Friday, October 15, 2004
Looking for
Once in a red moon?
See story below.
Briefly
speaking...
Miss RSC/MWC
The seventh annual Miss RSC/MWC
Scholarship Pageant will be held on
Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Communications
Center. The cost will be $10 for adults
and $6 for students with valid ID. Joey
and Heather from Wild97.9 will be the
MCs for the evening. For more informa-
tion, call Rick Woodard at 733-7999.
Season’s Last Soccer Games
The RSC Raiders Soccer Club will be
holding their last games of the season
on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the north end
of the Raiders baseball field. The
game times are as follow:
RSC vs. OU at 10 a.m.
OCCC vs. OSU at 12 p.m.
UCO vs. OSU at 2:30 p.m.
Service-Learning Volunteers
Needed
Volunteers are needed to perform
live-action versions of Normal Rock-
well paintings during the “Rockwell’s
America: Celebrating the Art of Nor-
man Rockwell” exhibit at the Omni-
plex Science Museum in OKC from
Oct. 16, 2004 through May 30, 2005.
Volunteers needed include barbershop
quartets, singers, piano players and
actors. For more information, contact
ServiceLearning Coordinator Jean
Dunlap at 733-7529 or the Omniplex’s
Volunteer Programs Director Rocksye
Harris-Wyrick at 602-3678.
Senate Debate
Congressman Brad Carson, Democrat,
and Dr. Tom Coburn, Republican, will
debate Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Com-
munications Center. The debate will
be free. For more information, call
736-0266.
Sexual Assault Prevention
Education Workshop
An educational workshop for male
students regarding sexual assault pre-
vention will be held Oct. 19 from 3-4
p.m. in the Tinker Terrace Room in
the Student Center and Oct. 27 from
3-4 Student Center, Room 123. The
workshop will provide education and
training about assault prevention. Re-
freshments will be available. To attend
the workshop, RSVP to Student Activi-
ties at 733-7376.
Respiratory Therapy Week
Respiratory Therapy students will
be doing pulmonary function testing
(breathing tests), oxygen readings on
Oct. 26 in the Student Center from 11
a.m. – 1 p.m. They will also provide
information to the public about respi-
ratory therapy. For more information,
call Kathe Rowe, program director of
the respiratory therapist program, at
733-7571.
Buckle Up for Brad Peters
MWC High School DECA Chapter will
be sponsoring an assembly to stress the
importance of using seat belt restraints.
The presentation will be held Thursday,
Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the MCHS Per-
forming Arts Center. The program was
created by Peters’ family and friends
after his death. For more information
call 739-1741 ext. 138.
Halloween Party
The annual Student Senate sponsored
community Halloween Festival will be
held on Oct. 29 from 7-9 p.m. The fF-
estival will include a variety of games
with prizes and candy for visiting trick-
or-treaters. A haunted house will also
be in the Student Center in the Raider
Room. Two moon bounces and free re-
freshments will also be available in the
gym. The event is free and open to the
public. For more information, call 733-
7376. This event provides a safe and fun
environment for the community.
Open Aerobics
Every Tuesday and Thursday from
12-1 p.m. there will be Open Aerobics
for students and employess. The Aero-
bics will be held in HPE, Room 112.
Resistance Tubing, Stability Ball, Step
Aerobics, Hand Weights, Body Bar
and Pilates are all available. Students
should bring their college ID in order
to workout.
15TH STREET
NEWS
Rose State College 6420 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK 73110
Space vacations possible soon
SpaceShipOne catches the Sun’s rays in space. SpaceShipOne shown underneath White
Knight during flight. (Photos courtesy of Scaled Composites, LLC.)
Erin Waltman
Assistant Editor
Space enthusiasts may soon be able to plan
trips into space thanks to SpaceShipOne, the
first privately built spaceship and the Ansari X
Prize winner. Human flight took a momentous
step forward when the ship flew into suborbital
space twice in a week.
The Ansari X Prize was a competition de-
signed to encourage the building of reusable
spaceships by private industries that could
haul a pilot and two passengers to the edge of
space and then repeat the feat within 14 days.
The winners of the competition would be given
$10 million.
SpaceShipOne was designed by the Scaled
Composites team, based at the Mojave Space-
port, and built to be lifted by a carrier plane
(dubbed “White Knight” by the design team) to
a height of approximately 46,000 feet. At that
height, SpaceShipOne would separate from
Artists serenade campus Seeing the
Sara Nealey
News Editor
Grammy award winners Regina Belle and
Peabo Bryson were featured as RSCLive!ʼs
second performance on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in
the Performing Arts Theatre.
Belle was the first act, with Bryson fol-
lowing her performance.
“I would definitely call it successful. We
had a lot of good comments from the com-
munity, and the performers had nothing but
good things to say,” said Lisa Pitsiri, coor-
dinator of marketing and public relations.
Belle had her first big hit in 1987, ac-
cording to the Peak-records Web site (www.
peak-records.com/reginabio). The “jazzy”
single “So Many Tears” brought Belle onto
the R&B music scene. Other hits by Belle
include “If I Could,” “Could It Be Iʼm Fall-
ing In Love?” and “Baby Come To Me.”
The Web site continued by describing
Belle as having a “glorious, jazz and gospel-
infused voice.” The site also reported that
Producer George Duke declared, “In short
Vol. XXXIV Issue 7
White Knight and the engines would kick in
to lift the craft to the required height of 62.5
miles, flying into suborbital space.
The first flight took place Sept. 29. Space-
ShipOne was piloted by Mike Melvill, 62,
who managed to jockey the ship to a height of
337,500 feet. Melvill said of his flight, “Now
that was fun.”
The second flight took place only five days
after the first suborbital flight, on Oct. 4. Space-
ShipOne was piloted by 51-year-old Brian
Binnie. While on-lookers down below watched
the flight in a babble of excited voices, Binnie
piloted the ship to a height of 368,000 feet,
setting a new altitude record for the craft.
“Hopefully, this will lower the costs for any
organization to make space flights,” said Chad
Ellington, astronomy professor. “This could
directly impact Oklahoma in its development
of a spaceport.”
The apparent success of SpaceShipOne is
Regina is, in every sense of the word, a
pro.” The press release claimed that “Belleʼs
voice has been described as ʻ...an R&B trea-
sure, like a gentle, moving breeze.”
Belleʼs new album, “Lazy Afternoon,”
has been labeled the “most personal of her
career.”
Belle has received inspiration from such
artists as Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald,
Billie Holiday, and most of all, Tony Ben-
net, the Web site reported.
Belle is perhaps best known for her single
with Peabo Bryson, “A Whole New World”
from Disneyʼs “Aladdin,” which earned
Belle and Bryson a Grammy.
Bryson, a South Carolina native, is known
for such hits as “Reaching for the Sky,”
“Feel the Fire,” “Iʼm So Into You” and
“Let the Feeling Flow.” These, according to
Popentertainment.com (www.popentertain-
ment.com/bryson.htm), “earned Bryson the
title King of the Romantic Balladeers.”
Bryson has sung duets with Natalie Cole,
Roberta Flack, Celine Dion and Regina
Belle. His duet with Dion, “Beauty and the
Beast,” and his Grammy award-winning
duet with Belle, “A Whole New World,” are
two of his more famous songs, according to
the Popentertainment.com Web site.
RSCLive! is a “performing series of con-
certs and performers, four times a year,”
according to Pitsiri. It is primarily for stu-
dents, and each RSC student receives one
free ticket to the shows.
It has had a very successful start in
its third season. This was the second
of two RSCLive! performances this se-
mester. The first was a performance by
Bill Cosby, best known for “The Cosby
Show,” RSCLive!ʼs first-ever stand-up
comedy act.
While they have not yet been finalized,
plans for the two acts of next semester
are in the works.
For more information on RSCLive!
performances, call the office of market-
ing and public relations at 733-7458.
lumps in
all the right
places. See
story, page 3.
October 15, 2004
not expected to dull the enthusiasm of other
groups trying to build suborbital vehicles.
Peter Diamandis, head of the X Prize
Foundation, was quoted on the SPACE.com
Web site (www.space.com) as having said,
“I think youʼll see the first Canadian, the first
Russian, the first British, the first Romanian
... all the X Prize teams outside the United
States will continue their work to become
the first of their nation to carry out a first
private flight into space.”
Diamandisʼ predictions seemed to be
proven true by Steve Bennet, chief of the
British civilian space project, who said of
“Now that was fun.”
-Pilot Mike Melvill
the successful flight, “This just proves that
you donʼt have to be NASA or a government
organization.”
Brian Feeney, who leads a rival X Prize
effort in Canada called the da Vinci Group,
wished the SpaceShipOne team good luck
on their flights while vowing to not stop his
own efforts.
“Even if the prize is won today, we will
fly. Weʼre moving our program as fast as we
can,” Feeney was quoted as having said on
SPACE.comʼs Web site.
Scaled Composites has made a deal to
build a new rocket plane for British entre-
preneur Richard Branson. Branson plans to
market space tourism flights to the public
under the name Virgin Galactic.
“What youʼve seen here is a research and
development program to look at new ideas
on how manned spacecraft can really be
significantly safer ... and there will be new
ideas out there. We will be developing new
ideas also on SpaceShipTwo,” reported Burt
Rutan, designer of SpaceShipOne, after the
second successful flight.
dark side of
the moon
Sara Nealey
News Editor
A lunar eclipse will occur on the evening
of Oct. 27, allowing half of the Earth - in-
cluding Oklahoma - to view the phenom-
enon of the Moon passing into the Earthʼs
shadow.
The eclipse will begin shortly after 8 p.m.,
when the Earthʼs shadow becomes visible on
the face of the Moon. The shadow will con-
tinue across the surface of the Moon, until
the satellite is entirely enveloped. When the
shadow completely covers the Moon, total-
ity has begun. This is estimated to begin at
approximately 9:23 p.m. and will last until
approximately 10:45 p.m. The Moon will
then start to leave Earthʼs shadow; the eclipse
is expected to end right before midnight.
During totality, the moon sometimes ap-
pears reddish. This can vary “depending on
the amount of sunlight being bent through
Earthʼs atmosphere at areas experiencing
twilight,” said Chad Ellington, professor of
astronomy and physics.
Hopefully, due to the eruptions of Mount
Saint Helens in Washington, it is possible
that the moon will be quite dark. According
to a recent NASA press release regarding the
upcoming eclipse, “the Moonʼs disk can take
on a dramatically colorful appearance from
bright orange to blood red to dark brown and
(rarely) very dark gray.”
“Total lunar eclipses have helped human-
kind learn a bit about our own world. Our
ancient ancestors used observations of them
to realize that our Earth was not flat,” said
Ellington.
Lunar eclipses also helped humans calcu-
late the size of the Earth in relation to the
Moon, according to Ellington. “On a sketch,
photograph or simply with your mind in the
continued on page 2
Page 2
Food in the fast lane messy or slow
Darcy Delaney
Editor in Chief
Most college students do not have
the time to go home for lunch between
classes or to go home for dinner be-
tween school and work, leaving them
no choice but to eat fast food. However,
fast food seems to no longer be fast or
convenient.
Lately, I have found that fast food
restaurants move as fast as a sloth on a
bad day. They ask questions like “hot or
mild,” when I have just finished saying
I wanted both.
However, I do not know which is
worse: when they move that slowly and
my order gets perfect or when my order
is out fast and is completely wrong.
On several occasions I have found
myself not checking my bag before I
leave the drive-thru and finding out once
I have gotten back to work that my order
is missing an item that I ordered or that
they have put onions on my sandwich
when I have asked that they not. I take
Counseling Tip No. 5
Easy does it. This little phrase is a reminder that
sometimes we do things in dif-
ficult ways when we could be
doing them in easier ways. The
next time you have a decision
to make, look at what might be
in the long run, the easy way
to handle a situation as op-
posed to the difficult way. For
free confidential counseling,
call Special Services and Stu-
dent Outreach at 733-7373.
See Oct. 29 issue for Tip No. 6.
‘Project Success’ful
Project Success, a gathering of faculty from
the various divisions at RSC for the benefit
of students with questions about their degree
plan, took place Oct. 12.
It is a once-a-semester event, and this semes-
ter was the second time RSC hosted Project
Success. Last semester, roughly 150 students
showed up to take advantage of the free infor-
mation and help. This semester, roughly 250
students attended the event.
This semester there were special sessions and
workshops held for students with a health sci-
ences major due to the large amount of students
interested in the Health Sciences division.
Students at the event met and talked with
professors from the major, ate pizza and gained
insight into career opportunities, classes
for their spring 2005 schedule and transfer
chances.
ECLIPSE continued from page 1
sky, complete the circle of Earthʼs shadow.
Compare the size of this circle with that of the
Moon and you have essentially compared the
size of the Earth to that of the Moon.”
A lunar eclipse is not to be confused with
a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when
the Moon passes between the Earth and the
Sun, lining up in such a way that the Moon
blocks the Sunʼs light. If one were to be on
the Moon during the lunar eclipse, the Earth
would block the Sun and a similar effect
would be achieved. “I like to imagine stand-
ing on the surface of the Moon during a total
lunar eclipse, enjoying the spectacle of the
ring of sunrises and sunsets shining visible
around the edge of the Earth,” Ellington said
N EWS
Info & policies
Columns, commentaries and letters to the edi-
tor 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 col-
lege. Editorials are written by the editorial staff.
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, [cbenefee@rose.edu] or recorded
nights on PhoneMail at 733-7400 between 8 p.m.
and 8 a.m. Letters must include the writer’s full
name, Social Security Number or ID number and
telephone number.
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,
Voices Oct. 15, 2004
15th Street News
time to say what I want and once they have
repeated it back to me I expect they will
correctly make my order.
Another problem I have discovered
is that my food sometimes spills in the
bag. Can they not sit the boxes upright?
They know it will spill. How difficult is
it, really?
I understand that it is impossible to cor-
rectly make everyoneʼs order 100 percent
of the time. I also realize that I probably
increase the probability of having a wrong
order due to the amount of fast food I eat,
but I think it still happens too often.
All I ask is that 90 percent of the time I
have the right order given to me, that it is
not thrown in the bag carelessly and that
the person taking my order is not rude.
Maybe the person in front of me was
mean to you, but please do not take it out
on me. I have worked as a waitress and I
understand that people are frustrating, but
once you put the smile back onto your face
it is a lot more difficult to be mean.
Sidewalk Talk
“Would you take a commercial flight
into space? Why or why not?”
“Yes, just for the excitement of being in “Yes, because it would be a wonderful
space. I think I would enjoy the peace experience, and educational. I hope they
and quiet with the moon around.” Chuck can someday make it work.” Falyn Sny-
Turner, secondary education major der, radiology tech major
“Yes, I think that a flight to space would “Yes, that would be a once in a lifetime
be a once in a lifetime opportunity. How experience, even though it might be
Next semester, Project Success is schedules
many people can say that theyʼre a part- my last.” Michelle Williams, undecided
for March 29. Attending Project Success does
time astronaut?” Joseph Easley, criminal major
not cost anything and the event is open to the
public who are considering returning to college justice major
and would like an idea of the various majors
they might be able to pursue at RSC.
of lunar eclipses.
Unlike a solar eclipse, equipment and eye
protection are not required to view a lunar
eclipse. A telescope may be used; however,
even binoculars enhance the spectacle. With
the Earthʼs shadow crossing the Moonʼs path,
the appearance of lunar craters will be en-
hanced. For those wishing to use a telescope
but do not have access to one, a public view-
ing of the eclipse will be held in the parking
lot of the Omniplex by the Oklahoma City “Yes, the experience would be amazing “No. For one, I think it sounds stupid,
Astronomy Club. and educational, although the fear of and for another, a commercial flight into
This will be the last total lunar eclipse until something going wrong would be in- space is not for me. I am not a person to
2007. tense.” Pamela Rimer, undecided major go into space.” Vince Bell, undecided
For more information about lunar eclipses, major
visit NASAʼs lunar eclipse Web site at www.
sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/lunar.html.
Staff Members
733-7379.
15th Street News, a student newspaper serving the
Rose State College community, is published weekly, Editor in Chief Chief Photographer Graphic Artist
except school holidays, on Fridays during the fall and Darcy Delaney Jon Rollman Sabra Schwartz
spring semesters by the Office of Student Publications, [ddelaney@rose.edu] [jrollman@rose.edu]
6420 SE 15, Midwest City, OK 73110.
15th Street News is a member of Oklahoma Col-
[sschwartz@rose.edu]
legiate Press Association, which has designated this Assistant Editor Assistant Photographer Staff Mystic
paper top junior college newspaper six years, and Erin Waltman Kenneth Beachler Joshua Jordan
Associated Collegiate Press, which has rated it All [ewaltman@rose.edu] [KB0092257@rose.edu]
American 30 semesters. [jjordan@rose.edu]
This publication is printed by Edmond Sun, Inc.,
issued by RSC and authorized by the Coordinator of News Editor Photographer Volunteer Writer
Student Publications. Cost to the state taxpayers is Sara Nealey Ginnie Escobedo Joe Escobedo
$301.81 for 4,000 copies per issue and $56.40 for [SN0208849@rose.edu] [gescobedo@rose.edu] [thejoeshow04@yahoo.com]
spot color. This paper is recyclable.
RSC, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Executive Sports Editor Photographer Secretary
Order 11246, as amended, Title IX of the Education Travis Tucker Devin Horst Carol Benefee
Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act [ttucker@rose.edu] [dhorst@rose.edu] [cbenefee@rose.edu]
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 Coordinator of Student
Assignment Editor Circulation Manager
or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices Publications
JD Casteel
or procedures. Daniel Cunning Julie Lesko-Bishop
This includes, but is not limited to admissions, [dcunning@rose.edu] [jdcasteel@rose.edu] [jlesko-bishop@rose.edu]
employment, financial aid and educational services.
Oct. 15, 2004
15th Street News
da Vinci lecture enlightens
Sara Nealey
News Editor
The public, along with several RSC students,
had the chance to attend a lecture about Leon-
ardo da Vinci as an artist and a mathematician
at the Omniplex on Oct. 8, which was fol-
lowed by a book signing and reception.
Dr. Bulent Atalay, author of the book “Math
and the Mona Lisa,” began the lecture with a
humorous introduction. “How many of you
believe in extraterrestrial intelligence? Now,
how many of you believe in terrestrial intel-
ligence?” he joked.
During the introduction, Atalay also men-
tioned a few theories regarding the Mona
Lisa. A dentist theorized that she had a tooth-
ache, and a gynecologist said that she had
“the glow of a pregnant woman,” according
to Atalay.
Atalay continued by describing da Vinciʼs
beginnings. Born as the illegitimate child of
a nobleman and a 15-year-old girl, da Vinci
later became arguably the best artist to date
and a scientific mastermind.
When looking at da Vinciʼs notes, one can
see that the man had many ideas about inven-
tions that were to come, such as the bicycle.
He was even hired as a military engineer at
one point in his life, according to Atalay.
A contribution that da Vinci offered to sci-
ence was the anatomy of the human body. He
dissected human corpses in hopes of better
understanding the body. When studying da
Vinciʼs sketches, it is easy to understand what
set him apart from other artists of his day. He
actually discovered what lay beneath the skin
in order to have an understanding of the hu-
man body, enabling him to more accurately
depict it in art.
Math was used in da Vinciʼs paintings, just
Euthanasia: topic not painless
Daniel Cunning
Assignment Editor
She is easily the most disagreeable person
I know. Well ... not easily. In all honesty
she actually is not the most disagreeable
person I know, but it looks nice to put in
this column.
Our exciting excursions into the opposite
personalities Sara and I possess take us
to the topic of euthanasia this week. No,
I am not talking about school children in
a foreign land. I am referring for the most
part to the act of ending a life, human or
animal, typically by a painless means to
end suffering.
Applied to animals, I will say that not only
is this acceptable to me, but very necessary.
That is not to say that I am not bothered
with the idea of countless animals dying
needlessly due in large part to the lack of
Sara Nealey
News Editor
He says that humans should not be able to
choose to be euthanized. I say that if one is
suffering from a fatal disease, then he or she
should have the option of assisted suicide.
In any circumstance other than a disease in
which a person is simply forced to wait and
die, I do not agree with suicide. It is a very
sad and horrible thing, but drowning is a
sign of life, and unless there is physically no
chance of recovery, hope is still present.
That said, there are many dying people
that lie in a hospital bed, whilst their body
decays, with nothing to do but contemplate
the end. That sounds extremely grim to me.
If that is what one desires, then that is fine.
However, a lot of people actually beg to be
put out of their misery before they reach the
point that they can no longer control bodily
functions.
Daniel argues that a person that wishes
News/Features
Dr. Bulent Atalay, author of “Math and the Mona Lisa,” visited the Omniplex Friday, Oct. 8 to
lecture over the role of mathematics and art presented in his book. (Photo by Jon Rollman)
as it is in many other paintings, sometimes
without the artist even realizing it. According
to Atalay, people are placed a certain way in
a work of art instinctually. In many paintings
Atalay showed, if one were to divide the work
in half, the line would go through an eye of the
subject. This symmetry is seen in da Vinciʼs
portraits.
Atalayʼs Web site reports, “Ultimately, in
every aspect of [da Vinciʼs] life – while doing
science and engineering, or on the infrequent
occasions while creating art – he was operating
human intervention.
When used to end an individualʼs life, I am
very strongly against it. I do feel sorry for
those who must undergo what is probably for
them a never-ending torture, but my opinions
always make me think of any human life as
too precious to end unnaturally.
Those who read this should not become con-
fused by my varying argument on the subject.
While many might say I am pulling a “John
Kerry” by flopping around on the issues, that
is just not the case. Animals and humans are
extremely different from each other and need
to be considered that way when comparing
them to the other.
I have been told many times by a person
close to me how awful it is that my parents
allow for their dogs to breed and then sell the
puppies. Her argument is always the same.
She likes to bring up that thousands of animals
to be euthanized is not in the right state of
mind to be making such a decision. I say that
if the disease is fatal, and it has progressed far
enough that a person really is not in the right
state of mind to make important choices, then
they will never again be in a state of mind that
one would consider “stable.” Even the entire
question of what exactly is “stable” creates a
problem. However, if while in the early stages
of a fatal disease, a person states that he or she
wants to be euthanized at a certain point, that
wish should be followed, if the person still
agrees at a later point.
Several years ago, my grandmother died of
lung cancer. Once the cancer spread to her
brain, it was horribly difficult to see the once-
proud woman reduced to the helpless girl who
no longer understood what was happening to
her. Before reaching that point, she had begged
everyone who would listen to not let her live
long enough to be like that. Nobody euthanized
her, of course, and she spent her last month in
Rose-Colored Glasses
as the consummate scientist.”
After the lecture, a book signing and recep-
tion, sponsored by he Full Circle bookstore,
was held. One could purchase “Math and
the Mona Lisa,” then have it signed by the
author.
The lecture and the book signing and re-
ception were open to the public and free of
charge.
For more information about “Math and the
Mona Lisa” and Atalay, visit www.bulentata-
lay.com.
are put to death every year, and my parents
should not be cashing in on puppies while
thousands of others are sent to pounds.
I am sure that while these poor animals
weigh heavily on this personʼs mind, they
do not consider the amount of tropical
animals dying every year due to rainforest
being destroyed. Personally I find it much
more disturbing to think of species such as
monkeys and chimps dying rather than dogs
and cats.
I know that my view will not likely change
anyoneʼs mind, but if at least gets them think-
ing, then I will be satisfied. I understand
that Sara will not always agree with me,
and while that makes her wrong, it does not
make her any less of a person than I am. I
will continue to try and “show her the light”
and until then, I will be very eager to offer
my opinion.
a helpless state, just waiting for certain death,
until she simply drew in her last, ragged
breath and passed away. It was nothing short
of heartbreaking to witness.
Less than a week ago, one of my cats became
extremely ill, and even had a seizure. I took
him to the veterinarian, and after conducting
several tests, she discovered that he not only
had feline leukemia, but he had also gotten
into some poison. There was simply no hope
for him. I could have taken him home, kept
him on fluids and a heating pad, hoping that
he did not have another seizure. That might
have prolonged his life for a day or two, as
he slowly bled to death as a result of the poi-
son. As difficult as it was, I asked the vet to
euthanize him.
I realize that animals and fellow humans are
different. However, both feel pain, both suffer
and both die. That is the terrible way of the
world. Allow a person to keep whatever is left
of his or her pride before a tragic end.
By Erin Waltman
Page 3
Breast Cancer
Awareness
may save lives
Erin Waltman
Assistant Editor
She prods her breast absently, wondering
whether she should make Frito® chili pie
for dinner or spring for Taco Bell. When her
probing fingers come across a small lump,
she forgets dinner in the rush of panic. This
small lump could be cancer.
She is your mother, your sister, your
girlfriend. She is your best friend, your co-
worker, your classmate. She is you.
October is National Breast Cancer Aware-
ness Month, a time “when we seek to create
awareness about breast cancer and breast
cancer prevention,” said Liz Brown, wellness
coordinator.
In 2004, the awareness campaign “cel-
ebrates 18 years of educating women about
breast cancer, especially the importance of
detecting the disease in its earliest stages
through screening mammography, clinical
breast examination and, for women 20 years
of age and older, breast self-examination,”
according to the NBCAM Web site (www.
nbcam.org).
Breast cancer is the most common type of
cancer among women and every woman is
at risk to develop breast cancer - a risk that
increases with age.
“Risk is higher in women with a personal
history or whose close female relatives - their
mothers or sisters - have had the disease, es-
pecially if the relative was diagnosed before
menopause,” reported a pamphlet written by
the American Cancer Society. “Four out of
five women who develop breast cancer, how-
ever, have no family history of the disease.”
As there has not yet been a breast cancer
cause found, the best protection from breast
cancer is to detect it as early as possible and
treat it promptly. Women are encouraged to
get annual mammograms beginning at age
40, see their doctors for breast exams every
three years from age 20 to 39 and every year
beginning at age 40 and practice a monthly
breast self-exam, which can be taught by a
health care provider.
Mammograms - an x-ray picture of the
breast - are one of the best ways to detect
breast cancer early. Since Oct. 15 is National
Mammography Day and mammograms are
offered discounted or free by participat-
ing radiologists, women are encouraged to
find facilities near them participating in the
event.
“The entire mammography exam takes
about 15 minutes,” reported the ACS pam-
phlet. “Some women report a little discomfort
[during the mammogram], but it only lasts a
few seconds.”
Breast self-exams can be done in the shower
and involve comparing the breasts through
touch to make sure there are no unusual
lumps. Being aware of strange lumps in the
breasts and knowing what the breasts feel like
normally from day to day can save a life.
“I did breast self-exams, but infrequently.
I had a lump on my breast removed when I
was 16. I think I was always very aware of
lumps because of that,” said Dianne Adams,
breast cancer survivor.
If a mass in either breast is found, a doc-
tor will use a thin needle to remove fluid or
a small amount of tissue from the lump to
verify if the lump is a fluid-filled cyst - which
is not cancer - or a solid mass that could be
cancerous.
“Sometimes the doctor will do a biopsy,
which is a minor operation to take out part
or all of the suspicious tissue. The tissue
is then examined under a microscope by a
specialist called a pathologist,” reported the
ACS pamphlet. “Remember that more than
80 percent of lumps or suspicious areas are
not cancer.”
For more information on breast cancer, call
1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the ACS Web site
at www.cancer.org.
To find a facility participating in National
Mammography Day, call the American Can-
cer Society at (800) 227-2345 or the American
College of Radiology at (800) 227-5463.
Corner
Comic
Page 4
#23 Samuel Spanish
20 years old and raised in Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Sophomore in his second season for the
Raiders
• Started playing: for Isaac Newton Elemen-
tary in Cedar Rapids Iowa at the age of 6
• Favorite food: Macaroni and cheese
• Pre game routine: Prays and tries to get
focused on the game by visualizing plays.
Sports are almost a requirement in Spanishʼs
large family of three sisters and two brothers.
“We all play sports in college except my young-
est sister who will soon graduate high school,”
said Spanish.
Spanish played in Australia during this summer
for Young Life, a group that traveled Australia
playing teams along the way. He has a brother that
is currently playing professionally for the French
Federation International de Basketball.
“I work on my shots and lift weights after prac-
tice to become a stronger player … I want to play
division-1 somewhere,” said Spanish.
Rhema Bible JV is the first menʼs game of
the season and is being played in Tulsa where
Spanishʼs parents live. Spanish is looking forward
to starting the season in front of his parents.
Spanish said, “I think we can win a national
championship; all 15 guys can play.”
Meet the PLAYERS
#11 Erin Bouse
Turns 20 Nov. 7 and raised in Sand Springs,
Okla.
Sophomore in her second season for the
Raiders
• Started playing: For the Salvation Army in
Sand Springs, Okla. when 8 years old
• Favorite food: Spaghetti
• Pre game routine: Listens to rap music (to
hype her up)
Bouse is a player that offers teammates posi-
tive reinforcement helping to make a better team,
and teamwork is nothing new to Bouse. She has
competed in almost every organized team sport
available in public schools. Basketball, soccer,
softball and cheerleading; she has done it all.
Bouse first came to RSC to play softball. She
decided to also try out for basketball the same
semester and was accepted to the team. Working
while attending classes and covering two sports
made her first semester a busy one.
“It is hard to play both. I chose basketball to stay
with [RSC basketball coach Glenn] Chilcoat ...
and I love the pace of the game,” said Bouse.
Bouse hopes to be picked up by a four-year col-
lege. She is a secondary education major and she
would love to continue competing but is narrowing
her focus at the moment on the games ahead of
her this season.
“I look forward to the Conners game because
they play rough. This makes it a challenge,” said
Bouse.
Health/Sports
Tips to lose pounds
Travis Tucker
Sports Editor steer clear of all sugars; things such as chocolate
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been and ice cream can still be enjoyed. Simply try to
outlining popular weight loss options and the choose a dark chocolate or a light ice cream and
dangers that can stem from them. This is the last consume in moderation.
of the series on weight loss and I will cover a There is no substitute for exercise! If weight
number of healthy options to shave those extra is lost alone without excercise, dieters will no-
pounds. tice their skin does not tighten back up leaving
Letʼs recap: if a dieter cuts carbohydrates com- unsightly loose skin. By exercising while losing
pletely, they will deprive their body of the fuel weight one will actually improve their metabo-
necessary to function and they will lose muscle lism as well as lose the weight more quickly.
mass long before they lose fat; there is no magic Start by briskly walking or swimming and slowly
pill that is going to give dieters a metabolism move up to jogging or running. Try not to exer-
of a 20-year-old track star; the cise until winded, stop, then start
drugs on the market that claim again, as this will cause muscle
The Sports
to speed the metabolism or curb Stop
cramps. Stretch, warm up, then
oneʼs desire to eat are short term set a pace and stick to it as long
and often dangerous; just because as possible, then cool down; this
something is labeled “all-natural” does not mean should last at least 15 minutes to ensure a raised
it is safe since there are many naturally occurring heart rate. Also include a friend or family member
substances that are deadly in the most minuscule in excercise whenever possible. Not only is this
amounts. This kind of labeling simply means the safer, but if there should be a problem working
drug fits in a loophole of the FDAʼs ability to out, a workout partner can offer aid.
regulate claims and safety. Take advantages of tools and resources available
Eating low carbohydrate foods can help a to you. If it is a nice day and you have a friend,
person lose weight, but one should still take in take a walk outdoors or buy a jump rope for rainy
carbohydrates to offer the body the fuel it needs days. No one needs a gym membership to stay fit;
while watching the overall caloric intake. There it can be done in the comfort of oneʼs home.
are many items that are extremely healthy that do For those who want to work out in a gym set-
not fall under the “low carbohydate” label. One ting, the RSC Wellness program has gym and
should also be aware of energy bars or meals on- swimming pool hours as well as a number of
the-go; items such as these are often extremely programs both in a classroom environment as
rich in calories. Remember, dieters do not have to well as online.
Eating disorders
abound in society
Sara Nealey
News Editor food and have another episode of overeating.
Many have heard of the eating disorders anorexia People suffering from compulsive overeating tend
nervosa and bulimia nervosa; however, there are to binge in secret, as they are ashamed of what they
other types of disorders, one of which is called a are doing. They may also try to overcompensate for
binge eating disorder or compulsive overeating. the binge by excessive dieting and exercise.
Binge eating is defined by nationaleatingdisor- Binge eaters are not always overweight; rather,
ders.org as “periods of uncontrolled, impulsive due to periods of dieting, some maintain a certain
or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling body weight that can be in the range from normal
comfortably full.” This usually results in periods to severely obese. “[The personʼs weight] usu-
of overeating then restrictive dieting. It may not ally fluctuate[s] from overeating and dieting,” said
seem like such an uncommon thing; however, it can Brown.
become a serious issue. “Any time that it interferes According to nationaleatingdisorders.org, “35
percent of ʻnormal dietersʼ progress to pathological
with daily activities and you become obsessed with
food, then it becomes a problem,” said Liz Brown, dieting. Of those, 20-25 percent progress to partial
or full-syndrome eating disorders.”
wellness coordinator. This can take place when
one is emotionally upset and tries to find comfort The Web site continues by saying that binge eating
in food. affects one to five percent of people, and that it is
The consequences of binge eating are similar to only slightly more common in females than males,
those of being obese: Type II diabetes mellitus, high with 60 percent of those suffering from the disorder
cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and being female and 40 percent being male.
gallbladder disease. As with many disorders, the cause is usually
Depression commonly occurs in binge eaters for psychological; it could be due to thinness being
a number of reasons. Many are depressed from the idealized by society, a history of abuse or distress-
start due to their desire to be thin; however, they al- ing relationships. It could also be due to a chemical
ways lose control and begin eating once more. This imbalance in the brain.
lack of discipline can also cause low self-esteem. A For more information about binge eating and
person can feel guilty and become ashamed of his other eating disorders, visit www.nationaleating-
or her weight, which in turn can make them turn to disorders.org.
Across 53 Govern
1 Males 54 Slick
4 Smooch 55 Gratuities
8 Lug 56 Vend (p.t.)
12 __ Gardner 57 Boxing term
13 Swear (abbr.)
14 Broad
15 Brown or Aspin Down
16 Part 1 Man
17 Icon 2 Once
18 Chalkboard wiper 3 Space agency
20 Body part (abbr.)
22 Some 4 Black or Carpen-
23 A Society Island ter
27 A lot 5 Piano key
30 Swag 6 The sun
31 High card 7 Sweat
32 Warn 8 Evans or Gooden
34 Pale 9 Free
35 Sneaked 10 Bustle
37 Cushions 11 Jellylike
38 Legislative body 19 State
39 Ike 21 Directon
41 Preposition 24 Hawkeye state
42 Not often 25 Tailless amphib-
46 Appointment ian
49 Blue pencil 26 Hotels
51 Cow sound 27 Atlases
52 Sharif 28 Farm measure-
Oct. 15, 2004
15th Street News
Aries March 21-April 19 … Your life has been like
H
a non-stop rollercoaster ride lately and you should
take precautions for the upcoming weekend. For
starters, purchase yourself some pork chitterlings
and wrap them around your face. The awful smell
and severe rash that results will ensure your ejec-
tion from school, work and even your parentsʼ
house for the next week.
Taurus April 20-May 20 … Last week you got
a mean case of goosebumps when that “hottie”
o
you have been checking out walked into class.
This week is your big chance to walk up to that
“hottie” and say, “Professor, would you like to
go on a date with me?” After being rejected and
then escorted off the campus, give up this crazy
endeavor and instead go to Planet Bowl for some
late night bowling.
Gemini May 21-June 21 … To ensure great luck
r
and unimaginable fortunes, you should incor-
porate the words “Booyizzle” and “Schlahdow”
(pronounced sh-law-dow) into your vocabulary.
Top off your week of endless bounties by making
sure to use the phrase “Exquisitely delightful” no
less than 50 straight times.
Cancer June 22-July 22 … You are probably more
likely to be struck by lightning while crashing
o
on a commercial airplane, all while clutching a
winning lottery ticket than to have good luck this
week. Too bad for you.
Leo July 23-August 22 … Shortly after tripping
over your untied Reeboks last week, you were run
over by a sweaty pizza guy on a bicycle, stamped
on by no less than 54 overweight grannies and
were the lucky recipient of a swift kick to the
hindquarters from a four year old little girl.
s
Virgo August 23-September 22 … What is that
stain on your shirt? Psyche! Got you again! Go to
Red Lobster and order the Cajun Chicken Lingui-
ni, but instead of saying Linguini, say “Luigi.”
Libra September 23-October 23 … This week
you will turn into a rotten piece of garbage. Wait
a second … that is just what your grandparents are
c
going to call you at your birthday dinner, shortly
after telling you to get a job.
Scorpio October 24-November 21 … You should
sell all of your possessions and become a travel-
ling custom bumper sticker salesman. Your inven-
tory should include several “hip” catch phrases
such as: “I have multiple feet…DO YOU?!” and
“Chick Peas are wicked awesome.” After sell-
ing these for only six weeks, you will easily be a
o
multi- multi- multibillionaire.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21 … You
met the coolest dude in school last week. After
meeting this cool dude, you showed him just
how cool you thought he was by slugging him in
the nose and stomach several hundred thousand
times.
p
Capricorn December 22-January 19 … Lately
you have been depressed. The only way to remedy
this case of the blues is to do a couple hundred
sets of “rapid-fire” jumping jacks without stopping
even to breathe. By the time you are finished , you
will be so exhausted and hospitalized that you will
have forgotten completely about the fact that you
were depressed.
e
Aquarius January 20-February 18 … You are
having trouble deciding on a costume for Hal-
loween this year. You have ruled out Alf, Aunt
Bea, Cindi Lauper and Tony Danza, claiming that
each of those choices “make your face look fat.”
Quit being such a baby.
Pisces February 19-March 20 … This week, while
watching the Presidential debate, you will get
yourself into a little bit of a tizzy. You will become
s
uncontrollably hyped up and in a fit of celebration
your head will detach completely from your body
and, with extreme rocket-propulsion, will slam
violently into the nearest toilet.
ment 45 Childʼs toy
29 Gas 46 Period
3 Provided food 47 Male friend
32 Singing voice (French)
33 Those who 48 Faucet
stare 50 Pair
36 Disks
37 Each
39 Train
40 Aged
43 Exude
44 Tress
Answers to last weekʼs crossword
Oct. 8, 2004