OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSIDE ARTS FESTIVAL FAIR A BIG HIT Record-setting crowds turned out for OCCC’s SEPIONEERTEMBER 14, 2009 WWW.OCCC.EDU/PIONEER COVERING OCCC SINCE 1978 annual Arts Festival Oklahoma, which featured more than P 100 exhibits. Read OCCC cautious Facing the arts people’s reactions to the festival. NEWS, p. 7 as H1N1 virus STUDY SKILLS hits campus READING TIPS Administrators precautions to minimize OCCC’s Study Skills the spread of the virus. class teaches an say threat is Faculty are being effective reading being taken method called urged to encourage any- SQ3R. Find out ‘very serious’ one sick with the flu to what makes it remain at home. successful. WHITNEY KNIGHT “We do encourage NEWS, p. 5 Staff Writer anyone who is running [email protected] a fever or feels sick to EDITORIAL stay home,” said Marion The H1N1 virus has Paden, Enrollment and GREAT VALUE struck on campus and Student Services vice college officials are Many people say president. MARCELLA CRAIGER /PIONEER community colleges working to contain what “This includes asking offer an umatched could become a serious supervisors and faculty Christina Gifford, Arts Festival Oklahoma volunteer, paints 8-year-old value through their outbreak. to be lenient with em- Jada Giod’s face as spiderman. Jada said she wanted her spiderman mask to be pink and purple instead the of red and black. small class sizes An OCCC student has ployee and student ab- and low tuition been confirmed to have sences.” rates. President vent them from stay- for students to validate who develop flu-like Barack Obama the H1N1 flu virus, ini- Academic Vice Presi- agrees. tially known as “swine dent Felix Aquino sug- ing home when ill or their illness, as doctors’ symptoms should no- flu,” said OCCC Presi- gested in a memo that prompt them to return offices and other medi- tify their professors via OPINION, p. 2 dent Paul Sechrist in an faculty adjust their poli- to class while still symp- cal facilities may be ex- telephone or e-mail. e-mail sent to students tomatic and potentially tremely busy and there- Among the most ORGANIZATIONS cies on missed classes, Wednesday, Sept. 9. examinationsand late infectious to others. fore unable to provide common symptoms are NSA PLANS 5K, College administra- assignments so that Additionally, Aquino such documentation in FUN RUNS tors are alerting faculty, students’ academic asked faculty will not to a timely fashion. See FLU page 6 staff and students about concerns do not pre- require a doctor’s note Aquino said students The Nursing Student Association will hold a 5K FIRST CULTURAL ART SERIES CONCERT PLANNED competitive run and a 1-mile fun run Oct. 3. More information Concert goers to be treated to an authentic on how to sign up inside. silent film experience, says arts director CLUBS, p. 10 JUSTIN COMBS Sept. 22, in the Bruce around, said Scott Ti- INTRAMURALS Editor Owens Theatre with a The program is billed as ‘Clown gert, Cultural Programs [email protected] performance by Para- assistant. SPORTS BASH Princes’ and will feature three short gon Ragtime Orchestra, comedy films by Charlie Chaplin, “The Walt Disney More than 60 A nostalgic return to said Lemuel Bardequez, Company also uses students attended the era of silent films Cultural Arts director. Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd.” recordings of the or- OCCC’s Sports accompanied by orches- Bardequez said this “ —LEMUE L BARDEQUEZ chestra for the outdoor CU L TURA L ARTS DIRE C TOR Bash. During tral music will entertain is the first time OCCC the event, most theme music,” Tigert the September patrons at the first con- has hosted the Paragon said. recreation classes cert of this year’s Cul- Ragtime Orchestra or Chaplin, Buster Keaton originally accompanied “Their recordings filled up. Find out tural Arts Series anything like it. and Harold Lloyd,” Bar- those films.” can be heard in Main which classes and Patrons are in for “The program is billed dequez said. The Paragon Ragtime Street and U.S.A. at Dis- intramurals still have an “authentic experi- as ‘Clown Princes’ and “The orchestra will Orchestra also is the spots available. ence” as the series kicks will feature three short be performing the orig- only one of its kind that See ARTS page 9 SPORTS, p. 8 off at 7 p.m. Tuesday, comedy films by Charlie inal film scores that performs the music year 2 • SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 PIONEER | OCCC.EDU/PIONEER OPINION EDITORIAL | Community colleges offer more for your buck Underestimated, yet highly sought Community colleges provide a smooth transition ing them back years after they have graduated. to college for many students who have just graduated Students are able to receive their associate degree from high school. Class sizes are a good reason for in two years before they continue on to study for this. Classes usually range from 20 to 30 students per their bachelor’s degree. While students who attend instructor and this allows the student to be placed a community college are getting their basic courses into comfortable surroundings. out of the way, they also are able to take some courses Having a small class allows the student an op- during the first two years that are focused in their portunity to get to know their major. professors and classmates. However, at a four-year university, some ma- Also, students stand a higher jors don’t allow access to specialized courses until chance at being able to receive students are in their sophomore or junior year. one-on-one time with their These facts have caught the attention of President professors. Barack Obama, who applauds the role of community By comparison, freshman colleges. classes at large universities “Jobs requiring at least an associate degree are MARK PARISI /OFFTHE M ARK .CO M often will contain hundreds projected to grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no of students in a theater-style college experience,” Obama said. YOUR VOICE | Buckle them up setting. The economy is in a recession and finding jobs has LANDA Two-year college tuition is turned into a race. Employers are looking for employ- MCCLURE a major savings for students. ees who are willing to work at their fastest pace. Child car safety OCCC tuition and fees add The president has acknowledged that two-year To the editor: up to about half the cost of the colleges need more money, rather than just a pat on 1. For the best possible protection, keep same class at the University of Oklahoma. the back. Obama has brought about the American infants in rear-facing child safety seats until The savings can keep students from taking out Graduation Initiative, a 10-year $12 billion plan to they reach the height or weight limit speci- student loans, the only form of financial aid many be invested into community colleges. The program fied on the safety seat. Infants should remain middle class students qualify for. Student loans has been set up to encourage people to go to college rear-facing until they are at least 1 year old and can build up and many students are still pay- and receive a degree. weigh at least 20 pounds. Rear-facing child safety seats should be installed in the back seat YOUR VOICE | OCCC rated in top 15 percent for embracing student veterans of the vehicle. 2. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should ride in forward-facing child College named as military friendly safety seats in the back seat of the vehicle until To the editor: During Prep and Plan- nity will be offered as we ing opportunity. they reach the height or weight limit specified Recently selected by ning week, our faculty welcome Steve Scruggs Quarterly safety train- on the safety seat . G.I. Jobs magazine, had the opportunity to from the Veterans Ad- ing credit will be given 3. Once children outgrow their forward- OCCC has been named attend a presentation ministration to present to attending faculty and facing seats, they should ride in booster seats in as a Military Friend- by Rob Braese from the information important staff. the back seat of the vehicle until the vehicle seat ly School for the year Veterans’ Administra- to helping our veteran For more information, belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when 2010. tion who shared infor- students readjust to col- please contact Penny the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the This honor ranks mation about the chal- lege life. Hampton, Professional shoulder belt lays across the chest. OCCC in the top 15% lenges faced by many The session will be Development director, 4. When children outgrow their booster seats, of all colleges, universi- of the returning service open to all faculty, staff at 405-682-1611, ext. usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall, they ties and trade schools personnel as they read- and interested students. 7827. can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if nationwide for doing just to civilian life and The session will be —Penny Hampton it fits properly . the most to embrace to college. from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in Professional —Pamela williams America’s veterans as Later this month a sec- Library 407 A&B. Please Devolpment Oklahoma state health department students. ond learning opportu- plan to attend this learn- Director OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PIONEER Vol. 38 No. 4 Justin Combs..............................Editor Jennifer Pearsall.................Photographer The PIONEER is a publication of Oklahoma City the right to edit all letters and submissions for length, libel Mark Smith......................Senior Writer Marcella Craiger.................Photographer Community College through the Division of Arts and and obscenity.