Mane Issue - March 2011

Page 2

Upcoming Events

Monday, March 14 Cap and Gown Ordering Tuesday, March 15 Cap and Gown Ordering Career Fair, 10a-1p,Coliseum Wednesday, March 16 60% Drop/Withdrawal Date Health Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Coliseum 2 pm WSCC Softball vs. Seminole State CC Thursday, March 17 Cullman Chamber Career Fair 4 pm WSCC Softball at Columbia State Friday, March 18 5 pm WSCC Baseball vs. Shelton State 7 pm Wallace State Singers Show, Burrow Center Recital Hall Saturday, March 19 3 pm WSCC Baseball vs. Shelton State 7 pm Wallace State Singers Show, Burrow Center Recital Hall Sunday, March 20 1 pm WSCC Softball at Alabama Southern Monday, March 21 11am Food for Thought - Campus Ministries Tuesday, March 22 3 pm WSCC Baseball at Columbia State Friday, March 25 1 pm WSCC Baseball at Lawson State Saturday, March 26 WSCC Softball at Seminole State CC 8 am Alabama State Written Math Exam 12 pm WSCC Baseball at Lawson State

Sunday, March 27 WSCC Softball at Seminole State CC Monday, March 28 - April 1, 2011 Spring Break/No Classes Saturday, April 2 3 pm WSCC Baseball vs. Bevill State Monday, April 4 11am Food for Thought - Campus Ministries Tuesday, April 5 11 am & 1 pm Diversity Forum with Southern Poverty Law Center, BLH WSCC Baseball vs. Cleveland State WSCC Softball at Snead State Wednesday, April 6 Cullman County Science Fair 11 am Student Directed Theater Scenes Thursday, April 7 Cullman County Science Fair 2 pm WSCC Softball at Gadsden State Friday, April 8 Cullman County Water Festival GED Testing 1 pm WSCC Baseball at Calhoun CC Saturday, April 9 12 pm WSCC Baseball at Calhoun CC 1 pm WSCC Softball vs. Calhoun CC Monday, April 11-Saturday, April 16 Community Art Exhibition, Burrow Center Monday, April 11 6 pm Wallace State Awards Night, BLH Tuesday, April 12 Summer 2011 Lion's Pride Orientation

Blountsville’s Alexa Alldredge crowned 2011 Wallace State Homecoming Queen HANCEVILLE—Alexa Alldredge of Blountsville was crowned 2011 Wallace State Homecoming Queen on Feb. 17 at Tom Drake Coliseum when the Wallace State basketball teams took on Snead State.

Alldredge was selected Homecoming Queen based on student vote, which also determined members of the Homecoming Court.

She is majoring in education at Wallace State, where she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta and the Student Government Association.

She was crowned by 2010 Wallace State Homecoming Queen Hannah Killpack, a diagsnostic medical sonography student from Millport.

Alexandra Morris of Somerville, a mathematics major and member of Phi Theta Kappa, was named first alternate.

Business administration major and Trio Club member Jessica Simpson of Decatur was named second alternate.

Jessica Cagle of Hanceville, a visual communications major, Campus Ministries outreach leader and Mane Issue staff member, was named third alternate.

Criminal justice major Briana Matthews of Birmingham was named fourth alternate.

Amanda Hill presented flowers to

March 2011

11 am Literary Arts Read-in 2 pm WSCC Baseball at Cleveland State 4 pm WSCC Softball at Northwest Shoals Wednesday, April 13 Summer 2011 Lion's Pride Orientation Thursday, April 14 Last Day to Withdraw Regular & Miniterm II 4 pm WSCC Softball at Chattanooga State 5 pm WSCC Baseball vs. Gadsden State 7 pm Cabaret, Burrow Center Friday, April 15 Nursing Alumni Connection 7 pm Jazz Band Dance, Banquet Hall Saturday, April 16 11am Art Exhibition Awards Ceremony, Burrow Center 8 am Walk for Autism 2 pm WSCC Softball vs. Calhoun CC 3 pm WSCC Baseball vs. Gadsden State Sunday, April 17 WSCC Softball vs. Snead State CC For a full calendar of events, including events scheduled for Arts in April, visit www.wallacestate.edu.

Support Wallace State athletics. Go Lions!

The Mane Issue Staff Members Evan Hicks Anna Parrish Zack Gordon Jessica Cagle Mike Johnston Alyssa White Kiah Crider Participation

Alexa Alldredge

the Homecoming Queen and Court.

Homecoming events have been held on campus throughout the week. The SGA put together a scavenger hunt for students on Monday, hosted a karaoke event in the Student Center on Tuesday, and held a dodgeball tournament on Wednesday. The Wallace State Head’s Up program joined the SGA in hosting a cookout for students on Thursday.

For more information about events and activities at Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.

Join the staff of The Mane Issue! If you have any interest in creative writing, graphic design, advertising, or journalism then we need you for the new semester! Staff meetings are currently held at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Graphics Lab Room 219 of the Burrow Center. You may volunteer or register for the class. The course is available in both a one credit hour class and a two credit hour format. The course numbers are 07402MCM Student Publications (1hr) and 07401 MCM Student Publications (2hrs).No experience is necessary, everyone is welcome. It is sponsored by the Wallace State Communications and Marketing Department and the Wallace State Art Department.

If you are interested, please contact: Kristen Holmes Ph:256-352-8118, Burrow Center Museum, kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu; Russelll Moore, Ph: 256-352-8443, Burrow Center, Room 210, russell.moore@wallacestate.edu; or Adrian Scott, Ph: 256-352-8145, adrian.scott@wallacestate.edu, Burrow Center, Room 219.

Mission It is the mission of The Mane Issue to inform the Wallace State student body of campus news and events.

Submissions or Suggestions If you have a story idea or would like to make a submission to The Mane Issue, please send an e-mail to newspaper@wallacestate.edu. All submissions must include the author’s name and contact information.

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Campus News

Arts in April By: Anna Parrish Next month Wallace State will be sponsoring the annual Arts in April program. This is a great way for students to earn extra points in many classes and learn about several different types of art and cultures.

There will be a different event going on every week and all events will be open to students as well as the public. Below is the schedule of events that will be

taking place.

April 5, 2011 in The Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. - Diversity speaker from Southern Poverty Law Center April 6, 2011 in The Burrow Center Recital Hall at 11:00 a.m. - Student- directed Theatre Scenes April 11-16, 2011 in The Burrow Center during Burrow Center hours - Art Exhibition April 12, 2011 in The Burrow Center Recital Hall at 11:00 a.m.- Literary Arts Read-in April 14, 2011 in The Burrow Center Recital Hall at 7:00 p.m. - Cabaret

Career Fair attendees at WSCC on March 15, 10a-1p, at Drake Coliseum Company AAR Mobility System-Summa Tech. Technical Ala. Dept. of Cons. & Natural Tech.

Ala. Dept. of Revenue American Proteins, Inc. Athens-Limestone Hospital Avon Products Becker Professional Education B’ham Jefferson Transit Authority Brookwood Medical Center C2 Freight Resources Century Rehab Children’s Health System DCH Health System Hanceville Nursing & Rehab Huntsville Hospital Innovative Combustion Tech. Inc. Listerhill Credit Union Maurice’s NARCOG- Area Agency on Aging NHC Rehabilitation Northeast Al. Reg. Med Ctr. Onin Staffing Paragon Rehabilitation Personnel Board of Jefferson Co. Topre America Cooperation U.S. Space & Rocket Center Verizon Wireless

West Corporation

Majors of Interest Welding, Welders Criminal Justice, Conservation Enforcement officer Business Information Tech.

All RN All Accounting Finance, Campus Representatives Mechanics, Bus Operators, General Services Nursing, Allied Health Sales, Account Executive for Freight Customers OT, OTA, PT, and PTA All PTA, Lab Coding Respiratory Therapist, PTA Lab Coding RRT Health care, Dietary, Housekeeping, RN, LPN, CNA, Maintenance RN, EEG, and ancillary healthcare Engineering & other Tech. Fields Business, Spokesman for Young & Free Al. Full-time Assistant Manager RN,HIT,Social Services, Volunteer Opp. PTA, OTA, (Positions available in Al. and Tn. All Varies OTA, PTA All majors Technical, various Various Business Management, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Human Resources, Marketing, and Customer Service Representative Customer Services Representatives

March 2011

April 15, 2011 in The WSCC Banquet Hall at 7:00 p.m.

- WSCC Jazz Band Dance April 16, 2011 in The Burrow Center at 11:00 a.m. - Art Exhibition Awards Ceremony April 20, 2011 in The Burrow Center Recital Hall at 11:00 a.m. - Lecture on Decorative Arts and The Burrow Collection by Anne Forschler-Tarrasch, Ph.D., Curator of Decorative Arts at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Sponsored by The Evelyn Burrow Museum.

April 28, 2011 in The Burrow Center Recital Hall at 12:30p.m. - Student Recital

Andy Stein Duo set to make appearance at Wallace State By: Mike Johnston The Andy Stein Duo will be coming to Wallace State’s Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre in the Student Center on Monday, March 28 starting at 7 p.m.

Stein is a decorated violinist, violist and saxophonist as well as an arranger and composer. Stein started out his career in the scope of popular music by playing the saxophone and violin with the 1970’s country rock band, “Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.”

Additional highlights of Stein’s career include appearing on “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Great Performances (PBS)” and “As The World Turns (CBS).” He has worked with many notable recording artists such as Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Madonna and Mariah Carey among others. Stein has also performed in several Broadway shows, including the 1990's Broadway revivals of "Guys and Dolls" and "Fiddler on the Roof."

He is featured in the Robert Altman film “A Prairie Home Companion” performing in the sound track and on screen with Lindsay Lohan, and Meryl Streep.

Stein will be joined by pianist Conal Fowkes.

Fowkes has performed internationally in television, film and radio and has performed as a featured soloist in the Broadway show “One Mo’ Time.”

He has made several appearances on the “Rosie O'Donnell Show” as well as Garrison Keillor's “A Prairie Home Companion.”

The Andy Stein Duo performance is presented by the Cullman Community Concert Association.

Lady Lions win state championship By: Russell Moore The Lady Lions capped off a four-game march in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Region 22 tournament during the first week of March with a 73-63 victory over top-seeded Chattahoochee Valley Community College, capturing the program’s sixth state championship under head coach Larry Slater.

Tournament MVP Bailee Robinson finished with 16 points and eight assists.

The Elkmont grad scored 60 points during the four-game stretch, fighting off a mild concussion suffered in Monday night’s game vs. Alabama Southern.

“It feels great to be a Lion right now. Winning a championship is one of those things that every team talks about, but it didn’t start for us at the start of practice or during the preseason. It started after our last game last year,” said Robinson, who was also named to the ACCC first team All-Region for her regular-season efforts.

“We had a lot of things go against us this season, but still got it done. Nisha Walker went down with an ACL injury, and we had a couple of more injuries. It’s just been amazing how this team has pulled together.”

Wallace State opened the tournament Sunday with a 54-42 win against L.B. Wallace and derailed higher-seeded teams in three games to win the title. The Lady Lions beat Alabama Southern 79-61 Monday night and prevailed in a 59-56 thriller against Shelton State on Tuesday.

“We played great defensively the entire tournament. I give Coach (Ron) Burdette all the credit in the world for getting us ready defensively. Our defense did an awesome job,” said Slater, who’s in his 22nd year with the program and coached in his 14th ACCC title game. “I’m tickled to death to be returning to Kansas. It’s been a

Reports from SGA •The Red Cross blood drive held on February 8, 2011, at the Wellness Center exceeded its goal of 49 units

while since I’ve been out there. For this to happen near the end of my career is unbelievable.”

Wallace State had Natalie Kelley, Morgan Duncan and Tacouya Allen selected to the All-Tournament team. Allen finished with 10 points and nine rebounds in Wednesday’s championship and Kelley added eight points and four rebounds.

The Lady Lions will compete in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Salina, Kan. March 15-19. Watch the tournament live online at psblive.com.

of blood with 67 units.

•Our Homecomming Queen for Wallace State is Alexa Alldredge. Congratulations to her.

•Anyone interested in participation on one of Wallace State’s Relay for Life team needs to notify Mrs. Jen-

nifer Hill. Her office is located in the Student Center.

Relay for Life shirts are for sale.

•Coming up in April will be a campus wide spring fling.

Admission is free. For more information on the spring fling, see Mrs. Hill in the Student Center.

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March 2011

Lion’s Pride

Meet Dr. Lee Walton Interview by Kiah Crider Kiah: “What has been the biggest influence in your life?”

Dr. Walton: “Well, I would probably start with ‘who,’ and that would be my grandfather. He was the male role model in my life. One of the ‘what’ questions would be education. It has been a tremendous influence in my life. Probably the biggest influence is that of faith. I learned very early that faith is empirical and solid to the person who has the faith. Not that you don’t question faith. Being a philosophy freak, I’ve always tried to dive deep into the area of faith and religion.”

Kiah: “If you could interview anyone living or deceased, who would that be and why?”

Dr. Walton: “There would be three. The first would be Socrates. I’d like to ask him what drugs he was actually on, and ask him what made him develop the dialectic or Socratic method. The second would be the apostle Paul. I would ask a lot of the same questions about Paul. I would ask him what he thought about people playing with their faith, and I’d love to hear his response. I think it would probably be PG-13. Third, I would interview Douglas MacArthur. I would ask him about what he thinks about our current military situations and what he would do differently, if anything, and I’m sure there would be several things that he would do differently.”

Kiah: “Give me a brief summary of your upbringing?”

Dr. Walton: “My parents divorced when I was three years old. My mother and I were by ourselves for a long time. She married a man, when I was eight, who was much older than her. He was a traveling salesman; so, I had a kind of schitzophrinic upbringing. He was a very dictator-ish type. We would live one way during the week and differently on the weekend when he was home. He wasn’t accustomed to young children; so, it was difficult. When I was older I would stay away from home a great deal. I also played baseball and was very good. I worked all of the time to be able to afford some of the things that I wanted to do. It wasn’t a terrible upbringing. Basicially, if I did what I was supposed to do, kept my grades halfway decent, and did the many thousands of chores that I was given, nobody would bother me.”

Kiah: “How would you describe yourself as a child, as far as behavior and actions?”

Dr. Walton: “Incredibly energetic! I wasn’t very sensitive. I know it’s hard to believe knowing me now. I didn’t care much about friends. As a matter of fact, my best friend today is the same best friend since I’ve had since I was seven, I think.

I was an only child; so, I was a loner, I was very ADHD to the max, and very creative. I began piano and guitar at an early age. I didn’t try to hurt people’s feelings; I just didn’t care what they thought, which has all changed now, of course.”

Kiah: “Do you have a favorite memory from high school?”

Dr. Walton: “Yeah, two, one is very pseudo high school. I was a member of the only baseball team at my high school that won the state championship. Two, I set the back field of the high school on fire with a bomb from chemistry, which would get you arrested and probably prosecuted as a terrorist today. I’m not a chemistry guy; so, I don’t remember exactly what we did. I guess it was the hydrogen deal where you drop it in water and it blows up. Mine was a little larger than the rest of them. I dropped it in a very deep area of the creek that ran behind the high school, and set the football practice field on fire. The fire department came, the police came, and I remember my chemistry teacher had taken off her skirt and had her little slip on and was beating the flames with her skirt and it burned the skirt all up. That was good, and, yeah, I enjoyed that.”

one of the brothers of the guys in the group. So, we would travel a little bit together. We kind of hung out in the same circle. I mean, my wife was prom queen, the whole nine yards. She’s hot, and I’m not. She was always above my field of play, and we just hung out as friends. I was never really interested in dating. I’m too tight and would have rather played baseball. So, I didn’t date a lot in high school. I went away to the Navy and came back. My grandmother died, and I came back for the funeral, and we just started dating. She finally came to her senses and realized that she couldn’t live without me. We graduated from high school in May and got married in December. To those people who said it would never last, it’s been 23 years in December.”

Kiah: “Where can your heratige be traced back to?”

Dr. Walton: “Germany. My family is German. I wish it was something cool, like Ireland, or all the way back to the crusades, but it’s just Germany. That’s why I like sausage so much.”

Kiah: What’s the biggest lesson in life you learned from the military?

Dr. Walton: Complacency kills people, and excellence should be the norm and not the exception. I learned how to iron a shirt, and that I really hate English peas.

Kiah: “What is your favorite aspect of teaching at Wallace State?”

Dr. Walton: “Student interaction. I love dealing with students. I love, especially in philosophy when it’s a difficult discipline, I love it when they get it. I enjoy listening to their ideas, as out there as some of them are. I consider this to be a calling. So, since I’ve been here, I’ve married three couples. I’ve done a lot of listening; I don’t do counseling. I’m not a cousolor. I went philosophy and Biblical languges in school; I did not go counseling. I don’t have the gift of mercy. I can’t sit here and go ‘aww’ with you. I enjoy, very much, student interaction, both positive and negative. I’ve even had someone to call me and tell me I had too much to drink. I enjoy raising the bar and watching students reach it. I love it when one of my kids goes across the stage at graduation.”

Kiah: “How did you meet your wife?”

Dr. Walton: “I was involved with a southern gospel group, and she was dating

Kiah: “What do you do you do for enjoyment outside of Wallace State?”

Dr. Walton: “I am a motorcycle freak. I have a brand new Goldwing that I got when I got my doctorate. My wife and I like to take little trips on it. We’re a boating type people. We have a boat. We camp. As a matter of fact, we live on Guntersville during the summer. We have a camper up there. I like to go fast in anything I do. We have four-wheelers and waverunners and that kind of stuff. I like to play golf. I’m not very good, and I make up words to say so that I don’t say really bad words. I have a grandson, and he likes to hang out with me, and I like to hang out with him. We enjoy baseball on all levels. We do the Braves some, and my goal is that I would like to visit seven stadiums before I croke. And that’s about it; we just hang out and enjoy life.”

Deadline for Transfer Scholarships has been extended for the following Universities!!

combined with another transfer scholarship. Recipients are required to have oncampus residence.

Please see Keisha Miller in Wallace State’s Financial Aid Office for the transfer scholarship application. These applications and packets should be delivered to Keisha Miller by the close of business on March 24. If you have any questions, you can contact her at 256.352.8092.

To be awarded the transfer scholarship to any of the Universities below, you must have completed two years of course work at Wallace State.

Please note specific requirements for each College or University.

The University of West Alabama 1. This transfer scholarship requires a 3.25 GPA and the University of West Alabama’s Scholarship Application signed by the WSCC’s Registrar and President.

(Copies of UWA’s Scholarship Application can be obtained from WSCC’s Financial Aid Office or www.uwa.edu) 2. The Presidential Transfer Scholarship requires a minimum of a 3.00 GPA, a letter from WSCC’s President, and the following packet.

The scholarship Packet requires the following items:

The University of Montevallo There are three scholarships available: 1. The Community College Deans’ Scholarship - $3,000 with a minimum of 3.25 GPA. This scholarship is renewable if the 3.25 GPA is maintained a UM. This scholarship requires on-campus residence. This award may be combined with a Phi theta Kappa Scholarship - $1,000.

2. The Community College President’s Scholarship - $3,000 with a minimum of 3.25 GPA. This scholarship is renewable if the 3.25 GPA is maintained a UM. This scholarship does not require on-campus residence. This award may be combined with a another transfer scholarship.

3. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship - $1,000 with a minimum of 3.25 GPA. This scholarship is renewable if the 3.25 GPA is maintained a UM. The award may be

Jacksonville State University This transfer scholarship requires a 3.50 GPA. The scholarship Packet requires the following items: ---Cover Letter to Wallace State Community College Vice President for Students, Dr. Tomesa Smith (Deans’ Scholarship) or to President, Dr. Vicki Hawsey (Presidents’ Scholarship) requesting consideration for the scholarship.

---WSCC Transcript - unofficial ---Two letters of Reference ---Scholarship Application – can be picked up from WSCC’s Financial Aid Office.

---Resume statingy activities, community service, work experience, honors and awards

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March 2011

Campus Arts and Culture Bill Sharpton: A Symposium in Celebration of Eighty Years In celebration of Bill Sharpton’s eightieth birthday, Wallace State hung eighty of its resident artist’s works of art in the Burrow Center. Wallace also hosted a symposium for Mr. Sharpton which faculty member Adrian Scott presided over. Any student who wanted to attend was allowed to do so, and after an informative and often amusing talk about Mr. Sharpton’s earlier years and artistic techniques, questions were taken from audience members. Naturally, the event was followed by a small reception with a wide assortment of finger foods and light beverages.

To know Bill Sharpton, it’s vital to understand the area he grew up in and how it’s been changed by the course of time. You can see Sharpton’s numerous oil landscapes, but you don’t fully appreciate them until you learn that Mr. Sharpton has been to all the places he’s painted, he photographed them, painted his landscapes from his photographic studies, and can even tell you stories and histories about most of the places. Most people do not appreciate the passage of time in decades anymore. Unfortunately, to keep up with the turbulent political world and every changing realm of technology, you have to keep stock of things by the month or week- sometimes even down to the second. To watch something transform over a long period of time, like seeing a barn weathered by season upon season of storms, or keeping an eye on the slow growth of an oak in an empty field, those are sights and sensations that seem to belong to an older, slower time.

Yet Bill Sharpton seemed to still think and appreciate that style of reflection.

Kindly and slightly bashful, Mr. Sharpton seemed unused to being in the limelight as he sat on stage in front of several hundred students and faculty. Normally, his speech was candid and informative, and every so often, unintentionally funny in a delightful way. Openly encouraging students to take up painting as a hobby, Mr. Sharpton cited others’ praise of a completed work one of the most rewarding experiences he’d ever had and even offered the following reflection on painting. “When a painter is painting, they’re at peace with the world around them.” He also mentioned that it was a relatively cheap hobby to get started in. “A fisherman- if you wanted to start fishing, you have to buy a rod, a reel, lures, bait, and a boat, that’s ten or fifteen thousand dollars, but you can buy your brushes, canvases, pigments, and vehicles for a few hundred at the most and have plenty for quite a while. And- don’t get me wrong, I love fishin’, but if you ask me which is more enjoyable, painting, or trying to trick a fish into swallowing a hook, I’d say painting. You can paint anything, anywhere, and anytime, but it’s not that hard to trick a fish.”

Mr. Sharpton worked aboard the Edisto, a naval ice breaker, after World War Two at the age of seventeen. There is a painting of the ship in its element hanging in the Burrow Center, but Sharpton told the audience that he painted even while on board the ship.

“And painting on a navy ship is awful, because everyone’s a critic. Before long, they’re all calling you ‘Rembrandt’ or something like it.”

Mr. Sharpton then owned his own lettering store before being asked by Wallace’s President Bailey to come teach art, to which Sharpton eventually agreed. Sharpton was Wallace’s first art instructor and had to move through several buildings in his time, including the Banquet Hall and automotive building.

After retiring from teaching, Wallace invited Sharpton to return as its first and only resident artist, posPhoto by Kayla Beckham sibly the only resident artist at any community college. Mr. Sharpton has been producing art for Wallace State ever since.

While he requires a cane to get about now, Mr. Sharpton is as lively and sharp as ever, much of which he credits to his art and the way it engages his mind on a daily basis. “A painter solves more problems in thirty minutes than an accountant, doctor, or lawyer does in a week,” he said. Congratulations to Mr. Sharpton on a life filled with such accomplishment in the arts, and may there be many more years in it.

By: Evan T. Hicks

Metamorphoses, Myths & Hymns Last season, Wallace State’s theater department performed the musical dark-comedy “Little Shop of Horrors,” but with a new season comes a new production. Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” were the chosen subject for the winter/spring show along with a selection of musical numbers relating to the theme of “Myths and Hymns.” Very often, one theatrical production of a musical is followed by another and another, in a never ending cycle of plays of the same type being produced, but Wallace’s theatre department refused to rest on its laurels. Everything about “Metamorphoses, Myths & Hymns” was different from a traditional musical number. The first half of the production was a collection of Ovid’s short stories turned into performances. All were without musical accompaniment, and though they were separate stories with different characters, the pieces carried overarching themes of empathetic humanism and the commonality of human experience. Ovid’s tales were followed by a baker’s dozen or so of songs that featured a predominately different cast, style, and experience, but both halves were well done.

Seats were set up for the small audience on the Haynes Theatre’s stage, which kept the audience close to the action and drawn into the performance, all centered around a functioning fountain of two mermaids raising lily pads into the air. Even though scenery was sparse and the costuming for the first half was often simple, this allowed the cast’s performances to be given their due attention- although the production wasn’t afraid to pull out a lavish costume or prop when it was called for.

Every member of the cast performed admirably, but several truly shone.

Yesterday he was Mr. Mushnik, in “Metamorphoses” he was a veritable pantheon of mythic figures, but in every role he played, Zach Buse acquitted himself with talent and skill. Ovid may have never imagined Hades as a member of the mob, but when Buse gave the Lord of the Underworld a touch of Vito Corleone, the audience laughed and Buse out did himself. Under the many guises of Vertumnus, Buse brought a sympathetic, human sensitivity to a god. Whenever David Peterson took the stage, he was almost always playing an outlandishly attired deity, and always proved to be a scene stealer. However, while most of the men outdid themselves, most of the girls tended to blend together, though the similarity of the female roles could also be partially to blame. If any girls stood out in the first half, they were Meagan Bates as a delightfully playful Iris and Morganne Adams as an appropriately sultry and surly Aphrodite. Probably the best touch in the entire first half was the selection of music chosen to play before the start of the production and in between the stories of the first half. Intentionally or not, the music helped give the ancient tales a more approachably modern tone and emphasized the real point of the tales--learning how to deal with the human experience.

The audience returned from intermission, and was plunged into a radically altered production. Sy Shaver, Daniel Bussey, Katrina Austin, and other “Little Shop of Horrors” favorites were back for a plethora musical numbers. Unfortunately, while there were many positive things to say about their performances in the previous production, Shaver, Bussey, and Austin did not equal themselves in “Myths and Hymns.” Really, their performances were good and their vocal technique laudable, but the praise stops there. Every time Shaver stepped on stage, it was clear that he was comfortable in the limelight and felt free to be himself, which is what I got from every piece he sang--signature Shaver, his thumbs perpetually tucked between his fingers, his love of being on stage evident, but the music’s emotional potential was never felt. Contrapostively, Bussey did bring out his pieces’ emotion, but perhaps too much so, as pieces that were supposed to be sad began to come across as gratingly defeatist. Occasionally all six members of the “Myths & Hymns” cast were relegated to ensemble roles, and no member ever underperformed as part of the group. Ultimately, the second half of the production can be summarized by three words: Peterson, Ratliff, Harbison. Losing track of the action as one was caught up in Peterson’s rich baritone was the only worry one needed to have whenever David Peterson sang. David’s “Sisyphus” was a standout, as were most of the actor’s speaking roles earlier in the production.

The gentlemen may have dominated the first half, but Paige Harbison and Jordan Ratliff were the highlights of the second. Ratliff’s passionate vocals finally found the amount of use they deserved but lacked in “Little Shop of Horrors,” and Harbison’s natural charm and hauntingly beautiful voice lent her every line additional weight. Even when they performed together, the two young ladies’ complimented each other perfectly. All of Ratliff’s passion met Harbison’s charm in their duet “How Can I Lose You?”, producing a cinnamon sugar blend that hit the audience’s palette just right.

You had plenty to enjoy in both the first and second half of “Metamorphoses, Myths & Hymns.” Originally designed and crafted, the entire production was admirably decorated and ordered by Hannah Sizemore and Professor Lauren Cantrell-Salerno along with Miss Austin and Mr. Shaver, who performed their duties much more satisfyingly back stage in this particular production. Ultimately, the production was an experiment that worked wonderfully and proved to be an enjoyable, even mesmerizing experience, and this reviewer eagerly awaits the theatre department’s next production.

Review By: Evan T. Hicks

Spring Time Guide

Page 6

How to save money during Spring Break

a multi-person tent. There are also campgrounds that do have indoor showering and electricity.

By: Anna Parrish

Save on Drinks: Spring breakers like to party, but alcohol adds up. If you’re legal, buying drinks in bulk and drinking with friends is always cheaper than hitting the bars.

With Spring Break approaching many college and high school students are saving up their money to have an awesome trip. But why save up a lot of money just to come back broke? Instead here are a few ways to help save money while on vacations.

Go Camping: Although camping isn’t the most luxurious thing to do it can save hundreds by not getting a room.

Just go with a couple of friends and buy

getting snacks at a gas station.

Spring Break Alternatives By: Anna Parrish Although Panama City Beach is the most common spring break spot it is also the most dangerous. Last year alone there were 1,925 arrests during spring

Shorter Trip: Instead of taking a week long trip try taking a weekend trip to spot that is only 2 hours away oppossed to 6 hours away.

Bike: Taking a bike and biking from place to place can save a lot of money because there’s no need to buy gas and it’s great exercise.

Road Trip: Although gas prices are on the rise, taking a small car with a few friends can be convenient. With more than two people splitting the cost of gas it can actually come out to be pretty cheap. Don’t forget to pack a cooler full of snacks, drinks, and sandwiches.

That’s cheaper than buying fast food or

Student ID: Many places offer student discounts so don’t forget it! You may can save 10% or a dollar or two at theatres, resturaurant, and museums.

Buy Groceries: Food can add up and no matter what it is cheaper to buy groceries as oppossed to eating out breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So do go by groceries.

break. Not only were there that many arrests but four people fell off of there balcony and two died from their injuries.

Pair that with people passing out, throwing up on the beach, and not generally not practicing common decency, sure there will be fun but in the long run is it really worth risking health and even life?

March 2011

For students who are going to fly look into student discount travel sites and travel on off days and off times. Monday through Thursday morning have the lowest flying traffic so tickets are generally cheaper at those times. Never settle on the first ticket that comes up, tickets can have a wide range of prices so do look around and find the cheapest.

There are plenty of places to vacation to that are just as fun and not as dangerous.

A few great places are Destin, Florida. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Orange Beach, Alabama. Gulf Shores, Alabama, Atlanta, Georgia. Nashville, Tennessee. Pigeon Forge, Tennesee.

WSCC Students Spring Break Plans In honor of spring break we asked students and staff members on the WSCC Facebook page what they are planning to do during the break.

Michelle Painter Martin “Since gas prices are so high we’re taking a short trip to Atlanta.

Lots to do and not far from home.

Tasha Miller “Nothin’”

Renee Quick (Instructor)

Evan Hicks

Andrew Hill

“I’m going to hang out at home and then come in on the Friday of that week to work a math tournament.”

“I may go to the beach or visit my grandparents. I’m not sure yet.”

“ I am going to attempt and try to go to the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando.”

Lee Walton (Instructor) “I’m going to buy a new sweater vest!

Russell Moore (Staff) “I would like to take some time off and go to spring training in Florida for the second year in a row.”

Rachel Whisenant “My friends and I are heading down to Panama City for a week of fun in the sun:))”

Spring Fashion By: Alyssa White The pictures below are some examples of the biggest trends of this season.

Oversize tote- These bags are going to be huge this spring. They hold more of your stuff and are super stylish. Look for bags with special details, such as a funky pattern or cute embellishments.

Skirts- Mini and maxi skirts are back. If you like mini-skirts, look for one that hits right above the knee and that is flouncy. If you prefer maxi skirts, look for a skirt with a roomy fit for a bohemian flair. Add a belt for extra style points.

Faded jeans- You can buy any style of jean faded, and they go with everything. Just make sure to avoid any pair that has whiskering on the thighs, which isn’t flattering on anyone.

Racerback tank tops- These draw attention to toned arms and shoulders. Tie-dyed and ruffled tanks are super-cute and versatile.

Necklaces- Pendants and bib necklaces are super stylish. Pendant necklace are better paired with simple clothing, while bib necklaces are dressier and pair well with strapless dresses or tops with high necklines.

Shorts- Short and cuffed shorts are in style. Avoid any pair of shorts that is too short, though. Cuffed shorts are dressier, while short shorts are more casual.

March 2011

On Music By: Zack Gordon

Ar ts & Leisure

Music is one of the most important aspects of culture. It has been throughout all of history. Each generation has had its musician(s) that has changed music forever. Miles Davis, Elvis, The Beatles, and Nirvana and countless more have contributed to the evolution of music (just in the 20th century). But what made them great? Why did names like these change the musical landscape? The answer is simple. They were unique to their time.

Music is steadily becoming more and more commercial, and in turn artists creating the music are becoming less and less artistic. Almost all of it sounds the same. New rock bands sound just like the others, pop acts have simple elementary lyrics that people can easily remember, and country is so much like pop that is hard to tell the two apart. Nothing is new and nothing is fresh. Artists seem more concerned with the all mighty dollar than creating something new. It appears that no one from our generation is going to change music and make history. And to add to it, even indie groups of all genres work to sound like someone else that has already become popular. Artists are focused only on writing music that makes other people happy, when they should be writing music that they are happy with, makes them unique, and then fans will follow. After all, it is supposed to be about self-expression and creativity, right?

Being unique certainly worked for the Beatles. They surprised the entire world and started a musical movement unlike any other. There is certainly nobody that sounds like them. Nirvana ushered in grunge at a time where Hair Metal ruled.

And I bet not one person can name a band that Nirvana sounds like, love them or hate them. They wrote music that they loved first, before anything else was considered, and it was truly art for that reason.

Maybe other musicians will disagree, but I think musicians should keep some things in mind. First, the next time you turn on the radio, I encourage you to really listen and think about what makes various musicians unique. Listen to the band, listen to the lyrics, and then compare to the previous or next band. When

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you find a group that is really different, and really stands out, ask yourself what makes them that way. And then keep an eye on those bands. I am willing to bet that they are the ones that will still be selling records in twenty years. Secondly, keep an open mind to genres that you normally wouldn t listen to and learn to play them. There is plenty to learn from every style. Next, when you are writing your own music, strive to be as original as you can be. Make it truly yours, love it, and play it well. Don t shun criticism towards your music; instead use it to make your music better. Finally, stop being obsessed with money. It s not about the dollar amount you earn, it s about reaching out and making an impact with something you love and created. I believe people are drawn to great things and will eventually catch on to what we as musicians create, even if its not a three minute pop song.

Here are some great quotes by musicians and artists alike: “Music is an outburst of the soul.”-Frederick Delius

“Music is the harmonious voice of creation; an echo of the invisible world.”Giuseppe Mazzini “Where words fail, music speaks.”- Hans Christian Andersen

“When people hear good music, it makes them homesick for something they never had, and never will have.”- Edgar Watson Howe “That's what music is, entertainment. The more you put yourself into it, the more of you comes out in it.”- Kurt Cobain “My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”- John Lennon “Music is the only thing keeping the planet together" -Jaco Pastorius

Wallace State’s Community Education offering three golf courses this spring through PGA’s Play Golf America program

Wallace State Community Education has expanded its golf class offerings this spring, catering to beginners, high school students and women. The sessions are scheduled at Cullman Municipal Golf Course and will be instructed by Ches Harris, a PGA professional and the course director.

The initial class is tailored for beginners and scheduled for three straight Saturdays -- March 12, 19, and 26 -- from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each week.

A high school golf clinic is planned for April 19-21 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The women’s golf clinic is scheduled for Thursdays April 28, May 5 and 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Registration is $50 per student for each course, and interested individuals must sign up three days prior to the first class. Golf clubs are available for use during the class.

The lessons are part of the PGA’s Play Golf America program and made possible by the Wallace State Future Foundation Brett Wetterich Gift.

To register or for more information, call 256-352-8243.

March 2011

Thoughts from a Teenage Expatriate

The other day, I was asked to write a piece on myself for The Mane Issue. Ordinarily, I would’ve been enthusiastic at the opportunity to talk about myself- in a public venue no less- but, I was also somewhat hesitant.

Being me is wonderful, in fact, at the relatively young age of twenty, I’ve travelled to more places, become acquainted with more walks of life, and learned more about the world than most people will do in a life time.

Even Americans, who are traditionally viewed at home and abroad as the most diverse people in the world, cannot hold a candle to the sheer multitude of ranges of life that exist on the globe. Often, people who travel are enriched by their experiences, and use them to their benefit, to appreciate the world around them more fully, and in the end, to understand themselves better. I’ve always longed to go a step further and use my experiences and abilities to enrich the lives of others. With a word of warning to not take my word as Gospe, the following lines will attempt to impart to the reader a sense- as best as I’m able- of the unique environment in which I was raised.

The price of gas is a perennial complaint of Americans- like the jobless rate in the current recession, it only seems to rise. Only, where in the world does all that gas come from? Be proud of yourself if you answered Saudi Arabia; from my experience, most people can’t. Every single drop of oil doesn’t come from Saudi Arabia, plenty comes from Texas, off shore oil rigs, other Middle Eastern countries, and the like, but the majority comes from the land of A Thousand and One Arabian Nights (responsible for the tale of Aladdin and the phrase “Open Sesame!”). The majority of the terrorists who were on the flights of 9/11 also came from Saudi Arabia, so like most places, it has both a light and dark side.

Here’s a chance to redeem yourself if you missed the first question; what is the largest, most valuable company in the world? Apple, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, any cell-phone, news, or television network, and McDonald’s are all wrong answers. The world’s most valuable company (at $.781 trillion) is Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia and the provider of the vast majority of the nation’s wealth. That’s not all bad news for Americans, however. Saudi Aramco was founded by Americans (Aramco is an acronym which stands for Arabian American Oil Company), and is still filled with American employees along with many other people from across the continents. The company operates primarily within Saudi borders, but is more than a little fond of importing its employees from overseas- especially from the West. Hordes of men (very few women) are hired and brought in from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and even Africa, then shipped to one of the company’s

Culture

“compounds,” which are more accurately described as walled mini-cities. Each compound has its own distinct flavor, Dhahran- where I spent the most time- is the capitol of the company, the largest, and is situated in the middle of an even large megalopolis that lies outside its walls. Quizzically, Abqaiq, the baby of the bunch, used to be the company’s headquarters. Udhailiyah lies so far south that it’s treated like that odd cousin who moved out of state and never calls, while Ras Tanurah, the compound farthest North, lies on the coast (Saudi Arabia takes up the majority of the Arabian peninsula, so there’s plenty of coast to go around.)

My father, David Hicks, acquired a position at Aramco as an Industrial Hygienist- a title that sounds a lot like a “Sanitation Engineer,” which is code for Janitor. So, at the tender age of two and a half- because all of childhood is divided up into half year segments- I flew thousands of miles away from Alabama, to a

strange and blisteringly hot new land. The food was great, but the people seemed to forget that robes were only for wizards- certainly not fashionable attire. In fact, the ghutrahs (white, male robes), thawbs (red and white checkered male head dresses), and abaiyas (massive black cloaks for women) bordered on being human rights violations in the searing desert heat- I’m only half joking here, the temperature can reach over one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit. “Oh, but it’s a dry heat!” No, it is most certainly not a dry heat.

Weather in Saudi Arabia is like prison, always horrible and all you want is to get out of it. Humidity doesn’t do justice to the roll-down-your-windows moisture that routinely reaches over one hundred percent. Even the sun, the mighty purveyor of heat, was frequently blotted out by the shamals (dust storms) which ravaged Saudi Arabia like rain storms do Alabama. The worst days in Saudi Arabia were like living in a dusty kiln, you felt like you were swimming through a sea of boiling mud. However, mankind had already discovered the cure to the desert weather- Freon cooled air conditioning. Even if you were born a half Hitler, half Stalin hybrid of pure of evil, if you grew up in Saudi Arabia, you learned to respect and even revere the holy air conditioner, and you did nothing to disrupt its divine functioning. Really though, aside from some odd local attire and the occasional draft of air from Hades, my world was remarkably similar to the average American’s… just more awesome.

Dhahran

If you’ve ever wondered what people from _______ are like, I can tell you. I can do this because Aramco had such a global body of employees and many of those employees brought their families with them. Their kids became my friends and we got to learn about each other’s tastes, culture, and upbringing. Kids from Muslim countries couldn’t eat pork or drink and once a year, they fasted for a whole month during the holy month of Ramadan. Islam, by the way, isn’t a reli-

Page 8 gion of terrorists and extremists, and actually has an arguably richer history of tolerance than Christianity does… just not recently. Sunnis are like their Protestants in that they are the vast majority; Shiites are roughly comparable to the Catholic minority. Neither group is very fond of the other though, so a more apt analogy might be the Alabama and Auburn factions (basically the same thing, but always at each other’s throats).

Only kids who weren’t British or Saudi went to my school, which was based on an American curriculum, but with International elements. Basically, we got math, science, English, and history, just like you did at your high school (or home school). Language studies had the addition of Arabic, which I took, because as fourteen year old I put it so well, “Who takes French in Saudi Arabia? You’re like one typo away from it being Saudi ‘Arabic.’” Extracurricular activities included track, basketball, cross country, soccer, baseball, swimming, and even Hockey for the Dhahran kids (no football though).

Really, Aramco-brats- as we were endearingly termed- had it made in the shade (no one wanted to be in the sun)- well, except that our parents had it even better. Imagine a world where there are no divorces, no one is disabled, no one’s so old they look like a human raisin, everyone has their own house- a big one, their own car, a lower six figure salary, a great school system for their children, walls and security forces to keep everyone safe, thirty days per year vacation to anywhere in the world that’s mostly paid for by your employer, there are next to no bills or taxes, every year you’re guaranteed to make more money than the year before and, let’s just throw this in, gas is fifty cents a gallon. Now, like Ripley would say, “Believe It or Not,” but that was the world of Aramco, the world my parents chose to live in, the world I grew up in, and the world you could live in if you get yourself hired by the company.

The city of Dhahran sounds a lot like a military base when it’s described, but it feels a lot more like the Garden of Eden when it’s lived. However, much like the Garden, I can’t go back. Everyone allowed into Saudi Arabia who isn’t of Saudi nationality must be

employed by a Saudi to live there. Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Atheists coexist there peacefully and prosperingly. If it seems too good to be true, it isn’t, there’s enough bad to make the good possible.

Notice that I didn’t include Jews in the list of peaceful coexisters, that’s because they’re not welcome (Muslim nations almost uniformly discriminate against Jewish people), and the whole thing is paid for by the world’s working class, which depends on gas just to get to work each day. Don’t think that the countries’ poor behavior are due to their religion though, in the world’s Jewish nations (all one of them) their Muslim citizens and tourists are equally poorly treated- that’s the unfortunate reality of life in the Middle East.

To be continued in the April edition of The Mane Issue…

By: Evan T. Hicks