Dragon Acrobat performance ‘golden’
Entertainment
recorded for TV, video release
Johnna Ray
Assistant Editor
The Golden Dragon Acrobats from China entertained roughly 1,000 guests in the 1400-seat Performing Arts Theatre in the Communications Center April 6. “My favorite part was all of it,” Maddie Lawson, 6, said of the family-friendly performance.
Mark Hood, a video crew producer, entered the stage just after 7 p.m. to welcome guests and inform them that they would all be a part of a videotaping for TV and DVD release of the night’s performance. Hood cautioned the audience against the use of cell phones, cameras or other items that might distract the acrobats, as many of the stunts involve great heights and distances and are potentially “life threatening.”
The audience cheered loudly as the theater lights were completely dimmed, the curtains opened and four figures in purple, hooded capes entered, carrying a woman to a raised platform in the center of the stage. Here, the woman was given a small, tiered, chandelier-like structure made of several tiny cups, which she balanced on first one foot and then the other. A total of seven more of these props were given to the woman to balance on her hands, feet, head and in her mouth, as she twisted and bent her body in ways that brought even more applause and gasps from the audience. Before exiting the stage, the contortionist revealed that the cups contained water by pouring the contents from one glass into another.
Glen Cox of Oklahoma City said the performance was like returning to the Broadway productions he attended as a Civic
Center season ticket holder, “all over again.”
The acrobats, all dressed in bright colors, provided audiences with a vast array of talents as they performed umbrella and ball juggling routines, hat tricks and various balancing stunts.
Throughout the performance, the audience exclaimed their enjoyment with “oohs,” “ahhs,” clapping and sometimes laughter. However, some parts of the performance caused a hush to fall over the audience as they watched in amazement.
One example of this was when an acrobat steadied herself on a swaying board while balancing rods and silver balls and juggling planks. Then, while still atop the swaying board and balancing the rods and balls, she twirled rings and a hula hoop on
her arms and waist.
Another performance that seemed to be a favorite of the audience was the dancing plate routine. In this routine, a slight haze drifted across the stage as nine performers dressed in pastel green entered while twirling plates balanced on long, slender sticks. This number combined costumes, music and performance in a poetic fashion that resembled flowers dancing in the wind.
“The plates were amazing to see, the way they could balance and twirl at the same time,” Tiffany Lawson of Yukon said. “It just blows me away. It amazed me, the strength they have.”
The performance included more than 15 stunts throughout the course of nine acts, including a special act, “The Lion
Dance.” After the first four of these acts, a 15 minute intermission was given.
Before the second half of the show, members of the audience sitting on the upper level and in the back of the lower level were asked to fill in the bottom seats to pose for photographs to be included in the TV and video release.
Two of the routines that exhibited great fortitude on the part of the acrobats were the “Ladder Act” and the “Tower of Chairs.”
In the first of these, the performer climbed a free-standing ladder and then held two others. Two additional acrobats climbed the extra ladders and balanced on a stand placed on the shoulders of the first performer, as he continued standing
on the original one.
The “Tower of Chairs” consisted of one acrobat who placed six chairs on top of each other, climbing and balancing on them as the stack grew higher and higher. Before repositioning the top chair in various ways and balancing on one hand at the top of the tower, the acrobat paused for the announcer to playfully caution the audience, “do not attempt to do this in your own homes.”
To learn how to obtain tickets for upcoming Rose State LIVE! performances, keep reading the 15th Street News, or visit www. rose.edu/cstudent/calendars/ rsclive.htm. For information regarding The Golden Dragon Acrobats from China, visit www.artfegan.com. jray@rose.edu
Springfest set, Rose State Idol introduced
This year’s Springfest will take place Wednesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 20 throughout the RSC campus. Springfest is an annual, end-of-theyear celebration for graduating sophomores and incoming freshmen, Logan Reynolds, student senate president, said.
Some of the events planned for the occasion are a two-lane bungee inflatable, free pizza and soda, two live bands – Minutes to Kill and Camille Harper – and auditions for the first Rose State Idol. Rose State Idol will be similar to the American Idol format with three judges. The judges will choose good, bad and encouraging. The main difference is that the Rose State Idol will be open to any kind of talent. Each category will have first, second and third places and there will be an overall winner who will be named the Rose State Idol. Second and third
During the two-day ‘fest, students will be able to vote for the executive senate officers for the 2006-2007 school year. There will also be several three-person volleyball teams, Frisbee golf games, otherwise known as disc golf, and many club activities. The basketball throw and football toss booths will also make an appearance at the event. The Diamond Leadership will be at 12:30 p.m. April 20 with guest speaker Marcus Bivines, the president of his class at University of Oklahoma Law School.
“I really encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the music and have fun,” Reynolds said. Springfest starts at 10 a.m. and goes throughout the day until 5 p.m. For more information about Rose State Idol and Springfest contact Student Activities at 733-7376. shoverson@rose.edu
Corvette takes ‘Best in Show’ in annual competition
Andrew Knittle
News Editor
The second annual RSC Car Show was held Saturday, April 8 in the Communication Center’s north parking lot.
The event was organized and staffed by members of the student senate.
Vehicles from 61 registered entrants from all over the OKC metropolitan area arrived to be judged in the contest.
Wes LeFlore, assistant Student Activities coordinator, who led the event along with Vice President Yancey Scott, said that even more car owners showed up late to take part.
“There were lots of cars that came after our 12 o’clock registration deadline and they got to be there. They just couldn’t be judged,” LeFlore said.
Concessions and entry fees totaled more than $1,200.
All the collected money will eventually go to benefit the American Cancer Society and the group’s ongoing research and education programs.
The cars were judged by the student senate’s club liaison, Tanner
Hayes, and Midwest City optometrist Cory Christenson.
Awards were handed out for first, second and third places in the following categories:
• Import/foreign
• Domestic
• Under construction
• Classic cars/trucks manufactured before 1986
• High and low truck
• Racing cars (not street legal)
• Stock vehicles
• Anything not a car or truck
The only category with no participants was the motorcycle class.
LeFlore figured the poor turnout for the motorcycle class was probably due to the questionable weather in the early part of the day.
“Best in Show” honors went to Edmond resident Roland Dawson and his blue 1965 Corvette C2, a model that was made only from 1963-1967.
Unlike some of the other contestants at the event, Dawson is just getting his start in the car show circuit.
“I haven’t been doing this very
long,” Dawson said. “I just started last year with this car.”
And while some of the cars were garage-kept only, others still served their primary purpose of transportation.
Mike Worden, whose 1973 Mach 1 Mustang Fastback took third place in the category for cars manufactured in ’86 or before category, said that he drives his “Mean ‘73” to destinations all over the South.
“I drive it,” Worden said. “It isn’t one of those trailer queens.”
LeFlore said the turnout for Saturday’s event was “just about all we could handle,” and credited the large number of entries to good promotion and hard work.
“I, along with several of the student senators, put fliers in all the automotive part stores in Del City and Midwest City,” LeFlore said. “We also put fliers in body shops and contacted several car clubs.” LeFlore, although relatively inexperienced in this arena, said that he is optimistic about 2007’s event.
“This was my first time running a car show,” LeFlore said. “Next year we’ll have a show that’s a lot better.” aknittle@rose.edu
Bright colors, elaborate costumes, choreographed dances and daring stunts are all part of the entertainment the Golden Dragon
Acrobats from China share with guests at their performances. The show April 6 was one of many acts offered through Rose State LIVE! to students, faculty and the community. The event was videotaped for TV and video release.
Photo by MORGAN HORNER
Shannon Hoverson Assignment Editor
Photos by JOSH
CARRASQUILLO
NEWS/FEATURES
Professor recalls solar eclipse experience
Andrew Knittle
News Editor
Student Poetry Reading
The students of professor Karen Holt’s poetry class will be reading at the Benedict Street Market in Shawnee at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20. The monthly event is sponsored by the Independent Artists of Oklahoma. There will be no cost to attend. For more information, contact Holt at 733-7505.
Scholarship Available
One $1,000 scholarship is available for 2006-2007 for an RSC student enrolled full-time who has completed at least 24 credit hours. Applicants should return a completed application to the Office of Enrollment Management in the Student Services Building, Room 100-H by April 30. Applications are available at www.mwcrotary.org.
Dental Hygiene Program Seeks Patients
The 2006 graduates of the RSC Dental Hygiene Program are in search of patients who will qualify for their regional clinical board exam. The board exam for state licensure consists of an approximately fourhour time commitment by the patient to have their teeth cleaned on either June 10, 11 or 12. Patients must be at least 18 years old and their last teeth cleaning must have been at least three years ago. There will be no cost to the patient. If interested, call 733-7337.
Dianetics Workshop
A workshop on L. Ron Hubbard’s “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,” will be offered from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at the Warr Acres Community Center. Cost for the event and a copy of the book will be $15. Refreshments will be served. The community center is located at 4301 N. Ann Arbor Ave. To reserve a place, send a check for the cost of the event to Janet Stein, P.O. Box 32604, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
Kids College Counselors Needed
The Continuing Education division is looking for counselors for the summer Kids College program. Counselors are needed to work morning shifts of 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and afternoon shifts of 12-5:30 p.m. All counselors will be paid $7 per hour. For more information, call 733-7392 or e-mail Jennifer Skoch at jskoch@rose.edu.
Astronomy professor Chad Ellington did more than just read about last month’s total solar eclipse – he flew halfway across the world to witness the event firsthand.
Ellington, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida’s astronomy program, has been teaching at RSC for the past five years, four of them as a full-time professor.
Aboard the cruise ship Costa Classica, Ellington and his shipmates watched and waited for the moon to pass in front of the sun in an experience he said “wasn’t quite what I expected it to be.”
“About 10 minutes before totality [of the eclipse], the air temperature started to plummet and everyone had to put on jackets,” Ellington said. “A couple of minutes before totality, things were getting just a little bit darker and shadows were becoming sharper. It was still quite obviously daylight, but usage of sunglasses was no longer needed.”
Ellington added that the whole scene, set around 100 miles north of the Egypt/Libya border in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, was surreal and compared watching the eclipse to witnessing “a life changing event.”
“I was struck by the size of the corona in the sky and how different the sky looked,” he said. “As you looked further from the moon, the sky was dark and
turned blue black with a ring of orange all around the horizon. [It was] similar to what you would expect at sunset, but not in one particular direction - all around you.”
The event was so powerful, Ellington noted, that those around him were gasping in amazement, with some even moved enough to shout out in pure joy.
According to Ellington, solar eclipses offer more than just pleasurable viewing. In fact, an eclipse can provide valuable data in several different areas.
“Total solar eclipses are often used as a cheap means of studying the outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere, the corona,” Ellington said. “Without total solar eclipses, one must launch a rocket above the earth’s atmosphere to study it, [which is] a very costly venture.”
Aside from studying the corona, Ellington stated that viewing eclipses can help determine variations in the sun’s size. Eclipses were also used in 1919 to prove Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
Total solar eclipses are not Ellington’s only area of interest. He also chases asteroids here in the states, although actually witnessing an asteroid induced eclipse is no easy task.
“I chase asteroid occultations [eclipses] across the state and have attempted nearly 40 of them thus far, with three successful observations being within shadow,” Ellington said. “This may sound discouraging to most, but comet hunters often go three years and
thousands of hours of observations before discovering another one.”
For those able to harvest important, relevant data from them, eclipses – infrequent and hard to witness firsthand – form an alluring impression.
“I feel a certain twinge of excitement with every occultation I go attempt,” Ellington said. aknittle@rose.edu
Mystery author shares insights, offers tips
Shannon Hoverson Assignment Editor
Carolyn Hart, mystery author, spoke to the Friends of the RSC Library Club April 11.
A native of Oklahoma, Hart has written more than 20 books. Her most popular series is “Death on Demand” about a mystery bookshop owner.
Hart told the audience about her life and how she became an author. She started out wanting to become a newspaper reporter.
“Being a newspaper reporter was absolutely the most important and exciting job that anyone could ever have,” Hart said.
After she had worked as a reporter for a while, she found that it was not suited to her temperament.
It was after she had married and started a family that she realized she did not want to go back to the newspaper, but she missed writing. She found in the back of the magazine Writer, a contest for a children’s mystery for girls aged 12. She entered it and in 1964 had her first novel published.
But this did not mean that she had “made it.” She wrote seven books over a period of seven years that did not get published. At the time romance novels were the “it” books of the publishing world.
It was not until she had unsuccessfully tried to turn one of her mystery novels into a romance that she realized “if I cannot write mysteries, then I’m not going to be a writer.”
She said that she decided that she was going to
write one more mystery and if it did not get published, then that was it.
She set about writing a story about a young bookshop owner set in South Carolina who solves mysteries. This became her highly successful series “Death on Demand.”
She told the audience that when she submitted it to her agent she did not expect it to go anywhere.
“I was very fortunate in that I got a new agent,” Hart said. “And what I had not realized when she got that book and offered it [to publishers] was that the climate of publishing had changed in New York.”
Hart also described a new series she was writing about a ghost who was sent back to Earth to help peo-
ple and became involved in all sorts of mischief. This is just one of two books that she set in Oklahoma.
When she was finished, she took questions from the audience. One of the questions was did someone need an agent or could they publish without one. Hart said that some of the larger publishing houses required an agent but that some small publishers accepted manuscripts from new authors.
“I think that a good story succeeds or fails on its own merits,” Hart said.
She also said that for a new writer the most important thing to do was to make contacts within their own genre and become active in a writing group. She said that becoming part of groups that deal with a specific subject could help a new writer make the professional contacts needed to get published.
“I think a writer has to follow their own heart,” Hart said. “You have to write what is right for you to write and if you care passionately about what you’re writing someone else will care, too. That is what makes the difference.”
At the end of the speech, Hart autographed her paper back “Death of the Party” and her latest book “Dead Days of Summer” both of which were available at the event to purchase.
The Friends of the RSC Library Club will be hosting Deb Willis of the Midwest City Library on April 18 and a book signing by Carl Sennhenn from 2-3:30 p.m. on April 19. shoverson@rose.edu
SIFE poses education, workforce questions
Achieve Succeed Become
Students in Free Enterprise is a global non-profit organization that is working on changing the world through highly-dedicated student teams on more than 1,600 university campuses in 40 countries.
SIFE wants to hear what you have to say. Share your thoughts and ideas with the community. You have a voice that needs to be heard. Anyone can participate.
Use the form below to give us your thoughts and let your voices be heard. Make a difference. Give a short summary of your answers and provide input as to what you believe will improve the community, education and family structure.
Topic – Education voice
1. Is the education today relevant to the skills needed for the workforce?
2. Does primary education (K-12) prepare students for college?
3. Do you believe technology has improved education?
4. Should the government pay for the first two years of college?
5. Would the quality of education improve if educators (professors, teachers) were paid higher salaries?
Watch for a community leader’s response in the next week’s paper.
Your age range: __18-25 __26-35 __ 36-45 __45 and up
Students, faculty, staff and the community are encouraged to participate. Send an e-mail with the current topic listed on the subject line by noon Wednesday following the issue date of the current publication. E-mails should be sent to Editor in Chief Erin Waltman at ewaltman@rose.edu or Assignment Editor Shannon Hoverson at shoverson@rose.edu. Those who want to respond but do not have e-mail may place their responses in an envelope addressed to the editor with the heading “SIFE” and drop them off at the 15th Street News located in the Fine Arts Building, Room 110. shoverson@rose.edu
Staff Members
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.
Sports Editor Bryan Trude [btrude@rose.edu]
Carolyn Hart reveals the mysteries of writing through firsthand knowledge and experiences.
ELLINGTON
Photo
Easter gift could prove deadly
Erin Waltman
Editor in Chief
Easter is a time when many parents and couples decide to give the special people in their lives a gift in the form of a cute baby animal. However, animals usually end up with the short end of the stick in the scenario.
Bunnies, ducklings and chicks rank highest on the “baby animal” list for Easter, and while these animals are very cute and cuddly, they eventually grow up. The cute, baby animals eventually become big, needy animals.
Buying a living animal is akin to making an investment.
After all, rabbits can live up to 10 years.
Rabbits require a large cage (which will usually run you $80-100 for one of appropriate size), daily food in the form of rabbit pellets and hay and weekly cage cleanings.
They will also need to be taken out of their cages and given
human interaction and a chance to stretch their legs every day. Ducks and chickens are really happiest outside, but they also need shelter and food. Ducks will appreciate a children’s swimming pool to paddle around in, and the pool will need to be cleaned daily.
Chickens will love a place to roost, and both ducks and chickens will require a pen to keep them safe from neighborhood cats and wild animals like skunks and opossums. And, as with any pet, there are considerations that have to be made for veterinarian care. Any animal you own that gets sick deserves vet care, and that can run up quite a bill.
Maybe you do not plan to make the new Easter “pet” a permanent part of your family. Many people only plan on keeping the cuddly Easter baby until the novelty wears off (which usually only takes a month of cleaning up poop and buying food).
Shelters tend to fill up after
CAMPUS CHAT
Easter with the animals of which people get tired. Of course, sometimes a shelter seems like too much trouble.
Animals are often dumped on the side of the road or tossed at Draper Lake to live a “natural, wild” life.
However, the chances of your pet duckling, chick or rabbit being able to survive after being dumped on its own are very slim. Natural predators will kill them easily since they have not been raised in the wild and do not know the dangers.
Consider how much you will have to invest in an animal’s future if you are considering buying a tiny baby animal for a girlfriend, boyfriend or child this Easter.
If there is any doubt in your mind as to whether or not you can provide care and love to your Easter baby for the course of its life, do yourself and the animals a favor and buy a plush, stuffed animal for Easter instead.
ewaltman@rose.edu
Counseling Tip No. 9
Ongoing stress puts your mental and physical health at great risk. It is important to find healthy ways to identify your stress triggers and diffuse them.
If you or someone you know has problems with stress, help is available. For more information or for free confidential assistance, contact the RSC counselors at 733-7373.
Dear Editor,
Letters to the Editor
Why do most of your college classrooms still have those hard, junior high school, elementary-colored chairs? We are all adults that graduated high school and we deserve at least a comfortable seat to sit in while we get our education. The seats metro techs provide for their students are much more comfortable and decent looking than the chairs provided here at [RSC]. What can we do to change this?
Katrina Lewis, student
Dear Editor,
This is my response to the article printed in the 15th Street News on March 31, 2006 concerning the plan B pill. Let me first of all say that Erin Waltman does a fine job reporting her beliefs and this is commendable, as so many people are spineless when it comes to standing up for what they believe in.
The following problems I have with her reasons for opposing a pharmacist’s right to refuse to sell the pill based on morals [are not meant] to be an attack on her. However, that being said, here is my response: The plan B pill, Levonorgestrel, is opposed by people like me for a couple of reasons. But let me first address Miss Waltman’s statements. To say that you are against someone bring[ing] their morals to the workplace with
them is irrational for an important reason: we all bring our morals to work with us in one way or another. Otherwise, I would steal money out of the cash register at work or blow my boss away if I got angry. Obviously, I can’t do this.
People in this country have the constitutional right under the First Amendment to freedom of religion. If this religious belief somehow conflicts with this pill, I have no problem with that. You can easily get someone else to fill it. You can’t object to someone else’s morals because they didn’t approve this pill, the big shots did. It’s not their fault that the bosses make decisions that go against their religion or belief system. This may, of course, seem to be faulty logic, but it is the way I feel about the matter.
Now, as for this being a woman’s last opportunity to avoid abortion, you give away the problem in your statement. You say that a woman who “made a mistake by having unprotected sex when they are fertile are having their last chance taken away from them.” Now, here is my question: Why is it they are having unprotected sex in the first place if they don’t want children? Risking this and knowing the consequences, children, and then crying that pharmacists are taking their last chance away is silly. If you don’t want kids, don’t risk it by having
unprotected sex. Besides, from a logical standpoint, why do people waste money on expensive medications when they could easily buy something less expensive that prevents the matter in the first place - condoms? This is one of the concerns of pro-family groups, but so is the act that using this as a contraceptive instead of condoms opens society up to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases because of not using a condom during sex.
So, I feel you have been, as has society, too quick to point the finger at the wrong person. Personal responsibility is the issue, and when that is lacking, it will ultimately affect all of society. Instead of all these abortions, plan B pills and unwanted pregnancies, we have other options. Ken Sponburg, student
I would like to extend my congratulations to Miss Kristen Combs for winning Miss Black RSC, and also to other young women who competed as well. Miss Combs, I think your suggestion of a camp for children with Spina Bifida is a very good one. I hope that through you more people will be educated about Spina Bifida. Keep up the good work.
Tina Price, student
by stacey mcentire and johnna ray
Michelle Unruh
Dr.
Hochtritt
Shepas
Jackson
How to...
Manage time, say ‘no’ to nonessentials
Shannon Hoverson Assignment Editor
Juggling home, work, friends, family and school can be hard. Sometimes you may not know if you are arriving or leaving. Being able to manage your time properly will help you to get everything you need to do done. Personally, it always seems I am running late and trying to fit all the stuff I need to do into an ever-decreasing amount of time. I decided to look into how to manage my time better and grudgingly decided
to let you in on the secrets of the universe that I uncovered.
The first thing you must do to manage your time is create a “to-do” list. Write down all the tasks you need to complete each day. Check each one off after you have finished.
If you have any complex things to do, embark upon them when you are most alert. Do not try and write your thesis paper after you have been up all night.
Remember to pencil in some time for yourself, your friends and your family. Just as there is always room for Jell-O, you always have time to stop and smell the daffodils. Say “no” to nonessential demands on your time. If you do not have time to volunteer with that club, then just turn it down. When you go to manage your time, you must look at what you can do, not just cram every activity into 24 hours. I mean, you
have to sleep and eat, too. Whatever you do, do not procrastinate. Just keep repeating in your head “I will not procrastinate …” If you do that about a billion times, maybe you might just stop doing it. But I cannot guarantee this. It is entirely up to you. As you are in college, please set aside some time to study. Your professors will thank you and just think how nice an A will look on your transcript. If you follow my advice, you should be able to manage your time efficiently and wisely, too.
shoverson@rose.edu
Raider Response: Students offer course suggestions
The Raider Response question for March 31 was “What courses would you like offered during the summer sessions that are not already listed?” Raiders responded to the question as follows:
• Elena Vap, business major – I would like to see more afternoon classes that start around 4 p.m., rather than those starting in the morning or evening.
• Andrea Moore, radiology technology major – Radiology technology is supposed to go all three semesters, but classes needed to continue with this program are not offered in the summer. This makes it difficult to complete the degree program in two years. I would like to see the necessary classes available in the summer.
• Robert Mortimer, business major – I would like to see more business classes and computer classes that businesses are using.
• Krystle Price, childcare and family services major – I don’t know about the classes themselves, but I would like to see summer assistance for tuition and books.
• Andrea Hinkle, small business option major – I would like to see classes available that would complete the degree program during all semesters, including the summer session. Currently, there are too few choices during the summer session.
• Kim Russell, business major – I would like to see more business classes in the summer and the fall semesters. Responses to this week’s Raider Response question or suggestions for Raider Response questions should be e-mailed to Assistant Editor Johnna Ray at jray@rose.edu or hand-delivered to the Fine Arts building, Room 110, before noon Wednesday, April 26.
Raider Response Question No. 3:
What is your opinion of the quality, comfort and condition of the classrooms and laboratories on campus?
Spotlight On: Connie Myrick gits ‘er done on, off campus
Johnna Ray Assistant Editor
The spotlight this week is on a woman who began her life in Oklahoma at Tinker Air Force Base and has stayed near home ever since, with the exception of two years spent in each, Taipei, Taiwan and Austin, Texas.
Connie Myrick, coordinator of Prospective Student Services, said that although “no one pushed college,” she knew she wanted to go. “I just thought I would start somewhere close which was [RSC].”
Myrick graduated RSC in 1987 and completed her bachelor’s degree in computer science at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1992. She received her master’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in May 2005. In addition to her success in obtaining her degrees, Myrick
Q: What is one of your most memorable times at RSC?
also graduated from Leadership Midwest City and graduated the Midwest City Citizen Police Academy in 2005. All of these are part of what she said makes her unique.
“I am constantly getting myself into new things,” she added.
Virgo
your horoscope this week with Aries.
Libra September 23October 22... If things seem to be going wrong, just remember: “Life goes on.” That is the bad thing about cliches - they are usually true.
Scorpio October 23-November 21... Avoid reality this week. It is much more fun if you are not participating in it.
Myrick has one daughter, Danelle, 21, with whom Myrick visited Graceland four times in one day.
A: The day I graduated from RSC. I never thought I could go to college, much less get a degree.
Q: What is the most exciting or interesting thing you have done in your life?
QA: I was interviewed by George Kline of Sirrius [Satellite] Radio, worldwide radio, in September 2005. He picked me and my friend out of a crowd to be interviewed. We talked about my daughter, soccer, Elvis and [RSC]. My friend and I just died and went to Heaven. George is Elvis Presley’s best friend since high school and was his best man at his wedding.
Q: What person do you most relate to, find most fascinating or admire most?
A: Elvis
&
Q: What goals or plans do you have for the future?
A: 1. Get my daughter graduated from college.
2. Go on lots of vacation trips. Most importantly, see Elvis.
3. Play Paula Abdul at Springfest’s American Idol in April. Just call me Paula.
4. Help everyone with their dreams of going [to] and completing college.
AFuture
“She is kind of sick of Elvis,” Myrick said. “I never can get enough of Graceland or Elvis.”
Also, she has two cats, Jax and Lexi; two dogs, Misty and PJ; and a fish named Fish.
Family is important to Myrick and she said that she likes helping her dad.
“I love getting home at night and listen[ing] to the ‘dog and cat stories,’” she said. “[My dad] lets me know they do not get along. I think he enjoys it.”
Myrick said what she enjoys most about RSC is the teamwork.
“Otherwords, we git ‘er done!’” Myrick said.
As for Oklahoma, Myrick said she most enjoys the people.
“Oklahomans are nice, happy people,” she said.
Although Myrick enjoys her life and what she is doing now, she said it was “not even close” to what she wanted to be as a child.
“I thought I wanted to be a nurse until I was in the hospital for a couple of days and found out I didn’t like hospitals,” she said. Myrick said she is most proud of her daughter and her signed picture with George Kline. jray@rose.edu
Sagittarius November 22-December 21... If you notice you have been giving yourself advice in the bathroom mirror again, keep in mind that this is a really bad sign. Find someone else to lecture you.
Capricorn December 22-January 19... This week you will be blessed with good luck in the form of chocolate. Sugary-treats being the high-point of your life is one of the perks of being shallow.
Aquarius January 20February 18... Cleaning is not over-rated. Please tidy up your dwelling before raccoons start nesting there.
Pisces February 19March 20... If you ever get the feeling I have no compassion for the ups and downs in your life, then comfort yourself with the knowledge that you are absolutely right.
of Hollywood film industry questioned, actors remembered
Bryan Trude Sports Editor Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you … the apocalypse. Truly a sad state of affairs where the most anticipated release (besides Scary Movie 4) is called “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.” Then again, that guy is so popular here that the movie will probably gross more than “Titanic.” It probably deserves to since Leonardo DiCaprio can not act his way out of a kindergarten classroom. Go watch “The Aviator,” you will see what I mean.
Reflecting as I look over a Hollywood forecast that calls
for a future filled with an aging action star trying to relive his glory days from the 1970s and 1980s (Sylvester Stallone in both “Rocky Balboa” and “Rambo IV”), a childish Saturday Night Live alum/dropout making millions for being annoying and outlandish (Will Ferrell) and even really terrible movies that make millions in the U.S. because Quentin Tarantino is a flaming fanboy (“House of Flying Daggers”).
among my favorites, and I praise Jim Carrey as one of the greatest comedic actors of this generation.
To paraphrase an old Statler Brothers song, whatever happened to Wil Wheaton? Granted, Wheaton is not the biggest actor around from the pre-millenium era (the date, not the movie). However, he and a host of other quality actors have either disappeared off the radar completely or have reinvented themselves in a bastardization of who they used to be in a vain attempt to grab new audiences.
Take Jim Carrey, for example. I was first made aware of this guy in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” and again in the sequel “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.” Both of these movies are
He is an artist of the outlandish, slapstick comedy genre, and those who do not believe me need to go watch movies like “Liar Liar,” “Me, Myself and Irene,” “The Cable Guy” and “Bruce Almighty.” However, in an attempt to cross into more serious and lucrative roles, Carrey has be-
Reel Talk
Rose-Colored Glasses
gun releasing serious movies like “The Majestic,” “Simon Birch” and now, the comedy-tinted “Fun with Dick and Jane.” These are movies that dilute his greatness like the mud dilutes the water in Lake Thunderbird.
Where is the Tom Cruise I remember? He used to be a top gun-grade actor (pun intended) whose mere mention could instantly capture my attention, which was a difficult task when I was young.
Now, he’s playing mercy with Oprah, marrying and fathering children with girls who were in diapers when he started his acting career and releas-
ing absolute wastes of time, “War of the Worlds,” because he can. Please, somebody give me back my actors and actresses the way I remember them, before they decided to chase the dollar instead of do what they were good at. As for Wheaton, he realized that acting was not his cup of tea. Although he still acts in the occasional Showtime film, Wheaton spends his days writing novels and columns for various publications, as well as providing voice work for videogames. Good for him. btrude@rose.edu
by Erin Waltman
Photo by STACEY McENTIRE