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Friday, April 7, 2006

NEWS 15TH STREET

Rose State College

Friends to host mystery author Hart

Andrew Knittle News Editor

see HART, Page 2

Vol. XXXV Issue 26

April 7, 2006

Combs crowned Miss Black RSC Scholarships awarded to top 5 pageant contestants

Shannon Hoverson Assignment Editor

A new Miss Black RSC was crowned March 31 in the Communications Center. The event started off with the Negro

National Anthem and a presentation by the “Little Raiders.” Then the nine contestants introduced themselves accompanied by whistles and screams from the audience. Each had designed their own cosPhoto provided by STEVE REEVES

Oklahoma native and pioneering mystery writer Carolyn Hart will speak to students at 3:30 p.m. April 11 in the Learning Resources Center, Room 110. Hart’s appearance is made possible by the Friends of the RSC Library Club, whose primary goals are to stimulate interest in reading, viewing and evaluating information, as well as to help students learn more about the library and promote literature. A self-proclaimed “mysterious writer,” Hart won the 2001 Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction with her book “Sugarplum Dead.” Hart is also a member of the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame. In addition to those accolades, Hart’s book “Dead Man’s Island” won the prestigious Agatha Award in 1993 for best novel. The awards, given annually to mystery writers who adhere to the traditions of legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie, are presented to winners in the following categories: Best Novel, Best First Mystery, Best Short Story, Best NonFiction and Best Children’s/ Young Adult Mystery. Additionally, Hart is a founding member of Sisters in Crime. The group’s mission, according to their Web site, is “to combat discrimination against women in the mystery field, educate publish-

6420 S.E. 15th St., Midwest City, OK 73110

One woman each year wins a crown and scholarships. Uduak Williams, Miss Black RSC 2004-2005, passed her crown to Kristen Combs March 31.

April is National Poetry Month and many people across America will be celebrating this by spreading their creative wings and writing or reading poetry. The Academy of American Poets established April as National Poetry Month in 1996 in order to enhance the public’s awareness to the art of poetry. They hoped National Poetry Month would achieve an increase in the visibility, presence and accessibility of poetry in our culture. It has grown since its inception and is now one of the largest literary celebrations in the world according to the Web site of the Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org. The goals of National Poetry Month are to: & Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets. & Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry. & Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways. & Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum. & Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media. & Encourage increased publication, distribution and sales of poetry books. & Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry.

Photo provided by WWW.POETS.ORG

see SENATE, Page 2

Shannon Hoverson Assignment Editor Photo by STACEY McENTIRE

Elections for the student senate executive board will be held during RSC’s Springfest April 19-20. Students can cast their votes at the Student Activities Desk in the Student Center lobby from 8 a.m.8 p.m. April 19 and from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. April 20. The executive board, which includes the offices of president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, differ from student senator positions, which are filled at the beginning of the fall semester. Students who wish to run for office must fill out a candidate application at the Student Activities Desk by April 14. To be eligible to run for office, The Student Activities Office, located to the left of the main entrance in the the student must be enrolled in at Student Center, offers students a central least nine credit hours and have location to apply to run for senate or to a cumulative GPA of no less than vote once candidates have campaigned. 3.0. Once the student has completed the application process and is approved to run, they can begin campaigning. According to President Logan Reynolds, campaigning is of the utmost importance. “Campaigning is crucial to the elections,” Reynolds said. “You have to get your name out there and make yourself recognizable so when the students are voting they will remember your name on the ballot.” A candidate debate, to be held April 18 in Student Center, Room 123, will follow the student senate’s weekly meeting. Anyone may attend the debate, during which the senate hopefuls will promote themselves on the eve of the elections. According to Student Activities Coordinator Towry Barnard, the student

pageant since its inception. “I truly support this program for what it stands for in the community and [RSC]. Although the winner will have a crown to support their platform missions, I challenge the rest of the contestants to still begin the process to make a difference among our youth and the community.” Thomas said. As Williams took to the stage in her final walk as Miss Black RSC, the judges tabulated the scores for each contestant. Fourth runner-up went to contestant number six, Iwvchukwu, who received an official plaque and $400 in scholarships and tuition waivers. Third runner-up was contestant number nine, Booker, who received a plaque and more than $700 in scholarships and waivers. Second runner-up went to Allen, contestant number one. She received a plaque and $900 in scholarships and waivers. First runner-up was contestant number five, Little, who was given a plaque and $1,200 in scholarships and waivers. Finally, it was time to announce the new Miss Black RSC 2006. Thomas announced that contestant number four, Combs, had won the crown. The audience cheered and clapped as the crown was placed upon Combs’ head. As the new Miss Black RSC, Combs will recieve an offical plauque and $2,100 in scholarships and tuition waivers. “I am very thankful to God and I’m very proud,” Combs said. “I’m honored and humbled.” Combs will be competing for Miss Black Oklahoma in June 2006. She will use her title to further awareness of Spina Bifida. “I would like to see a camp for Spina Bifida kids [at RSC],” Combs said. shoverson@rose.edu

Month celebrates writer creativity

Students prepare campaigns, senate elections planned Andrew Knittle News Editor

tume, which consisted of a white blouse and sequin-covered jeans. The nine contestants were Jacqueline Allen, Emerald Walker, Antonesha Lewis, Kristen Combs, Jazmin Little, Jennifer Iwvchukwu, Danielle Harris, Kendra Jones and Tiana Booker. The judges for the pageant were Joncia Johnson; Hoover C. McCoy, Jr.; Vicki Williams; Mario Valcin, Jr. and Rita Brooks. The Masters of Ceremony were former Miss Black RSC 1998 Nakita Colbert and Miss Black RSC 20042005 Uduak Williams. Before the contestants came out for the swimsuit competition, Miss Oklahoma Plus America 2005 gave a performance for the audience. The talent competition followed. The contestants gave a variety of performances, from singing to powerful monologues. Together, the two competitions accounted for 40 percent of the overall score. The audience was encouraged to vote for the best performance. The winner, Lewis, was given the People’s Choice Award, which included a $150 cash scholarship and an official plaque. The last segment of the pageant was the eveningwear competition, which was 10 percent of the overall score. Judges were looking for grace, poise and confidence. Once contestants had finished, the on-stage question was asked to each on the subject of their individual platforms. The recipient of the Miss Congeniality Award went to both Iwvchukwu and Jones. The Regent Betty J.C. Wright Business Woman of Tomorrow Award was announced and contestant number one, Allen, received this award. Virginia Thomas was the director of the pageant for the second year in a row, but she has been active with the

April was chosen so that schools and students could participate without interfering with other celebrations. As February is Black History Month and March is Women’s Heritage Month, April was the sensible choice. There will be several events held locally in celebration of National Poetry Month. The Performing Arts Studio at the Norman Depot, 200 South Jones in Norman at 2 p.m. April 9. The Ralph Ellison Library will be hosting a Teen Poetry contest running from April 3 to April 22. Professor Karen Holt’s poetry class will be reading at the Benedict Street Market in Shawnee at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20. The event is sponsored by the Independent Artists of Oklahoma. Holt is a poet herself and has had her poems published in several publications, including “Blood and Thunder.” “I am inspired by the generosity of spirit that surrounds my daily life, by students and their unfaltering struggle to create something of value for their future lives and by the little things – the taste of peach ice cream in July, the wave of a beautiful Monarch in October, the slap of cold in the winter,” Holt

said. “I do not write every day, but I try to pay attention every day.” Carl Sennhenn, Honors Program coordinator, has written poetry for the past 30 years and said that he does not have a favorite poet. “I like many. It may be a particular poem – not the author – that I like,” he said. For more information about the Performing Arts studio, visit their Web site at www.thepas.org. For information concerning the Teen Poetry contest, call 424-1437. For more information about National Poetry Month, visit www.poets. org. shoverson@rose.edu

Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month 1. Read a book of poetry. 2. Memorize a poem. 3. Attend a poetry reading. 4. Read a poem at an open mic event. 5. Put a poem on the pavement. 6. Recite a poem to family and friends. 7. Promote public support for poetry. 8. Submit a poem to a contest. 9. Sign up for a poetry class or workshop. 10. Add verse to an e-mail signature. *Information courtesy of www.poets.org.

Community and SIFE leaders respond to students.

Why do we have to change our clocks?

Hippity, hoppity Easter’s on its way.

See SIFE, Page 2.

See story, Page 3.

See story, Page 4.


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04 07 06 by Rose State Media Group - Issuu