Cory Quail
For the Logos

In many professions, gaining field experience in college is a major plus on a resume.

Students attending NIACC instructor Norb Thomes' Web Design class are getting just the experience they need.

The eight students in the class were broken into groups of two, and given a website to design for four major clients.

These clients included such businesses as Charles City Art Wear, Access Lift LLC. and two NIACC related sites; including the NIACC web design site and NIACC Business chair Gary Christensen's personal site.

"The students are gaining valuable experience that they cannot learn from a text book," Thomes said. "It gives credibility for when they move on from school also."

The students were given their assigned sites in late September. Then interviews were set up with the clients.

Students had been learning during class what questions to ask. These included things such as site color, number of pages, client information and much more.

These questions were put into play with their clients while interviewing, to give each individual group an idea of what their client wanted.

"It was very interesting to meet with a client and actually be able to interact with them," Preston Sowder, a student in the class, said.

Sowder is currently working on the web design site for NIACC, creating a site for NIACC President Dr. Michael Morrison.

After the interviews, the students then began work on their sites setting up the design in various computer programs such as Adobe Photoshop and ImageReady.

While creating the design, the students were also asked to make a project site report. This showed what work had been done on the site, dates that updates to the design had been made and a general price quote for the work.

Since the students are doing the sites for free, Thomes asked for the students to make up the price quotes from what they had learned in class. This was to show the clients what a site might have cost a client elsewhere.

"It's great... it's terrific. Since I've only been running a small business for over a year, it's great to get a free site that will look good out on the internet," Rick Summers of Access Lifts LLC. said.

After getting these project sites done, the students are in the stage of finishing designs, getting the okay from their clients on look and getting the information for setting the sites up on the web.

This work can be time consuming for a student who also has homework from other classes. "The toughest part of the design so far has been arranging meetings with the clients," student Shawn King, who worked on the project, said.

King is a member of the Access Lift site group.

The time allotted to students at some points is very limited and the short span to finish is also somewhat frustrating.

With all that said though, the sites are to be done by this semester, and then set up to go live, which means getting the site out on the web.

"I think it will be a great experience for the students," Thomes said. "I'd like to get more internal NIACC sites and external companies to ask for sites for future students in the upcoming semesters."

Amy Jeanne Noer
Staff Reporter

Sachiko Iwashita, known as "Sachi" by her friends at NIACC, comes to NIACC from Kimitsu, Japan.

Iwashita is currently a sophomore at NIACC.

"I am undecided in my major except to help out people; maybe psychology or sociology," Iwashita said.

Coming to NIACC was natural for Iwashita because she had already been in the area.

"I was here in Mason City from Tokyo as an exchange student in high school," Iwashita said. "I went to North Central in Manly then back home for a year to finish high school. I wanted to keep my education in the U. S."

Before coming to Iowa, Iwashita had already heard of NIACC.

"I knew about NIACC as we had an English camp here before I went to high school," Iwashita said." I also knew friends from Manly, Iowa. I wanted to go to a smaller school."

Iwashita said she enjoyed the small school atmosphere.

"I like the small size, the people, the small classes and the teachers pay attention to you," Iwashita said.

Being away from home means missing certain things.

"I miss family. I miss home, but not in a bad way," Iwashita said. "I'm used to living away from home. College is what I want to do. My goal is to get a Bachelor's degree and then I might go for my Master's."

Iwashita has set goals for herself once she finishes school.

"Hopefully, I can get an international job," Iwashita said. "I am loving it here."

Iwashita said she has enjoyed her experience here.

"I've never lived anywhere but Mason City," Iwashita said. "I like the people. I learn so many things about the U.S. and the culture."

Iwashita has advice for other international students.

"Get to know people, that helps," Iwashita said. "Become friends. International students are all away from families. It helps being comfortable here."

Iwashita has become involved on campus.

"I'm in Student Senate as the Public Relations chair," Iwashita said. "I am also a student adviser in the dorms."

Jourdan Monk was Iwashita's roommate last year and also works with her on Student Senate. "We met the first day last year at orientation," Monk said "She volunteered for something and introduced herself. My parents were sure we were going to hit it off. Then we were roommates last year."

Monk said she plans to travel to Iwashita's country in the future.

"I plan on going to Japan next June," Monk said. "I have eight audio CDs and do flashcards to learn Japenese. Sachi and I plan to travel every two years to a new place."

Monk said she likes a lot about her friend.

"9,000 things," Monk said. "She is such a good listener and a really strong, brave person to go across the world to experience America."

Monk said she likes the fact that Iwashita is involved in many things.

"She also has been dancing for seven years (Funk dancing and ballet)," Monk said "She was the best basketball player Manly had."

Monk said those meeting Iwashita for the first time should ask her to do her funny impressions of "hot dogs, baseballs and hamburgers."

Richard Dedor
For the Logos

January 19, 2004 will mark the eighth time Iowa will be first in the nation to vote for presidential candidates.

Over the next month, television, radio and the mail will be inundated with candidate messages and platforms.

"It's a good thing for Iowa because anytime you can be first, you get all the attention and get to meet all the candidates," John Schmaltz, NIACC division chair for Social Science and Humanities, said.

Iowa became first in the nation when in 1972, Iowa democrats planned the caucus for late January.

Before 1972, New Hampshire had been the first in the nation for many decades.

"If Iowa wasn't the first, we wouldn't have the incentive to get out and get our opinions out first and because Iowa is a smaller state, we might get passed up," NIACC student and precinct captain Tori Stortz said.

The Johnson County Auditor website chronicles the history of the Iowa caucus.

In 1976, the second time Iowa was first, former Georgia governor, Jimmy Carter placed second to "uncommitted" voters.

After the caucus in 1976, the media stormed Carter and carried him all the way to the Oval Office.

Four years later in 1980, Ronald Reagan lost to George H. W. Bush, but Reagan became president.

In 1988, Vice-President Bush placed third behind Bob Dole and Pat Robertson, but went on to win the White House.

Iowa's United States Senator Tom Harkin won the Iowa Caucus in 1992 but Bill Clinton became President.

Then in 2000, George W. Bush won the Iowa Caucus but got trounced in New Hampshire by John McCain who didn't even campaign in Iowa.

The debate now rages in political circles on whether or not Iowa can and should keep the 'first in the nation' status.

On nhprimary.com, former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu said, "The people of Iowa pick corn, the people of New Hampshire pick presidents."

Because Iowa is first, other states have no chance to make a big impact, Schmaltz said. Iowa is in danger of losing the first in the nation caucus for a few reasons.

To some, Iowa isn't representative of the nation as whole when it comes to race, ethnicity, economics or almost anything else.

Also, the turnouts for the caucuses have been 40%-50% less than the turnout of New Hampshire's voters.

"Attendance is critical in retaining the first in the nation," Schmaltz said.

Iowa's voters are treated differently than the rest of the nation. The candidates are forced to meet face-to-face with the voters and spend a month here during the coldest part of the year.

Richard Dedor
For the Logos

Residents of Iowa kick-off the campaign season with the Iowa caucuses on January 19, 2004. It is an opportunity for everyone's voice to be heard.

Each party holds its own version of a caucus at various locations throughout the state.

It is relatively easy for anyone to be involved in the selection of presidential candidates. "Arguments for attending the caucus are the same for voting," John Schmaltz, NIACC chair for the Social Sciences and Humanities, said.

It's an opportunity to voice the approval or disapproval of a candidate.

In the November 18, 2003 issue of the Des Moines Register, it explained the process of each parties caucus.

The Republicans will change their process a bit this year as President Bush is the only candidate running. Usually, votes are cast by a secret ballot. This year, voters won't even have to cast votes.

For the Democrats, it's a little more impersonal. The caucus attendees divide into preference groups for the candidates.

Candidates must have at least 15% support or else their supporters must support someone else.

The Democrat version is much more open and frightens some people from having to defend their choices.

"We don't bring about change through the barrel of a gun, we do it through the voting process," Schmaltz said.

Some NIACC students are working hard to get people involved.

"I'm trying to get other people involved," NIACC student and Dick Gephardt's intern Tori Stortz said.

Getting involved is easy, even for college students.

The only requirements are that the voters must be residents in the precinct they are voting in for the election.

They must also be 18 by November 2, 2004 and be a member of the party.

Iowa caucus law makes it easy to participate with any party.

Any voting member may change party affiliation the night of the caucus.

Stortz is even serving as a precinct captain for Worth County.

The caucuses are designed to not only vote for candidates, but also to elect delegates to the county convention, discuss and adopt resolutions to be recommended to the county platform committee, and to elect new leadership to the county central committee.

Both parties also discuss the major issues and candidates.

Most local newspapers will print the locations of the caucuses. They are usually not held in the same place as the normal Election Day polls.

Richard Dedor
For the Logos

With many different political opportunities over the next month, a few NIACC students are taking those opportunities and getting involved.

NIACC students Dan Hunn of Mason City and Tori Stortz of Manly are both getting involved in politics deeper than they ever thought they would.

In the past, Hunn said he has only done his part by voting. This year, he is volunteering as an intern for one of the campaigns.

"The caucus determines who actually will be the candidates to run for president (in November)," Hunn said.

Stortz said she is getting involved at a young age in hopes that she and others can help shape the future of America.

"If people don't get involved now, the likelihood is that they won't," Stortz said. "College students are the future."

Being a part of the process not only gives students a chance to shape the November general election, but it also gives them a sense of community, John Schmaltz, NIACC Social Sciene and Humanities chair, said.

Schmaltz, who teaches American Government, said he encourages his students to be involved in the political process and his students have taken his advice to heart.

This fall, Schmaltz said there are students working for the John Edwards, John Kerry, Dick Gephardt and George W. Bush campaigns.

Not every student is involved in the hands on process. Some just want their voice to be heard and the caucus is the first opportunity.

Hunn said he plans on attending the caucus and casting a vote for his favorite candidate. Other students will participate as precinct captains where they will get out the vote and help run the process on caucus night.

No matter the level of involvement, each student said the important thing is only that students are involved and want to play a role in the future of their country.