Friday, November 10, 2006
NEWS 15TH STREET
Rose State College
6420 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK 73110 How often should veterans be honored? See editorial, Page 2.
Explore the history of the Atkinson house. See feature, Page 5.
Vol. XXXVI Issue 10 Should Dreamworks’ new animation be flushed? See review, Page 6.
Oklahomans vote; campus hosts debate Johnna Ray Editor in Chief Oklahomans headed to the polls Tuesday and re-elected Gov. Brad Henry to serve a second four-year term five days after RSC and the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce hosted a live debate on campus. Many polling locations remained busy with a steady turnout throughout the day. And local television news stations reported that the Associated Press announced Henry as the winner, with more than 60 percent of the vote, as early as one hour after polls closed. This result was predicted by many after the debate held at RSC. The televised debate, held in the Performing Arts Theatre, was one of a series of Town Hall meetings designed to give citizens an opportunity to hear where candidates stood on various issues prior to election. Linda Cavanaugh, anchor for News Channel 4, mediated the gubernatorial debate and read selected questions sent in by Oklahomans via the Internet. And Kevin Ogle, fellow News Channel 4 anchor, guided several audience members in the reading of their questions for the candidates. The debating candidates were Henry and challenger Ernest Istook. The theater was crowded with supporters of both who
Photo by JENNIFER WIMER
Gov. Brad Henry and Rep. Ernest Istook answer questions during a debate held in the RSC Performing Arts Theatre.
cheered and, sometimes, even booed the two as they responded to the many questions asked during the hour-long debate. The first question came from Kevin Fisher, current student and former RSC student senator, who asked why Oklahoma had not used its own private prisons to reduce economic pressures, but had allowed other states to use them. Although he addressed the question to Henry, Istook had won the draw before the meeting and was first to reply. “Private prisons are part of what needs to be utilized,” Istook said. “We have private prisons in Oklahoma; they’re not being utilized to the same extent as is necessary.” Henry said there is “tremendous” overcrowding in Oklahoma’s prisons and that those who do not pose a societal risk should not take up space needed to house those who do. “What we have to do, obviously, is be tough on crime,” Henry said. “But we also have to be smart on crime.” Other questions included views on English as an official language, uninsured motorists, immigration issues, homeschooling and another question from an RSC student, Daniel McClure, student senate president, regarding raising minimum wage and how it would affect small businesses in Oklahoma. “I want everybody to earn a better wage,” Istook said. “But you don’t do it by government dictating how much people have to be paid.” The death penalty, corruption in leadership, mountain lions and education were also discussed. Henry said he agreed with an editorial in the Oklahoman regarding education, which stated community colleges should be nurtured. “We’ve got to make sure that we continue to nurture our community colleges, just like [RSC] here that provide for a quality, affordable higher education for Oklahomans,” Henry said. In the end, the debate served not only as a tool for undecided voters, but also as an opportunity for RSC students and the community to see the dynamics of politics from a very real perspective. jray@rose.edu
Photo by JENNIFER WIMER
Gov. Brad Henry replies to a question posed by an Oklahoman during a debate with Rep. Ernest Istook. The debates were held in the Performing Arts Theatre at RSC on Nov. 2, five days before the polls opened. The debate, hosted by RSC and the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce, was televised by local news station KFORTV with Linda Cavanaugh, news anchor, mediating.
Flu shot clinics offer drive-thru Shannon Hoverson Assistant Editor The Oklahoma City-County Health Department is offering 10 flu shot clinics throughout the metro area, including a “drive-thru” clinic 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Frontier City and the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, Tuesday Nov. 14.
The clinic is open to the public, but parents are asked not to bring children younger than 12 to the drivethru clinics. At the other eight clinics, immunizations will be available to everyone older than six months. This is different than in previous years, when only people in the “high” or “at risk” category were given the
Photo by JOHNNA RAY
Traffic backs up at each exit near Frontier City as guests make their way to partake in a free evening of rides at the theme park during a Cox Customer Appreciation Day held Sept. 29. Events like these assist Oklahoma CityCounty Health Department Drive-thru Flu Clinic coordinators in estimating possible traffic issues they could experience at the park on Nov. 14.
vaccine first. The health department started working on the logistics for the drive-thru clinic six months ago, Tim Flaig, OCCHD Safety Officer and Command Center officer, said. There were two reasons they decided to host a drivethru flu clinic. “One, it’s our regular flu clinic season and two, we have to have a bio-terrorism exercise [as part] of the contracts with the federal and state governments,” Flaig said. Those who were unable to attend the flu shot clinic on campus at RSC or who did not have the available cash for the shots, could benefit from this event. “We’d like to stress these are free shots, some of the other places charge,” Flaig said. “And there is an age limit.” During the drive-thru clinics, local police and public works will be on hand to direct all external traffic. There will be a short form to fill out for registration but it will only ask for basic information, Flaig said. People who plan on taking advantage of this drive-thru clinic are instructed to wear clothing that makes it easy to access the upper arm. There will be eight lanes, with two nurses per lane, to facilitate the public and make the lines as fast as possible.
See FLU SHOTS, Page 3.
Graduate wins iPod; one drawing remains Shannon Hoverson Assistant Editor Job Placement and Career Services added something different this year for students who participate in the various activities presented by their office – an opportunity to win an iPod. The second winner for the three iPods offered this year was Erin Waltman, an RSC alumnus. “I used Job Placement and Career Services while I was here, before I graduated last May,” Waltman said. “They sent a survey out over the summer to everyone who had used [the services], so I filled it out and sent it in. About a week ago I [received] an answering machine message that said ‘Erin come down to Job Placement and Career Services, you won an iPod.’” The first winner was Louise Moore, who won after partcipating in the Career Fair held Oct. 24, Sally Cohea, Job Placement Photo by JENNIFER WIMER specialist, said. The last iPod will be given away in December to a student who has used Career Services. “[I was] stunned and excited because I’d been looking into iPod prices,” Waltman said. “I was planning on getting one eventually anyways.” For more information, call Cohea at 733-7377. shoverson@rose.edu