Friday, April 21, 2006
News 15th Street
6420 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK 73110
Rose State College
Basketball program dunked
Photo by STACEY McENTIRE
After the conclusion of the 2006-2007 season, men’s and women’s basketball will no longer be played at RSC and the cheerleading program will end. The fate of the programs was decided at the joint meeting of the RSC Board of Regents and Board of Trustees’ March 23 session, held in the Regents’ Conference Room. According to Dean of Student Life Dr. Jay Kinzer, eliminating particular programs is nothing out of the ordinary at RSC. “In order to provide students with the best possible programs, those programs must be continually evaluated,” Kinzer said. “They must then be changed, deleted and/or replaced according to the outcomes of the evaluations. As the needs of the student body change, so must our programs.” Kinzer said the annual cost of maintaining the basketball program – financed by the student activity fund – is around $250,000. That covers scholarships, team travel, coaches salaries and other staff, program-related supplies and uniforms for players. The demise of the basketball program should translate into new programs at RSC. According to Kinzer, that may or may not be the case. “Next year we will experience a decrease in student activity funds, so $250,000 will not necessarily be available,” Kinzer said. “However, there should be enough money available to allow the college to offer
Newly-signed basketball players are discovering, only days after signing contracts, that Regents have decided to cut their program following the 2006-2007 season. Once the program has ended, the gymnasium will remain open for students and faculty.
come from the cancellation of the programs, Kinzer sees the shortterm future as a period of change and adjustment. “The coming year will be a transitional year through which the basketball program will continue and the athletic scholarships will be honored,” he said. “At
in May. Students involved in campus activities – such as Project Graduation – benefit from the skills and experiences they acquire, as do the recipients of their giving. Project Graduation began in 2002 and has since donated more than 220,000 food items and 190,000 books to various relief agencies, literacy organizations and schools. “We are coordinating with some of the area schools Sooner Rose Elementary, Midwest City High School, Harrah High School and Choctaw High School are some that we have so far - and some community businesses to fight two of America’s largest social problems - hunger and illiteracy,” Angie Rasberry, vice president of service with PTK, said. Donation boxes have been placed in many of the buildings on campus like the Learning Resources Center, Student Center, Administration building and Social Sciences building, as well as in local schools. The large number of donation sites are part of the effort to make sharing books and food easy for students, faculty, staff and community members. “Usually people give a lot and volunteer the most at holidays,” Rasberry said. “As a result, most service agencies are hurting and depleted by summer.
This is a way that RSC can partner with the community to help fill in the gap.” Collections began Monday, April 12 and will continue throughout the evening of graduation. Graduates, their families and friends may bring the nonperishable food items and adult or children’s books prior to or on the day of commencement exercises. Graduation is scheduled for Friday, May 5 in the Communications Center. Collected donations will be given to local organizations and to the adopted elementary schools Telstar and Willow Brook. Nonperishable foods suggested are canned goods such as vegetables, fruits, soups, canned meats and beans, cereals, rice, powdered milk and other commonly used foods that have a long shelf life. Phi Theta Kappa was founded in 1918 and serves more than 1,000 two-year colleges around the globe. Their efforts benefit others around the world through chapters located in places such as Canada and Germany, along with those in all 50 states. For more information about PTK or donations for Project Graduation, contact Angie Rasberry by calling 413-5149. jray@rose.edu
Graduates plan to feed, teach local youth through donations Johnna Ray Assistant Editor
Alpha Etta Alpha, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter at RSC, has organized a project to promote both healthy eating and literacy in
America. Project Graduation is a national service program that combines the food and book contributions of students, club members and the community with commencement exercises
Photo by STACEY McENTIRE
Vice president Angie Rasberry and other Phi Theta Kappa members accept donations of books and food to benefit Oklahomans.
the end of that time, new programs will be implemented that will better serve the needs of the student body. Until the specifics of these new programs are identified, including personnel needs, we will not know the effects of the changes on current staff.” aknittle@rose.edu
Students who want to witness firsthand just how it is that tuition and fees get raised in Oklahoma’s institutes of higher learning would be well advised to attend the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s upcoming hearing. The April 27 hearing, which is open to the public, including students, will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Regents’ Conference Room, located at 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 in Oklahoma City. According to a release by Chancellor Paul Risser, the three topics up for discussion and analysis are: tuition and mandatory fee limits for undergraduate and graduate programs, tuition and mandatory fee limits for professional programs and academic service fee proposals. While the first two are apparent and need little explanation, academic service fees refer to the cost of the use of the school’s equipment in such classes as photography, biology and any class where use of the institution’s facilities is required to successfully complete the course. In his release, Risser states that the Regents will take action on the aforementioned items at the board’s June 29 meeting. To attend, call 225-9120 by 5 p.m. April 21 to notify the organizers of the hearing of their intentions. For more information about fees and tuition costs in Oklahoma’s public universities and colleges, visit www.okhighered.org. aknittle@rose.edu
Photo by STACEY McENTIRE
new programs that will positively impact the lives of many more [RSC] students and constituents than does our current program.” In fact, RSC has already formed a group to figure how to use the
money. “A committee has been formed and charged with responsibility of identifying student needs and making recommendations regarding the new programs,” Kinzer said. Although it is unclear what will
Tuition fee limits among topics to be discussed Andrew Knittle News Editor
Photo by JOSH CARRASQUILLO
Andrew Knittle News Editor
Newly-signed Raiders hit revolving door
Vol. XXXV Issue 28
A two-lane bungee jump at Springfest provides students, like Daniel McClure and Baine Hadick, a short break from classes and a way to test their strength and balance.
Campus celebrates semester, holds 1st Rose State Idol, e nte r t a i n s s t u d e nt g u e s t s Johnna Ray Assistant Editor
Students, faculty and staff were treated to an end-of-the-year celebration, Springfest, on Wednesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 20. Free pizza, soft drinks and live entertainment were provided on the Campus Mall, with additional food and drink available in front of the Health and Environmental Sciences building. Minutes Too Far, an Indie power-pop band from Oklahoma City, performed at the stage located between the Fine Arts building and the gymnasium. Their first nationally released CD, “Let it Roll,” will be available in stores Tuesday, July 25. The band is scheduled to perform at the Conservatory on 89th and Western Friday, May 26. Chairs, tents and other items were set up the night before in preparation of the event. A two-lane bungee inflatable, various club booths, Frisbee golf and volleyball were also available. Rose State Idol auditions were held on the Campus Mall the first day of the event. As of this publication, the results of the Idol contest, held April 20, were not yet known. Look for Idol winners and a complete recap of Springfest, including pictures of the event, in the April 28 issue of the 15th Street News. To learn more about Minutes Too Far, visit their Web site at www.minutestoofar.com. jray@rose.edu
Who broadened artistic minds on campus?
Universities with best value listed.
Fighting to relieve stress?
See story, Page 2.
See story, Page 3.
See column, Page 4.