barbie and barney backlash day
international shareware day national day of the horse
• RSC Women’s Basketball vs. Eastern at 6 p.m. (Away @ Wilburton)
special education day united nations: international day for the abolition of slavery
falling needles family fest
no interruptions day tick tock day
holiday break (campus closed)
abilities day first day of winter
bill of rights day cat herders day underdog day
(Finals Week)
Holy innocents day (childermas) pledge of allegiance recognized: 61st anniversary
first crossword puzzle: 93rd anniversary forefathers’ day humbug day world peace day/winter solstice
• Black Students Association club meeting at 2 p.m. (SC123) • Last day of fall ‘06 semester • RSC Women’s Basketball vs. Eastern at 6 p.m. (HPER100)
soviet union dissolved: 15th anniversary
moon phase: new moon montgomery bus boycott ends: 50th anniversary virginia company expedition to america: 400th anniversary
• Baptist Collegiate Ministry club meeting at 11:30 a.m. (RR) • TEACH Club meeting at 1:30 p.m. (SC123) • RSC Women’s Basketball vs. Shorter College at 6 p.m. (HPER100)
holiday break (campus closed)
PEACE
(Finals Week)
moon phase: first quarter
holiday break (campus closed)
(Finals Week)
• Multicultural Society club meeting at 1:30 p.m. (SC123)
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the celebration was more like the harvest festivals of 17th Century England, which typically lasted several days and was held between late September and early November according to www.history. com. The first Thanksgiving was not repeated the following year. It wasn’t until Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in 1863 the last Thursday of
November to be a “day of thanksgiving” that it became “tradition.” Before this, the custom was only to be found in the New England states
1541 – During Coronado’s expedition, a Eucharistic thanksgiving, with the friendly Teya Indians present, occurred in Palo Duro Canyon in West Texas. 1621 – Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoyed a harvest feast in Plymouth, Mass. This feast may have become the model for today’s American celebration. 1630 – Settlers and colonists from many continents brought customs of days of prayer and thanksgiving, especially in New England, where the first Thanksgiving of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was observed on July 8, 1630. 1777 – The first Thanksgiving of the
new United States of America occurred when Gen. George Washington and his army, as instructed by Continental Congress, stopped in bitter weather in the open fields on their way to Valley Forge to mark the occasion. 1789 – Washington’s first proclamation after his inauguration as the nation’s first president in 1789 declared Nov. 26, 1789 as a national day of “thanksgiving and prayer.” 1863 – President Abraham Lincoln issued the first “Thanksgiving” proclamation in 45 years and set the date for the last Thursday in November. Sarah Josepha
Julie Farris Contributing Writer The time has come for RSC students to nominate their favorite professors for the Excellence in Teaching Awards. Students have the opportunity to choose an outstanding professor that has exceeded their expectations. Nominations will be accepted until Nov. 30 and forms may be found at the Academic Affairs Office, located in the Fine Arts building, Room 100. A second opportunity to nominate a professor will be available in February to allow students who begin classes in the spring to participate. In order to nominate a professor, a student must type a one-page explanation that describes the reasons they feel the professor should be honored. Some of the topics suggested are knowledge of the subject taught, discipline, course preparation and organization, quality of examinations and overall fairness to students.
Hale, editor of Godey’s Ladies Book, led the movement to have Thanksgiving declared a national holiday. 1924 – The first “Macy’s Christmas Day Parade” was held on Thanksgiving Day. The parade included Macy employees dressed as clowns, cowboys and knights and live animals, such as camels, goats, elephants and donkeys. 1927 – The Macy’s parade is renamed “Thanksgiving Day Parade.” This is the first parade to use the signature helium, giant balloons. Those first balloons were Felix the Cat, The Dragon, The Elephant
Once the fall and spring deadlines have passed, a committee will review the student nominations. The committee will include two students, three faculty members, one Regent and one administrator. Dr. Ric Baser, vice president for Academic Affairs, will be the adviser and a non-voting member. The committee will evaluate nominees and select professors who stand out. Then, professors will be asked to submit their portfolios to the committee. The portfolios will include letters of recommendation and material that supports their area of knowledge. Once the professors are chosen,
and the Toy Soldier. 1939 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt set the date of Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November. Congress approved this in 1941 and made Thanksgiving Day a national holiday. ‘50s – Some of the first televised pro football games were scheduled on Thanksgiving Day. Traditionally, the two teams playing are the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. *Information courtesy of www.thanksgiving.org, www.nytourist.com, encarta.msn.com, www.thanksgiving-traditions.com and www.annieshomepage. com/thanksgivinghistory.html.
the full-time professors will receive $1,000 and adjunct professors will receive $500. “This award is for outstanding faculty who have exceeded expectations,” Baser said. Some professors are nominated each year because students have control in which ones they will honor, Baser said. However, a professor who received an award previously is ineligible to receive it again for five years, he added. Full-time professors must have served three years at RSC to be eligible and adjunct professors must have served a minimum of three semesters at RSC. For more information, call the Academic Affairs Office at 733-7394. farrisnj@yahoo.com
Raider Response The Raider Response question posed on Nov. 3 was -
kwanzaa begins national whiner’s day
holiday break (campus closed)
Moon phase: last quarter bonza bottler day gingerbread house day
(Finals Week)
a’phabet day Christmas day christmas fireside chat warning: 63rd anniversary
united nations: international migrants day
• Toastmasters International Club meeting at 6 p.m. (SC123)
united nations: international mountain day
• UPS recruitment booth at 10 a.m. (SC Lobby) • Student senate meeting at 2 p.m. (SC123)
Raiders responded to the question as follows: Cooking dinner with my grandmother. I’d always go early and help her cook. [Now,] I peel potatoes with my sister-in-law and just try to be supportive in whatever everyone needs. My family is between Blackwell and Ponca City, so I travel a couple of hours to be with them. - Sharon Saulmon, director, Learning Resources Center [Playing] flag football with my family at Thanksgiving. - Ryan Kirk, liberal studies major
Photo by JON ROLLMAN
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Christmas eve
eid-al-adha: feast of sacrifice first bank opens in u.s.: 225th anniversary make up your mind day new year’s eve universal hour of peace
holiday break (campus closed)
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human rights day national children’s memorial day and worldwide candle lighting nobel peace awards ceremonies united nations: human rights day
wright brothers day wright brothers first powered flight: 103rd anniversary
(Finals Week)
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Advent, first sunday First heart transplant: 39th anniversary united natons: international day of disabled persons
gray, while the men commonly dressed in white, beige, brown, black and earthy green. So the next time families gather around the table, remember that what is celebrated today is not how the Pilgrims celebrated – but time with family and friends is surely reason enough for giving thanks. For a timeline that includes many facts regarding Thanksgivings past, see box below. For more information regarding the first Thanksgiving, visit www. history.com. shoverson@rose.edu
Excellent professor nominations sought
Annual blood drive held
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moon phase: full moon extraordinary work team recognition day national dice day
Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton” at 8 a.m. (LRC 2nd Floor) UPS recruitment booth at 10 a.m. (SC Lobby) RSC Women’s Basketball vs. Carl Albert at 6 p.m. (Away @ Poteau) Toastmasters International Club meeting at 6 p.m. (SC123)
after harvest time. Thanksgiving finally became a national holiday in 1939 after Franklin D. Roosevelt set the official date of Thanksgiving to be the fourth Thursday of November. Also, the idea that the Pilgrims wore only black and white with silver buckles was a myth. Protestants only wore black and white to church or for formal occasions. For everyday clothing, the women wore red, green, brown, blue, violet and
Creating a holiday: Timeline of pre- and traditional Thanksgiving Day celebrations
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bathtub party day montgomery bus boycott begins: 51st anniversary national communicate with your baby day twenty-first amendment to the U.S. constitution ratified: 73rd anniversary united nations: international volunteer day for economic and social development
• • • • • Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton” at 8 a.m. (LRC 2nd Floor) • University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma recruitment booth at 8:30 a.m. (SC Lobby) • Student senate meeting at 2 p.m. (SC123)
Shannon Hoverson Assistant Editor Thanksgiving, it’s all about the turkey, a football game and getting together with family. But Thanksgiving wasn’t always a tradition and the origins have been relegated to mythical ideas of the Pilgrims and Indians sharing a meal. First of all, turkey was most likely not on the menu and neither were cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie. Instead, the meat of choice was probably venison and wild fowl such as pheasant or goose. Also,
“What is your favorite holiday memory?”
• • • • • Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton” at 8 a.m. (LRC 2nd Floor)
LRC - Learning Resources Center MDR - Main Dining Room RR - Raider Room SC - Student Center SM - Science and Math building SSB - Student Services Building TSC - Tom Steed Center TTR - Tinker Terrace Room UC- University Center BS - Business building CC-PAT - Communications Center-Performing Arts Theatre FdR - Founders Room FL - Faculty Lounge FR - Fountain Room HBAT - H.B. Atkinson Theatre HE - Health and Environmental Sciences building HPER - Health, Physical Education and Recreation building HSA - Health Sciences Annex
Abbreviation Guide
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Geese, pheasants among first feast; turkey not
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national pearl harbor remembrance day pearl harbor day: 65th anniversary united nations: international civil aviation day
• Telstar/ Willow Brook elementary schools’ Christmas party at 10 a.m. (MDR) • RSC Women’s Basketball vs. OK Christian JV at 6 p.m. (HPER100)
Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton” at 8 a.m. (LRC 2nd Floor) Baptist Collegiate Ministry club meeting at 11:30 a.m. (RR) Multicultural Society club meeting at 1:30 p.m. (SC123) RSC Women’s Basketball vs. Northern-Enid at 6 p.m. (HPER100)
national pawnbrokers day saint nicholas day thirteenth amendment to the U.S. constitution ratified: 141st anniversary
colorectal cancer education and awareness month identity theft prevention and awareness month national drunk and drugged driving prevention month national sign up for summer camp month national stress-free family holidays month national tie month safe toys and gifts month spiritual literacy month universal human rights month
• Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton” at 8 a.m. (LRC 2nd Floor) • UCO recruitment booth at 8:30 a.m. (SC Lobby)
day with(out) art Rosa parks day: 51st anniversary of arrest united nations: world aids day world aids day
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• Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton” at 8 a.m. (LRC 2nd Floor) • Breakfast with Santa at 9 a.m. (TSC114) • RSC Women’s Basketball vs. Murray State College at 2 p.m. (HPER100)
• • • •
Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton” at 8 a.m. (LRC 2nd Floor) “Identity Theft and Fraud” seminar at 11:30 a.m. (TSC202) Black Students Association club meeting at 2 p.m. (SC123) RSC Women’s Basketball vs. OCU JV at TBA (Away @ Oklahoma City)
Saturday
Friday Thursday
Wednesday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
December 2006
News/Features
November 17, 2006 15th Street News
The Oklahoma Blood Institute receives donations of blood from students, faculty and staff during the annual blood drive held on the RSC campus.
Joshua Pace News Editor Dozens of RSC students, faculty and staff turned out and gave blood on Nov. 9 in a lifesaving effort undertaken by Student Activities each year on behalf of the Oklahoma Blood Institute, Daniel McClure, Student Senate president, said. Everyone who participated should feel good about their effort because they helped to save someone’s life, McClure said. “We had a really good turnout and I’m glad we had a chance to help with this worthwhile effort,” he said. “The Student Senate holds a blood drive every year through the Oklahoma Blood Institute and I was glad we were able to carry on that tradition of helping.” The turnout was the result of a campaign undertaken by senators – through informational posters hung throughout campus, as well as verbal encouragement – which, combined with OBI’s standard method of calling established donors and making them aware of the drive, served to help drive people to donate, McClure said. One such donor, Nicole Wolff, pre-nursing major, said she had donated before and was glad to do so again when the opportunity arose. “They will usually call me in to donate because I have AB negative blood,” Wolff said. “The needle hurts a little and since I’m smaller, I get a little light-headed because my blood comes out so fast, but it’s worthwhile [to donate].” On average, an American will need blood every three seconds and they will take various types of donations, including whole blood donations, which are used by trauma patients; red blood cell donations, which are used for heart surgery and transplant patients; plasma used by newborns, blood disorder patients, and burn victims; and platelets, used in the treatment of cancer patients, according to information compiled by OBI and made available on their Web site at www.obi.org. People can donate blood every 56 days but they must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 105 pounds and be in good physical health. For more information regarding blood donation, call OBI 1-877-OBI-GIVE or visit www.obi.org. jpace@rose.edu
Christmas. Waking up and having breakfast already made for me and coffee made. Someone always has it ready. Nobody is in a bad mood because they’re so focused on the day. Opening and giving presents. And having a glass of wine with my mom after all the presents are wrapped and just talking about stuff and being together. - Matthew Wilson, physics major About three Christmases ago, when all my extended family were together and we were able to spend time together, which is unusual for my family since we are spread out - South Dakota, South Carolina, southern Arizona and Oklahoma, too. - Nicole Wolff, pre-nursing major Christmas 2000, when my dad came home from the hospital from a real sick illness. He had just had surgery ... he came home on Christmas day. - Ashley Washington, psychology major Staying up late on the night before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving eve, making stuffing. Me, my dad and my brother would cut up all of the [ingredients] and Mom would cook it. Then, we get to sample it that night. - Ricker Deeg, chemical engineering major, transferring to the University of Oklahoma Christmas. My Christmases with my grandmother and her decorating. She would even decorate the ceiling with stuff. Her cooking and over the top decorating, that’s what I remember most. And “Frosty the Snowman” - that’s my all-time favorite. I loved watching “Frosty” and the “Grinch.” - Mia Cosby, circulation clerk
Responses to this week’s Raider Response question must be received no later than noon Monday, Dec. 4. Replies may be e-mailed to editor in chief, Johnna Ray, at jray@rose. edu or hand delivered to the Fine Arts building, Room 110.
Raider Response Question No. 6:
What New Year’s resolutions do you plan to make?