NEWS
PAGE 5 NOVEMBER 10, 2009
DENNIS
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College Theatre Festical to be performed at The Kennedy Center. Dennis also received directing honors, the LSU Foundation of Distinguished Teaching Award in 1991 and The Tiger Athletic Foundation Teaching Award in 2003. Although he has worked as a director for several years, Dennis continues to have a passion for the stage and teaching students. "I love theater, because you are at the moment." Dennis said.
"It's a live stage so whatever happens right then and there is living the moment. That is what theater is." Dennis said that the UCO students in the theater department are talented and have the spirit to work hard and face the challenges. The casts of the production consist of 16 members and currently they have been rehearsing rigorous hours at Central Plaza. "We have a good cast," Dennis said. "We have a really interesting story. Chekhov is universal. He is a brilliant playwright." Dennis said,that the play is relatable to what students
are going through right now. "It is a beautiful play," Dennis said. "The play has people crying, laughing, dealing with relationships, yelling and love. What people went through in 1900s Russian, people are going through it right now. In the mist of what is going on and what we are going through, life is beyond recession." The play opens Nov. 19th and runs through the 22nd. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Nov 19th to the 21st and 2 p.m. on Nov. 22 at the Mitchell Hall Theater.
Veterans alliance rallies supporters to serve military Tiffany Brown ,Ykifj1
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The University of Central Oklahoma is rallying its "troops" in an effort to support the university's military service members, including veterans. UCO organized and held its first Veteran Support Alliance meeting on Nov. 2. It brought together students, faculty and staff who support the needs of veterans. The Veteran Support Alliance was formed through an initiative started by the Division of Student Affairs, said Beth Adele, director of Career Services. The UCO community embraced service members and veterans who attended the meeting. From Korea to Iraq, veterans, active duty military and families who support the entire military community on campus voiced their experiences and connections to the military. Many voiced their concerns about the needs of on-campus military personnel that were not being addressed. Being a veteran and a nontraditional student can be additional challenge, said Darrell Goudge, a marketing professor and one of several veterans in attendance. "We can provide a valuable service by addressing the needs of veterans," Goudge said Many in attendance agreed when it was stated that the transition from a structured military environment to a civilian atmosphere can be difficult. "There is a great need for veteran support for veteran students," said Kimberly Fields, assistant director of Disability Support Services. 'They don't really like to ask for help," even when they are in need, she said. Three groups were given the opportunity to brainstorm on ideas they would like to see enacted on campus. Two ideas, which emerged from all groups, included a veteran student organization and a veteran lounge. Central students, faculty and staff discussed the importance of creating an environment where veterans and active duty service members could have someone present they could either relate to or talk to. Many veterans are not aware of he resources available. Part of the what the Veteran Support Alliance is hoping to do is reach out to the veteran community and help to deal with challenges they may have to cope with as a result of being in the military, and making resources on campus readily available to help them overcome those challenges. "The campus can come together and provide for these veterans," Adele said. Photo provided by Kristie Brown "We can uphold UCO's mission of helping students learn." The mission of the Veteran Support Alliance is to, "provide an environment that At the Veterans Support Alliance meeting Nov. 2 in Evans Hall, (left to right) helps student veterans and service members achieve their academic and personal Darrell Goudge, Stephanie Beauchamp, Teddy Jones, James Porterfield, Timothy Tillman and Adam Rogers discussed ways to support veterans. goals," the agenda stated. Adele provided an example of a university that is doing just that. Ball State University has recently been named "one of only 60 'military friendly uni"They've got the right people running it, and I can't wait to be a part of it," he said. versities' by Military Advanced Education Magazine in 2009," Adele pointed out from Willis is working to make UCO's ROTC program more visible on campus. the agenda. "It's a fairly small organization," he said. It does not hurt that Ball State University has well known alumni, like David "We're in the process of getting more involved on campus." Letterman. Typically, ROTC members have additional responsibilities. While working to comEven so, Ball State may in the same position as UCO, who has to as Adele put it "do plete schoolwork they also work to fulfill their obligations to the military. a lot with very little." ROTC color guard members have been engaged in school events by participating at "We don't have to conquer the world this year, but I do want to take strides," Adele football games, he said. said. In addition, service members such as Jesse James Collins are participating in the She hopes that UCO will eventually receive recognition for their support of the miliUniversity of Central Oklahoma Student Association (UCOSA). tary community. UCOSA is the university's student government body. Collins, UCOSA's director of Adele said she would love for this to be a goal for the UCO community. Veterans' Affairs, was also present. Other ideas discussed as a possibility included early enrollment and developing an With the number of ROTC members active on campus, Willis said he hopes UCO's outreach for returning veterans, and giving veterans the opportunity to speak on camROTC program will continue to grow. pus since they are trained to be leaders. At the next meeting, UCO students, faCulty and staff will continue to explore the idea "Just having resources available if you need" would be a great idea, Gouge said. of starting a veterans organization and creating a veteran's lounge on campus. Capt. Raimond Willis, U.S. Army Battalion executive officer of UCO's Reserve Officer For those who would like to begin or continue to show support to veterans or active Training Corps (ROTC), who was also present, took a moment to comment about UCO's duty military personnel at the university, the next meeting will be held 2 p.m. on Nov. Veteran Support Alliance program. 16 at Evans hall. "I love it," Willis said. "I think it can be very beneficial and it will be."
RECITAL
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instruments have accompaniments," Sunderman said. Sundermans goal is to one day teach guitar at a college if his band doesn't take off. "That's what I would really like to do," Sunderman said. "Of course teaching and everything is a backup but ... if the album takes off then we will get a manager and maybe a lawyer and somebody to promote us and get on the road. Luckily I'll have my degree by then." Sunderman said his influence for writing music comes from the bands Dr. Dog, The Killers and Queens of the Stone Age and sees himself teaching guitar.
"I think I'll always play in a rock band. By then it will probably be old man music," Sunderman said. Sunderman's recital is at 8 p.m. on November 16th in recital room 101 in the Music Building. Vista Writer Emily Harris can be reached at eharris@uco360. corn.
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AP Photo by Alex Brandon Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, hold a copy of the health care bill on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, during a Republican health care news conference
AP Photo by Rodrigo Abd Ana de los Angeles mourns by the coffins containing the remains of her family members Catalina Ayala, 80, and Carolina Ayala, 15, after they died during flooding in Verapaz, El
Salvador, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.