Fort

y years of being the student voice

Volume XXXX, Issue 21

Friday, April 22, 2011

Illegal LoveHow many illegially downloaded songs does it take for a journalist to snap?Music Stand, Page 2

Success StoryWhat campus employee was recently given

a second chance at life?Spotlight, Page 3

15th Street News

The sky was overcast with high winds out of the Northwest Fri., April 15, while Steve Carano, professor of meteorology and KOCO 5 meteorologist, spoke to attendees during the Weather Warning seminar in the Raider room.

Carano explained to the group about safeguards against weather, which could aid in tolerance, and even survival, in severe weather situations.

Footage of severe weather was shown, including that of the mile-wide May 3 tornado, remembered and survived by so many Oklahomans.

Carano informed the audience that damaging winds could cause as much destruction as a small tornado, saying that he would like to see a law requiring hurricane clips be used in all “Tornado Alley” house constructions. “Hurricane clips just might save your house from severe winds,” Carano said.

According to hurricanehotline.com, “Metal hurricane clips provide a positive connection for tying the roof to the wall.” This means that high winds have less of a chance of blowing a roof off of a structure, which then can save a majority of a house and its contents inside.

Once a roof or window is compromised, the interior structure can become pressurized, allowing the building to become more easily blown and destroyed.

Carano informed the audience on the breakdown of tornados:• Roughly 70 percent are F0 or F1 • About 28 percent are F2 or F3• Less than two percent are between F4

and F5• In meteorology, there is no classification

of F6When seeking shelter from a tornado,

Carano suggests what he refers to as “the onion effect,” where the walls are like the layers of an onion. “Go to the lowest floor, in the center of the structure, with many walls in between,” Carano said, “Surround yourself with as many onion rings as possible.”

“What makes a thunderstorm severe,” Carano asked attendees, while informing them that an ordinary thunderstorm only lasts 20 – 30 minutes.

Severe thunderstorms will include at least one of the following attributes:• Hail one inch in diameter or larger• Winds 58 mph or higher• Wind or hail damage to objects in path

In addition, Carano said that heavy rain, light hail, lightning and winds below 58 mph aren’t considered “severe,” but added that they can feel severe to anyone affected by them.

When talking about the effects of lightning, Carano referenced the work of Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, an expert on lightning injuries, who has documented photos of patients who, after being struck by lightning, developed intricate

lightning-shaped scars on their backs.The audience learned that lightening is

three to five times hotter than the surface of the sun; a bolt of lightening is only three-quarters of an inch in diameter; and that on average, 90 percent of people who are struck by lightening survive.

Carano advised his audience on what to do when caught in a lightning storm. “Don’t lie flat on the ground,” he said. “Crouch down, squatting on your tiptoes.” Additional precautions to take include refraining from using appliances or bathing during a lightning storm.

Carano emphasized that the most important weather safety precaution is to own a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio. “It’s just as important as a smoke detector in your home,” Carano said.

“People should know where to go and what to do in an emergency and if you don’t, it’s epic fail.”

(Photo by MCT Campus)

By: Logan PierceAssignment Editor

Through a unanimous vote, the Mid-Del School Board of Education voted to sell Traub Elementary and the 12 acres it currently sits on to RSC for $1.2 million with a three-year lease back option Mon., April 11, during the district’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Traub, located on the north end of campus at 6500 S.E. 15th St, was one of three properties the district put up for sale by sealed bids. The others consisted of Sooner Rose Elementary, 5601 S.E. 15th St, and the Mid-Del Central Enrollment Center, 2712 S Midwest Blvd.

Though tensions were high when the intended sale was first announced, parents and faculty of both schools pleaded with the district to consider their hardships when making the decision.

“[Traub is] not just a school, it’s not just a property for sale. It’s our kids. It’s not just something you can put up for sale,” Kelli Kornbeck, parent of a Traub student, said before the board vote. “[Traub] teaches our kids citizenship. It teaches them responsibility.”

RSC was the only bidder for Traub. Mid-Del also unanimously approved a bid by BancFirst Mid-Del to purchase Sooner Rose for $1.6 million with a four-year lease back

option. The district turned down a bid for

Sooner Rose by the Midwest City Memorial Hospital Authority for $1.7 million that did not include a lease back option. One bid for the enrollment center was voted down.

“[The deal is fair] because our students get to stay there,” Kornbeck said. “They still get to stay there with their friends, their teachers and their principal, whom they all already know.”

The campus’ purchase agreement for Traub states that the district can lease the property to continue its use as an elementary school for one dollar a year, for up to three years, or until a suitable new facility is built.

College President Dr. Terry Britton said that RSC purchased the property to give the college room to expand.

“Currently, the college has very little vacant space for expansion, especially a space that will accommodate any future instructional

buildings,” Britton said. “The 12 acres in the sale property are already contiguous with RSC property to the south and west, and will allow the RSC Board ample space for flexible development.”

Britton said that by securing space for new technical instruction space for programs, such as information technology and engineering, will “improve its ability to provide for the next generation of Mid-Del students.”

Many parents and followers of the roughly four-month on going saga of the Mid-Del district and its school closings have shown a variety of feedback on all news reports and internet blogging of the situation.

Local news channel KFOR updated their Facebook page at every opportunity, following the story closely.

“My daughter and son go to sooner rose and love it there...im concerned with what’s there going to do with all the kids. My daughter doesn’t want to separate from her friends,” Jessica Cardenas said on one story update.

Many others like Cardenas worry about the fate of their children’s education and time left at the elementary schools.

As of publication, RSC has not yet determined what the land attained from the purchase will be used for, or how it will be used in the future.

(Photo by Bryan Trude)

By: Bryan TrudeAssistant Editor

The campus’ Green Team, in conjunction with the Waste Management Corporation and PepsiCo, cut the ribbon on the first official RSC Dream Machine Tues., April 12.

The Dream Machine, located inside the Student Center’s east entrance, is a recycling kiosk allowing users to obtain points redeemable for coupons, discounts and a variety of other articles.

Users can pick up their scan cards at the kiosk when making their first deposit. Participants are then asked to log-on to greenopolic.com to register their card, create an online profile, keep track of points and redeem accumulated points.

The machine only accepts plastic bottles

and aluminum cans for recycling where each object is worth five points. Users do not start receiving awards until they accumulate 100 points.

The Dream Machine was started as an initiative with Greenopolis, sponsored by Waste Management. According to greenopolis.com, machines are receiving warm welcomes and quick installations across the country. In North Carolina alone, over 160 machines were installed in Rite Aid stores in a span of six weeks.

“Our overriding desire is to actually make the world a better place rather than just pointing out problems,” greenopolis.com reads.

According to the company’s online counter, 41,166,185 pounds of materials have been recycled since Jan. 2009.

“[The program] brings the dream of a cleaner planet… and for disabled veterans alive,” Jeremy Cage, senior vice president of innovation and insights at PepsiCo and head of the Dream Machine recycling initiative, said.

The Dream Machine initiative partnered with the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), a national program that offers free training to post 9/11 veterans with disabilities in the business and entrepreneurial management style.

Including the new device on campus, there are 25 Dream Machines in the OKC metro area, including all local Homeland stores.

For questions, information and to activate new Greenopolis cards, visit www.greenopolis.com.

By: Miranda LimingEditor-in-Chief

Liz Atkinson, physical therapy major, deposits a plastic bottle into the new Dream Machine recycling kiosk in the

Student Center. The Dream Machine is a part of the Greenopolis project, which as of April 20, has collected just under

11.5 million plastic bottles and aluminum cans. (Photo by Bryan Trude)

Senate inducted the newest batch of executive officers and presented two pieces of legislations Tues., April 19, during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Senator Jaeton Cary, liberal arts major, accepted the position of Student Senate President. Senator Tori Atkinson, nursing science major, became the Vice President of senate. Student Mitch Wynn, business major, received the senate Treasurer position.

Elections for Executive Officer positions was held during Spring Fest, April 13 and 14, where hopefuls campaigned the campus talking with students on their abilities to be first-rate in their intended positions.

Senate voted during the Tues. meeting in Resolutions 015 and 016.

Resolution 015 reads “A resolution pertaining to the formation of an events calendar to be added to the Student Senate section on D2L and updated on a regular basis by an events committee.” Authored by Senator Pickard, this resolution passed by a majority vote.

Resolution 016 reads “A resolution pertaining to the implementation of an online D2L senate suggestion box.” Authored by Senator E. Neary, this piece also passed by a majority vote.

After the deduction of Spring Fest costs, Senate reported its budget resting at $7,778.14.

By: Miranda LimingEditor-in-Chief

College buys Traub Elementary for $1.2 million

Dream Machine allows for easy recycling, going green

Senate welcomes

newest executives

Severe Weather Seminar stresses safety precautions, awareness to attendees

Record label hypocrisy stokes LimeWire desire

Page 2 April 22, 2011

Opinion

The 15th Street

NewsStory Ideas/Questions: 733-7401Fax: 733-7931Web site: http://www.rose.edu/commfriend/15street/index.asp

Facebook: 15th Streets News/Mass CommMail: 6420 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK, 73110

ALWAYS ONLINEhttp://15thstreetnews.com/

Editor in ChiefMiranda Liming (mliming@rose.edu)

Assistant EditorBryan TrudeFeatures EditorBryan MangieriNews EditorJoshua O’BergGraphic ArtistDanielle FinneganCirculation ManagerJacob SuddathTech SupportScottie SegerPhotographerChasitie Martin

Online EditorBrian AllenAssignment EditorLogan PierceVolunteersAdriana ValtinsonKim RyderSecretarySharon Motley (smotley@rose.edu)Coordinator of Student PublicationsJulie Lesko-Bishop (jlesko-bishop@rose.edu)

Editorial

Letters to the Editor The 15th Street News wel-comes 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 ideas will not be altered. Submissions must include the author’s name, ID number, and title. Anonymous letters will be read, but not printed. Letters may be hand deliv-ered to FA110; sent by mail; or e-mailed to the secretary, [smotley@rose.edu].Policies The 15th Street News is a designated public forum. Stu-dent editors have the authority

to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. Columns, commen-taries 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. The editorial staff writes editori-als. 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 Pub-lications Board chairperson, Dr. Kent Lashley, 733-7490. 15th Street News, a stu-dent 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 mem-ber of Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association, which has designated this paper top junior college newspaper six years, and Associated Collegiate Press, which has rated it All American 30 semesters. This publication is printed by Edmond Sun, Inc., issued by RSC and authorized by the Coordinator of Student Publica-tions. Cost to the state taxpayers is $301.81 for 4,000 copies per issue and $56.40 for spot color. This paper is recyclable.

RSC, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, Title IX of the Edu-cation 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 orien-tation 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.

Educational segregation blemish on school’s motto

Music Stand By: Miranda Liming

Editor-in-ChiefI am a music addict. It’s true, and the first

step is admitting you have a problem. This is my admission.

Every once in a great while I have the feeling that I’ve become stale in my music tastes, or I’ve listened to my collection to the point where, even when on random, I know what song will come up next.

These are the times when I log onto my LimeWire account and download more music to sooth the savage beast inside.

I recently went to go through this bi-annual process this week, only to find out that LimeWire has been shut down, supposedly temporarily, by a court order while charges and a case are pending. The Plaintiffs? Every major record label in America, including Atlantic, Elektra, Sony BMG and Warner Bros.

As surprised as I am not that LimeWire is shut down – again - I am surprised that the record labels were able to come together and actually get something done in the court system.

Mind you, these are the labels that have

dictated what Americans have listened to for the past 60 years. These people are in charge of who’s hot and who’s not at any given time in any given genre.

These are also the men who fight each other tooth and nail for 10-year contracts that destroy real artists by pushing them to create crap instead of stewing for a few years and releasing the best album since the Beatles dropped acid.

My problem isn’t the fact that I’m taking money from greedy record producers. In fact, by illegally downloading music, I think I’m doing a service to this world. People make music because they feel the music; it’s what they are meant to do. To them, the real artists, it’s their calling, their life, regardless of pay or fame.

Then you have the douche bags reminiscent of the Metallica versus Napster era. To them, they want to get famous, get drunk and eventually get laid.

But the problem with the Metallica scandal and the current LimeWire scandal is that everyone but the record executives understand that we have evolved from the age of CDs to the age of download.

MC Lars, a well-known pseudo-rapper, reminded everyone in 2006 about the new age of music with “Download This Song,” a perfect explanation of how artists, not just consumers, are looking toward the Internet and downloading sites to get their music heard, not just sold.

“You’ve overcharged us for music for years, and now we’re just trying to find a fair balance,” writes Lars, sticking it to the personification of the “Music Man.”

NOFX, quite possibly one of the most influential, outspoken and enduring punk rock bands of our generation, hopped on the “screw the record companies” bandwagon before many of us knew it existed.

In their song “Dinosaurs Will Die” from their 2000 album release “Pump Up the Valuum,” NOFX made their feelings abundantly clear. “For all the piss broke bands on VH1, where did all, their money go?”

Where did it go? I think we can agree that a majority of their take-home went to hookers, liquor and drugs. But what percent did they receive for their works?

Many contracts - that of which I have

been able to find – artists get 10 percent of album sales. So, if your band sells a million albums for $15 each, you just cashed out at $15 million. Not a bad chunk of change right?

Wrong. Don’t forget about adding in that fine print take-a-ways for free albums, promotional deals, merchandise manufacturing costs, etc. Now you and your four buddies get to share $250,000, roughly $50,000 a piece.

Still sound great? What happened to the other 90 percent of the album sales, roughly equaling $135 million?

Now, please remember dear readers, that I’m in no way associated with the music industry, nor have I worked in a professional music industry setting. I’m just a consumer with questions and wanting answers that I know will never come.

And I really just want my LimeWire back because, honestly, there is no way in hell that I will pay for music; not now, not ever.

Or at least until the government or Hollywood sends me a bill for all of my unpaid tunes, but I bet $130 million that’s never going to happen.

“Your community college of choice.”This was the slogan for the campus in

2008. It has changed over the years, like many good things do.

But, when did the college of choice become the college of technical degrees?

Recently, RSC put in a bid for the Traub Elementary building and 12 acres it rests upon. In theory, we all agree that this will expand the college, allowing it’s growing population more room to learn, roam and fulfill our duties as young adults seeking a well rounded education.

The bid was accepted by the Mid-Del school board for the total price of $1.2 million, including a three-year leaseback option at one dollar per year.

The initial plans, as stated in an address by Dr. Britton, are not set in stone as of yet. But they are looking into expanding RSC to that land, considering a technical classroom space.

What technical classroom space could

RSC need more of?Most recently, the campus has built a new

health sciences building, the PTEC building and renovated the Tom Steed Community Learning building, which seemed to quell the need for more technical space.

Also a major addition to the college was the Communications Center, built in 1998 to house the journalism, photography, music and art departments and classrooms.

Are you still scratching your head?RSC does not need any more space

built for any technical degree or certificate programs.

The slogan “Your community college of choice” was the perfect campaign for what the campus used to be. This was a college that students were drawn to because it offered different degree choices in the form of music, art, literature, etc.

Unlike OCCC and OSU-OKC, there was an abundance or science and art for new comers, not just nursing and cyber security.

We were different, unique and crafty.Now the college is deciding to spend $1.2

million on a building to expand the already renovated and re-hauled technical programs, leaving those of us with a creative streak in old classroom with broken electrical sockets.

Who do we have to ask for help? Who is willing to give to the traditional education students: the historians, botanists and writers?

Leaving contrasting students in musty, broken classrooms, and giving all the money and land to the esoteric groups, leaves the former waiting for promised classroom upgrades and sympathy from the decision makers.

If we were considered the “college of choice,” and are now being “believed” in, they why are some students getting shafted?

Better yet, why is one facet of the college being treated better than another?

And, if it’s 2011, why is segregation of education still taking place?

These are the questions that non-technical degree seeking majors should ask themselves after reading the front-page article.

As usual, the campus higher-ups are picking favorites, not because of grades or achievements, but because of money.

As a business, RSC must decide who will make this campus flourish financially the most. But as an educational institution, decision makers should be more aware of who they are condemning.

Where do you stand in this new deal? If you’re graduating, then congratulations on your success and may you always remember RSC fondly in your heart.

But if you’re staying on, and plan on being around when a final decision is made on the newest acquirement of the campus, how long will it be until your degree program is exterminated because of space or money issues?

By:

Lei

den

Pier

ce

News and Features Page 3April 22, 2011

Briefly Speaking

Clinical Lab Technician students perform free screenings for glucose and lipid

profiles, blood pressure checks, posture analysis and diabetes services Wed., April 13 during the 2011 Community

Health Fair. (Photo by Chasitie Martin)

For the more than 800 Oklahomans on the organ transplant list, waiting is a long and scary journey.

For RSC Accounting Rep Velma DeLaughter, however, that journey has come to a successful conclusion.

In late May 2010, DeLaughter was placed on the transplant waiting list after being diagnosed with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis,

otherwise known as NASH. This caused cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver.

“[The wait] was sort of nervous,” DeLaughter said. “You wonder if you are going to make it in time for the transplant. My body was just swelling all the time.”

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NASH is a form of liver disease similar to alcoholic liver disease but occurs in people who drink little to no alcohol. Fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation and damage.

Cirrhosis scars and damages the liver, preventing it from functioning. This is the final phase of liver disease. Liver tissue affected by cirrhosis cannot be healed or repaired. Only once the cirrhosis reaches the end-stage of liver disease does a person become eligible for a transplant.

“When he did the transplant, my surgeon mentioned that my original liver was a really bad, ugly liver,” DeLaughter said.

DeLaughter was admitted to the hospital Jan. 12, and received her donor liver Jan. 23. According to DeLaughter, donor livers in Oklahoma can only come from deceased donors.

“[The liver] was from a young person, straight out of high school,” DeLaughter said. “It was a very precious gift.”

DeLaughter’s challenges did not end with the operation. Taking between 35 and 40 pills daily to support her new liver, she was admitted to the hospital in February for a stroke caused by one of her medications. However, despite her hardships, DeLaughter is thankful for the gift she received.

“Things always work out for certain reasons,” DeLaughter said. “God always has a plan for you, if you can hang in there and

keep healthy. I am very lucky.”(Photo provided)

The LRC and Library Club celebrated National Library Week April 10 – 16, hosting a special Short Story and Poetry Reading on Tues, April 11, with the winner receiving a Kindle e-reader.

Ken Watkins, English education major, won the reading with his original poem “Black Ink.”

“I was just preparing for my poetry writing class,” Watkins said.

Contestants Lynn Pilj, English major, Cherryl Seard, English major, and Sharon Saulmon, dean of the LRC, submitted their work prior to the event to be judged by a panel of librarians.

Contestants were asked to read their work to the audience before the winners would be announced.

Runners up were announced as Pilj with her original works “Her” and “Back to Basics,” and Seard with her original work “My Buddy Your Friend,” and were awarded with books about poetry writing.

“The only thing that made me nervous was the video camera,” Pilj said on the recording of the contest. The video can be viewed now by visiting the RSC website and clicking on the Youtube tab in the top right-hand corner of the page.

“We celebrate the library here everyday,” Brad Robison, Special Projects Librarian said. “One of the things we get from reading is the feeling you can get.”

The LRC also held a weeklong survey to see what students think of the LRC and how they can be better served. Upon completion, survey participants were awarded with a candy bar and thanks.

According to the American Library Association, “National Library Week was first started in 1878 in order to bring attention to the work of libraries to help enhance learning and ensure access to information to all.”

Spotlight: Velma DeLaughterBy: Bryan TrudeAssistant Editor

By: Joshua O’BergNews Editor

Ken Watkins, English education major, helped celebrate National Library week

by reading his original poem “Black Ink,” Tues., April 12 during the Short

Story and Poetry Reading event. Tuesday also marked the celebration of Drop Everything and Read Day at

libraries across the nation. (Photo by Chasitie Martin)

Literary contest helps LRC mark

Library Week

Graduation GarbIf you haven’t ordered your cap and gown for this year’s walk, now is the time! The Bookstore has ordered extra for those late

in the game, but they’re first come, first serve, and will only be available until May

2.

Law with CoatsThe 10th annual Law Day celebration will host speaker Andrew M. Coats, University of Oklahoma law dean emeritus, at noon, Mon., April 25 in the Main Dining room. The event is free to the community and

campus and will host light refreshments for attendees.

Clean Teeth for a Clean FutureThe 2011 graduating class of the Dental

Hygiene Program is looking for volunteer patients for a teeth cleaning. Exam dates are

April 30 and May 1 and 2. Patients must be at least 10 years old and have not had their teeth cleaned in the past three years. Interested parties should contact 733-7337 to schedule a screening appointment. There is no cost to the patient for this procedure.

Another Cessation StepThe Rose State College Wellness Center has

purchased a limited number of Premium Memberships for the American Lung

Association’s “Freedom From Smoking Online” cessation classes. With the

August 1 date approaching we are offering you the opportunity to sign up for these

memberships free of charge. Please share this information with your students in your

classes and offices. These memberships are open to all

employees and students interested in quitting smoking. Please be aware you will

need to speak directly to Wellness Center Director, Chris Leland to receive the

information about these classes. They are going to be given out on a ‘first come, first

served’ basis.

Student Art ExhibitA student arts exhibit will be held in the Communications Center lobby April 18

– May 11, 2011, showcasing student and employee works. A special reception will be held Tues., April 26 in the Communication Center lobby for the unveiling of Pegasus,

the annual literary publication of RSC, featuring poetry, short stories, essays,

photography and artwork from students, faculty and staff. The reception will be held

from 4 – 6 p.m., and the exhibit will be open for viewing during normal building

business hours.

RSC hosted the 2011 Community Health Fair Wed., April 13 in the Student Center Main Dining room, sponsored by the Midwest Regional Medical Center and the Wellness Center.

The fair, available to the campus as well as the Mid-Del community, featured free health screenings for sleep apnea, diabetic persons, vision and anyone seeking more information on current or past health conditions.

Also available to attendees were gratis blood pressure checks, posture analysis and dental screenings.

“There was a lot of information available and a lot of people willing to help you,” Kayla Gassaway, student, said while attending with her health class. Gassaway said that her grandfather had diabetes and the diabetes

booth had much information and pamphlets on the condition. “I thought the fair was a good experience.”

Volunteer and EMT Brian Pope cited his love for his area as the reason for

his attendance. “I love helping the community. I grew up in this community all the way from Country Estates, to Monroney,

to Midwest City.”Ottis Dimick said he has been to many

of the health fairs. “I like the test and the freebies,” Dimick admitted, saying that he gets more things looked at and checked at the fair rather than at the doctor’s office, and encouraged friends to come as well.

Points to Remember about Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis:

NASH is fat in the liver, with inflammation and damage.

NASH occurs in people who drink little to no alcohol, and affects two to five percent of Americans, especially people who are middle-aged and overweight or obese.

NASH can occur in children.People who have NASH may feel well and

may not know that they have a liver disease.NASH can lead to cirrhosis, a condition in

which the liver is permanently damaged and cannot work properly.

Fatigue can occur at any stage of NASH.Weight loss and weakness may begin once

the disease is advanced or cirrhosis is present.NASH may be suspected if blood tests show

high levels of liver enzymes or if scans show fatty liver.

NASH is diagnosed by examining a small piece of the liver taken through a needle, a procedure called biopsy.

People who have NASH should reduce their weight, eat a balanced diet, engage in physical activity, and avoid alcohol and unnecessary medications.

No specific therapies for NASH exist. Experimental therapies being studied included antioxidants and anti-diabetes medications.

Courtesy of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

By: Tori BeechumContributing Writer

“There was a lot of information available and a lot of people

willing to help you.” -Kayla Gassaway

Spring Fest 2011: fun, friends and free goodies

Esteban Gabriel Herrera, 4, makes a get well card for “Mighty” Max Low at the 15th Street News table during Springfest April 13 and 14. Low, a 12-year-old cancer patient in Iowa, is trying to gather 1 million get well cards through an online campaign.

(From left) Theater majors Kyle Davison, Brianna Anderson and Allysia Ervin take a tumble down the inflatable slide during Springfest April 13 and 14. Other entertainment included live music from The Stars and Dante and the Hawks, as well as Balloon Sculptor Lane Pierce. The festival featured booths from campus clubs and the Midwest City Fire Department. Springfest also featured free food from Cici’s Pizza and Subway. (Photos by Bryan Trude)

Community fair lends screening, wellness checks pro bono publico

Entertainment

FridayHigh: 83Low: 58

PossibleShowers

SaturdayHigh: 71Low: 57

ThunderShowers

SundayHigh: 73Low: 62

PossibleShowers

MondayHigh: 74Low: 54

Showers

TuesdayHigh: 73Low: 48

Sunny

WednesdayHigh: 73Low: 50

Showers

ThursdayHigh: 69Low: 57

Showers

7 Day Weather Forecast

Crossword

Weather provided by: accuweather.com

“Mars Attacks” leaves columnist seeing absurd starsBy: Bryan TrudeAssistant Editor

Crossword Clues Sudoku

Last Weeks Puzzles Solved

This Week in History:

Vaccine trials for Polio begin

Page 4April 22, 2011

ACROSS 1 “The __ Bang Theory” 4 Sonny and Cher, when they were a couple 9 __ Caesar 12 Ending for a univ. e-mail address 13 “__ Male War Bride”; Cary Grant movie 14 __ flash; instant-ly 15 Apple pie __ mode 16 __ these days; eventually 17 Org. for the 49ers & the Vikings 18 Bacon or Costner 20 Actress __ Proct-er 22 Actor on “CSI: Miami” 26 Dandruff’s loca-tion 27 Morning moisture on a grass blade 28 Tamera Mowry’s twin 29 Female sheep 32 Alex Trebek or Pat Sajak 35 Actor on “CSI” 39 Adams and Falco

40 Fords and Buicks 42 __ up; drunk 43 Grandmas, affec-tionately 47 Govt. dam-building agcy. started during the Great Depression 48 Jason __ of “My Name Is Earl” 49 Popeye’s love 50 Actor Holbrook 51 Burro 52 Kitchen floor in-staller, often 53 __ out a living; get by

DOWN 1 Bird’s bill 2 Did nothing 3 Pear-shaped tropi-cal fruit 4 “The __ Woman”; sci-fi series for Lind-say Wagner 5 “My __ Private Idaho”; movie for River Phoenix & Keanu Reeves 6 Scottish refusal 7 Bear, in Spain 8 Morley __ 9 Gary of “CSI: NY” 10 Water rushing inward

11 Tim of “Private Practice” 19 Hospital ma-chines that give fluids intravenously, for short 21 Garden soil, after a heavy rain 23 Went out with 24 “__ Every Moun-tain”; song from “The Sound of Music” 25 Quickly 29 Cantor and Al-bert 30 Actor Ralph of “The Waltons” and his family 31 Actress __ Arden 33 Arnold Schwar-zenegger movie 34 World’s second-largest bird 36 “The World __ Enough”; 007 film 37 Siskel & Ebert’s “__ Movies” 38 Actress Kim 39 “Queen of Jazz” 41 Realtor’s delight 44 Actress MacGraw 45 Nothing 46 Beloved hymn “__ Maria”

Two weeks ago I was helping some friends move into their new house. It was late - after 10 p.m. - and I was sorer than Nicholas Cage’s head in a New Orleans drunk tank.

As I sat there enjoying my moving fee of pizza and beer, the brothers came into the house.

These two RSC cyber security majors didn’t recognize me at first - I graduated high school with one of them - and we sat around shooting the wind and helping my friend reduce his overabundance of

Bud Light.Eventually, Sabrina mentioned

how I talked about her sister in one of my earlier columns (see the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood review from the March 25 issue), and the most amazing thing happened.

These guys, who I didn’t think I knew, lit up. One of whose nom de plume is “Batman,” leans forward in his seat with a huge smile and goes, “Oh my! You’re Bryan Trude!”

I’ve felt warm and fuzzy ever since.

That really made my day, so much so that I couldn’t bring

myself to say anything really bad about this week’s film.

This one’s for you, Batman.Mars Attacks!It is physically impossible to

mention 90’s cinema without referring to this gem, a star-studded tribute to the campy alien sci-fi flicks of the black and white era.

Now, when I refer to this film as “star studded,” I’m not talking about studded like Robert Pattinson taking a glitter bath with SNL alums and Betty White for 90 minutes. “Mars Attacks” features half of Hollywood’s A-list roster from the 1990s in significant roles,

not just cameos. Stars like Jack Nicholson; Sarah

Jessica Parker; Pierce Brosnan; pre-Parkinson’s Michael J. Fox; Glenn Close; Danny DeVito; Martin Short; Jack Black and Natalie Portman. Hell, the thing is even directed by Tim “Bro-mance with Johnny Depp” Burton and scored by Danny “Still not as good as John Williams” Elfman.

The lack of Depp tells me that this film is older than its 1996 release suggests.

The plot of “Mars Attacks” is as simple as the old invasion movies it parodies. Martians have come to

Earth, and only seem to want to mess up our stuff.

Honestly, I’m sure that the Martians had a more ulterior motive to exterminate the human race, but it was likely lost in translation, since no subtitles were provided to help us understand “Aaaaak aaaak aaak AAAAAAK.”

Being a spoof of old sci-fi flicks, it is pretty much assumed that humanity wins in the end and destroys the Martian threat. However, in true parody fashion, how that victory is obtained takes such a hard left turn that it comes full circle on the wheel of absurdity.

April 26, 1954, 1.8 million children participated in the Salk polio vaccination trials held at Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, Virginia.

According to historychannel.com, “The disease reached epidemic proportions throughout the first half of the 20th century.” Though more common in children, President Franklin

Roosevelt was diagnosed in 1921 at the age of 39, becoming paralyzed shortly after.(Photo provided by MCT Campus)