OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSIDE PIONEER ONLINE To comment on stories, or to access the latest news, IONEER features, multimedia, online exclusives and POCTOBER 21, 2011 WWW.OCCC.EDU/PIONEER COVERING OCCC SINCE 1978 updates, visit occc.edu/pioneer. EDITORIAL SCHOOL COSTS FOR ILLEGALS UNFAIR Some illegal immigrants can go to college for in-state tuition prices. Online Editor Whitney Knight describes her problems with that. OPINION, p. 2 The gift CAMPUS LIFE STUDENTS of music DISCUSS MOVEMENT Edmond man donates Occupy Wall Street $100,000 piano to OCCC has everyone talking, including your peers. Rachel MoRRison/PioneeR Continue reading to see what students Music Professor Ron Staton plays a Steinway concert grand piano in the Visual and Performing Arts Center. like you think about the movement and JOEY STIPEK The piano was shipped to said the high-caliber piece of who are not only here now, but its supporters. Contributing Writer Oklahoma from the Steinway musical equipment is a tremen- in the future will benefit from [email protected] piano factory located in Queens, dous gift to the college and its having this instrument.” NEWS, p. 7 N.Y., where it was prepped be- students. Sechrist said OCCC needs A $100,000 9-foot Steinway fore being sent to OCCC. The “I’m so glad to be able to offer the instrument which will SPORTS concert grand piano was do- piano is being used in the Visual this type of instrument to our project well in the college’s new ZUMBA TO nated to OCCC this month. It and Performing Arts Center students,” Sechrist said. “To Performing Arts Theater when TAKE OVER will be used in the new theater until the theater is completed. hear it, to see it, to play it or to OCCC POOL currently being constructed. OCCC President Paul Sechrist practice on it, I think students See PIANO page 9 Zumba is taking a dive on campus — in HIGH SCHOOL HAS 100 PERCENT GRADUATION RATE a good way. Aqua Zumba classes are now available for Pathways high school housed on campus students. Read on to find out all you need AMBER GIORDANO college credit. Some even begin taking col- as the eighth grade. The application process, to know. News Writing Student lege courses as high school juniors, if their which includes an interview, begins in Feb- SPORTS, p. 8 ACT score is high enough to allow it. ruary and students are admitted by May. Hidden on the third floor of OCCC’s “I found out about the school while look- “The only thing I’m missing out on by not Main building is Pathways Middle College ing at colleges with my counselor,” said going to a normal high school is sports,” CAMPUS LIFE High School, an alternative school for seri- Tricia Morgan, 15, who has been attend- Morgan said. “But we’re allowed to join STORYTELLER ous students who are interested in entering ing Pathways for two years. “I chose this teams at other schools, so it’s not too bad.” ENTERTAINS, college at an early age. school because you have to take concurrent Each grade is limited to 20 students. The EDUCATES Principal Carol Brogan calls the school (classes) to boost yourself up.” staff of five teachers is able to teach every Storyteller Al Bostick “the best kept secret in Oklahoma City In the past eight years, Pathways has pro- subject. Students are required to complete visited campus and Public Schools.” duced seven Clara Luper scholarship win- 32 hours of community service for every used music to share Pathways has a 100 percent graduation ners, Brogan said. This scholarship provides year they are enrolled. his stories. Read rate with between 90 and 100 percent of its for tuition, room and board, and a $200 per For 11 years now, Pathways students have more to see what graduates going on to college. semester book allowance for students to been volunteering at the Oklahoma Arts students thought. Most students are enrolled for college attend Oklahoma City University. Festival on campus, the food bank, and been COMMUNITY, p. 10 courses during their senior year, earning Students can enroll in Pathways as early a part of the Key Club. 2 • OCTOBER 21, 2011 PIONEER | OCCC.EDU/PIONEER OPINION EDITORIAL | Those here illegally should pay out-of-state tuition Tuition break for illegals unfair What does Republican presidential hopeful Gov- are astronomical, oftentimes doubling or even tri- ernor Rick Perry (R-Texas) have in common with pling their in-state counterparts. Rhode Island, one of the bluest states in the U.S.? You If an Oklahoman wanted to go to school at the could probably respond to that University of Rhode Island, for instance, we would question with a million zingy be shelling out about $25,000 per semester as a one-liners, but the real answer full-time student. is no joke: in-state tuition for Rhode Island residents and illegal immigrants, illegal immigrants who came however, would have to pay less than half of that: to the U.S. as children and about $10,000 for the same schooling period. graduated from high school. It is ridiculous and sad to think that an illegal im- On Sept. 27, Rhode Island migrant, may have only lived in this country for a education officials voted to al- few years could attend college for less than someone low high school graduates who who has lived in the U.S. their entire life. are in the country illegally to Going to college is nothing more than a distant Whitney Knight pay in-state tuition at public dream for many Americans. colleges and universities. There are countless people who work more jobs gReg holkan/gRegholkan.coM That decision also has proved than they should have to and apply for every scholar- to be a hot button topic for Perry, who enacted a ship that comes their way, but still they are unable abroad wouldn’t be able to go to school for the same similar law in his home state of Texas in 2001. to attend school. cost as a native — and that is how it should be. On a recent campaign stop in Iowa, Perry defended To make it so easy for an illegal immigrant to Many illegal immigrants come to this country in his decision to support in-state tuition for illegal im- obtain is a slap in the face to those people. search of something better, and that is admirable. migrants, saying paying less does not equal a “free That is not to say that those here illegally should But they should have to work for their success, ride” for illegals pursuing an education. be denied schooling altogether. They should abso- not have it handed to them on a golden platter while That may be true, but that doesn’t make it fair. lutely be allowed to attend college in the U.S. — for the rest of us have to go panning. What about American-born citizens who wish to nonresidential fees. —Whitney Knight attend college out-of- state? Outstate tuition prices After all, an American citizen going to college Online Editor PRESS RELEASE | Oct. 26 luncheon will include awards ceremony Mayor’s committee to honor disabled citizens To the editor: (formerly Clarion) at 737 homa City. ors extraordinary people Place, Suite 101, Okla- disability_concerns. The Oklahoma City S. Meridian Avenue in Cornett is scheduled to with disabilities who homa City, Okla. 73159. —Pam Henry Mayor’s Committee on Oklahoma City. speak and help present overcome barriers, and For more information, Oklahoma City Disability Concerns will A w a r d - w i n n i n g the awards. we salute their advo- please contact Jackson at Mayor’s Committee honor outstanding Okla- KFOR-TV news anchor Eleven awards will be cates,” said Oklahoma 405-759-3562 or email on Disability homa City citizens with Kevin Ogle will serve as presented. The winner City Mayor’s Committee [email protected]. Concerns Chair disabilities and their ad- the master ofceremonies. of the 2011 high school Chair Pam Henry. For a luncheon regis- vocates at its 21st Annual Mayor Mick Cor- poster/billboard Contest To attend, mail a $20 tration form and to learn Share Your Awards Luncheon. nett declared October will also be announced. check and registration more about the OKC Thoughts: The ceremony will be as Disabilities Aware- “The Oklahoma City form by Oct. 21 to Mi- Mayor’s Committee on held at 11:30 a.m. on ness Month and Oct. 26 Mayor’s Committee on chelle L. Jackson, United Disability Concerns, visit email editor@ Wednesday, Oct. 26, at as Special Disabilities Disability Concerns Cerebral Palsy of Okla- the committee website at occc.edu the Magnuson Hotel Awareness Day in Okla- Awards Luncheon hon- homa, 10400 Greenbriar www.okc.gov/council/ OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PIONEER Vol. 40 No. 10 Jeremy Cloud................................Editor Cynthia Praefke.....Advertising Manager The PIONEER is a publication of Oklahoma City name if the request is made in writing. Emily Schorr.......................Senior Writer Whitney Knight...................Online Editor Community College through the Division of Arts The PIONEER has the right to edit all letters Christy Johnson.....................Staff Writer Casey Akard.....................Videographer and Humanities. It is published weekly during the and submissions for length, libel and obscenity. Sarah Hussain.......................Staff Writer Robert Bolton.....................Online Writer 16-week fall and spring semesters and the eight- Letters should be fewer than 250 words. Students week summer session. must list their major. OCCC staff and faculty must Priscilla Colley.......................Staff Writer Cybele Hsu..........Graphics/Webmaster Opinions expressed are those of the author list their work title.