High Point University Campus Chronicle TonSr UNivimirrr Vol. 15, No. 4 Friday, November 2, 2007 Life lessons have taught Isaksen to challenge On the Run: What's New Commencement plans comfortable attitudes about race in America announced for the spring By Camara McLaughlin Latin Americans also lived Staff Writer there. In Monessen, she Supreme Court Justice Clarence first became aware of the Thomas has been announced as the 2008 When Dr. Judy Isaksen was issue of race. Commencement speaker, scheduled for getting her bachelor's degree at the Isaksen credits her May 3, 2008 at 9 a.m. University of South Florida, she never father, an appliance store In addition, Grammy Award spoke in class. She just took "volumes and owner, with first making winner Lee Greenwood, whose hit "God volumes of notes" during her professors' her aware of the gross Bless America" topped the charts, will be endless lectures. Her professors never inequities taking place. As the special musical guest for the ceremony. gave students chances to respond or ask a part of his job he would This year's Baccalaureate message questions. Consequently, Dr. Isaksen never install furnaces in people's will be delivered by Thomas G. Long, a voiced her opinion. Once she decided to homes. He would come Presbyterian minister and Bandy Professor become a teacher, she swore to herself home from an installation of Preaching at Candler School of Theology that in her classroom, she would not only job and tell her about at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. The encourage her students to say what was on how hard life was for the Baccalaureate ceremony will be held their minds, but she would require it. poor people in the town. Friday, May 2 at 6 p.m. Anyone who has taken a class Though Isaksen has two with Dr. Isaksen knows this to be the case. older siblings, she was Dr. Judy Isaksen explains assignments to students in her Her teaching methods are not the typical the only one with whom Minorities in the Media class. Photo by Pam Haynes HPU Theatre lecture-based ones. In fact, she tries to her father discussed the Department Presents lecture as little as possible. Instead, during wonderful people in abject poverty that Isaksen strongly believes that students her classes she has students sit in a circle, he met through his work. Her siblings are need to be jolted. "We have a notion of "The Water Engine" so that they are actually talking face-to- now very conservative Republicans, while whiteness as the norm." She explains, face, not face-to back. When the students Isaksen, as you may guess, is very liberal. "White people are incredibly privileged The High Point University Theatre are sitting in the circle they talk, they She feels her father had everything to do over other groups of people. We have so Department will present its first production debate and they work together to create a with not only her political beliefs, but with much anxiety and inequity in our society of "The Water Engine" in the Empty Space new meaning for themselves. her choosing race as an issue to teach and that I can't pretend it's just not there." Theatre located in the Old Student Center The meanings her students create study. Through her classes Isaksen gets her on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. are not trivial. Isaksen focuses much of Isaksen still feels race is an students to see the flaws in our society, so Set in the 1930s, this play begins her scholarly work on race, and as she enormous issue today, no matter what they can do their best to change them. with a sense of optimism and opportunity states with pride, "In every single one of anyone would like to believe. She points Isaksen is proud of all she has when Charles Lange, the main character, my classes, race trickles in." She feels out, "We've only been out of slavery done during her teaching career. She is invents an engine that uses water as its fuel. race is still one of the most critical issues for 150 years. We were in it for 400 to nothing like her undergraduate professors. But to unveil such an innovative machine today, just as it was when she was growing 500 years. Are we done? Hell, no!" In She is getting students to think about things that could revolutionize industrialism up in Monessen, Pa., a small steel-mill her classroom, Isaksen tries to make her that may have never before crossed their in America while creating competition town south of Pittsburgh. Because of the students mindful of what really goes on minds. She states with utter confidence, for oil companies carries a set of heavy steel industry, her town had great diversity. in the world. "I'd like to think that when "Where I feel I do my best work is in consequences. The play delivers a contrast Her own family is Italian, but other ethnic students come out of my classes, I've jolted teaching." between free enterprise and the pressure of groups such as African Americans and them," she passionately states. powerful corporations. The cast is comprised of HPU students. The role of Charles Lange will Republican candidates at Gubernatorial Debate stick be portrayed by Sean Scurlock. Other cast members include Lindsay Beltrame as Rita to their platforms, avoid wrangling with one another Lange; Nikki Eak as Oberman; Rebecca Dooley as Wallace; Megan Santiago as By Samantha Hester "painting our own barn" Varek; Benjamin Dennis as Bernie; Eliza A&E Editor and "drawing a bold line Walmsley as Gross; Ben Hensley as in the sand." He believes Murray; Natacia Grave as Chain Letter; Sermons about improved heath that government needs to care, schools and roads flooded the Pauline be about empowering and Theatre during the Gubernatorial Debate protecting people. He also See On the Run, pg. 7 among Republican candidates Oct. 20. believes that North Carolina The competitors are Bill Graham, consists of "free, risk- a lawyer from Salisbury; Bob Orr, a former taking, God-loving, family- is issue state Supreme Court associate justice and oriented people" who have Fred Smith, District 12 state Senator. "fire in their hearts and The debate started with firm wings on their feet." He instructions to "listen with our whole promoted the three things hearts," and to "refrain from throwing he believes necessary to Opinion: Students share their rotten vegetables at the stage." win: "Good people, a plan favorite Presidential candi- The questioning began with and resources." He thinks dates for next year's ele_i Graham, whose opening statement that the state needs a leader, * * * * * * * * was "I'm the outsider. I'm not the one not a judge or lawyer, and from Raleigh." His message consisted stated that he's been a Graham. Orr and Smith Photo by Samantha Hester of lowering taxes and stopping illegal leader his whole life. He immigration. He also declared his opinion says he will set apart fancy on early childhood education and give full A&E: 30 Days of Night is on the state legislators in Raleigh by from fact, bring us back to being a "good support to our teachers. He also insists suspenseful and artistic saying, "They've done a terrible job as road state" and that he will tell people the he'll straighten out the state's budget and government." He spoke passionately about truth - that he will "shoot straight with prioritize where our money goes. how one-third of children in school don't them." The three candidates stated graduate and how his campaign is about Orr's first statement was that he's their plans, beliefs and ideas with such ews: Student rescues trees being fair. He told the audience that they won four state-wide elections and that conviction that they occasionally gave shouldn't trust Democrats because they'll "we have an enormous challenge facing each other a low blow, although this debate on campus from demolition give you less. "Don't buy Hilary's plan," he this state." He believes that we need to didn't seem to be argumentative. Rather ******** said, calling it "a pig in a poke." Graham bring the people together and that he's the than disputing their points with one another also made it known that he is going to win man for the job because he knows how to and fighting to prove the validity of their the race - he reiterated this fact each time logically work through things and he has messages, they simply imposed their Sports: Volleyball season in- he spoke into the microphone. "I have the best interest of the citizens at heart, opinions on the audience. cludes long winning streak small town NC values... We need to get a not the interest of the political party. He In November, one of these men new governor and we are going to in 2008, thinks good government starts at the top will be governor - if the Republicans break and he's right here." and that we need to improve our culture their 14-year losing streak. Sen. Smith took the position of of corruption. If elected, he plans to focus EDITORIALS Friday, Novemter 2, 2007 Cnronicle Stair: Stolen innocence: Sex trafficking in Editor in chief Pam Haynes A & E Editor Cambodia tramples on human rights Samantha Hester Staff Editorial pimps, who are as young as 14. So, why isn't anything being done about this? Why aren't Opinion Editor In a place that attracts tourists from all around the globe, the Cambodian police taking action? Apparently, it's difficult to John Winn there is a secret that is going on behind closed doors.