OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSIDE PIONEER ONLINE To comment on stories or to access the latest news, features, multimedia, online exclusives and MAYIONEER 9, 2014 PIONEER.OCCC.EDU COVERING OCCC SINCE 1978 updates, visit www. occc.edu/pioneer. P Finals concentration EDITORIAL HOBBY LOBBY SHOULD TAKE STRONG STAND Editor Lauren Daniel says Hobby Lobby should be allowed to disallow their employees certain forms of birth control. Read her thoughts. OPINION, p. 2 NEWS GRADUATES TO WALK THE STAGE MAY 16 Turn inside to find out where graduates should meet, where visitors should park JOHN HUYNH/PIONEER and who will deliver Nursing majors Sherry McHargue and Savannah Waters study in an area outside the biology lab May 2 for their upcoming the keynote speech finals. The second floor of the Main Building provides numerous desks where students can study. at commencement ceremonies. NEWS, p. 6 & 7 Tuition increase possible for fall SPORTS Officials say per three-credit-hour class. ing, any tuition increase is proposed cut in higher educa- TRIATHLON students may pay OCCC officials will not know dependent on the final amount tion funds would have other CANCELED 5 percent more until late June if there will be allocated to higher education by direct effects on OCCC. AFTER 20 YEARS a tuition increase, said OCCC the Oklahoma Legislature and He said the college’s budget OCCC officials say President Paul Sechrist. the governor,” he said. would suffer because the amount the SuperSprint BRYCE MCELHANEY “The increases, if there are “If there is a cut to higher of funding the college receives triathlon has been Staff Writer any, will go into effect for the education or insufficient funds from the state determines tu- canceled because of [email protected] fall semester … ,” he said. to cover our mandatory cost ition, salary increases and other concern over safety “I don’t think it’ll get higher increases, then a modest tuition funding. for participants. Read more inside. LAUREN DANIEL than 5 percent this year, al- increase may be warranted.” Editor though it is difficult to predict Sechrist said the governor’s See BUDGET page 9 SPORTS, p. 8 [email protected] exactly what the Legislature is going to do at this point.” COMMUNITY 5 percent increase in Sechrist said OCCC officials MEMORIAL A tuition could be pos- are committed to keeping tu- Summer, intersession SCHOLARSHIP sible for the fall 2014 semester ition low and will thoroughly CREATED because there is likely to be a examine every option. enrollment still open A memorial decrease in state funding, ac- The tuition increase was scholarship has cording to a draft of OCCC’s discussed along with the fiscal SIALI SIAOSI Registrar Jill Linblad. been created in budget plan for FY 15. year 2015 budget at the April Staff Writer Summer intersession begins honor of Matthew Currently, students pay $103 21 Board of Regents Meeting. [email protected] May 19 and goes through May David Hamilton, a per credit hour, according to the Sechrist said the regents will 30, she said. student who died in a car accident. See OCCC website. continue to discuss the issue tudents can earn quick Linblad said students can more. If the increase were to happen, in their May and June meet- Scredit in intersession and look at class offerings and enroll that would go up to $108.15 per ings, as well. COMMUNITY, p. 10 summer classes. Enrollment is credit hour, an increase of $15.45 “As was stated in the meet- already under way, said Associate See ENROLL page 9 2 • MAY 9, 2014 PIONEER | PIONEER.OCCC.EDU OPINION EDITORIAL | Human lives are more important than money Writer gives kudos to Hobby Lobby Standing up for what you believe in can often be a offer any contraceptives is not true. Hobby Lobby is risky battle. Countless people will ridicule you, judge simply against morning after pills and IUDs, which you and even tell you have no reason to have a belief are only two ways available to prevent a pregnancy. that is different than theirs. The Green family founded Hobby Lobby with Hobby Lobby has been scru- Christ-like principles. Their view on life — that it tinized relentlessly by the gov- begins at the moment of fertilization — is the reason ernment, media and average they are in disagreement with offering “emergency citizens alike for taking a stance contraceptives.” Offering forms of contraceptives that against parts of the Afford- would not support that view would be hypocritical able Care Act, also known as of the company. Obamacare. Hobby Lobby is facing paying government fines of Hobby Lobby is a Christian, up to $1.3 million per day because of their refusal tially burden a person’s exercise of religion even if the family-owned corporation, to comply with government regulations, according burden results from a rule of general applicability.” meaning chances are, their to CNN. Hobby Lobby should not be required to pay fines LAUREN beliefs do not line up with the Founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, David Green or offer medical insurance to cover things they don’t DANIEL majority of the government said, “By being required to make a choice between support. or the majority of Americans sacrificing our faith or paying millions of dollars in Sure, this could be an inconvenience to women outside of the Bible belt. fines, we essentially must choose which poison pill should Hobby Lobby prevail, but, even then, there Lucky for them, most of their 556 locations are to swallow. We simply cannot abandon our religious are three easy solutions to the problem: don’t work located in the South, so they have a good number of beliefs to comply with this mandate.” for Hobby Lobby, use the types of contraceptives their supporters — like me. In essence, Hobby Lobby should be able to exercise insurance covers or simply refrain from having sex. The controversy surrounding Hobby Lobby started its religious freedom regardless of it being a corpora- Whether you agree with Hobby Lobby about their because Obamacare requires employers to provide tion. Each company is founded with a set of principles stance on contraceptives, you have to give them some insurance coverage for IUDs such as Mirena or and theirs is no different. props for standing up for their views and being as- morning after pills, such as “Plan B.” Employers also How can the government justify making a business sertive. Obviously human lives are more important have to provide coverage for contraceptives such as comply with a law that does, in fact, hinder their to a company than money, so why is Hobby Lobby’s condoms or birth control. religious freedom? morality the one being questioned? According to www.washingtonpost.com, the popu- The Religious Freedom Restoration Act was passed —Lauren Daniel lar assumption that Hobby Lobby does not want to in 1933 and states, “Government shall not substan- Editor LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Writer says college must be out of touch with student demographics Fallin wrong choice for OCCC commencement speaker To the Editor: She has denied our schools access to money to build Hispanics, African Americans and immigrants. This letter is in reference to the recently announced storm shelters. She refused to expand Medicare pro- One only needs to look at the demographics of our news that the speaker for this year’s graduation will grams for our state, thus denying free health insurance school to understand this conundrum. be Gov. Mary Fallin. I am personally sickened and to thousands of Oklahomans. She has consistently We are an amalgam of the lower middle-class, horrified by this decision. turned her back on evidence that suggests fracking is minorities and immigrants. In my opinion, there is no worse choice for this dangerous to us and our environment by giving those Is our school administration so out of touch that honor. Not only has she been declared by some as the companies responsible considerable tax breaks; and they don’t realize who we are? Was this really the worst governor in America; her policies and actions at the same time denying tax breaks for the strug- most appropriate choice to represent us? go against the OCCC code of values as published in gling middle class. We need a commencement speaker who can inspire the handbook. She has signed bills limiting our rights to increase passion in our graduates, not mar them in contro- Time after time governor Fallin has favored the the minimum wage. She has consistently favored those versial junk politics. rights of big business over the rights of Oklahomans. policies that deny civil rights to homosexuals, women, —Name withheld by request OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PIONEER Vol. 42 No. 32 Lauren Daniel..................................Editor Ethan Cooper......................Webmaster The PIONEER is a student publication of name if the request is made in writing. Oklahoma City Community College through the The PIONEER has the right to edit all letters and Siali Siaosi...............................Staff Writer Mycalyn Blomstrom...........Online Writer Division of Arts. It is published weekly during the submissions for length, libel and obscenity. Letters Bryce McElhaney....................Staff Writer Paris Burris......................Lab Assistant 16-week fall and spring semesters and the eight- should be no more than 250 words. Students must Jake McMahon...................Videographer Ronna Austin.....................Lab Director week summer session. list their major. OCCC staff and faculty must list Opinions expressed are those of the author and their work title. John Huynh........................Photographer Sue Hinton....................Faculty Adviser do not necessarily represent those of the PIONEER, Letters to the editor can be submitted to the the college or the publisher. 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