year 2000 conflict is a simple programming flaw in the BIOS of a computer, the part of the computer that tells all of its components how to communicate with each other. This small flaw sets the date on a computer to January 1, 1900 after New Year’s Eve 1999, potentially causing a computer program to miscalculate numerical data in spread sheet and database applications. The millennium bug, as it is also called, is not actually a bug or virus as all, but a programming error - an error originally thought of as a good idea by computer programmers looking to save memory space at a  time when a computer contained very little. People trying to fix this programming error must look at every line of code in every program a computer contains, as well as inspect the computer hardware for any foreseen compliancy problem. Ten months ago, McKee gave a brief description of the millennium bug in an interview with then Logos assistant editor Kristy Hrdlicka. In that interview Mckee said, “In the year 2000 some things might not function properly.  But we have a lot of people trying to fix those problems here at NIACC.” This proves that NIACC’s Technology Services has been working long and hard to assure the safety of data for both students and faculty. Some might wonder if there was any need for NIACC students to be concerned about the possible loss of financial aid, grade and transcript information, but Mckee said “We don’t think so.” McKee went on to explain how he and his team have run a number of tests on NIACC’s administrative computers’ hardware and software and they are all Y2K compliant.

CAMPUS... cartoon series by Charlie Weaver

COMPANIES RING IN NEW YEAR... by Jenn Litterer, ast. editor

Better safe than sorry is the expression many people think of when preparing for the possibility of a Y2K problem.  All around the area, generators have been selling like hot cakes, and people have been stocking up on bottled water and canned goods.  Yet, the consumer isn’t the only one preparing for Y2K, as many businesses have been updating their systems. The biggest possibility of a problem that many consumers have been worried about is losing electricity at 12:00 midnight January 1, 2000.  According to Joe Webber, a Mid-America Energy regional supervisor, Mid-America started about a year ago updating their systems to make sure things will work. “We think we have taken care of it (Y2K),” Webber said.  According to Webber, Mid-America has participated in two major tests and passed them.  He said they plan on keeping the power going, and if any problems occur it will be weather related. On the financial end, the FDIC has issued regulations to make sure that banks will be in compliance with the year 2000.  According to Dan Hucka, vice president of Lincoln Savings Bank of Greene, the bank has been running tests. “The last test was successful,” Hucka said. Hucka said that Lincoln Savings also started preparing a year ago.  He said there might be some isolated problems, but things should run smoothly. He said that he feels that there isn’t as big of a problem compared to the panic. Here are some tips from the FDIC, Federal Reserve, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Office of Thrift Supervision: • Consumers need to find out what their financial institutions plans are to solve Y2K. • Keep good records of transactions from this past year. • Compare ATM, bank and etc. receipts with monthly statements. • If a consumer decided to withdraw money from his or her account to remember that money and other valuables make a good target for thieves. • Watch out for Y2K scams. Finally, with all the generators one has to wonder about the fuel.  According to Diana Nelson, general manager of Farmer’s Co-operative Gas & Oil Company, the biggest concern is people are going to be in a panic in buying and hoarding fuel, and that may occur in a temporary shortage.  Also she said she is concerned about the gas cans being stored in garages and basements becoming a fire hazard.  Nelson said that they have upgraded all of their software, and all the bulk trucks checked out for compliance. “We got a letter from Alliant assuring that there will be power to run the pumps,” Nelson said.

THOMA SCORES AT GLOBE ... by Jana McBride, news/feature editor

He’s “recorded” hundreds of home runs, 3-point shots, touchdowns and hole-in-ones without even having to pick up a bat, basketball, football or golf club. That’s because Tom Thoma, the Sports Editor for the Globe-Gazette, is always keeping tabs on the local athletic events. Thoma, a 1969 graduate of North Iowa Area Community College, began his “rookie” editor career with “The Observer,” the predecessor to Logos, in 1968.  With the help of advisers Mariestelle Brown and Ardys Blanchard, the first issue of the Observer hit the press.  “We all were in it for the first time and worked hand-in-hand.  We were really a nice, close-knit group,” Thoma said. Thoma said he remembers his advisers as “very patient” and good leaders. The feeling seems to be mutual.  Brown said she remembers Thoma in his young journalistic career as “very pleasant and cooperative.”  “He had good ideas for what was news...and he wrote well,” Brown said.  Brown added that she has enjoyed watching Thoma’s progress at the Globe-Gazette.  Thoma’s interest in writing began when he was a junior at Mason City High School.  That was when he took a two-hour journalism class, “and fell in love with it.” Thoma started at the Globe-Gazette that same year, working as a part-time assistant in the sports department covering games and taking phone calls.  He also filled in on the news side whenever needed, reporting on everything from fairs to politics. With his four years of experience at the Globe-Gazette and educational background at NIACC, Thoma felt he was “leaps and bounds” ahead of other journalism majors when he transferred to Drake University, which he fondly refers to as “the Harvard of the Midwest.” In October of 1971, Thoma returned home to the Globe-Gazette, this time as a full-time journalist.  He may be what one would call a “utility player,” as he has been an agriculture, religion and police reporter and has served positions as a wire editor, city editor and food editor in addition to his role in the sports department. Jokingly, Thoma said, “I’ve been here so long, I saw Rachel McGuire play volleyball and basketball (for NIACC).” Thoma himself was not able to compete in athletics because of a bad foot, so he opted to use his musical talents instead.  In fact, Thoma was the Band President at NIACC.  He said that he had an “ill-fated attempt” at the French horn before settling in as a percussionist. Later in life, Thoma discovered golf as a hobby because, “you don’t have to be a great athlete to play.”  According to Thoma, golf is a sport for the common guy because it takes mental toughness and hand-eye coordination, but not a lot of muscle. Thoma said he enjoys both playing and watching golf, and is a basketball fan as well.  A perk to his job, Thoma said, is being able to see these events up close and behind-the-scenes where regular fans can’t go. “You’re sitting so close you can see the emotions on the players’ faces,” he said. In his years in the sports department, Thoma has seen quite a bit of emotion on the golf course, basketball and volleyball court, football field, wrestling mat and track.  That, Thoma said, is one of the best things about sportswriting.  Not a number cruncher, Thoma said he enjoys reporting on the “human aspects and emotions of the game” and the success stories that go along with it. “It’s fun to realize that they (successful athletes) got their start here...and if you can help them out a bit, even better,” Thoma said. Thoma’s job does have its disadvantages.  “It’s hard on the social life,” he said.  Typically, Thoma comes to work at 3 p.m. and stays until 12:30 or 1 a.m. Weekends are rotated among the three or four full-time sportswriters.  Thoma rarely gets  a “time-out” all year, as sports coverage never really ends, even in the off-season.  Preparations for the Fall Sports Preview begin in mid-July and work on the Winter Sports Preview begins in early October.  The only real lull in the local sports arena is the week between Christmas and New Year’s.  However, Thoma said he enjoys putting out the paper when the news is fresh, so the hours and full schedule all balance out with his enjoyment of the job. NIACC student Sara Fryar worked as a part-time sports assistant with the Globe-Gazette for two years and commented on Thoma’s enthusiasm for his job. “He truly loves what he’s doing and that energy flows over onto the people that are working for him,” Fryar said.  “He cares about how our lives are going at and away from work...and I feel lucky that I got the opportunity to work for him.”  Thoma said the biggest misconception about the newspaper business is “that we’re out to get somebody, that we play favorites.”  With three or four sportswriters employed, it’s hard to cover every game, “even though we’d love to,” Thoma said. The extensive coverage of Mason City and Clear Lake has its reasons.  “You have to go where your readers are,” he said. After his 28 years at the Globe-Gazette, Thoma said he is in no hurry to be “traded” to another paper.  “If the right opportunity comes along, you’d be crazy not to leave,” but, he added, “I have no urge to go.”   It seems that Thoma has found a winning job right here in Mason City.

OBSERVATIONS FROM PAST...  by Jana McBride, news/feature editor

Before there was Logos, The Observer was the source of information for NIACC students.  The paper was advised by Mariestelle Brown and Ardys Blanchard and ran from 1968-1969, when it was re-named Logos.  As apparent in the pages of The Observer, NIACC has both lost and gained much in these 30 years.  Did you know that in 1968 and 1969:  • NIACC had a wrestling squad coached by Kaye Young that placed strongly at the National Juco Tournament. • The O.K. House was first established     (in the fall of 1969). • The music department staged operettas. • Students campaigned for positions in Student Senate. • NIACC had a band that played at all home football games. • Every other Wednesday NIACC had a television program that ran from 3:30-4:00 on KGLO-TV, later re-named KIMT.  • College-goers were listening to Jimi Hendrix, The Doors  and The Beatles.  Shifting away from “teeny-bopper songs,” they enjoyed hearing “psychedelic stuff” that was “loud and groovy.” • NIACC had its own Red Cross Chapter. • Students utilized the library center for listening to cassette-tapes and long playing stereo phonograph records. • Many schools were not consolidated as they are today.  Sheffield-Chapin was without Meservey-Thornton, Hampton and Dumont had separate schools, Corwith-Wesley had yet to add Luverne, and Thompson, Rake, Buffalo Center and Britt stood alone.  • There were 400 graduating sophomores who received their diplomas in the Mason City High School gymnasium. Since the late 60s, NIACC has relocated, enrollment has increased, schools have consolidated, music has become more diverse and athletic programs have dropped, yet some things never seem to change. Even then, students questioned administrative policies regarding school closings for inclement weather.  The idea of a good time during this period was playing football and tennis, dancing, picnics in the park, watching television and swinging on swings- not much different than today. With all of these options, students still complained, “There’s nothing to do in Mason City!”  Sound familiar? Though no longer a draft or concern about the voting age, students now face some of the same issues as three decades ago, such as drugs, violence and rising tuition costs.

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