NEWS · V o l u m e I X L I, s s u e 2 1 Mar. 30, 2012 Fallin snubs presidential visit ... trail, candidates running for office are spouting venom at the president for his choices,

Over spring break, Oklahoma had a very high profile visitor. President Barack Obama came to the state to address the Keystone XL Pipeline extension. The Pipeline would go through Cushing on its way from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

The pipeline has been a topic of contention for Congress and the White House since the beginning of the year. When payroll tax cuts made their way through Congress, and as a stipulation for renewal of the tax cuts, Republicans insisted that the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline be passed as well. The Obama administration announced in January that they would halt the project due to the “ rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans [that] prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment,” President Obama said in a statement.

On March 22, the president

announced in Cushing that he was expediting the permit for TransCanada to build the southern portion of the pipeline. This turnabout in policy may have been prompted from the harsh criticism he faced from Congressional Republicans and governors, including Oklahoma’s own Gov. Mary Fallin.

Mayor Mick Cornett of OKC and Mayor Jack Fry of Midwest City were on hand to greet President Obama along with Tinker officials. Come that night, the question on many Oklahomans’ minds was, where was Gov. Fallin, or any other high-ranking Oklahoma official? There were no state officials there to greet Obama as he arrived at Tinker Air Force Base. Many did have reasons as to why they did not attend, some citing the lack of notice as to why they were unavailable, but such is the nature of presidential travel. Many saw this as an intentional snub by the governor, who they believed to be placing political ideology over respect for the Executive Office of the President. A statement released by the governor’s office later

revealed she was in Puerto Rico for a family vacation.

State Representative Mike Shelton responded to Fallin’s comments on Obama’s decision to expedite the permit.

“For the governor and most major state officials to skip President Obama’s visit is insulting to the president and an embarrassment to the state… While the governor did not have time to meet or even greet the president, she did have time to issue press releases attacking him… Today, Oklahomans looked good on energy, but poor on leadership,” he said in a statement released March 22.

With a past of high tension between the two, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer shared an intense exchange in January on a Phoenix runway with the President when he visited her state. Even when they do not agree with their policies, it is seen as a duty of the governor to greet the president and other high-ranking federal officials when they come to the state.

IN THIS ISSUE:

...Page 2• Manners Matter Fallin• News Briefs

...Page 3• D2L spring cleaning• Campus Chat

...Page 4• Creativity blooms• Math workshop

...Page 5• Museum of Art• Creativity through Magic

...Page 6• Trends: Pinterested?

...Page 6-7• Movie Review: Hunger

Games

...Page 8• Weekly Event Calendar• Weekly Puzzles

NEWSYour Rose State College news-magazine, serving the campus since 1972

Volum

e XLI, Issue 21

Mar. 30, 2012

Fallin snubs presidential visit

Keystone Pipeline proves to be the sticking point for Obama and Fallin’s professional relationship. Photo courtesy of mctcampus.com

By: Chelsea RattermanAssistant Editor

Recently, President Barack Obama visited Oklahoma, and to the dismay of many of the state’s population, Oklahoma’s most important elected official, Gov. Mary Fallin, was not there to meet him. Her past remarks have shown certain displeasure with our president. Many believe that this may have been a deliberate snub to our nation’s MVP. If this is true, this shows an extreme lack of respect for an office that should demand the most respect of any.

In a time when many are disillusioned with the government and its leaders, there are still the few who get excited at the simple prospect of a sitting president being in eyeshot, and that is how it should be. They still recognize the prestige and respect the office demands as being the one representative of the American people.

Respect has been lost in the last few decades for the Executive Office of the President. Political views, affiliations, or religious choice should be set aside, especially in matters of state and the duties required. On the campaign

trail, candidates running for office are spouting venom at the president for his choices, lack of progress, and just overall demeanor while in office. In each of Gov. Fallin’s press releases or speeches concerning the president she has been nothing but vile in tone.

“I hope that while President Obama is in Oklahoma he takes some time to listen to our citizens, many of whom work for the energy industry which he claims to support,” Gov. Fallin said, in a press release following the announcement of President Obama’s visit. She goes on to accuse him and his party of supporting an “aggressively anti-energy agenda,” despite the Obama administration’s push for cleaner energy that would decrease our dependence on oil itself.

These practices are unacceptable. There are respectful ways of expressing displeasure in the choices of those who direct our country, and the members of Congress and governors do not seem to grasp this. Sarcasm, accusation and hostility in press release and speech form do nothing but rile the

opposition to a similar reaction, which leads to the round robin the U.S. has been experiencing for years now. We need to return to a time where the Executive Office of the President, and other elected officials, still

command their due respect. Twenty years ago elected officials would not have had the gall to speak in the tones they do now. It is not a matter of freedom of speech, but a matter of manners.

Spring Contest Powwow2 – 11:00 p.m. April 21, PTEC BuildingThe American Indian Association and United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. will host the first Rose State College Spring Contest Powwow. A free, traditional dinner will be served at 5 p.m., followed by a native dance competition. For more information, call Mechelle Aitson-Roessler (736-0203) or Alan Neitzel (736-0347).

2012 Community Health Fair9 a.m. – 1 p.m. April 11, Student CenterFree screenings include: Glucose and lipid profile, blood pressure check, pulmonary function testing, posture analysis, sleep apnea screening, and diabetic foot screening.For more information call 733-7351 or Nickie Williams at 733-7330

Student Success Identity Theft Workshop. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Wednesday April 4, Engineering and Technology building, room 208. Workshop attendees can register to win an iPad 2 (drawing held in May). A drawing for a free t-shirt is held at every workshop. For more information, call 733-7334.

Annual Spring SurveyBeginning April 2, the LRC will conduct a survey in order to determine how the LRC might better serve students. The survey is available on the LRC web and Facebook pages. Printed copies of the survey are also available. The survey will run through April 30th.

Staff MeMberS

Editor in ChiefLogan Pierce ([email protected])Assistant EditorChelsea Ratterman ([email protected])Feature EditorKatie Johnston ([email protected])Assignment EditorD.J. Gosnell ([email protected])Online EditorMelissa Strout ([email protected])Graphic ArtistMichele Penix ([email protected])PhotographerTracie Bullen ([email protected])Circulation ManagerAmber Stafford ([email protected])Coordinator of Student PublicationsJulie Lesko-Bishop ([email protected])

Computer GuruScottie Seger ([email protected])VolunteersVictoria Beechum (staff writer)Leiden Pierce (cartoonist)

Letters to the Editor The 15th Street News welcomes and encourages letters to the editor. Letters should be no more than 300 words and may be edited for clarity, length, or to avoid obscenity, libel and invasion of privacy but tideas will not be altered. Student submissions must include the student’s name, ID number, and major. The ID number will not be printed. Faculty and staff letters must include the writer’s name, title, and extension. The extension will not be printed. Anonymous letters will be read, but not printed. 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.

Policies The 15th Street News is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. Columns, commentaries and letters to the editor are personal opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of 15th Street News or other students, faculty or administrators of the college. 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, Dr. Kent Lashley, 733-7490. 15th Street News, a student newspaper serving the RSC community, is published weekly, except school holidays, on Fridays during the fall and spring semesters by the

Office of Student Publications, 6420 SE 15, Midwest City, OK 73110. 15th Street News is a member of Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association and Associated Collegiate Press. This publication is printed by Shawnee News Star, issued by RSC and authorized by the Coordinator of Student Publications. This paper is recyclable. RSC, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.This includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.

OpiniOn2 March 30, 2012

EDITORIALManners matter even for the governor

News BriefsGraphic courtesy of Clay Bennett

While students enjoyed their spring break, IT workers made several changes to D2L. Among the changes that occurred were to the news feeds, notifications, calendar and email. Students can view these changes and the new D2L layout changes upon logging in.

Posted on D2L is the following

information:• News - News items are now

dismissible. After you’ve read a news item, you may hide it by clicking the X on the right side of the news item. You may click the News tool icon to see all of the news items again (even the hidden ones).

• Notifications - You may access the Notifications tool within each

course to set up how automatic notifications are triggered and how they are sent. Look for the Notifications tool icon at the top of the News widget. Events that can trigger a notification are new discussion postings, new or updated news items, and Dropbox deadlines that are within two days. These notification messages can be sent to any external email account and/or to your mobile phone via text message (messaging rates apply).

• Calendar - The Calendar tool has been completely overhauled. In addition, if you use an external online calendar, you may subscribe to the D2L course calendar via an iCal feed.

• Email - All email sent in D2L will be flagged in the subject line with text that identifies the D2L course from which it was sent. If you have copies of mail forwarded to an external email account, this text will help you put the message in proper context.

For information about how to use

any of the tools in D2L, click the User Guide link in the navigation bar at the top of any D2L page.

These changes are important because you can link your D2L calendar with your classes, assignments, appointments and personal life. Students can link D2L with iCal, which is integrated with MobileMe to track everything with your mobile device, through text messages, email reminders or shared with other electronic devices and over the internet. Those using iCal can subscribe to other calendars in order to sync up with family or friends, or even their favorite sports team or TV shows. Students can input their homework, class schedules, exam schedules and other important dates to magnify their college experience.

Students may choose to get email updates from D2L. To opt out of them, they can log into their student account, and with a few simple clicks, students can eliminate emails they do not wish to receive or even add their mobile number to get text or email reminders sent to their cell.

March 30, 2012 3news

In Focus

Campus Chat: Should Fallin have been here to greet President Obama?

“If it’s your duty, then show up. Put your feelings aside

and do it.”

Catheryn Jones,Geology Major

“I’m pretty indifferent about it.”

Zach Lewallan,Business Major

Jorge Carrizales,Chemistry Major

“It’s her job and duty to greet the president. She is the

representative of our state.”

November Lawler,Photography Major

“It’s really rude. You don’t be rude to the president.”

D2L goes through some spring cleaning

D2L’s main page greets all users with a new interface for the Spring semester.Photo by Michele Penix

By: Katie JohnstonFeature Editor

By: Chelsea RattermanAssistant Editor

National Library Week is April 8 - 14; during this time the LRC will be hosting a Blackout poetry event to honor the week.

Blackout poetry also known as Newspaper Blackout, involves a person taking a sheet of text or newsprint and selecting words to create a unique poem, with any words not used blacked out with marker.

The inspiration for this event came from Austin Kleon’s book “Steal Like

an Artist.” “This type of poetry gives people

who might have a hard time finding the right words the ability to create their own masterpiece,” Barb Pfrehm, coordinator library audio visual services, said.

Kleon’s book shows ways people can pick up everyday items and create a piece of art or poetry that is extraordinary.

Imagine taking a bag full of

aluminum cans, cutting off the top and bottoms and down the side of the cans, flattening them, taking something hot and burning a picture into the reflective surface so that it all fits together like a puzzle.

April 12 the LRC will have a share day where participants can read their blackout poetry. Art, like anything, relies on the creator expressing their thoughts.

RaideR Life4 March 30, 2012

Students are taking the steps necessary to overcome their fear of math, also known as arithmophobia.

On March 27, Amber Mitchell, TriO Student Support Services director, gave a presentation on conquering math anxiety. Mitchell said that the hang-ups people have with math are

emotional, not intellectual.Mitchell talked about the “Math

Mindset,” a widely accepted belief that math is so difficult that few are capable of understanding it, therefore it is okay to avoid being successful at it.

To illustrate the point, she presented a scenario of individuals in their mid-twenties eating at a restaurant. When the check comes, they scratch their heads trying to figure out the correct tip. One says, “Isn’t it funny that we’re all in grad school, and none of us can do math?” This elicited smirks and chuckles from those in attendance.

Now, let’s do that scenario again, only this time when the menus are brought out, the group scratches their heads, unable to comprehend the words. One says, “Isn’t it funny that we’re all in grad school, and none of us can read?” Mitchell noticed that there were no smirks or chuckles after the scenario’s second version.

Mitchell said that there’s a social stigma associated with illiteracy, but

that it’s socially acceptable to be a math illiterate.

Several methods were discussed in obtaining math mastery. Consistent study patterns are crucial to comprehension. “Don’t just cram before a test,” Mitchell said. Studies show that between a half hour to an hour is an ideal amount of time to spend on a subject. After that, take a break before returning to the material.

“Something that worked for me was eating a Snickers bar a half hour before I took a test,” Mitchell said, “I gained 20 pounds, but my grades improved. Maybe it was just a sugar rush, but to me, it helped.”

“The most important thing to remember is that everybody is capable of learning math,” Mitchell said.

The next Student Success workshop will cover how to protect important information from identity theft. It will take place 12:30 p.m., Wed. April 4, in the Engineering and Technology building, Rm. 208.

Math workshop, dividing anxiety from emotions

Gunn High School (Palo Alto, California) students, including Sam Keng, 17, center, participate in Calculus Camp 2003 at the YMCA Camp Jones Gulch in La Honda, California on Saturday, April 26, 2003. Photo courtesy of mctcampus.com

By: Logan PierceEditor-in-Chief

Creativity blooms within the well of the mindBy: Dennis GosnellAssignment Editor

Perhaps you have heard of a little known actor named Johnny Depp. The TV show that started his blockbuster career has now been adapted into a movie. “21 Jump Street,” based on the TV show of the same name, follows police officers as they conduct stings within the public school system. The 2012 movie follows Jenko and Schmidt, two officers who just can’t seem to get it together. After an arrest gone wrong, they are sent to Jump Street to take part in a resurrected program that busts drug rings in high schools. The two are sent back to high school and told to infiltrate the dealers and catch the swept up of the new synthetic drug on the marked. What follows is a hysterical redo of the pair’s high school years, with the roles switched in terms of popularity and standing with each other. The two get in the action, and the situation just doesn’t seem to be in control with these two. makers

Map of Thought, another example of Kleon’s style of artwork. Graphic by Michele Penix

Left: An example of blackout poetry by Dennis Gosnell

March 30, 2012 5news

Museum of Art celebrates 10th Anniversary

Left: Museum pamphlet showcases the many exhibits on display.

Top: Museum visitors wander around enjoying the variety of exhibits.

Center: Patrons enter the lobby and view the Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower made of 55 feet of blown glass.

Photos by Chelsea Ratterman

Why does the collectible card game (CCG) Magic: the Gathering appeal to some students? Unlike the Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh CCGs, there’s no anime to help promote sales of Magic. Its popularity is the result of the game itself.

In 1993, when Richard Garfield created the first set of Magic cards, overtly named Alpha, he could not have foreseen the staying power the game would have nearly 20 years later. Released by the Washington-based company Wizards of the Coast (WotC), Magic was the first trading card game of its kind and has continued to grow since its inception.

Mason Meyer, cyber security major, has played Magic for 18 years. In between classes, Meyer and other Magic players meet in the Student Center to play and socialize. “I like Magic because it’s a way for people who don’t fit in normal society to fit in and play games,” Meyer said.

More than 12,000 unique Magic

cards have been printed, with a few new expansions released each year. That can seem overwhelming for those just starting out.

Jimmy Barnes, business major, started playing Magic last semester. “I like the strategy of Magic,” Barnes said, “I like the idea of assembling an army and outwitting my opponent.”

Steve Wolbert, English major, also picked up Magic last semester. “My favorite kind are tribal decks, like my zombie or elf tribal,” Wolbert said. Tribal decks are constructed around iconic fantasy races, such as elves, goblins or zombies.

Magic is not a cheap hobby. Significant sums of money are spent on these pieces of cardboard. One of the most expensive cards is the iconic Black Lotus, which sells for $3,000 on average

“I spent between $500 and $1,000 on Magic in two semesters,” Wolbert said, “Boys don’t grow up; their toys just get more expensive.”

According to Hasbro, WotC’s

parent company, the volume of printed Magic cards has doubled since 2008, as the player base for the game has increased by more than 80 percent since then.

John Frascotti, Hasbro Chief

Marketing Officer, does not see the Magic trend ending anytime soon. “For the more than 12 million players around the world, Magic is more than just a product and more than just a game, it’s a lifestyle,” Frascotti said.

Unlocking creativity through Magic

Pictured left to right: Mason Meyer, Steve Walbert and Jimmy Barnes pit their play skills and deck building creativity against each other in a game of Magic: The Gathering. Photo by Logan Pierce

By: Logan PierceEditor-in-Chief

“ E v e r y d a y t h e y ’ r e s h u f f l i n ’ ”

enteRtainment6 March 30, 2012

Pinterest is a hot new social networking website. It is a online forum of pictures and ideas to share with other users. The site’s popularity has exploded in recent months, making it the fastest growing website in history. It hit the 10 million monthly visitors mark faster than Facebook, Twitter, or any other site tracked by Comscore. The company is built by a small team in sunny Palo Alto, California and funded by a group of successful entrepreneurs and investors.

Pinterest users organize virtual scrapbooks of images they find on the web. It’s a place to post fashion inspirations, decorating ideas and much more. People use pinboards to view and browse other people pins and to discover new things and inspiration. A pin is an image added to a pinboard using the “pin it” button, or you can upload images from an external site or your own computer. Once you’re a member you can create boards and name them anything, with “recipes”

and “wedding” being popular choices. You can also follow other members on Pinterest, see the most popular pins or find gift ideas. You can “like” anything that catches your eye or repin it to

your own board or add a comment. Pinterest is currently invite-

only. You can request an invite from Pinterest or you can be invited by someone who is already a member.

When you receive an invite, you can connect your account via Facebook and Twitter. The goal of Pinterest is connect people all over the world based on shared tastes and interests.

S i t e u s e r s “ P i n t e r e s t e d ”By: Amber StaffordCirculation Manager

Pinterest lets its 12 million-and-counting users collect and share digital images and link them to websites. Here, Joan Morris’ Pinterest page is shown. Photo courtesy of mctcampus.com

The newest movie adaptation of a young adult book was released over spring break. “The Hunger Games” opened to an amazing $19.7 million in midnight shows alone, and went on to win the weekend box office with a whopping $152.5 million domestically making it the third highest opening ever (trailing “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” and “The Dark Knight”) and the highest opening ever for a non-sequel. It beat out every “Twilight” installment, as it was able to draw in the male audience the “Twilight” movies have been sorely lacking.

The story follows Katniss Everdeen, as she goes from District 12’s resident huntress to national icon as a participant in the 74th Annual Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a reality show put on each year as a reminder, and punishment, for the civil war that decimated North America and led to this post-apocalyptic world. Each year, two tributes from each of Panem’s 12 districts go to compete

in a televised fight to the death. The first half of the movie follows Katniss’ journey to The Capitol as a tribute, her training and her beautification,

which is provided to make her acquire as many sponsors as possible. She makes her grand entrance as “The Girl on Fire,” and is instantly the one

to watch in the Games. Leading up to the Games, she and her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark, are trained by District 12’s only winner, Haymitch.

Box off ice odds favor Hunger

(Lenny Kravitz, from left) Cinna, (Woody Harrelson) Haymitch Abernathy and (Peeta) Josh Hutcherson star in “The Hunger Games.” Photo courtesy of mctcampus.com

By: Chelsea RattermanAssistant Editor

March 30, 2012 7enteRtainment

With the catch line of the Games resonating in the ears of audience members, tributes are off to a bloody start. After the surprising end of the Games, the movie finishes with enough closure for the audience that, had it not succeeded at the box office as it did, would not have required a sequel.

Already there are talks of adapting the rest of Suzanne Collins books in the series, “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay,” into movies. Rumors are swirling that Lionsgate will follow suit in the two-part movie finale craze started by the “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” movies. Whether this is true or not, more movies are guaranteed with the box office results.

Collins wrote the script with director Gary Ross and writer Billy Ray, which pleased many fans. They saw this as an assurance the movie would stick to the source material as much as possible.

Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone; X-Men: First Class) played the heroine Katniss Everdeen. Her portrayal was excellent, and brought the character to life for the audience who had only read about her. Katniss is rewriting the idea of female characters, making them strong women, capable of defending themselves and others, instead of being damsels in distress, a la Bella Swan, and bringing that ideal to a new generation of women. The movie did not focus on the love triangle between Katniss, Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and Peeta ( Josh Hutcherson), instead making it an asset to the flow of the plot, giving the characters depth and making them more than pawns in a game.

The movie garnered a PG-13 rating, although editing was required for the movie to be shown in the UK. Actors including Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, and Woody Harrelson play the high-profile members in the Capitol. The film is a strong adaptation and stands on its own without comparisons to the source material. Sequels are guaranteed to follow, and should the box office continue on its current path, the catch line of the games could very well hold true for Lionsgate: “Happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor.”

Games

Across1 Sound from a tree6 Range between soprano and tenor10 Cpls.’ underlings14 Flamboyant evangelist __ Semple McPherson15 Boston Bruins or Chicago Bears, e.g.16 Inter __: among others17 Baseball’s Nolan and actress Meg18 Bath towel word19 Natasha’s no20 *Resolve once and for all22 Many an October baby, astrologically23 A __ alfa24 Nairobi native25 Satirical Mort28 Arrive after a

tough trip31 Schoolroom group33 Travelers’ lodgings34 Hypotheticals37 PC key38 *Savings for later in life41 Miracle-__: garden brand42 B’way setting43 Slender woodwind44 Reacted to fireworks46 The Beatles’ George50 Salt Lake City college team, aptly51 “Happy I can oblige”53 Cop’s route55 Lassos56 Lyric in a Porter song that ends “Let’s fall in love,” and a hint to the starts of the starred answers (and

1-Across)61 “__ well that ends ...”62 Rani’s garment63 Cease-fire64 Coagulate, as blood65 Treater’s words66 Levels, as a building67 Italian noble family68 Fava or lima69 Illegally off-base GIs

Down1 Poet Sandburg2 Breezy greeting3 “__ be wrong, but ...”4 Avis offerings5 Cuban cash6 Zeus’ daughter7 Popular jeans8 Small fruit pie9 Mantric syllables10 Italian sandwich

11 *Like unreliable short-term businesses12 Olds Cutlass model13 The devil21 Canyon edge22 “Come on, we’re late”24 Goal in checkers25 Read, as a bar code26 Treaty partner27 *Do some scheming29 Flying toys30 U-turn from WSW32 Stable sounds35 Available for a date36 Puts in a lawn the fast way39 River of Spain40 “... or __ thought”45 Beat in a Western showdown47 “__ Fideles”: carol48 Conan of “Conan”49 Simpsons neighbor Flanders51 Pre-meal blessing52 Lounges around54 Stars, in Latin56 Undoing57 Cookbook writer Rombauer58 Greek liqueur59 Its cap. is Reykjavik60 Tracy’s Trueheart62 Cry out loud

Crossword Puzzle Calendar of Events for week ofMarch 30 to April 6

Volunteer for Last Dinner on the Titanic Contact Lindsay Lancaster at 733-6352 or

go to http://www.rose.edu/titanicdinner

April 2LRC Spring Survey

Available online, in the LRCContact Brad Robison for more information at

733-7402

April 5Dress Casual for Kids Day

April 6Deadline for Student Senate Excutive Officer

applications, Student Activities5 p.m.

puzzLes & events8 March 30, 2012

Last Weeks Answers