01142005

Friday, January 14, 2005

15TH STREET

NEWS Briefly Speaking...

Rose State College 6420 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK 73110

Vol. XXXIV Issue 13 January 14, 2005

State of the Campus addressed Cook emphasizes past, highlights future, recognizes remaining charter faculty

Del City Library

The Del City Library will be hosting several events during the month of January including an evening Storytime for children ages 4-8. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 18. PlayTime, a program for infants beginning at 6 months through children 3 years of age, will be welcoming Karen Ting of COPE, Inc. on Thursday, Jan. 20 from 10-11 a.m. Ting will be sharing her parenting tips at the event. The Annual Doll and Stuffed Animal Parade is set for Saturday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite dolls or stuffed animals to the show. Ribbons will be awarded for a variety of titles, such as “longest hair” and “prettiest eyes.” Every child will receive a ribbon. To register a child in these programs, call 672-1377. The library is located at 4509 SE 15th St.

“Agents of Bioterrorism” Lecture

Phi Theta Kappa

PTK will be meeting at the following times during the spring semester in the Student Center, Room 123 at 2 p.m.

Jan. 14 Jan. 21 Jan 28 Feb. 4 Feb. 11 Feb. 18 March 4 March 11 March 25 April 1 April 8 April 22 April 29

“Life’s Insights” Workshop

A workshop entitled “Chicken Soup for Your Relationship” will be held as part of the “Life’s Insights” workshops. It will be held Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 12:151:30 p.m. by Sharon Wilson, LPC, LMFT City-County Health Department. The workshop is free and will be held in the Learning Resources Center, Room 110.

For more information, call 733-7373 to reserve your seat.

Fundraiser for Oklahoma American Heart Association

Donations to help fund research for the Oklahoma American Heart Association for women who suffer from heart attack and stroke will be held through Feb. 4.

Several categories are available to donate, including a red dress competition, which will be held in the Student Center from 12-1:30 p.m. on Feb. 10. For more information on other ways to donate and how to make a donation, contact Liz Brown at 733-7353.

Scholarships

The following scholarships are being offered: Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation for students interested in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Deadline: Feb. 1.

Executive Women International Scholarship for 2004-05 adult students in the scholastic transition (ASIST) Scholarship Program. Deadline: Feb. 1.

Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation for college sophomores or juniors in the academic year, have outstanding potential and who study the environmental and related fields.

Deadline: March 3.

For more information, visit the Student Services Building, Room 100-H.

Photo by BRYAN TRUDE

A lecture entitled “Agents of Bioterrorism” will be held in the Tom Steed Center at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

For more information or to RSVP, call or e-mail Evelyn Paxton at 733-7377 or epaxton@rose.edu. The next lecture will be held during the month of March by Dr. Hogan and will be over “Radiological Terrorism and the Role of the Clinical Laboratory.”

Dr. James Cook, RSC president, addresses faculty and staff regarding upcoming issues for RSC at the State of the Campus Employee Luncheon on Jan.11. Issues addressed include new accolades, donation of land and money and the recent bond issue election.

Bryan Trude News Editor Dr. James Cook, RSC president, delivered the State of the Campus speech at an employee luncheon held on Jan. 11.

In a short speech, Cook celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the college, honoring three original faculty members from 1970: Neisha Miller, Susan Loveless and Joy Ruth.

“Rowdy the Raider,” the new school mascot, was on hand to meet and greet the RSC faculty and staff as Cook spoke about the collegeʼs awards and upcoming projects.

“The state of the college, in short is very good,” said Cook. “Since I last spoke to [the faculty and staff] in August, we have

had several new accolades come our way, and expressions of confidence from our public.”

Cook recognized the RSC Wellness Program for its Award of Excellence, which was won over four-year institutions.

Cook also acknowledged the recent donation of land and money from the estate of Bill and Ruby Atkinson, as well as the recent bond issue election, which passed, and the new cyber security program forming on the RSC campus.

Cook then went into the upcoming development of RSC. Not only will an architect be selected for the bond issueʼs training and education center, but funding will also

Charities ask for cash donations to assist tsunami victims, private donors answer call Erin Waltman Assistant Editor Most people are aware of the earthquake that struck beneath the Indian Ocean, causing a massive tsunami that has killed more than 150,000. The call for aid in this time of difficulty is being answered most strongly not by governments but by private donors.

The magnitude nine earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia Dec. 26. This earthquake - the most powerful earthquake in the world in four decades - occurred more than six miles deep and was followed by a half-dozen aftershocks. The walls of water that sped away from the quakeʼs epicenter reached speeds in excess of 500 mph before crashing into the shorelines.

The cost of recovery from the disaster remains largely unknown, but already it seems that commitments of official aid are coming up short.

Estimates of the cost to rebuild the damaged areas as well as prevent further deaths from both disease and famine seem to imply the cost will be in the “many billions” of dollars, according to Jan Egeland, the United Nationʼs senior relief official.

While many large countries have pledged huge amounts of money, these pledges may not be enough. Private charitable donations may “fill the gap between official aid and the final cost,” reported Yahoo!News (www.news. yahoo.com).

However, people are cautioned to be wise when giving money to charities to aid the disaster area.

“Knowing what your money will do and where it will do is the first step,” Yahoo!News advised. “Not every charity plans to disperse aid to all of the affected countries. Most are focusing on Sri Lanka and Indonesia where the vast majority of casualties are located. Large charities, such as UNICEF, plan to channel aid across the whole region. Other, often smaller charities - and especially those with a religious mandate - are focusing their efforts on specific communities.” continued on page 4

Local tsunami relief organizations These organizations are accepting donations from those wishing to offer relief and support to victims of the Asian tsunami.

American Red Cross International Response Fund PO Box 37243 Washington, DC 20013 800-HELP-NOW www.redcross.org CARE 151 Ellis Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30303 800-521-CARE www.care.org Christian Childrenʼs Fund Child Alert Fund PO Box 26484 Richmond, VA 23261 800-776-6767 www.christianchildrensfund.org Habitat for Humanity International Asia Tsunami Response Fund 121 Habitat St. Americux, GA 31709 229-924-6935 www.habitat.org Project HOPE Asia Tsunami Response 255 Carter Hall Lane Millwood, VA 22646 800-544-4673 www.projecthope.org Salvation Army South Asia Disaster Fund 1-800-SAL ARMY www.salvationarmy.org US Fund for UNICEF 333 East 38th Street New York, NY 10016 800-4-UNICEF www.unicefusa.org

be secured for the new Health Sciences Complex, which Governor Brad Henry has agreed to make a top legislative goal.

Another goal Cook expressed was the schoolʼs intention to offer to purchase the Baptist Student Union, which currently sits on Hudiburg Drive, in front of the Communications Center. The school will then convert it into a University Center.

“That center will house the growing number on institutions interested in offering complete baccalaureate programs on our campus where students do not have to leave Rose State once they come here,” said Cook. “Expect a formal announcement this spring break.”

Supreme court hands lawsuit back to lower courts Brian Trude News Editor n a recent ruling, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled against Midwest Cityʼs favor in a lawsuit concerning the 29th Street Redevelopment Project and the Hospital Authority.

The lawsuit, in which three allegations were made, was passed back down to the trial courts for reconsideration. The first allegation was thrown out, while the second and third allegations were not.

The second allegation was over whether the Hospital Authority - a public trust resulting from the 1996 lease of MWC Regional Hospital whose original value was 46 million dollars-was operating in a retail activity.

Mayor Eddie Reed and the MWC council members serve in a separate role as the trustees.

“The Hospital Authority has the right to act in a retail activity if it is for an urban renewal project,” said Katherine Bolles, city attorney for MWC. The third allegation dealt with a provision of the trust indenture - the guidelines - of the Hospital Authority trust.

According to the Hospital Authority trust indenture, the trust money, with the exception of two percent of the fair market value, can be used to invest.

When the trustees invested in the 29th Street Development Project to purchase land, the Supreme Court ruled that such an investment was not liquid, or was not able to be pulled out of the project. Therefore, it was ruled as a misuse of public trust funds.

While the lower courts reconsider the lawsuit, work on the 29th Street Development Project will still continue.

“Although until the court rules, we cannot use [money] from the Hospital Authority, funds from the city will be used to complete the work,” said Bolles. “Thereʼs suprisingly little thatʼs left to be done from a financial standpoint.”

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Page 2

Voices

Jan.14, 2005 15th Street News

Procrastination cause of unreached goals Darcy Delaney Editor in Chief Well, the new year has arrived and many people have made their resolutions for 2005.

However, I have no idea why they call them “resolutions for the new year” when they often last for only a few months. Many people seem to face the problem of not being able to follow through with their goals.

Up until about two years ago, I always made a long list of resolutions, but the list never seemed to be completed. Sometime later I would find the list in a book that I had planned to read or in a stack of papers with ideas for stories that I had planned to write. Somehow my resolutions had been lost in my latest endeavors and neither of them had been accomplished.

After realizing the fact that I had not followed through with any of my goals, I had to

reexamine myself and I came to a conclusion: if someone wants to quit smoking, they have every day as a new day to wake up and quit – if they really wanted to quit. The same can be said for any other resolution. If I really wanted to write a book, I would make time to write and not spend my time watching worthless reruns on T.V. Once I had acknowledged this, I was able to realize that these goals and resolutions are realistic and I have the ability to achieve them, with one goal to conquer on my way to conquering all of them: procrastination.

If everyone stopped and analyzed themselves and why these things were not being accomplished, I do not think there would be any New Yearʼs resolutions. Everyone would know their own personal goals and set out to make themselves better people one day at a time.

Counseling Tip No. 1

Sidewalk Talk “What do you think RSC’s New Year’s

The start of a new semester is a good time to create positive goals to change. Make sure your goals are: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time bound.

Donʼt be afraid to share your goals with a buddy who can support and encourage you to succeed.

• For more help, contact the RSC counselors at 733-7373 for free confidential assistance.

resolution should be?”

Senate to hold elections Bryan Trude News Editor With the spring semester getting off to a new start, six vacancies in the student senate are now available.

The open positions, among the 12 general elected senate positions, are available to any student who wants to apply. Students can pick up an information disk from the information desk in the student center beginning Jan. 12.

The disk contains a printable application which is due back at the information desk by Jan. 21 at 5 p.m.

The new senators will be selected from the applicants by a special vote of the senate.

Normally, senators in this category are elected by a popular vote of the student body early in the fall semester.

The other two categories are executive senators, who are selected from the student senate at the end of the spring semester, and the department senators, who are selected to represent their respective school departments as selected by their deans.

Student senators are expected to attend student senate meetings every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Senators are responsible for listening to and acting on student concerns and issues and learning parliamentary procedures.

Also, student senators are assigned to one or more of the various clubs on campus. The

senator must also attend the meetings of their clubs. “Itʼs to make sure the clubs and the senate are on the same page,” said Towry Barnard, RSCʼs student activities coordinator.

Last semester, senators were also responsible for a number of on-campus activities. They sponsored and ran a coat drive for the needy.

Also, student senate was responsible for the two RSC adopted schools, Telstar Elementary and Willow Brook elementary. Their work for those schools included organizing a tutoring program, as well as sponsoring and running last Decemberʼs Christmas party for the first grade students. The senate and student clubs purchased Christmas gifts for students who otherwise might have not gotten any, and organized the clubs who ran the booths at the event.

In the spring, they will be responsible for several more activities. Student senate will be sponsoring a blood drive on campus, as well as volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Also, senators this semester will be planning and organizing the two-day long Springfest festival.

The position of student senator is not without benefits. Senators in the open positions are given one credit hour for their service, as well as a tuition waiver. “[The senators] are given the chance to mingle with the administration … to serve as the voice of the students,” said Barnard.

Photo by JON ROLLMAN

“I think that RSC does not need a New Years resolution because of the fact that the faculty and students are doing a wonderful job. Keep up the good work.”

Debbie Deggan, document processor

“To continue to accommodate the needs of our students.” Dr. James Hochtritt, history professor

“To recommit ourselves to excellence in teaching, and to serve our students the best way possible.” John Nazemi, political science professor

“To greater serve the students in their education endeavors. Smoother transitions from high school environment to a college routine.” Peggy Tapely, bookstore accounts

“RSCʼs New Yearʼs resolution is already to help as many students as possible to ʻfinish what they startʼ.” Sandra Keneda, humanities professor

“Work on raising graduation rates so we can see more students at the graduation exercises in May.” Dr. Michael Lovegrove, history professor

Jeremy Charlow, a current member of the senate, helps organize several events for RSC.

N EWS Info & policies

Columns, commentaries and letters to the editor are personal opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of 15th Street News or other students, faculty or administrators of the college. Editorials are written by the editorial staff.

Letters to the editor may be hand delivered to FA110; sent by mail to 15th Street News, Rose State College, 6420 SE 15, Midwest City, 73110; e-mailed to the secretary, [cbenefee@rose.edu] or recorded nights on PhoneMail at 733-7400 between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Letters must include the writer’s full name, Social Security Number or ID number and telephone number.

Letters will be printed with full name and must be 500 words or less. Editing may be necessary for space, clarity or to avoid obscenity, libel or invasion of privacy, but ideas will not be altered.

Publication of all materials is at the discretion of the editor. Anyone having a complaint may call the editor in chief, 733-7400, or the Student Publications Board chairperson, Towry Barnard,

733-7379.

15th Street News, a student newspaper serving the Rose State College community, is published weekly, except school holidays, on Fridays during the fall and spring semesters by the Office of Student Publications, 6420 SE 15, Midwest City, OK 73110.

15th Street News is a member of Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association, which has designated this paper top junior college newspaper six years, and Associated Collegiate Press, which has rated it All American 30 semesters.

This publication is printed by Edmond Sun, Inc., issued by RSC and authorized by the Coordinator of Student Publications. Cost to the state taxpayers is $301.81 for 4,000 copies per issue and $56.40 for spot color. This paper is recyclable.

RSC, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.

This includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.

Staff Members Editor in Chief

Chief Photographer

[ddelaney@rose.edu]

[jrollman@rose.edu]

Assistant Editor

Assistant Photographer

Darcy Delaney

Erin Waltman

[ewaltman@rose.edu] News Editor

Bryan Trude

[btrude@rose.edu] Sports Editor

Travis Tucker

Jon Rollman

Kenneth Beachler

[KB0092257@rose.edu] Photographer

Ginnie Escobedo

[gescobedo@rose.edu] Photographer

Devin Horst

Graphic Artist

Sabra Schwartz

[sschwartz@rose.edu] Staff Mystic

Joshua Jordan

[jjordan@rose.edu] Staff Writer

Heath Sitton

[jhsitton@cox.net] Secretary

Carol Benefee

[ttucker@rose.edu]

[dhorst@rose.edu]

[cbenefee@rose.edu]

Assignment Editor

Circulation Manager

Coordinator of Student Publications

[dcunning@rose.edu]

[jdcasteel@rose.edu]

Daniel Cunning

JD Casteel

Julie Lesko-Bishop

[jlesko-bishop@rose.edu]

Features

Jan.14, 2005 15th Street News

‘The Woodsman’ not for everyone

© 2004 Newmarket Film Group. All rights reserved.

Erin Waltman Assistant Editor Kevin Baconʼs newest film “The Woodsman” follows Walter, a child molester. No, I really am not kidding.

Walter returns to his hometown after 12 years in prison for his conviction of molesting young girls (the youngest was 9, the oldest was 14). He gets a job at a Philadelphia-area lumber mill and tries to pull his life back together while simultaneously dealing with his inner demons.

Rather than presenting Walter as a monster, the movie strives to make the audience sympathetic to him.

The plot is slow and hard to get into and the performances are mediocre at best. Kyra Sedgwick as Vickie, Walterʼs girlfriend and coworker, is believable as a woman confused about how to feel about a man convicted of a horrible crime, but her performance seems shallow.

Mos Def plays Sgt. Lucas, a man keeping an eye on Walter as Walter tries to rejoin society. Def ʼs performance is low-key,

much like all the performances. He seems to be playing the societal idea of every cop: hard-nosed, always watching and ready to slap the “bad guy” back in jail if the bad guy sneezes wrong.

Even Baconʼs performance leaves a lot to be desired. Although he makes Walter believable as a man struggling with his inner demons, he does not do much to make the audience care about Walter Popcorn or what would happen to Perspective him.

The only performance in the movie worth getting excited about was that of Hannah Pilkes who played 11-year-old Robin, a young girl Walter attempts to befriend. Pilkes makes Robin the most interesting character in the movie, quite an achievement for a young girl playing against a cast of so many superstars.

Overall, I would say this movie is not worth the cost of the ticket to go and see-unless you happen to be a criminal psychology major.

This reviewer recommends you wait for this to come out to video, and then pass it up unless there is nothing else to rent.

must listen to understand.

JJ CALE He wrote “After Midnight” and “Cocaine.”

Most people have heard his songs, but, may not have known he wrote them.

THE STARLIGHT MINTS Psychedelic pop-rock, you might think youʼre in a dream while listening, and you might be right.

ANDY Rock and Roll professionals.

GLISTER I have been told that if the Rolling Stones and Motorhead had a baby, they would name it Glister.

SPOOKY FRUIT A divine example of punk-metal explosion; they even have dancing girls.

The preceding list was in no particular order of greatness. They are all merely musicians from the Oklahoma area changing the world one ear at a time. Some of them have received attention, some have been given credit and every one of them has changed some listenerʼs life in some way.

Music can change a person, music can change the world. Music is the finest form of art, music must be experienced to live and one must experience music to live. Everyone needs to check these bands out and get out there and live.

So, if you are in the market for an experience you will not forget, find out when and where these bands are playing, search the internet, look to the nearest record store and listen to the music. Open up your mind and support the local music scene.

Keeping the music scene alive Heath Sitton Staff Writer In the world of music, there are things known and there are things unknown. Each listener is affected in different ways by different sounds and by different words. Music can allow the listener-whether it is at a live show or on a recording-to escape from the drab reality of life and be transported into a world of imagination. Music possesses something so profoundly pure as to cause the listener to feel, to experience and to let go of the constraints of the world around and be free.

Basically, every individual has a favorite song or a favorite type of music, which they hold dear to themselves. People have a need to explore the senses through sound. Musicians all around are giving people the gift of song, most of which do not get the credit they deserve. The following is a comprised list of musicians in the area keeping the scene alive.

Listeners might want to check them all out.

THE FLAMING LIPS Genius, imaginative, creative, somewhere between weird and indescribable, the way music was most likely intended to be. You

The Music Stand BRYAN MANGIERI Poetic, passionate and true, everything songwriting should be.

THE SHATNERS Punk Rock at itʼs fastest, without losing the musicality.

EL PASO HOT BUTTON A one man delta blues rock show to make your mind melt.

PAIN RELIEF Hard, aggressive, everything punk rock should be.

Left brain/right brain debates video games Daniel Cunning Assignment Editor Some might think that Americaʼs youth is slowly wasting away in front of televisions, computers and video games. While this is probably true, I wonder what the heck the big deal is.

In the eyes of people with responsibility, dedicating several hours a week to improving your world ranking at Halo 2 might seem a tad childish and wasteful. I say to them, “Pfffttt!”

I wonder why anyone would be in a hurry to grow up when doing so only seems to lead

to a life of misery working 40 hours a week at a job you hate. Why the rush to grow up when no one seems to be happy when they do.

I think that if a person, such as myself, has a mild addiction to video games, that is not a big problem. I might be lazy, unresponsive and useless while glued to the television playing games for hours on end, but at least I am not committing any crimes.

I am told on a weekly basis that as a married person (I do not call myself a man yet, because I just feel weird doing so) I should not spend much time playing games. I think that those too eager to criticize are just jealous. If not at

Left brain

Daniel Cunning Assignment Editor As I reflect back on the days and weeks I have lost to video games and other useless endeavors, I cannot help but feel sick at my stomach.

What kind of numbskull spends almost a full day of every week with a controller in hand and a blank stare on their face as they battle over Xbox Live.

Actually, I am that kind of numbskull. In my entire being, I would estimate that I have maybe a gram or so of self-control. Of that gram, most of it is wasted as I fight a daily battle not to curl up into a fetal position and take a six-hour nap every afternoon at work.

I, like many of my friends and classmates,

suffer an addiction to video games, one that is so uncontrollable that I frequently dream about video games at night. That is correct: I actually go to bed at night after playing a game, only to dream about playing it some more. Divulging such personal information to the public not only embarrasses me, but also makes me feel like a giant schmuck.

Those who do not yet realize the time they are losing are sad and miserable people. I feel sorry for them and only wish they could see what kind of kungfu/pro-wrestling strangle hold the gaming industry has on them. It is comparable to the famous tombstone the Undertaker used to administer back when the WWF was the thing to watch. Personally I never did watch wrestling, as I was too busy playing

my ability to have fun with the extra free time I have, then probably at my natural skills playing games. Members of my family and in-laws alike need to just dirty their noses in someone elseʼs business.

In closing, I would like to say that video games might be a major factor in the inherent laziness of an entire generation, but everyone has their shortcomings. People should let bygones be bygones. If someone my age insists on wasting away hours playing games, let them be...unless they begin to let their personal hygiene go down the toilet. Then some interference might be necessary. games all the time.

Back to the argument at hand: teens and young adults these days are caught in a global vice that a few billionaire moguls are slowly tightening with the release of newer and better games and gaming systems. I imagine that Bill Gates is just sitting atop a throne of cash, laughing heartily at people like myself as we spend the cash we sometimes work hard to make only so we can step out of reality for a few hours a day.

Well, not anymore you billionaire big shots. I, for one, am leading a revolution against playing video games. Starting today and likely ending tonight, I will no longer waste my time playing video games.

Right brain

Rose-Colored Glasses

Page 3 Aries March 21-April 19… Your romantic life will take a new turn when next week you go on a double date with Ted Bundy and that curly-haired guy from The Greatest American Hero.

H

Taurus April 20-May 20… By the year 2020 you should finally be able to land yourself a date. Unfortunately it will be with a murderous robot built to resemble Dave Coulier from Full House. The date will be remarkably enjoyable until an awkward silence on the drive home sends robo-Dave into a frenzy in which he crashes into a retirement home and calls all of its residents jerkheads.

o

Gemini May 21-June 21… Two months from now, you will go see a doctor about your unusually swelled head. You will be both relieved and horrified that this is not in fact a brain tumor, but instead itʼs just your martian heritage exerting itself.

r

Cancer June 22-July 22… This week you should grab life by the horns and hold on for the ride of your life. That is because, unknowingly, you will grab a rabid goat by the horns and he will no doubt kick you in the face and gut several thousand times and then proceed to stamp on your face once you are rendered unconscious. Next week, maybe you should just lightly pet life on the head.

o

Leo July 23-August 22… Many years from now, when all the jobs are exported to Luxembourg, the one thing you will miss above all else is John Stamos.

s

Virgo August 23-September 22… After getting a lop-sided buzz cut at the barber shop this week, you felt it necessary to seek revenge on the stylist. Exact your vengeance by finely chopping a chili pepper and jamming the contents in his oversized eyes.

Libra September 23-October 23… After another successful night of dumpster-diving, you realized something truly profound: Garbage is smelly, like French people.

c

Scorpio October 24-November 21… After jamming 52 cobs of corn up your left nostril last week, you began to feel ill. Not necessarily because the corn cobs were prodding your brain, but because Nick at Nite was airing an all-night Sanford and Son marathon.

o

Sagittarius November 22-December 21…

Your childhood dreams will be shattered this week when you find out that your favorite television character, Kermit the Frog, was simply a midget in a frog suit.

p

Capricorn December 22-January 19… Your activity of scalping garage sales will finally pay off next week when you happen upon a life-sized replica of Meryl Streepʼs nose made entirely out of spare parts from a Boeing 747. You will further be rewarded when the nose opens up to reveal the legendary Turducken.

e

Aquarius January 20-February 18… Last week after wrestling an unsuspecting hot dog vendor to the ground and performing open-heart surgery on him, you were swiftly arrested and jailed. Be prepared for a bit of good fortune this week: seconds on your delicious bowl of “cream slop-mush” during meal-time in the slammer.

s

Pisces February 19-March 20… One morning you will wake up in your windowless, double-wide trailer and realize that Hamburgling doesnʼt pay a whole lot of money, although the heart disease is a nice perk.

Certainly better than dying in something stupid like the Apocalypse.

by Erin Waltman

Comic Corner

News/Sports

Page 4 TSUNAMI continued from page 1

Wellness wins award

Sports columnist celebrates successful season, says “so long”

Photo by KENNETH BEACHLER

make up their mind about their donations.

NetworkForGood.org offers people a simple search function that can help them narrow down their list of options.

Donating non-cash items - such as clothing and toys - may seem like a good idea, but donors are urged not to give in to the temptation.

“Donations of unsolicited items can be difficult for charities to store and process,” Yahoo!News reported. “Plus, given the vast distance between the United States and the Indian Ocean region, the cost to ship such material can far outweigh its value.”

People are also encouraged not to donate themselves as volunteers - most of the organizations do not need people clogging up the areas. Plus, untrained volunteers may only get hurt themselves, making themselves victims as well.

Cash is the gift of choice. “Needs are different in different countries. In one place they may need temporary latrines, while in another they need portable water,” said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector, an alliance of over 600 charities.

However, donors should beware of false charities. Many of these operations profit from tragedies by creating a seemingly legitimate charity, taking the donations and vanishing.

“The most important thing is that folks go to Web sites that are tried and true - organizations that are well-known, with longstanding experience,” Aviv advised.

The Web site GuideStar.org can be useful in checking up on a charity. GuideStar lists groups that have registered with and met the guidelines of the U.S. Internal Revenue Serviceʼs terms

Jan.14, 2005 15th Street News

A proud Wellness Coordinator, Liz Brown, shows off the award RSC won over 20 other Wellness Centers.

Bryan Trude News Editor The RSC Wellness Program took home an “Award of Excellence” at the Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business Awards Ceremony on Dec. 3.

The award - which is sponsored by the Oklahoma Turning Point Council, the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health - was awarded to RSC, which competed with programs at many four-year institutions.

The award is given depending on the services the organization provides, whether those services are accessible by the general public, and the size of the organization itself.

The Wellness Center provides athletic and weight loss services and classes to the local community. Coordinator Liz Brown heads the center, which is located in the Health and

Physical Education building next to the Student Center.

Her staff includes Natalie Thomas, Jolene Callahan and Kevin Spicer. The Center offers such services as wellness assessments, the annual heart fair, breast cancer awareness days and pulmonary function tests.

This is the second year that RSC has competed for the Award of Excellence. “We get the knowledge and prestige of saying we got an award of excellence,” said Brown. “Thereʼs no monetary reward.”

RSC won the award for its competition category of large, non-profit organizations. “We beat out about 20 other competitors, including Oklahoma State University,” said Brown.

Brown thanked her staff, as well as the RSC administration, including Dr. James Cook, Dr. Jay Kinzer, Dr. Jeanie Webb, and Dr. Baillie Dunlap.

Meet the Players 19-year-old Abbott was raised in Del City, Okla.

She is a freshman in her first season for the Lady Raiders womenʼs basketball team.

Started playing for: Highland Park Elementary when 10 years old Favorite food: Italian Pre-game routine: Goof off with No. 10 Callie Sanders Abbott has played many sports during her school years including softball, volleyball and track. She began playing basketball during her fifth grade year at the suggestion of Mrs. Olson, a favored teacher of Abbottʼs

#14 Julie Abbott

19-year-old Hytche was raised in Muskogee, Okla.

He is a freshman in his first season for the Raiders menʼs basketball team.

Started playing for: Alice Robinson Middle School at age 12.

Favorite food: Soul Food Pre-game routine: Pray Hytcheʼs entire family has been in sports; his mother ran track, and both his father and sister played basketball. Hytche followed in his sisterʼs and fatherʼs footsteps in choosing to play basketball.

Many of his childhood friends also play

#30 Ryan Hytche

childhood.

Abbott is planning to attend UCO with a physical therapy major after completing her studies at RSC. She enjoyed being a sports trainer during her high school years and looks forward to helping students in the future with their training.

She has made many friends playing for RSC. “We all get along [on the team],” Abbott said, but she is closest to Sanders.

“We have the same personality and views and stand for many of the same things,” Sanders said of their friendship.

“If you donʼt stand for something you will fall for everything,” said Abbott. for the Raiders. In fact, Jennifer Davis, No. 33 womenʼs basketball, is the one who suggested that he check out the program at RSC. He then came to a couple of practices with Marcus Logan, No. 35 menʼs basketball and impressed the coaches enough to be chosen for the team.

Hytche is a computer science major and hopes to earn a scholarship to a Division I college. When asked what he was wanting to take with him from RSC he said, “First an education, but I also want to leave my name on the court, [to have people remember me for my game], I would love to win [nationals] my freshman year.”

BACK-TO-SCHOOL WORD SEARCH P N I D I C T O N A R Y K B A

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M I D T E R S Z R R J R K Z X

Travis Tucker Sports Editor I would first like to say farewell to RSC. I will not be attending RSC this semester so this will be my last column for the 15th Street News.

I have really enjoyed my position here at RSC as Sports Editor and have also enjoyed being able to voice my personal opinions through this column. However, in my absence, as they say, “the show must go on.”

A lot has happened over this last semester.

Menʼs basketball is rounding to the end of their outstanding season, with a current standing of 16-5 and only nine games left until playoffs, beginning March 5. It is looking like they will be in the top five going in to the playoffs, so look for good things there.

The womenʼs basketball team is nearing their half-way point to a winning season

The Sports Stop with 20 games left while holding an 11-4 record. Their shot at nationals is open and I hope they go all the way.

There are many games left this season to support RSC basketball and cheer them on.

Something else to look forward to is the upcoming baseball and softball season.

They have been practicing intensly since the end of their last season and are looking good for a winning start.

The menʼs baseball team is about to begin helping the local community by offering their time to the teachers of Traub Elementary where they will perform a number of tasks to help the students and teachers alike.

RSC soccer tryouts will be held during this semester, so if you are a fan or just want to stay in shape keep an eye out for more information on that in the future.

Student Activities will be kicking up the spring semester with a number of events such as dodgeball, volleyball and basketball tournaments to name a few. Dates for these events will be publicized campuswide as well as noted in future issues of 15th Street News.

On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone who has followed my stories; I hope they have been as enjoyable to read as they were for me to write.

I also wish to offer great gratitude to the RSC coaches and wellness staff for being so helpful; I could not have made the sports section what it was without their help.

Last, but not least, thanks goes out to my fellow employees of 15th Street News for all of the help and support they have offered me in this, my first experience with public writing.

With that said I leave you in new hands; thanks for everything.

Find the following words: 1. Textbook 2. Paper 3. Pencils 4. Ballpoint pen 5. Note book 6. Schedule 7. Chalk 8. Blackboard 9. Desks 10. Folder

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11. Term paper 12. Test 13. Homework 14. Eraser 15. Minirecorder 16. Quiz 17. Dictionary 18. Midterms 19. Finals 20. Thesaurus

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