Bruce Treadaway, Read Across America coordnator and Communications specialist for the Oklahoma Education Association, presents Dr. Seuss books to children while dressed as the Cat in the Hat. OEA reaches more than 50,000 children each year with the Cat in the Hat character.
Relief for military dependents offered
Julie Farris
Contributing Writer
The Army Emergency Relief Foundation is offering a scholarship for spouses and children of active duty, retired or deceased service members.
The foundation was established in 1942 by the Secretary of War and has helped more than 3 million veterans and their families overcome financial hardships, according to the AER Web site. While the bulk of their support is geared toward active duty soldiers, their education program strives to help spouses and children achieve academic success.
arship is based on individual financial need, which is determined by income and family size.
The AER Web site states that the scholarship is not available for everyone, as the applicant must be a spouse or a child of an active duty, retired or deceased service member to be eligible. Additionally, applicants must live in the U.S. and must be enrolled as full-time students. Other restrictions state that active duty military are not eligible to receive the benefits themselves and that the award is for first undergraduate degrees only.
The amount of this schol-
There is also an overseas program for the spouse of a soldier on active duty stationed in Europe, Korea, Japan, or Okinawa. This scholarship will be offered to cover up to half of the cost of tuition. It is also based on financial need or special circumstances. An application and all supporting documents must be received and accepted by the deadlines for applicants to receive a scholarship. Funds are used during the academic year –August thru September and May through June. Deadlines for applications will be posted on the AER Web site. Applications and additional information may be found by visiting www.AERHQ. org, by submitting a written request to the AER headquarters at 200 Stovall St. Alexandria, VA 22332 or by calling (703) 325-2091 or toll free (866) 878-6378. jfarris@rose.edu
Party:
Johnna Ray Editor in Chief
Children celebrate Christmas season
Several students, faculty and staff took a break from the stresses that the end of the semester can bring to make the season a bit brighter for 170 children from two elementary schools on Friday, Dec. 8.
“This is the hope,” Amelia Brown, HIV peer educator and volunteer, said. “These children are our future. Unfortunately, this may be the only gift some of these children receive this Christmas and if we can make a difference with just one of them, it is worth it.”
Brown and other volunteers, led by Dr. Joanne McMillen-Stafford, director for Special Services and Student Outreach and Wes LeFlore, assistant to the coordinator of Student Activities, held the annual Adopted Schools Christmas Party for first-grade children from Telstar and Willow Brook elementary schools.
“Everything that is done here is for these children,” LeFlore said. “We just want to show them a good day and impact them in the best way we can. But there is no way this could be possible without the assistance of the faculty, staff and student leaders of [RSC].”
The party was designed to provide a special day of activities for students from these atrisk schools but often becomes equally, if not more, special for the volunteers and teachers.
“We look forward to it,” Margie Bohanon, Willow Brook first-grade teacher, said. “I think the teachers look forward to it as much as the kids.”
The event began just after 10 a.m. Children anxiously awaited the signal that it was time to enter into the Main Dining Room and begin the rotation of activities that had been prepared for them.
The children were separated into groups and led to various stations where they decorated cookies; made Christmas tree ornaments; created miniature snowmen; listened to Miss RSC/MWC Keelee Bright read “The Nutcracker;” assemble photo frames; design their own Christmas hats and visit with the Cat in the Hat and Santa.
In addition to these stations, the children each
received a $15 gift made possible through cash donations from RSC students, faculty and staff and grants provided by Wal-Mart ($1,000) and Xerox ($2,000).
The Oklahoma Education Association sent the Cat in the Hat, Bruce Treadaway, Read Across America coordinator and Communications specialist, to present each child with a Dr. Seuss book donation.
Due to the snowstorm that swept across Oklahoma on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, which was A-week for RSC, classes at the campus had been cancelled.
Those who missed class as a result of the closings were instructed to makeup the missed day on Friday, Dec. 8, which caused some would-be volunteers to be unable to help with the event.
“It was a surprise, but not a problem because we knew we would have plenty of people to help,” LeFlore said.
During the reading time with Bright, students were given four photo sticks with images of the Nutcracker, a Christmas tree, a mouse and the sugarplum fairy to hold up as each was mentioned in the story. At the hat station, children personalized newspaper hats with feathers, pom pon balls, markers and other decorations.
At the cookie station, children had the option of eating a sugar cookie plain or decorating with their own selections of frosting and sprinkles. Then, the children formed a circle on the floor and ate the cookies they had decorated and drank juice that was also provided by volunteers.
Photo frame magnets, snowmen and ornaments were also decorated by the children during their two-hour visit and each received a stocking with candy, pencils and other goodies, in addition to the gifts and books given by Santa and the Cat in the Hat.
The children returned to their schools around noon to finish their class activities for the day.
“[Now, we’ll] go eat lunch, watch a movie and prepare ‘thank you’ letters – if I can catch all of them,” Bohanon said. jray@rose.edu
Holiday brunch held
Joshua
Pace News Editor
College personnel gathered in the Student Center’s Main Dining Room on Thursday, Dec. 7 to celebrate not only the holidays but also the upcoming Centennial celebrations.
Though the holiday brunch is an annual event at the college, this year was unique as it was also RSC president, Dr. Terry Britton’s, first year to preside over the tradition.
Those who attended the event were treated to a meal, courtesy of the college, inside a dining room decorated to mark the Centennial theme. The room was complete with tables containing various artifacts from Oklahoma’s
Landrun days and books about the state’s history. The brunch was also highlighted by the appearance of a cowboy, “Ike Claborn,” who amused diners with stories from his travels as a cattle herder from 100 years ago, as if he just stepped out of a time warp. Claborn’s stories were ripe with historical references – such as famed writer Samuel Clemmons’ recent move to San Francisco – which he told while simultaneously seeming a little confused about modern technology, such as plastic trees. “This was a good way to recognize the Oklahoma Centennial celebrations and wish everyone at [RSC] a merry Christmas,” Britton said. “It was one way for us to also thank everyone for all of their hard work all year long.” jpace@rose.edu
Photo by STACEY McENTIRE
Jan Echols, Payroll/Benefits supervisor, is one of many visitors greeted by RSC President Dr. Terry Britton.
Photo by JENNIFER WIMER
Pegasus deadline extended
The submissions deadline for Pegasus has been extended to Thursday, Dec. 14. For more information, call Susan Dawson-O’Brien at 733-7518 or Theresa Walther at 7337513.
Senate positions open
Three senator positions are now open for RSC students. Student senators receive tuition waivers and a one-hour credit on their transcripts for participating. For more information, call Student Activities at 733-7376.
RSC student releases promotional CD
“Chaos on the Plains,” a compilation CD highlighting 12 Oklahoma rock and metal bands, will be available for purchase at various outlets beginning Dec. 12. Craig Shook, music recording major, conceived the CD. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/ chaosontheplains.
Del City events
The Del City Library will host a “PlayTime” event for children between the ages of 6 months to 3 years at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 14. A “Holiday Evening Storytime” event will be held for children ages 4-8 at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19 in the Del City Library. A “Morning Holiday Story-time” event will also be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20 for children ages 1-5. For more information, call the Del City Library at 672-1377.
UCO seminars
Students with questions pertaining to transferring to the University of Central Oklahoma or those already enrolled in UCO classes through the RSC/UCO partnership may take advantage of an upcoming informational seminar to be held 9 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, Dec. 13 in the Student Center. For more information, call Abbey Edwards, UCO transfer counselor, at 974-2267 or visit www.ucok.edu/transfer.
Pageant applications
The deadline for those who would like to compete in the Miss RSC/Midwest City Pageant is quickly approaching. All applicants must complete and submit their paperwork to Student Activities by Friday, Dec. 15. For more information, call 733-7376.
PASA ‘Excellence Award’ nominations
The RSC Professional Administrative Staff Association is accepting nominations for the PASA Excellence Award until 5 p.m., Dec. 22. The winner will receive $1,000 and a plaque. For more information, call 733-7624. Award of Excellence
The RSC Wellness Program received the Award of Excellence during the Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business Awards Ceremony, held Dec. 6. The award is a collaborative effort by the Oklahoma Turning Point Council, Oklahoma Academy for State Goals and the Oklahoma Health Department to recognize outstanding wellness programs throughout the state. The award is based on organization size, current number of wellness and health promotion activities and overall availability of activities to the community. This is the 3rd consecutive year the RSC Wellness Program has received the award.
Former student’s novel
Pamela K. Smith, a former RSC student, recently released a novel, entitled “Blue Ice: Destiny,” through Publish America. The fantasy novel is about Crystal, a magic user, who must come to terms with her insecurities, It is available through the Amazon and Barnes & Noble Web sites. For more information, visit www.publishamerica.com.
OpiniOn/FeatureS
Ceremony completes college chapter
Johnna Ray Editor in Chief
With the exception of finals week, the fall 2006 semester has come to an end and in a few short weeks, students will be able to obtain a copy of their updated transcripts and final grades.
Many of these transcripts will also have a notation near the end stating that the student has completed all requirements for the degree program in which he or she was enrolled.
Unfortunately, many of these same students will not return in the spring to walk across the stage during graduation.
But why are many students who have spent at least two years of their lives working
toward obtaining an associate degree not more interested in participating in the ceremony that marks this milestone?
Many who do not wish to participate in the graduation ceremony held at the end of the academic year in May state the reason as “it is only an associate degree.”
Yet, many of these same people walked across a stage in front of numerous peers to obtain “only” a high school diploma.
Isn’t the college degree worth as much, if not more than, that high school diploma?
Still, several others will proudly walk in May and participate in the symbolic ritual of the completion of their goals and the accomplish-
ment of a dream that only a few years before seemed an eternity from realization.
Many of these students, although not all, will be those who are first generation college enrollees and graduates, which makes the accomplishment all the sweeter.
Others do not plan to seek another degree or continue to an even higher level of education.
And still others simply wish to allow their families an opportunity to share in the joy of their completed goals and to celebrate all of the hard work and concentrated effort that was applied during the process of obtaining the degree with them.
And why not? The entire ceremony and cap and
gown are paid for by Pepsi; it doesn’t cost the student any additional expense to participate in the commencement exercise.
Some feel that they do not have time to walk or that nothing is to be gained by walking.
But it takes less time to participate in graduation than many social functions, which are not based on personal accomplishment.
Often those who plan to enter a four-year university and who hope to complete a bachelor’s degree program and possibly, even later receive a master’s or doctorate, feel they have not finished what they started and therefore, should not walk yet. While the plan to further
Spotlight On: Cachero shares interests, goals, accomplishments
Julie Farris
Sports/Feature Writer
This week’s spotlight is on Jerri Cachero, Academic Affairs Educational Services coordinator.
Cachero has been with RSC since 2000 as a part time employee and in May was promoted to her current full-time position. Before coming to RSC, Cachero was given the opportunity to work at another institution.
“Seeing how hard the faculty and administration work with the students to ensure their success impressed me so much, so I chose [RSC] because of their dedication to students,” she said.
For the last three years, Cachero has been an adviser for the Postal Training Center, a program that allows students in the postal field to earn their RSC associate degrees through Internet courses and she has been part of the Career Technology Center, a program that allows adults and high school students to obtain college credit.
Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in regional planning. She said that earning these degrees was one of her major accomplishments.
“Completing my education was a big accomplishment because I went back to get my master’s [degree] when I was 39 and that was a huge challenge,” she said.
Cachero recently celebrated her 9th anniversary with her husband. The couple met while working different divisions in the same state agency.
“It was an office romance that ended in marriage,” Cachero said.
Five years ago she and her husband adopted their first “child,” – their cat, Mika, who is named after a Formula One driver. Mika is now a terror to Christmas trees everywhere.
“She’s very large, and very mischievous with the Christmas trees,” Cachero said.
She also enjoys mystery novels, “not the slash and dash thrillers,” but “the cozy mysteries with plenty of character development,” she said.
Her hobby is bird watching. Each year, she participates in
Q: What is your pet peeve?
A: Right now it’s the blue jays in my yard. I bought a wreath and put peanuts in it for them to eat, but they won’t eat them. I have to physically go outside and shake the peanuts out of the wreath to get them to eat them.
Q: What do you collect?
A: I collect little bird figurines and cats.
Q: If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
A: A Bradford pear because they change with the season. They are always interesting and they are very strong trees. Their [leaves] can be orange or red or green and white in the spring. I like the fact that they change, but they are still the same
the Audubon Bird Watch – a contest where a contestant tracks birds that are in their backyard for two or three days.
“I love to feed birds and to watch them,” Cachero said.
She also enjoys traveling to Kansas City, Mo. for barbecue and shopping at the plaza. Cachero said the thing that makes her stand out from other people is her ability to communicate with various groups of people.
“Being an Army brat you were moved all over and you had to be able to make friends quickly,” Cachero said.
She loves winters in Oklahoma, because “it doesn’t get too cold here but you can still light a fire in the fireplace.” Also, she enjoys the coziness of the season and being able to wear sweaters.
Her best moments at RSC have been attending the events, plays and concerts presented at the Communications Center.
“Some of the best times I have at RSC are watching these events,” Cachero said.
While she never planned to be in education growing up, Cachero claims that she always went back to the area of training. She said that she does have trouble with people who do not take responsibility for their actions.
“You can make a mistake and everybody makes a mistake, but you need to take responsibility and try to make it right,” Cachero said.
Along with being an adviser for several programs, Cachero is also an adjunct professor teaching political science and her professional accomplishments at RSC come from her students, she said.
“My greatest satisfaction is having students come back to me after they graduated or when they are on campus and they stop to tell me that I encouraged them, or that ‘you made me think about things in a entirely different way,’” Cachero said. “I’m not out to change their minds but just give them the tools to have their own opinions.”
jfarris@rose.edu
one’s education beyond what may be achieved at a twoyear college is admirable and highly suggested by most advisers, the completion of an associate degree remains an important step in that process and should be celebrated with pride.
However, the decision to walk or not to walk is entirely up to the student, provided he or she has fulfilled all necessary requirements. It is doubtful that anyone would deny that it is a personal choice. And, in the end, the satisfaction of knowing that the main objective - finishing what was started - has been reached is all that really matters, anyway. jray@rose.edu
I expected The Good Doctor to be entertaining; I did not expect it to be as great as it turned out. As a lover of the arts and a past student of theater, I rarely miss a play on campus. I was very impressed with the actors’ execution of the difficult scenes. To sell comedy the scenes must be performed just right and I don’t think that it could have been performed any better. Many congratulations are due to new Theatre faculty member and director, Rick Nelson, and to all of the cast and crew for a job well done. I’m sure that we can expect more great productions in the future. Wes LeFlore, assistant to the coordinator, Student Activities
No. 12
Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently died or you aren’t near loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. Seek support. Take advantage of social support. You don’t have to go it alone. REMEMBER, THIS IS A TIME TO ENJOY AND APPRECIATE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES. For assistance in dealing with stress during the holidays, call Special Services and Student Outreach at 733-7373 for a free, confidential counseling appointment.
Staff Members Info & policies N ews
Columns, commentaries and letters to the editor are personal opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of 15th Street News or other students, faculty or administrators of the college. Editorials are written by the editorial staff. Letters to the editor may be hand delivered to FA110; sent by mail to 15th Street News, Rose State College, 6420 SE 15, Midwest City, 73110; e-mailed to the secretary, [cbenefee@rose.edu] or recorded nights on PhoneMail at 733-7400 between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Letters must include the writer’s full name, ID number and telephone number.
Letters will be printed with full name and must be 500 words or less. Editing may be necessary for space, clarity or to avoid obscenity, libel or invasion of privacy, but ideas will not be altered. Publication of all materials is at the discretion of the editor. Anyone having a complaint may call the editor in chief, 733-7400, or the Student Publications Board chairperson, Towry Barnard, 733-7379. 15th Street News, a student newspaper serving the RSC community, is published weekly, except school holidays, on Fridays during the fall
and spring semesters by the Office of Student Publications, 6420 SE 15, Midwest City, OK 73110. 15th Street News is a member of Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association, which has designated this paper top junior college newspaper six years, and Associated Collegiate Press, which has rated it All American 30 semesters. This publication is printed by Edmond Sun, Inc., issued by RSC and authorized by the Coordinator of Student Publications. Cost to the state taxpayers is $301.81 for 4,000 copies per issue and $56.40 for spot color. This paper is recyclable.
RSC, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.
This includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.
Assistant Photographer Jon Rollman [jrollman@rose.edu]
Assistant Photographer Jennifer Wimer [jwimer@rose.edu]
manager Paul Kim [pkim@rose.edu]
Artist Matt Montgomery [mmontgomery@rose.edu]
[cbenefee@rose.edu]
[jlesko-bishop@rose.edu]
Photo by JON ROLLMAN
Essay contest begins
Joshua Pace News Editor
Outdoor lovers who can describe why they love Oklahoma’s state parks could win a free stay in one of those parks, thanks to an essay contest introduced this month, Oklahoma tourism officials announced.
The essay contest, which is being held in conjunction with the upcoming Centennial celebration, is sponsored by Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department specifically to determine what Oklahoma’s parks mean to citizens.
The “People Speak About Parks” essay and drawing contest is open to any Oklahoma citizen from grade school to adults, according to information released by the state’s tourism department. Contest participants are encouraged to express the “fun times” they have experienced in an Oklahoma park.
The parks may include a neighborhood, city, county or state park or federal recreation area.
Each participant is asked to write an original essay of 1,000 words or less, or draw an original picture expressing that theme.
All entries must be submitted by March 1. “If you enjoy outdoor recreation, this is a wonderful opportunity to share your thoughts and creativity,” Dr. Deb Jordan, project director, said. “We want to know how you enjoy your time in a park.”
The top winners in each age group will receive gifts and prizes, including a two-day stay for four people at a state park, outdoor equipment and gear and framed copies of their essays and drawings.
Additionally, winners will receive recognition by the governor at the Centennial celebration and their creations will be displayed at Oklahoma Welcome Centers.
For more information about the contest, visit www.okparks.okstate.edu or e-mail okparks@okstate.edu for an entry form and release statement. jpace@rose.edu
Speakers discuss Hamilton, history
Joshua Pace News Editor
By most accounts, Alexander Hamilton was a complex man – but despite the controversy surrounding his views, those who have examined his life have said this: He is definitely worthy of study.
The Alexander Hamilton traveling exhibit recently offered RSC students, faculty and staff with a chance to study both Hamilton and the social climate in which he lived and to celebrate the man, as well as his views and accomplishments.
“Hamilton was a financial genius who, quite frankly, was the catalyst for our government’s fiscal structure,” John Primo, adjunct history professor, said. “He understood very quickly that being an agrarian society was not going to be the foundation for our nation’s future commercial benefit and we would have to diversify into industry in order to become an economic leader in the world.”
Primo spoke to a handful of visitors who were on hand during the grand opening of the traveling exhibit on Nov. 1, entitled, “Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America.”
The exhibit was available for viewing in the Learning Resources Center until Dec. 8.
However, not only did the exhibit offer a chance to examine Hamilton’s life, but also an opportunity to examine American life in
general during the years following the Revolutionary War.
On Nov. 16, Professor Michelle Yelle addressed the effect the Revolutionary War had on women’s rights, as well as the educational opportunities that were available to them – ultimately concluding, however, that things did not really change as much as some women might have hoped.
Additionally, Robert Leveridge, history professor, offered two speeches in conjunction with the exhibit.
The first was held on Nov. 15 and discussed Hamilton’s attempts to “implant” his views into American society. The second, held Nov. 29, focused on Native Americans living at that time.
Though the final two speeches did not center on Hamilton himself, Sharon Saulmon, LRC director, said the LRC received a $1,000 grant to offset the expense of hosting the exhibit. And one of the stipulations in receiving that grant was that the LRC would expand the topics away from simply discussing Hamilton.
“The speeches were all very interesting,” Saulmon said. “Everybody [who attended] was very interested in the topics. You know, you don’t think of Hamilton as being so significant because he wasn’t a president, but he really did have an impact on our country and still has an impact on our monetary system.” jpace@rose.edu
SIFE donates to ‘Spencer’s Kids’
Photo by STEVE REEVES
Many students, faculty, staff and businesses donate a room full of collected toys, clothes, cash and other items for children 17 years old and younger during the “Spencer’s Kids” charity drive. RSC Students in Free Enterprise and Southern Nazarene University sponsored the drive and donations were presented to Integris Mental Health Center on Dec. 7. The gifts will be presented to 102 in-house patients and families in need during a Christmas party to be held at the facility on Dec. 20. Edward’s Wire Rope of Oklahoma City donated a $500 cash gift for the drive, Kathy Brady, SIFE member and Spencer’s Kids project manager, said.
With the end of the semester fast approaching, many students are looking for their academic and Student Activities transcripts.
Students who want a copy of their academic transcripts can obtain one from the Administration building at one of the two kiosks located in the lobby.
Mechelle Aitson-Roessler, director of Admissions and Records, said that these kiosks print official transcripts. Official transcripts will be printed on blue paper with a white signature, which is one of the many security features.
“[There] is also a heat sensor
on the back of the transcripts,”
Aitson-Roessler said. “It changes color when [a person] puts his or her thumb on it. [This] just adds to the security of the paper.”
If a student has any holds he or she will be unable to print a transcript from the kiosk, she added.
The computer will have a message that will let the students know who to contact to handle these holds. Grades for the fall semester should be available about one week after the last day of the semester, Dec. 15.
To check for grades online, students should visit the RSC Web site, www.rose.edu, and under the heading “Current Students,” click
on the link for “Student Records.”
The OASIS login page will be displayed and the student must login using his or her Student ID number and birth date.
Once logged in, he or she should click on the “SA Self Service” tab; this will lead to another list. Here the student will click on “Learner Services,” then “Academics” and finally, “View My Grades.”
After the desired term is chosen a view of the student’s current grades for that semester will be seen.
Official transcripts will also be available one week after Dec. 15.
If there is an “N” where the grade should be, this simply means the professor did not turn in grades on time.
Students may request a Student Activities transcript at anytime but they need to notify the Student Activities Office 48 hours prior to their request.
“[Students] have up to a year to enter information from the previous year,” Towry Barnard, Student Activities coordinator, said.
They can enter any information pertaining to the following:
Õ Awards and honors
Õ Scholarships
Õ Volunteer work
Õ Multicultural activities
Õ Diamond Leadership
Õ Service-Learning
Õ Sports
Õ Extracurricular activities
Õ Senate positions held
Õ Club officer positions held
The activities transcript application may be submitted online by first visiting the RSC Web site and clicking on “External Homepage.”
Once the external homepage has been reached, the option labeled “more” under the Current Students section should be chosen, followed by “Student Activities” and then “Student Activities Transcript.” For more information about academic transcripts, call 733-7308 for information about activities transcripts call 733-7376. shoverson@rose.edu
“As Long as the Waters Flow,” created by Allan Houser, stands before the Capitol building in honor of the state’s past, present and future.
‘07 enrollment available
Shannon Hoverson Assistant Editor
Enrollment for the spring semester has already started and many students are taking advantage of this early start to enroll now.
First-time college students seeking to enroll are suggested to go to the Academic Advisement Office in the Student Services Building, Room 100. There, a student will fill out an Enrollment Planning form.
“We have an easy, stepby-step process that shows students how to get enrolled,” Casey Walker, coordinator for Academic Advisement, said.
In the Academic Advisement Office, RSC advisers will help each student form a class schedule that fits with the student’s needs while still satisfying the requirements for that student’s degree program.
After enrollment, should a student need to make changes to his or her schedule, he or she may return to the Academic Advisement office to add and drop classes.
newS/FeatureS
Weight competition complete
Joshua Pace News Editor
Thirty-one people lost more than 383 pounds in unwanted weight during the RSC Biggest Losers weightloss competition, Liz Brown, Wellness coordinator, said; but only one team walked away as winners.
The Social Sciences team was declared the victors after losing 9.63 percent of their combined weight, totaling 101 pounds, Brown said.
Their members included Monique Bruner, Arnold Waggoner, John Wood, Kathy Carey and team captain John Carl.
As the official winners, each team member will receive $50.
The competition, which began on Sept. 18 and concluded on Nov. 13, took a team weight-loss approach by challenging competitors to shed pounds and support their teammates while fostering friendly competition with other teams.
In all, seven teams submitted their results to Brown and she said she is happy with the overall results.
“With progress like this, I was really happy,” she said. “The people that lost weight – there’s probably about 20 people – have really made
Degrees go ‘liberal’ Spring
significant changes. To see them so excited about making that change – where before they might have had trouble doing that – it really makes me feel good about the program.”
“It’s an indication that it made a difference in people’s lives and hopefully, improved their lives in a healthy direction,” she added.
Additionally, Robert Gordon, from the Physical Plant team, was the winner of the body fat percentage category of the competition, Brown said.
Gordon lost 8.8 percent of his overall body fat in four weeks time.
Returning students should visit the academic adviser for their division. Academic advisers can help students enroll in classes quickly, but students should arrive early for advised enrollment since there are many students to be seen.
Also, returning students in good standing can enroll by phone at 733-7475 or online at www.rose.edu.
“More and more students are utilizing enrolling online and seeing their advisers earlier,” Walker said. “Enrolling online saves the wait time.”
Students who are close to graduating should go to Admissions and Records and fill out a graduation check form. This will start the process in making sure a student is eligible to graduate.
However, this semester all students with 30-35 hours will get an automatic “grad check,” but students should still check with Admissions and Records if they have more than 35 hours and have not received a completed grad check in the mail.
“They need to plan accordingly and need to allow four to six weeks for the grad check,” Mechelle Aitson-Roessler, director of Admissions and Records, said.
For more information, visit the Academic Adviser office in SS100 or contact a Division Adviser. For information on grad checks, call 733-7308. shoverson@rose.edu
Julie Farris
Sports/Feature Editor
Certified trainers will now be available at RSC to offer their expertise in obtaining government contracts for small businesses.
The RSC Government Contracting Training Acad-
Julie
Farris Contributing Writer
Liberal Studies degrees are becoming more and more popular for college students around the U.S.
This degree, listed as an Associate in Arts, carries three options at RSC.
These are Aviation Alliance at Tinker Air Force Base, Music Recording and a General Option.
The General Option liberal studies degree allows for a student to broaden the scope of his or her education, rather than outlining specific courses of study.
It is usually meant to aid students in preparation for a higher level of education or to simply prepare for a range of careers.
And many students opt for this degree when the college they are attending does not offer the degree plans they are seeking or when they are simply attempting to complete general education requirements needed for a bachelor’s degree.
The liberal studies degree, like most degrees, requires coursework in all of the major disciplines necessary for obtaining a baccalaureate degree – math, English, science, humanities, social science, foreign languages, fine arts, physical education and psychology.
However, the General Option degree requires more courses in general education than other degree programs require due to the lack of a specific topic to be studied.
emy will begin classes in January.
“Through a systematic program of training and mentoring, the academy will assist participants in increasing business with this multi-billion dollar industry, improve the success of
Course dates/times
RSC students can use liberal studies degrees to progress to universities such as the University of Central Oklahoma or the University of Oklahoma to pursue bachelor’s degrees.
Once a bachelor degree is obtained in this field, the career opportunities are only limited by the student’s imagination.
Some careers that could be sought once this degree is obtained include international business, banking and drama directing or even belly dancing instruction.
But students must be careful in choosing classes to ensure that they will fulfill the requirements for a chosen career.
In other words, a student must first have a goal – a career or a specific institution in which they hope to transfer – and work with advisers to ensure the classes they choose will help them progress.
Students are required to pass all classes with at least a grade of “C.” And all courses must be 1000-level or higher.
Additionally, it is suggested that students enroll in both general education requirements and program requirements each semester to stay on track as many courses have prerequisites or are only offered in the fall or spring.
Service-Learning can also be a very useful tool in enhancing the liberal studies degree.
For example, students who want to teach or work in social services can involve themselves in Service-Learning projects that help them build their understanding and provide experience in these specific fields to help them land the career they want.
For more information regarding the liberal studies degree, see the 2006-2007 RSC Student Catalog, Pages 119-121.
Copies of the catalog may be found in the Student Services Building, Room 100. jfarris@rose.edu
small business, create new jobs and retain more federal dollars in Oklahoma,” Stan Greil, dean of Outreach and Training, said. More than 24 trainers will share their knowledge and hands-on experience in identifying government
Level One: How to do Business with the Government Boot Camp: Jan. 19-20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Evening Class: Feb. 26,27, March 5,6, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
contract opportunities for small businesses in a threelevel course certification program.
Level One Certification will provide a basic understanding of contracting, preparing a proposal and searching for government leads.
Level Two Certification will address various methods of searching for a larger contact. These include critiquing a proposal, managing cash flow challenges and discussing different types of contracts. Completing this part of the certification process will open the next and final step.
Level Three Certification instructs businesses on becoming contract experts.
Team support, combined with exercise, helped each team lose at least some of their desired weight, Brown said.
The weight-loss percentage was factored according to each person’s height and ideal weight.
Other teams who submitted their results included:
• The Physical Plant team, who lost 92 combined pounds. Their members were Jonas Sikes, Robert Gordon, Matt Newman, Bill Creech and Zack Fay, team captain.
• Just Another Countless Pound (Social Sciences), who lost a combined 79 pounds. Their members were Anita Nethercutt, Carolyn Madden, Judy Cannon and Pam Reynolds, team captain.
• The “Moo Crew” (Aquatics/ Lifeguards), who lost a combined 35 pounds.
Members were Kimberly Moses, Samantha Smith, Lora Burnette and Nicole Bortz, team captain.
• The Continuing Education team, who lost more than 28 combined pounds.
Members were Jennifer Beard, Sharon Owen, Kay Simpson and Bret Wood, team captain.
• The IT Services team, who lost 25 pounds.
Members were Alan Neitzel, Kay Kelley, Ken Roper, Carmen Johnson and Izzy Billen, team captain.
• The Fantastic Four team, who lost 23 pounds.
Members were Sonja Pound, Amy Good, Sarah Chalifoux and Melissa Martin, team captain. jpace@rose.edu
Door decorators awarded
Some of the topics covered include how to recruit, hire, train and retain a qualified, capable workforce and how to network for contract leads.
Once the requirements of all three levels are completed, the small business will be allowed to present a proposal and show their credentials to the Tinker Small Business Office. Many proposal topics will be covered and several requirements must be met in order to obtain certification.
However, by the end of the course, graduates will have received many pointers on how to write “dazzling” proposals and will receive a three-hour credit on their college transcripts.
Additionally, an accelerated version of the course, or a “boot camp,” will also be offered for those interested who do not have the time to devote to the regular course. Regular academy classes will be held in the Business building, while the boot camp portion will be taught in the Atkinson Heritage Center.
“This exciting new program was established to assist Oklahoma’s small businesses [to] bid on and receive federal contracts,” Greil said. For more information, call the RSC Corporate Training and Workforce Education office at 733-7958. jfarris@rose.edu
Photo by JON ROLLMAN
RSC’s Biggest Losers’ winning team, the Social Sciences division, are lighter on their feet after winning the fall weight loss competition. Team members are Arnold Waggoner, Kathy Carey, Monique Bruner, Dr. John Carl and John Wood (not pictured). The team lost a combined 9.63 percent of their body weight.
Winners of the 2006 Holiday Door Decorating Contest, which included entries from various student clubs, have been announced. The Mu Rho Alpha club’s door (shown) won first place and collected 350 points for their club. Second place was awarded to the Students in Free Enterprise club, also known as SIFE, along with 300 club participation points. Third place winners from the Friends of
11. Killed in France in 1997, this icon had two sons, William and Harry. Who was this person?
a) Sarah Ferguson b) Madonna
Marilyn Monroe d) Princess Diana
12. Which superstar basketball player starred in the movie “Space Jam;” had a line of Nike shoes; was dubbed “Air _______;” and played for the Chicago Bulls?
a) Denis Rodman
b) Larry Bird
c) Michael Jordan
d) Joe Montana
13. What popular movie and sequels poke fun at horror flicks and celebrities?
a) “Saw” (1-3)
b) “Scary Movie” (1-4)
c) “Jackass” (1-2)
d) “Not Another Teen Movie”
14 What is the name of the organization that has sued many music lovers for Internet file sharing
a) Google
b) World Wide Web
c) The Recording Industry Association of America
d) Napster
15. This popular cartoon features Bart, Maggie, Lisa, Homer and Marge.
a) “The Nelsons”
b) “The Simpsons” c) “The Jetsons” d) “The Robertsons”
16. This disease, identified in 1981, can be transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfusions and the sharing of intravenous needles.
a) AIDS
b) SARS
c) ITP
d) Syphillis
17 This famous Civil Rights leader was assassinated in 1963.
a) Malcolm X
b) Rosa Parks
c) Billy Graham
d) Martin Luther King, Jr.
18. This musical is a modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet.”
a) “10 Things I hate about You”
b) “The Sound of Music”
c) “West Side Story”
d) “Cats”
19. This “rebel without a cause” died in a car crash in 1955.
a) James Dean
b) Elvis Presley
c) Cary Grant
d) Debbie Reynolds
20. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on this date.
a) Sept. 29, 1940
b) Jan. 5, 1939
c) Dec. 7, 1941
d) June 15, 1943
21. Chuck Yeager broke this in 1947.
a) The sound barrier
b) The world record for turkey calling
c) The long jump record
d) Babe Ruth’s homerun record
22. Women gained the right to do this in 1920.
a) Cut their hair
b) Wear pants
c) Drink alcohol
d) Vote
23. This form of music was introduced in the ‘50s.
a) Bluegrass
b) Swing
c) Rock ‘n’ Roll
d) Rap
Diversity recognized
Shannon Hoverson Assistant Editor
Elvis or Black-Eyed Peas?
The generation gap at RSC can be daunting, for non-traditional students returning to school after many years and for “true” freshman – those straight out of high school.
This is especially true when students find themselves sharing a classroom with people outside their generation.
Shelly Pitsinger, 46, paralegal major, said she first came to RSC in 1978 and decided to come back in spring 2005 to pursue her degree.
“I find it interesting to see how probably my thought process was back then, how totally different it is,” Pitsinger said. “What a few years will add to your thought process.”
“Even though there are a lot of younger [students] in my classes, I really don’t feel the age division there,” she added. “It’s comfortable, it can be uncomfortable depending on who the people are – age doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
The generation gap is diverse, students born during the “Silent Generation” – those born 19251945 – are taking classes with students born in “Generation X”, 1961-1981. And “Baby Boomers” rub elbows and discuss class work with the “Millennia Generation.”
There are several different “schools of thought” about what each generation is called. Some label the “Millenia Generation” as “Generation Y,” while others label it the “Internet Generation.”
But no matter what they are called, each has its own unique qualities.
“It’s kind of encouraging to see some of the older people doing as well as they are doing in classes,” Carly Eikel, 20, pre-education major, said. “They
probably have more to juggle than [we] do.”
“I think it is a good deal, if they want to go to school, no matter how old, it is a good deal,” Elizabeth Hunt, 20, nursing major, said. “Sometimes it is different because they have families and we don’t have families.”
“[The generation gap is] less difficult than it is an advantage,” Billy Bullard, 27, marketing major, said.
RSC is a community college and as such will always have people from across the various generations. In the end, it doesn’t matter if a student is from the “Millennia Generation” or “Generation X,” they all have a common goal of getting a degree and improving their education.
Michele Sweeney, 19, undecided major, doesn’t think the generation gap causes any problems and that it actually helps her in her classes.
“One guy in my class he is [older] and he asks a lot of questions and is more outspoken,” Sweeney said.
Laurie Stilwell, 18, undecided major, also hasn’t had any trouble with older students who are returning to school or going to college for the first time.
“I think it is cool, stuff happens and you have to come back,” Stilwell said.
“I think it is good that we have a mixture of ages,” Pitsinger said. “Because when you discuss things in class, it gives you kind of a memory, brings back a memory of how you thought when you were 20 or 25 or whatever, we didn’t just automatically have this thought process it has grown through the years.”
For a list of the various generations, see fact box, this page. For a multi-generational quiz, see “Generation Trivia,” this page.
shoverson@rose.edu
Silent Generation – Born 1925 to 1942
Popular Movies
Õ “Singin’ in the Rain”
1952
Õ “From Here to Eternity”
1953
Õ “Shane” - 1953 Õ “Rebel Without a Cause” – 1955
Notable People Õ Margaret Thatcher – born
Queen Elizabeth II – born
Martin Luther King
born
Jim Henson – born 1936
Boomer Generation – Born
to 1960 Popular Movies Õ “Psycho” – 1960
“West Side Story” – 1961
“The Sound of Music” – 1965
Õ “Doctor Zhivago” – 1965
Õ “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” – 1975 Õ “Rocky” – 1975
Popular Toys
Õ Barbie Doll
Õ Hula hoop
Õ Radioflyerwagon
Õ Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat”
Notable People
Õ Janis Joplin – born 1943
Õ Joe Namath – born 1943
Õ Mick Jagger – born 1943
Õ Oprah Winfrey – born 1954
Õ Bill Gates – born 1955
Generation X – Born 1961 to 1981
Popular Movies
Õ “Raiders of the Lost Ark” – 1981
Õ “E.T.” – 1982
Õ “Silence of the Lambs” – 1991 Õ “Dances with Wolves” – 1991 Popular Toys
ous age groups. This generation diversity is common in community colleges.
Photo by JENNIFER WIMER
Photo by JENNIFER WIMER
FeatureS/puzzleS
How to...
Solve holiday gift-shopping dilemmas
Shannon Hoverson Assistant
Editor
Ahh, Christmas shopping. Whenever it is time to buy gifts, I always have the same dilemma each year. “What do I buy?” “Where do I buy it?” If you want to brave the masses swarming through the malls this year, there are several places to find unusual gifts for your special someone. At Penn Square Mall, there are a bevy of shops that are sure to help you finish your
gift-buying spree. For the cook in your life, try Williams-Sonoma – a cook’s dream store. From pots and pans to cookie cutters and spices, the perfect gift is sure to be there waiting for you to find it. If you want any health and beauty products, this mall has many stores to choose from, such as Le Parfum Boutique, Bath & Body Works and Crabtree and Evelyn. You can also check out what Crossroads and Quail
Sudoku
Each smaller square, called a cell, is to be filled in with a numerical figure from 1-9. These numerals are not to be repeated within horizontal or vertical rows or within a large square, referred to as a 3 X 3 block. Logic and the process of elimination are key to solving these puzzles.
Answers from Dec. 1 puzzle
Springs Malls have to offer in your search for the perfect gift.
How to...
Or why not try shopping online? Below are a few places to look for unusual gifts. e HarryandDavid.com e BitsandPieces.com e SharperImage. com
e Amazon.com If surfing through countless Web sites for the perfect gift is not your cup of cocoa, try visiting FindGift.com. Their “gift wizard” will allow you to find a gift for your friends and family. They even have a pet category – who knew?
As always, be careful when shopping online, those identity theft piranhas are plentiful this time of year.
Don’t forget the good old standby of the “wish book,” better known as the mail
order catalogue. This is the ultimate gift-buying guide. Another idea is to give gift cards. Most stores these days have gift cards available with either pre-paid amounts or ones you can put just about any amount on. Then there is the “universal” gift card of money, which everyone likes. Now that you have some ideas of where to go, start your engines and get going – Christmas is less than three weeks away. shoverson@rose.edu
Raider Response
The Raider Response question posed on Nov. 17 was“ What New Year’s resolutions do you plan to make?”
Raiders responded to the question as follows:
“Not to ever grow a moustache.” ~ Dave LeBarre, secondary education major “I want to go to church more often.” ~ Camaria FaluFebes, business major
Aries March 21April 19... You are starting to feel like yourself again, rejoice! Next week you are going to be King Henry VIII.
Taurus April 20May 20... Four planetary events will signal a change in your life. First, you will get a pair of socks from your step-great-aunt-inlaw; then you will be kissed under the mistletoe by that person who has been sending you email and finally, you will find what you wanted under the Christmas tree – a sack of coal.
Gemini May 21June 20... If you have a problem, speak up. But try not to bother anyone with it.
Cancer June 21-July 22... Stop trying to open doors that need to remain shut. Trust me, you don’t want to see what is behind door number three.
“Finish my degree and hopefully, transfer to [Oklahoma State University].” ~ Corinna
“I’d like to lose some ‘tonnage.’” ~ Bernard Jones, music professor
“I want to quit smoking.” ~ Mary K. Bennett, Rose Cafe
“I’m kind of prideful, so not to be so prideful. Also, listen more to feminine intuition - to trust feminine intuition more. I have a couple of female friends and I need to learn to trust them more.” ~ Micah Meeks, art major.
“I don’t really make them, but if I did it would be to drink less energy drinks, such as Amp.” ~ Ryan Smith, music recording major
“I have about 40 hours or so flying and I want to start flying again. I want to finish my pilot’s license, [which would] take a couple of months.” ~ Keith Smith, mechanical engineer
“I don’t make any. If I decide to do something, I don’t see the point in waiting. I do it when I think of it.” ~ Dr. Jay Kinzer, dean of Student Life
Thank you to all who responded to the Raider Response questions this semester. We look forward to receiving more Raider responses in the spring.
Trivia Answers, from Page 7.
Christmas movie ideas for individuals, families
Johnna Ray Editor in Chief
There are a lot of holiday movies out right now, as is the norm for this time of year, but before you head out to see one or more of them, let me give you a heads-up on the two that I have seen.
I would most definitely recommend “The Nativity Story” to believers and nonbelievers alike.
Be aware, however, that if you are looking for a strict documentary or History Channel type of film, this is not it. It is a drama and therefore has many theatrical details added to the biblical accounts of the time leading up to and immediately following the birth of Jesus Christ to help the flow and add entertainment value.
The movie begins with an intense scene of King Herod’s (Ciarán Hinds) soldiers rushing homes to find the infants who have not
yet reached the age of two and slaughter them. Then, it quickly flashes back to one year earlier to show the meeting and eventual “marriage” of Joseph (Oscar Isaac) and Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes). It follows the couple, but mostly Mary, throughout the next year, while also splitting to scenes of what is going on with Herod and three wisemen who are keeping close watch of the sky.
These wisemen, I might add, provide much needed comic relief throughout the otherwise emotional and at times, slow-moving film.
But don’t fear - although it is at times a bit slowpaced and somewhat of a tearjerker, the movie is able to maintain the attention of adult audience members quite well without frightening younger viewers. And violence is minimal, such as a slap to the face or the
taking of a young girl as payment for taxes, or merely suggested, as with the scenes of the killings of the infants.
In fact, a toddler sitting only a few chairs from me did not seem bothered by any of the scenes and instead appeared most interested that there were camels and babies and made sure others in the audience noticed this, as well.
The in tense and often frightening images seen in “The Passion” will not be found in this movie, at all. This is a much more family-friendly
film and is definitely worth the ticket price and a bag of popcorn.
Another family-friendly film for this holiday season is “Deck the Halls,” starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick.
In this holiday flick, Buddy Hall (DeVito), moves to a small town and settles down across the street from Steve Finch (Broderick) and family. The two immediately find themselves at odds, while their wives and children get along perfectly.
Soon, their dislike for one another is fueled as Hall, in an attempt to do something monumental with his life - make his house visible from space - begins lighting up his home and yard with millions of lights and sounds. This, understandably, frustrates Finch and an ongoing
battle breaks out between the two.
This battle becomes so intense that finally, the men’s wives and children leave for a hotel and the men must figure out a way to win the families back and save Christmas. Of course, this is not an easy thing for the two men, who can barely even speak to one another.
This movie had some disappointing acting - I’ve seen much better at junior high school plays - and the outcome becomes very predictable early on. However, it does have a good message about what matters most during the holidays - family - and delivers a few humorous scenes to boot.
Although very different, each of these movies are as good as any non-holiday flicks I’ve seen this year and overall, both are worth the time and cash to see. jray@rose.edu
Leo July 23-August 22... One small step out of your “comfort zone” will land you in a heap of trouble. So stay secure and lock the doors. This is the age of technology – you don’t even have to leave your house to buy groceries.
Virgo August 23September 22... Beware the fuzzy numnums; they will eat all your Christmas cookies, drink your eggnog and lick your candy canes.
Libra September 23-October 22... You will get 12 drummers, 11 pipers, 10 leaping lords, nine dancing ladies, eight milk maids, seven swans, six geese, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree for Christmas. Unfortunately, these are nonreturnable.
Scorpio October 23November 21... Your psychic energy will get a boost this week due to the convergence of Mars and Neptune in the southwestern part of the galaxy. This would be a good time to take up kickboxing.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21... Life will become very demanding right now, as your intense personality combines with impulsive energy to produce the best office Christmas party in the history of the company.
Capricorn December 22-January 19... Celebrate Christmas this year by trying something new. The cosmic voices are telling me you should take up mud wrestling.
Aquarius January 20-February 18... Indulgence is the name of the game. Eat chocolate covered strawberries, relax in a hot tub and drink mimosas at noon. New Year’s is the time for change, so you can pamper yourself until then.
H o r o s c o p e s
Pisces February 19March 20... Those fluffy, stuffed animals are getting closer…this is your second warning; run while you still can.
