Friday, September 30, 2005
News 15th Street
College recognizes 35 years of sharing knowledge Rose State College
6420 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK 73110
Vol. XXXV Issue 6
Sept. 30, 2005
Johnna Ray News Editor
Thirty-five years ago, many high school graduates were called into the fifth year of battle in Vietnam. Over 400 campuses nationwide temporarily closed due to protests of the war - however, in Oklahoma, at least one college opened its doors for the first time. Oscar Rose Junior College held its first day of classes Sept. 21, 1970 after three years of planning, building and preparing its campus. Over 1,700 students were enrolled that first semester. Dr. Bill Brown, associate vice president for Academic Affairs/ University Parallel Programs, remembers that first day. “I taught at Star Spencer [High School] and came over about [4 p.m.] and the place was a mess, full of discord; the first day, naturally, of any college, you think that [it will be chaotic],” Brown said. Classes were filling up faster than expected and many adjunct professors - called supplemental professors at that time - were called in to help teach. Brown was one of those and taught an English Composition I course that day with no role sheet, book or lesson plan. After teaching the class, Brown was interviewed and subsequently hired. Charter member Joy Rupp executive Director of Human Resources Development, began at the college as the only woman of four chairmen – a position now labeled as “dean.” Susan Loveless, associate vice
president for Resource Development and executive director of the RSC Foundation, is the only other charter member, besides Rupp, remaining at the college. She started the Child Development Center and ran it for three years. The ‘80s brought about a new name for the college - Rose State College - and a new logo as well. Loveless explained the reason for this change. “After we opened, a few years later, we became what was called a full partner in the state system, which meant we still kept our community designation and community support. But, it also meant we could participate fully in state funding along with the other colleges and universities,” Loveless said. “Then, in the early ‘80s, they wanted to do some changing, they wanted all of the colleges and universities that were a part of the state system to carry part of the name … they were adding ‘State’ to the name and they chose to drop Mr. Rose’s first name from the institution and just keep the Rose State College.” In 1991, several title changes occurred. Chairmen were changed to deans, assistant chairmen became associate deans, faculty members were changed to professors and supplemental faculty became adjunct professors. After the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in 1995, RSC planted trees on campus to remember victims. The same year, RSC celebrated its 25 th anniversary as a junior college. In 2000, Dr. James Cook was
File photo
Faculty, staff remember history of campus, improvements to school
The campus is celebrating their 35th anniversary this year. RSC changed its name from Oscar Rose Junior College in 1984, necessitating taking down the college logo to replace the name with its current title.
named as the person who would replace Larry Nutter as the new RSC President. Since the first days of class in 1970, enrollment has increased
from under than 9,000 in 2005. As RSC service to
2,000 students to more students per semester celebrates 35 years of those seeking a qual-
ity education, Cook continues to work with the campus and community to help students “finish what they start.” jray@rose.edu
Photo by MORGAN HORNER
Literary magazine “Pegasus” accepting submissions Many theories offered for Humanities building ‘hot spot’ mystery
“Pegasus,” the literary magazine published yearly, is now accepting submissions of art, photographs, short stories, essays and poetry from staff and students. Bryan Trude 2006 student editor is library slain. Myth goes on to say that Sports Editor technical assistant major Erin with one blow from his hoof, the Pegasus caused the founSubmissions are now being Waltman. accepted for the 26 th edi“All works submitted for tain Hippocrene, which was tion of the Pegasus Literary Pegasus must be in black used by the inspiring Muses, Magazine, published annu- and white, or reproducible in to flow from Mount Helicon. ally by the RSC Humanities black and white,” Dawson- For this reason, the Pegasus division. O’Brien said. “Anyone who often serves as a muse for Pegasus - which is a collec- currently attends or works at poetry. This is the second year tion of short stories, poetry, RSC can submit. It does not essays, photographs and re- have to be work produced in Dawson-O’Brien has served as co-faculty editor. From ’91 producible artwork created a class.” by the students, faculty and The Pegasus for which the to ’04, Coordinator of Honstaff of RSC - is edited by magazine is named is a crea- ors Programs Carl Sennhenn faculty editors Susan Daw- ture of Greek myth. A white served as a co-faculty edison-O’Brien, professor of winged horse, the Pegasus is tor, and was honored for his journalism and Karen Holt, said to have sprung from the work in the 2005 edition of professor of English. The body of Medusa after it was Pegasus.
When has flirting gone too far? See story, Page 2.
Sennhenn was named Poet Laureate of the State of Oklahoma by former Governor Frank Keating in 2001. He has taken part in every Poetry at Rose, an annual reading of poetry by faculty and Axley Award-winning students, since the first one in 1989, and has published two collections of poetry, “Harvest of Light” and “Center of Noon.” He is currently working on his third collection. Waltman is the second student editor in the history of Pegasus. The first was Amy Hynson, student editor for the 2005 edition. Waltman is a recipient of RSC’s James Axley award for poetry, named after a former RSC professor. With one recipient for short stories and poetry annually, award winners are the only students allowed to read at “Poetry at Rose.” Students can submit writing entries to Holt in the Humanities building, Room 231. Artwork and photography can be submitted to O’Brien in the Communications Center, Room 120. Students whose work is selected for publication will receive a free copy of the book. “[Pegasus] is a good opportunity to get your work published,” Waltman said. “A lot of student writers do not have the ability or the knowledge or the drive to go out and find publishers. Pegasus is a great way to get their work out in the world and in front of people.” For more information, contact Dawson-O’Brien by email at sdawson@rose.edu. btrude@rose.edu
Can you be sure your breasts are OK? See story, Page 4.
Heath Sitton Assistant Editor
For many students, finding a comfortable spot to spend time before or after classes is hard to come by. Some students, however, have already found such a spot. On any given school day, one can find a crowd of people gathered near the Humanities building. This crowd has many people wondering just why the Humanities building has become such a popular hang out. “I have always wondered why people tend to gather around the Humanities building,” art major Erica Stevenson said. “Is there something special that we don’t know about or is the administration pumping a special form of oxygen from this particular building or area on campus?” For no known reason, the Humanities building seems to have developed into a hot spot of activity for students with an excess of free time. There is an infinite supply of questions as to why a building can attract so much attention. However, the answers as to just what makes the building such a popular location are few and hard to come by. “My guess is that the Humanities building holds the key to a parallel universe,” business major Charlie Smith said. “There must be some sort of other- Charlie Smith, business major worldly force that pulls people toward the building or perhaps the people who gather there are involved in some sort of a cult.” With the proposal of all of these theories, there are only more questions to be asked. These questions only bring forth more theories to feed this marvelous mystery. “Me and my friends just like to hang out here and talk in between classes,” liberal studies major Jamal Wilson said. “The Humanities building seems to be as good a place as any to spend time in-between classes.” But why is the Humanities building such a good place to spend time? There are much nicer places to gather around campus. There are benches beneath trees and fountains to gather by. “The majority of my classes are inside the Humanities building or very close to it,” undeclared major Kenneth Heald said. “In between classes, I usually see a few of my friends and so we just stand here and talk until it’s time to go to class.” With these theories unable to be proven, the mystery may always continue. Indeed, it seems that the Humanities building may just be the most comfortable place for students to gather while waiting for class to begin. jhsitton@cox.net
“
The Humanities building holds the key to a parallel universe.
”
Knowing the signs of domestic violence. See story, Page 5.