Friday, October 27, 2006
NEWS 15TH STREET
Rose State College
6420 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK 73110 Keep track of November holidays. See Calendar, Page 4.
What was the final score at UCO Game Day? See story, Page 3.
Vol. XXXVI Issue 8 Where are all of Oklahoma’s spooks? See story, Page 5.
University Center opens; Cook says farewell Joshua Pace News Editor A bridge, a building and a legacy. These are the things that were addressed, spoken about and honored in various forms on Wednesday, Oct. 25, during a series of ceremonies attended by college, community and state officials who gathered for three separate events all tied by one common theme – people can make a difference for themselves and for others. Perhaps the biggest draw was a retirement reception held to honor Dr. James Cook, former RSC president, who celebrated not only his retirement, but his 60th birthday, as well. The reception was held in the lobby of the Communications Center and more than 200 attendees from all over the community, including regents, administrators and personnel from the college, were in attendance. Also attending were representatives from Sen. Tom Cole and Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin’s respective offices and dignitaries from Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City and Del City, including city officials and Chamber of Commerce members. Cook was presented with a number of honors, including plaques, coins and a medallion, as each speaker produced a litany of examples of how Cook epitomized dedication to changing people’s lives through education. Dr. Terry Britton, RSC president, presented Cook with a photograph and plaque on behalf of the RSC Regents. The photograph will be on display in the Learning Resources Center and contains a quote that Cook was fond of saying, Britton said. “Excellence is caring more than others think is wise; dreaming more than others think is practical; and expecting more than others think is possible,” Britton said, while quoting Cook. Cook said that he has always tried to help people succeed in life, just as others have helped him. “The one thing I’ve tried to be consistent in, throughout my public life, is to respect you – everyone I’ve met, every student who … tried to change their lives [through education] because education really does change lives for the better,” he said. A ceremony was also held prior to Cook’s reception to officially cut the ribbon to the new University Center. The Center, when renovations are completed, will house classes for the University of Central Oklahoma students enrolled at RSC through a partnership with both. The partnership is the accumulation of RSC’s longstanding “informal relationship” with UCO and will serve students – especially those stationed at Tinker because of
Photos by STACEY McENTIRE
(Above:) The University Center, which will provide room for students attending University of Central Oklahoma courses on the RSC campus, opens with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Oct. 25. (Left:) RSC President Dr. Terry Britton presents former RSC President Dr. James Cook with a plaque and photograph offered by Regents. (Below:) The Don Reynolds Memorial Bridge, located at I-40 and Sooner Road and joining the cities of Del City and Midwest City, is dedicated during a morning ceremony. Many community members and leaders celebrated the dedication. Reynolds is noted as the longest-standing Regent in the state of Oklahoma and served on RSC’s Board of Regents for more than 30 years.
the proximity of RSC to the base – by allowing them to pursue a bachelor’s degree right in their hometown, Britton said. Prior to these events, late RSC Regent Don Reynolds was also recognized with the dedication of a bridge named in his honor. Reynolds was the longest-standing Regent in the state of Oklahoma and served the college for more than 30 years. The Don Reynolds Memorial Bridge is located at I40 and Sooner Road. Similar to Cook, Reynolds also inspired people through a “people first” attitude
– which impressed upon Cook to continue in that mindset, he said. “Most people [at the renaming ceremony] knew Don Reynolds,” Cook said. “He told me when I became president, ‘don’t forget the people. It’s all about the people. You can have all kinds of pretty buildings and lots of money, but if you forget about the people that you’re serving, then it doesn’t mean anything.’ He always told me, ‘God likes me when I work but He loves me when I serve.’” jpace@rose.edu
‘Good Doctor’ makes house call to campus Julie Farris Contributing Writer Auditions were held in September and 32 hopefuls showed their talents in an effort to become part of Neil Simon’s play, “The Good Doctor.” Out of the 32 who tried out, 14 will make it to the H.B. Atkinson stage the first two weekends in November. “I was so excited when I found out I got the part,” Nitta Farlaino, theater major, said. “[My character] gets to jump on a desk, pull her hair out and faint.” However, casting decisions were not easy, Rick Nelson, theater professor and director of “Good Doctor,” said. “This was a tougher decision [to cast] than I had thought,” Nelson said. “There were several people that I didn’t cast that I would have, but I ran out of roles.” The play was originally meant to have only five actors to play all of the
roles. However, Nelson believed that it would give the play greater diversity and perfection if he allowed more actors to get on stage, so he created 14 additional roles. Cast members do not always consist of only RSC students, Nelson said. “Anyone can audition for any play regardless if you’re a theater major or even a student here,” he said. “Good Doctor” is a play composed of a series of scenes, or vignettes, in which the only connecting thread is the character of the writer, Nelson said. In the play, Simon blends 19th century Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov’s, works with a Vaudeville experience that results in a hilarious tribute to Chekhov and the human condition. This production will be Nelson’s first at RSC. He decided to leave his adjunct position at Oklahoma City Community College after he heard good things about the RSC theater department. He wanted to be part of a full-time staff because it fostered more support for the productions, he said. “I now have the opportunity to work full-time and devote myself fully to the program,” Nelson said. Nelson’s plan for this production is simple. “I want to tell the story so well that the audience will get a sense of the situPhoto by JULIE FARRIS ations that the characters Actors rehearse for the fall ‘06 theater performance, find themselves in [and “Good Doctor” with the assistance of Rick Nelson, see that they] are not undirector and theater professor. like the situations we find
ourselves in today,” he said. Due to restructuring, Nelson said the department would only do one production per semester, instead of two. This will allow him and the actors an opportunity to put their efforts into the productions more fully. Nelson will hold auditions for his next production, “Romeo and Juliet,” in the spring. This classic tale will keep the same text, but be set in a different era - the “roaring” ‘20s. “[“Romeo and Juliet”] will be updated, but not contemporary,” Nelson said. “It will not be your standard Shakespeare.” When auditioning, Nelson said he is looking for people who are lifelike and natural, with an unaffected manner. “Even if the scene is heightened and comical, you want a sense of reality,” he said. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2-4 and Nov. 9-11 and reservations and payment must be received by 5 p.m., Nov. 6. Admission for RSC students, faculty, staff and senior citizens is free; admission for other students is $2 and for all others, $3. A Dinner Theatre will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9. and will cost $14 for students, staff and seniors, $16 for general public and $10 for children ages 12 and under. “Once someone comes to see anything [at RSC], especially with the prices, if they like theater at all, they’re going to come back,” John Wilson, guest actor said. For reservations, call Lisa Price at 736-0313. farrisnj@yahoo.com
Poster contest winners announced The Domestic Violence Poster Contest, which was created to bring awareT ness to the realities of domestic violence, was held Oct. 25 in the Main Dining Room. A total of 12 posters was submitted by students, but only four contestants attended the presentation portion of the contest, which was a requirement to be eligible for prize awards. Dr. Joanne McMillen-Stafford, counselor and director of Special Services and Student Outreach, coordinat coordinated the event and students discussed the ideas behind the construction of their posters, while judges examined submissions. A few of the posters will be donated for future use in displays around the state or on campus. Each contestant received ed a certificate and an award chosen from a table of prizes. The 1st place winner, Yoko Collins, graphic design major, chose a Bonsai tree donated by Friends of the Central Highlands, Inc. Gisele Perryman, liberal studies major, chose a $250 scholarship from the RSC Foundation as her 2nd place award. Nikki Kibe, radiology major, selected a combination package comprised of a children’s puzzle and $20 gift certificate from Learning Tree and a $20 gift certificate from Starbucks Coffee. Fourth place winner, Johnna Ray, journalism major, selected a $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate, donated by Prentice Hall. Other donated prizes were a $30 Follett Bookstore gift certificate and a pottery piece, handmade by RSC Professor John Carl. Judges for the contest were Dean of Social Sciences Dr. Baillie Dunlap, Carolyn Sims of Public Relations and Marketing and Daniel McClure, student senate president. (Contestants are pictured in order, left to right, beginning with 4th place.)
Photo by DR. JOANNE McMILLEN-STAFFORD