10-03-08

One of the crimson silhouettes that adorned the walls of the Learning Resources Center dur-ing the Silent Witness Project’s stop at RSC told the story of Trenton Stevenson, an infant whose father, Donald Stevenson, had beaten him to death. The day Trenton turned 3 months old, his father brutally assaulted him, leaving the young boy with brain damage, irrepara-ble injury to his eyes and bruis-ing on his legs and arms. On Dec. 7, 2003, Trenton died without ever having a chance to know the world or have the world know him. On Sept. 15, 2004, Donald Stevenson was

sentenced to 100 years and 3 months — the extra three months added because of the age of his son — by the Pottawato-mie court system. Trenton’s story was just one of the testimonials found on display in the Silent Witness Project. These victims, once without a voice, can now explain their tragic tales of how domestic vio-lence has forever affected them. The silhouettes on display var-ied. There were adult men and women, teenagers, children and baby carriages to represent the infants. All of them came from different walks of life and back-grounds, but all had one thing in common: all died before their time and at the hand of someone they most likely loved. The Silent Witness Project was

on display in the LRC Sept. 24-25 in an effort to educate people of the horrors associ-ated with domes-tic violence. The Silent Wit-ness Project was initiated in 1990, when female art-ists in Minnesota, unhappy with the growing rate of domestic violence, formed the Arts Action Against Domestic Vio-lence (AAADV). This group soon began the Silent Witness Project. The first display of this exhibit was 26 freestand-ing silhouettes of women who died

during 1990, in Minnesota. The idea was to for-ever remember the lives that were lost, due to violent acts by their spouses and family members. The exhibit is a national initiative, with the goal of hav-ing no deaths caused by do-mestic violence by 2010. The exhibit tours the country with all 50 states involved. “I originally came to see what my fac-ulty had been doing,” Dr. Bret Wood, dean of Social Sciences, said. “It is sad to see that these people had families and lives … I hope [the exhibit] does have an impact and that people recognize this does happen.” Most domestic violence of-fenders are male, according to statistics compiled and released by ETR Associates, a non-profit organization that promotes health education. “It’s sad to see that most of the crimes were committed by men,” Steven McLemore, liberal stud-ies major said. According to information pro-vided by the Silent Witness Proj-

ect, there were 24,105 domestic violence reports in 2006. These reports included 47 murders, 733 sex crimes, 3,636 assaults and 19,690 assault and battery charg-es — which is an increase of 4.4 percent of domestic violence re-ported between 1996-2006. “It is very disturbing that a lot of domestic violence is commit-ted,” Juliza Akhigbe, interior design major, said. For more information about the Silent Witness Project, visit www.ocadvsa.org.

Applications are now available through the RSC Foundation that can pair the right student with the right scholarship — all they have to do is ap-ply, Lisa Pitsiri, executive director for the RSC Foundation, said. “Students fill out a generic scholarship form … then we pair them with the best scholarship they [are eligible for] and is worth the most,” she said. “If they are selected for a scholarship that is worth $1,000 and one for $500, then we’re go-ing to give them the $1,000 scholarship. After that, we go down the line to make sure that every student who is selected for a scholarship [receives the best one they are eligible to receive].” The application for the spring semes-ter is available now until Oct. 31. Those who apply could receive scholarship funds that will help to offset the tuition and/or textbook expense for the spring semester, if eligible. Starting this semester applications for the scholarship will only be accepted online. “Students can visit the scholarship section [of the RSC Web site] … and everything can be filled out [and saved until the application is ready to be

submitted]. The only thing is there is no system for them to can attach their transcript,” she added. “So they are still going to have to mail, fax or bring in a copy of their transcript [to our office].” Students can access the new applica-tion from www.rose.edu/finaid/scholar-ship_info_foundation.asp. From there students are taken to the Scholarship Manager where there are options for first time and returning users and com-mittee members. For first time users, the site will allow students to add a new account, complete with user name and password. The pass-word requirements are strict, asking for a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and alphanumeric sym-bols. The application does not have to be completed in one sitting. Upon completing the account set up stage, users will be able to select the RSC Foundation scholarship application for spring 2009 from a short list of other scholarship opportunities. What follows is an explanation of the criteria for ap-plying and the application. The final step in the application process is submit-ting a “Statement of Purpose.” Everyone who applies should put

forth some thought and effort into the writing of their “Statement of Purpose,” Pitsiri said. “The committee members take the Statement of Purpose very seriously. In that statement, the students will talk about what their educational goals are, what their life goals are. Many [past scholarship recipients] also talk about the struggles of attending college and having a family, working or coming back to school at the age of 40 — what-ever the case may be. So, the Statement of Purpose is a really important compo-nent of the application.” All students who choose to apply must have at least a 2.5 GPA, must be an Oklahoma resident and must be enrolled in at least six credit hours at RSC. The RSC Foundation grants in excess of 200 scholarships annually. Pitsiri said that some of the scholarships are allocated based on a number of criteria, which could include specific majors, certain hometowns that the student might be from and certain periods in which they are attending RSC — among others. Though sifting through the criteria to determine whether someone might be

eligible for a specific scholarship could be a daunting task for any student to un-dertake, the best part about the Founda-tion is that the eligibility and selection process is handled for each student, Pit-siri said. All the students have to do is complete an application and the Founda-tion will search through all of the avail-able scholarships for them. Though a number of criteria are taken into consideration when deciding eli-gibility, Pitsiri also said that the most important is that the students meet the minimum GPA requirements. “The scholarships are primarily merit based,” she said. “In other words, while a student’s financial situation is taken into consideration and is important, how well they are doing in classes and the progress they have shown is weighed even heavier than financial need. The financial aid office has countless finan-cial aid opportunities that students can pursue, but a Foundation scholarship should be seen as a real reward for do-ing well.” For more information, call 736-0315 or visit www.rose.edu/finaid/scholar-ship_info_foundation.asp.

News15th Street‘When you get com-fortable, too com-fortable; it’s time to move,’

... page 3

Chavez

Volume XXXVIII, ISSue 6roSe State College

FrIday, oCtober 3, 2008

Inside

Rick NelsoN explaiNs his office,... page 3

MY Take oN life:DiaRY eNTRies,... page 2

alTeReD books,... page 4

Silent Witness exhibit evokes emotion

RSC Foundation scholarship announces paperless changes

Red silhouettes fill the library as a reminder of the many victims who lost their lives due to senseless

acts of domestic violence. (Photo by Chelsea McIn-tire)

By H. ALExAnDER SHAFERStaff Writer

RSC’s theatre department will hold performances of Brian Friel’s play Molly Sweeney Oct. 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the HB Atkinson Theatre. The drama features Molly, a blind woman who gains her sight after surgery; Mr. Rice, her alcoholic eye-surgeon, who sees in Molly the chance to restore himself and Frank, Molly’s husband, who pushes and prods Molly into having the surgery. “Really, the story is about these two men pushing a wom-an who is perfectly happy and content. She is more content than they are,” Rick nelson, di-

rector, said. nelson went on to say, “it’s a lesson play about trying to control events that are outside of yourself and learning to ap-preciate what you have.” The story is told entirely through monologue. “There’s no set, so the entire play is just your imagination. It’s a metaphor for Molly being blind. She only hears, so does the audience,” nelson said. According to nelson, one of the features of the play is the audience’s ability to be drawn in and imagine action between

the characters, even though the action never takes place. Tiffany Sebring stars as Molly Sweeney. The cast is completed by Spencer Carter as Frank Sweeney and Greg Crall as Dr. Rice. Tickets are free to RSC stu-dents, faculty and staff, as well as seniors 62+. Tickets are $2 for non-RSC students and $3 for the general public.

Activate imagination, watch ‘Sweeney’

Greg Crall, Tiffany Sebring and Spencer Carter’ characters’ try to discover “Who can really see?” in

Molly Sweeney. (Photo by Chelsea McIntire)

aDopTeD schools leaRN abouT fiRe safeTY,

... page 3

“If everyone else kills someone it is all right for me to shoot peo-ple in the knee.” That is faulty logic and it is the same faulty logic that pervades the argument against sustainability. The same people that would be en-raged by the first statement would utter, “Well, China and India are polluting more and faster than the US. Therefore, the US should do nothing.” Sustainability, in the current sense, is the ability to meet the needs of our current population without harming future genera-tions’ ability to live on the earth. In other words, being mindful of what we consume now, so that our children have a healthy earth to live on. Luckily, RSC has three student senators who believe in examining sustainability and RSC’s environ-mental footprint. They presented legislature to the student senate, which passed unanimously, chal-lenging campus administrators to create a task force evaluating RSC’s environmental impact. Currently, our campus’ footprint

is huge and with Global Okla-homa coming up I am reminded of something that happened at last year’s event that utterly appalled me. Bal-loons were released into the atmosphere by an RSC club for a symbolic purpose. I am sure the club sponsor and members felt they had good reason for what they did but what about the harm this caused. The balloons do not go up and evaporate into the heavens. They burst. If everything goes 100 per-cent correctly, they freeze and shatter. Then, they fall back to the earth where it takes years to biode-grade, ends up in the water supply where they join other toxic plastics and can potentially kill an animal that ingests it. In the club’s defense, it doesn’t appear from the pictures last year that they released anything but Latex balloons. If you believe bal-loon manufacturers, latex balloons are perfectly all right to release into air. They will tell you that the

balloons under the correct condi-tions biodegrade at the same rate as an oak tree leaf. What they

leave out is that oak tree leaves take 4 years to do this and latex uses pho-todegradation to break itself down. The more scientifically accepted numbers on plastic biodegradation is between 20 – 450 years. So this litter, the bal-loons and any ribbons we attached to them, filter back to earth and if con-ditions are perfect take four years to biodegrade. But nothing is perfect, so

the reality is it takes much longer. Animals, then, eat this litter, either accidentally or on purpose. The plastic can get wrapped around their intestines, can block the passages in the stomach and can even cause their stomach or internal organs to burst. Balloons, and more generally plastics, are not only dangerous to animals but to us as well. Imagine if those released bal-loons on our campus landed or otherwise made it into a water source. They would join plastic bags, bottles and can holders. Tiny microscopic tears in this plastic re-leases toxins into the water, which we then drink. Every wonder why, bottles of cola and water are not

reusable? That’s why. This plastic continues down the rivers and eventually flows into the ocean where it accumulates with even more plastic refuse. Discard-ed plastic contributes to the Pacific Garbage Patch that poisons the ocean and contributes to the deaths of whales by plastic. The point, one little incident of releasing balloons by this campus has a huge impact on our environ-ment. We need this task force. We need more recycling, composting and evaluation of our current electric-ity and waste practices. Students and other members of this community do not need to wait until the school does some-thing. Looking at the number of times a week you use a car and eliminat-ing unnecessary trips will reduce emissions. Decline all plastic bags; either carry your items and buy a canvas bag or two to carry your items. you can even bring in your own plastic bags to reuse. Recycle everything that you can. Don’t buy bottled water, filter it yourself and put it in a cup when you want it. Look to purchase items that use minimal packaging. Finally, evaluate your family’s environmental impact and make the changes to reduce it.

Page 2 • October 3, 2008

OPINION

PolICIeS and letterS to the edItor Columns,commentariesandletterstotheeditorarepersonalopinionsof the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of 15th Street News orotherstudents,facultyoradministratorsofthecollege.Editorialsarewrittenbytheeditorialstaff. 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, [[email protected]] or recorded nights on PhoneMail at 733-7400 between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Letters must include the writer’s fullname,IDnumber,majorortitleandtelephonenumber. 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 Associa-tion,whichhasdesignatedthispapertopjuniorcollegenewspapersixyears, 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. Thispaperisrecyclable. 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 federallawsandregulations,doesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,sex,age,nationalorigin,religion,disability,sexualorientationorstatus 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.

Editor in ChiefRacheal Price ([email protected])

Assistant EditorJosh Pace ([email protected])

News Editor J.L. Morrissey ([email protected])

Features EditorBryan Mangieri ([email protected])

Staff WritersMiranda LimingsH. Alexander Shafer

PhotographersChelsea McIntire ([email protected])Eric Tatom ([email protected])

Graphic ArtistsBrian Allen Jessica Mayes

Circulation ManagerPaul Kim ([email protected])Tech SupportScottie Seger ([email protected])

SecretaryCarol Benefee ([email protected])

Coordinator of Stu-dent PublicationsJulie Lesko-Bishop ([email protected])

StaFF memberS

By RACHEAL PRICEEditor

Editorial

Up, up and never awayARIES

(March 21-April 20)

Doubting everything or believing every-

thing will only bring pain. Research, ana-lyze and decide for

yourself.

TAURUS (April 21-May 20) nothing is certain;

some things just tend to be more nearly

certain than others.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) Try to make some-thing precise and you’ll find out ex-

actly how vague the situation really is.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Learn and know

your limits. Every-one can do some-

thing, but no one can do everything.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Be creative and skeptical because these two forces

combined discovered everything great in

our lives.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

you can’t be open to new ideas if you are too skeptical. Being too open will lead to

folly.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Arrogance is almost surely a sign that you are wrong.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)Trusting too much can lead to being

deceived, but if you can’t trust anyone, you will live in tor-

ment.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

It is not hateful to be certain you are right; it is hateful to be un-

able to understand you may be wrong.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

Absolute purity is a fallacy. Remember that when judging

others.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21-Feb. 19) Look at the world

around you, not ev-erything should be possible but still it

is. Use that lesson to conquer your fears

and the world around you.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) To question your in-herited values is the mark of adulthood.

By BRyAn MAnGIERIEntertainment Editor

My Take On Life ...

My Diary

by Bryan Mangieri

Sept. 20th, 10:05 p.m.Dear Diary, Tonight, my friends, Terry and David really hurt my feelings. “Man up!” David said when I admitted that I could not curl approximate-ly 60 pounds in free weights. Terry laughed. Words hurt. So does laughter. But these two never realize it until it’s too late.

Sept. 20th, 8:54 p.m.

Dear Diary,

The digital age in-

undates us by way of

blogs with excruciating

details of the “everyday

”

person’s life. I wish

they would just shut

up. I don’t need an up-

date on MySpace every 30

minutes of how everyone

in the entire free world

is doing. I mean, it’s as

ridiculous as trying to

publish diary entries and

calling it an “article” o

r

“column.”

but who needs proof nowadays?

Sept. 20th, 10:37 p.m.

Dear Diary, “I beat Terry at Tet-ris,” is what I will say when he finally lets me play. “Even though he cheats.”

Sept. 20th, 11:15 p.m.

Dear Diary, I beat Terry at Tetris. Brains and beauty prevail over brawn and ugly.

Sept. 20th, 10:18 p.m.Dear Diary, “I could take the weights off,” David said. “You could curl the bar.” “No,” I said. That would have only embarrassed me. It’s not my fault I have a naturally thin frame. Sept. 20th, 10:35 p.m.

Dear Diary, Terry cheats at Tetris. I don’t have proof, again. He still cheats. “How can you cheat at Tetris?” Terry asked. “You can’t,” he said. Terry is a liar.Sept. 21st, 12:01 a.m.

Dear Diary, Terry beat my score at Tetris. “There’s a new sheriff in town, Bryan,” he proudly an-nounced. His score was 17, 895. Since we were partying at David’s, Da-vid beamed that it was

Sept. 20th, 11:30 p.m.

Dear Diary, Diane said she wanted to punch me in the kid-neys. Paul, her boyfriend, said he wanted her to punch me, so that he could punch her. “Paul has your back,” Diane said. We all laughed.

Sept. 20th, 11:37 p.m.

Dear Diary, Terry is playing Tetris,

a Saturday night, and we

were doing nothing better

than playing Nintendo. “I brought Nintendo

back,” David said.

Sept. 21st, 12:30 a.m.

Dear Diary, I don’t think I used

enough emoticons to prove

my point in the preceding

diary entries. People might

not understand what I

mean unless I use emoti-

cons. Oh well. I suppose

next week I’ll return with

yet another column.

One of the more interesting offices among the faculty of RSC is that of theater professor Rick Nelson. Nelson’s office is filled with the normal contents of any pro-fessor’s office: Graded papers, pictures of friends and a few file cabinets. A further look, however, will reveal very interesting elements tied into his office decor. Gazing around Nelson’s office, one might notice a predominant theme: Coffee. Starbucks cups, mugs, a thermos, a coffee maker, coffee grounds – do you get the picture? “I find that [coffee] helps give me a second wind because, usually, I’m here 12 hours a day.” nelson’s “coffee obsession”

is basically a pick me up enabling him to be a professor, a mentor, and the director for the college’s theatrical productions. Displayed on one wall is familiar funny man Charlie Chaplin as the comical char-acter The Tramp. The picture influences the way that nelson tries to view various situations in life. He finds that it reminds him to not take life too seriously. The photo’s influence on the office is evident when you see his comfy chairs, fun décor, and, of course, the coffee. There are little things that give certain flair to Nelson’s office. On a shelf above his desk stands a small cartoon-like figure of Shakespeare given to him by a student. Another shelf holds an ostentatious display of movies. On a small refrigerator sits a powerful replica of a ship given to him by his father. The three images display com-pletely different meanings yet manage to hold an important place in the office. The whole room is a manifestation of many different views and outlooks on life. Another feature of Nelson’s office is the

vast amount of scripts scattered throughout.

As a theatre professor, nelson feels it is an im-

portant thing to possess many theatrical works. The shelves crammed with scripts and other literature give the impression that nelson is well rounded in his profes-sion. The office has a laid back and wel-coming feeling. Nelson’s office reflects his unique personality, from the coffee paraphernalia down to the miscellaneous knick-knacks exhibited in the room. nel-son’s office indicates that who you are re-flects in everything you do and everything around you, including the work place!

Page 3 • October 3, 2008

NEWS & FEATURESBriefly

Speaking

by Wayne Robert WilliamsSolution from 9/26/08

ACROSS 1 $$ in banks6 FDR’s biographer11 Card game for two14 Hogwash!15 Mongol invader16 One of the Gershwins17 Start of a quip19 Animal house?20 Margarine21 Like a busybody22 Sandal strap24 Mennen shaving product26 Eroded28 Part 2 of quip32 Aardvark’s tidbit33 Blues singer James34 Light noshes38 Editor’s instruction40 Part 3 of quip42 __ she blows!43 Greeley or Mann46 Top-rated49 Cellular stuff

50 Part 4 of quip53 Dry, red wine56 Scrapes (out)57 Dentist’s direction58 CI quadrupled61 AAA advice64 Building annex65 End of quip68 Foamy brew69 Lace cap70 Video game name71 Colo. clock setting72 Planted items73 Stupefy with desire

DOWn1 Chan’s words2 neato!3 Follow4 Hit one’s drive5 Pathetic starter?6 Ref. for an element7 Cuts and runs8 Patronize, as an inn9 Common deciduous tree

10 Twelve-year-old, e.g.11 Black __ spider12 Gladiator’s domain13 Long-limbed18 Legislate23 Attacks25 Even score27 “__ the season to be jolly...”28 Run fast29 Division word30 Actress Hagen31 Hawaiian island35 Present time?36 “Citizen __”37 Barcelona Mmes.39 Triumphant cries41 Elmer, to Bugs44 Movie houses45 young newt47 __ Laredo, Mexico48 Antlered animal51 Capricious52 Shaped like a cylinder

53 Half-and-half half54 Sledding sites55 narrow bay59 Act60 Sea turtle grp.62 First name in architecture63 Agitated state66 Long, long time67 Fairy queen

Passport to LearningPassport to Learning booklets

are now available at the Student Center Information Desk. Stu-

dents who attend certain campus events can have their books

stamped for a chance to win a laptop and other prizes at the

end of the semester.

VOICE AccoladesThe voter registration drive

sponsored by VOICE held Sept. 15 – 19 was a success. Campus volunteers registered 388 stu-

dents to vote and RSC won the 6th Annual Voter Registration

Contest sponsored by Oklahoma Campus Compact.

ReminderRemember those wishing to vote in the nov. general election must

be registered to vote by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10.

Flu Shot ClinicRSC Health and Wellness will be offering flu and pneumonia shots 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tues-

day, Oct. 14 in the RSC Well-ness Center. no appointment is necessary and first come, first served. Shots are available for

RSC students, faculty, staff and the community. Flu shots will be $25 and pneumonia shot will be $35. Cash, check and Medicare

B card will be accepted.

Very Important Reader DayTelstar Elementary school is

hosting Very Important Reader day from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Fri-

day, Oct. 31. Participants are en-couraged to go dressed as their

favorite storybook character and may bring a book to read. Books will also be available on site to select. Light refreshments will be provided to all readers. If

interested, contact Mrs. Ander-son at 587-8936 or 514-5595. Questions regarding the event can be directed to Dr. Joanne

Stafford at [email protected]. Stafford also requests all volunteers e-mail her to let her office know of their intent to

participate.

Correction The 15th Street news errone-ously reported an incorrect title

for John Primo in the article titled, “Primo rises through the

ranks but still remembers origin” in the Sept. 28 edition.

John Primo’s correct title is Chief Information Officer of Information Technology Ser-

vices, which is a vice presidency position at RSC. As such, Primo reports directly to the president of the college and carries the

responsibilities associated with a position of that level.

The 15th Street news apolo-gizes to Primo for the error.

Office Ambush: Getting to know campus personali-ties through clutter

Rick Nelson, professor of theaterFine Arts ?

Dr. Eloy Chavez is quickly acclimating to his new position as the dean of continuing edu-cation and community servic-es. It is a fitting match seeing as Chavez knows how to bring people together. Chavez first began to tap into his gift more than 30 years ago as a student in Albuquer-que at the University of new Mexico. He immersed himself in student leadership activities including student senate and various committees at UnM. “Through my college career, I got involved with the popu-lar entertainment committee, which brought all the headlin-ing concerts to UnM,” Chavez said. The students he worked with had the challenging task of planning events and operating three large campus venues. “This was back in the ‘70’s and we brought in many groups. It was wonderful. We brought in everything from country western to theatrical presentations. I enjoyed the business of sound, staging, lighting, promotion, marketing, being backstage and front of house. And it was because of being on the popular entertain-ment committee that I flour-ished,” Chavez said. After graduating from UnM with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration and a minor in Music Education, Chavez went on to hone his community service skills by

running a student led nightclub that featured local bands and dances on the weekend. “We were a hotspot for the city of Albuquerque,” Chavez said. However, the success and popularity of the club eventu-ally led to “additional security” and became slightly over-whelming for Chavez. A scholarship from the na-tional Association for Cam-pus Activities led Chavez to change direction and relocate to University of South Caro-lina. “I wanted to see this land of ours,” Chavez said. “When you get comfortable, too comfortable; it’s time to move,” Chavez said, later cred-iting an advisor with sharing that sound advice. Chavez possessed deep ties to his community in Old Town, Albuquerque – as his fam-ily was one of the “original 13 families from Spain” who helped established it. But ultimately, he followed his ancestral pedigree and, like a modern conquistador, Chavez packed up his “Chicano Cadil-lac” and went on “to travel, to see and explore. To meet new people, as everyone has some positive contribution to add into your life,” Chavez said. In 1981, Chavez received his Masters of Education in Stu-dent Personnel Administration from University of South Caro-lina. He pondered many differ-ent career paths and received several offers, including work-ing for a cruise ship. He seri-ously considered the latter un-

til, again, an advisor stepped in and cau-tioned him against the idea – insisting that Chavez’s true talents were best served with stu-dents. Chavez agreed and decided to take a job at Oklahoma State University as a Program Coordina-tor for Student Ac-tivities. He stayed with OSU for three years and garnered several awards but he realized other op-portunities existed, eventually leading him to the Univer-sity of Minnesota. As a program coor-dinator at UM, Chavez celebrated diversity by initiat-ing programs like “Afrocen-tricity” celebrating Black his-tory and Hispanic celebration. “At that time, it wasn’t about a month. We were under the impression – and I truly be-lieve this – that you don’t need a [predetermined] day to cel-ebrate a culture, but that every day, every culture should be celebrated,” Chavez said From UM, Chavez returned to new Mexico for a few years and then found himself back in Oklahoma, this time return-ing as a graduate student at Oklahoma State University. He then received his Ed. D. in Higher Education and Admin-istration in 1999. Chavez would continue to champion diversity and bring

energy into every position he took. Chavez was the dean of students at St. Gregory’s Col-lege and before taking his posi-tion at RSC, he was the dean and director of students and student services at University of Science and Arts in Chicka-sha. Chavez is not entirely new to RSC however; he first came to RSC in 2001, working as a diversity workshop presenter and adjunct professor. “I always like to be on the cutting edge of higher educa-tion. I think we can take con-tinuing education, corporate development and community service and shoot it off the map,” Chavez said. “We’re playing with all kinds of ideas. I’ve been here for three weeks and my head is filled with ideas,” Chavez said.

Chavez: ‘Celebrate every culture, everyday’

(Photo by Chelsea McIntire)

By CHELSEA MCInTIREPhotographer

By J.L. MORRISSEyNews Editor

Firemen spark interest in local elementary studentsDavid Rudisill of the Midwest City Fire Department spoke with Telstar Elementary’s fifth grade students from Barbara Fleming, Nickie Cooper and Oli-ver Anyabolu’s classes Friday, Sept. 26. Rudisill was part of a presen-tation given to students to make them aware of the dangers of grease fires and ways to protect themselves in and against a fire.

The final portion of the day was a close up look at a fire truck and the instruments that are used to fight fires. Last the fifth graders were ad-vised by Capt. Bill Lott to “start now if you want to be success-ful in life. Keep clean and stay away from drugs.”

(Photo by Eric Tatom)

“We have to distrust each other. It is our only defence against betrayal.”

~ Tennessee Williams

When someone hears about using paint, fire, paste or inanimate objects as a means of creating a piece of art, most people would not immediately think of using a book as a canvas. Book altering is a relatively new art medium, in which the artist is able to take an old book and transform it into art. “We are expecting to see people be-ing inspired by altering books,” Laura Teske, cataloging/reference librarian, said. Surely the idea may sound obscure, because no one wants to be accused of “defacing” literature, but think of this

idea as one that will revive an unused book, according to www.alteredbookartists.com. Beginning Oct. 20, RSC will be hosting a book-altering con-test, as a part of the Big Read festivities, and will continue until Oct. 24. Participants are encouraged to enter their artwork now until Oct. 20 by 5 p.m. The contest is open to all RSC students and faculty, as well as all Mid-Del middle and high school students. Entry forms are now available in the LRC at the reference desk. Four categories will be arranged: mid-dle school, high school, RSC students and employees. The winner of each cat-

egory will be presented a “Best In Show” ribbon. Winners of each category will be announced Oct. 20. “It’s just a way to have a visual for the Big Read,” Teske said. According to www.karenswhimsy.com, book altering is defined as, “a book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art.” This means that the artist has a wide range

to work with and there are no rules or standards that must be followed. An art-ist can burn a book, paint it, fold pages,

add aspects of the book (poems, objects) or anything else the mind can conjure up. Book altering has national acclaim, with artists congregating and practic-ing the art. The International Society of Altered Book Artists (ISABA) is a non-profit organization that promotes the use of book altering as art. The ISABA promotes book altering by educating the public about and build-ing traveling libraries of altered books, in addition to organizing workshops and symposiums, according to www.altered-bookartists.com. For more information on the altered books contest or questions regarding the Big Read, contact Laura Teske at the 733-7402.

Paramount, you’ve done it again. you’ve managed to take what could be a good story for a movie and turn it into a complete mess. “Eagle Eye” stars Shia LaBeouf as Jerry Shaw, a young man who seems to never get it right, no matter how hard he tries. Sound familiar? When his twin brother, Ethan, dies, Jerry comes home to masses of military weapons in his apartment and is consequently being pur-sued by the FBI and Air Force. now this is where we need to stop and ask ourselves the question: why have so many movies made within the past seven years been about terrorism? Terror-ism movies, especially those about acts against America, are amazingly huge cash cows for Hollywood. With “World Trade Center” grossing over 70 million

dollars and “United 93” grossing over 31 million dollars, can you blame Para-mount for cashing in? Rachel Holloman, played by Michelle Monaghan, was amazing in her role. Monaghan has a knack for being terri-fied, as in her roles in Mission Impos-sible III and Bourne Supremacy. When Rachel and Jerry first meet, a brief struggle ensues before the two characters realize they are on the same team and are both screwed. Three car chase scenes and some real-ly badly written script conversations lat-er, Jerry and Rachel must sacrifice their lives for the President and his cabinet, and Rachel’s son. During the Presidential address, a small bomb is planted in a necklace worn by Rachel and is waiting for the signal to detonate. Somehow, Jerry and Rachel save the day and then share a pre-teen kiss at the end. This is where the real problem

arises. A movie has yet to be made where LaBeouf has had a steamy scene with a co-star. Or better yet, a movie where he doesn’t play the hard to hate, easy to love kid. Time Magazine called LaBeouf the “scrap-py kid next door,” which is true as evidenced his per-formances in Transformers, I, Robot and Indiana Jones. When will Paramount make a decent movie, worth 10 dollars? When will Shia LaBeouf finally become 22 years old, and not play an 18 year old? These are the questions that need to be ad-dressed and answered. Besides all of the gun toting, big boom car chases and PG-13 language barrier, fans might get a kick out of seeing Eagle

Eye. But waiting until it comes out to RedBox might be your best bet. your wallet and piece of mind will thank you later.

Page 4 • October 3, 2008

ENTERTAINMENT

Lerma strums for Internet Fans

By MIRAnDA LIMInGContributing Writer

By H. ALExAnDER SHAFERStaff Writer

Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf, left) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan, right) are two unsuspecting

Americans drawn into a mysterious conspiracy in the race-against-time thriller “Eagle Eye.” (Ralph Nelson/

DreamWorks/MCT)

Redbox ‘Eagle Eye,’ your wallet will thank you later

While the term “anti-folk” probably escapes the average music listener’s vocabulary, that doesn’t mean he or she hasn’t been exposed to the genre. The Moldy Peaches didn’t invent anti-folk, but they popularized it. The musical act composed the tune, “Any-one Else But you,” which actors Mi-chael Cera and Ellen Page sung during the closing scene of the film “Juno.” RSC student and local anti-folk mu-sician, Matt Lerma describes anti-folk as much more than a ‘sound,’ rather it’s a movement, a new attitude. “The point of making music is to make music,” Lerma, a theater major, said. “It’s to find the beauty in things that are odd or obscure.” Lerma said basically anti-folk is “or-dinary people making music,” people

who don’t necessarily strive to make money, but still consider themselves “serious artists.” To play anti-folk, one doesn’t have to concern oneself with skill level; it’s a welcome trait, but not necessary. Lerma said that his own ability as a guitarist is “very novice” at best. But that doesn’t keep him from cranking out tunes that exemplify the sloppy but playful quality of the particular scene. “I hate to sound cliché, but (it’s) sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll,” he said. “Anti-folk is pretty much true to the music itself.” Many anti-folk singers found a fol-lowing in Europe. So did Lerma, who pulled a few listeners in from overseas, a feat, which he boasts about. “I got a few e-mails from people in France who thought my music was funny,” he said. Lerma said including amongst these fans was French pop sensation, SoKo, who scored an international hit with “I’ll Kill Her.” She calls herself a fan

of Lerma’s silly songwriting, Lerma said. However, it took some time before Lerma found his own voice. Before developing into the solo artist that he is today, Lerma struggled from one cover band to the next, switching from styles such as red-dirt and emo. Then he put the cover scene aside

and formed a band with Michael Ozborn, a fellow employee at a call center. They dubbed themselves Vegan Attack based on a joke that Lerma said he didn’t think was ap-propriate for the 15th Street news. Vegan Attack waved the banner of anti-folk proudly, playing acous-tic punk music. “The band really had a lifespan of four months,” he said. “Af-ter that I decided to go

solo.” For those interested in his acoustic one-man show, Lerma said to visit his web site at www.myspace.com/mat-thewlerma. He said he will send any-one a recording of his music, free of charge. Just contact him.

Anti-folk local musician, Matt Lerma may not know chords but that doesn’t stop him. (Photo by Eric Tatom)

By BRyAn MAnGIERIEntertainment Editor

Music Stand

Counseling Tip No. 6

Without help, abuse will continue and could worsen. Many resources are available to help you understand your options and to support you. Check the schedule for activities on Domestic Violence throughout this month. Call Special Services and Student Outreach 733-7373 for a confidential free counseling when you need help.

Altered books latest ‘objet d’art’; LRC hosts contest

Varying

LongitudeLatitudeN 35 27.913’W 97 31.619’

Degreesof arts and culture

Where did your critical thinking caps go? no one won the picture puzzle from last week which was a shot of the formal garden of the new Oklahoma City Federal Build-ing. The building was designed by Ross Barney Architects for a cool 30 million and was completed in 2004. Here are some hints to help you solve this week’s puzzle. A conversion is neces-

sary and Google Street View tells all. E-mail your solution to [email protected] for a chance to be entered into the drawing for a sweet prize.

Solution from 9/26/08

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.

SUDOKU

Alexis Price, age 11, redesigned this book of state flowers and birds

and repurposed it as a sketchbook cover.

(Photo by Chelsea Mc-Intire)