Basketball star returns to SOSU as speaker

T
S
he
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Campus Calendar
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Moneyball and more
SOSU men and
women take the hardwood
tonight
for basketball
action at 6
p.m.
Halftimes
include
Moneyball shot for a
$500 SOSU Scholarship,
plus The Sparks Dance
Team, SOSU Spirit
Squad and SOSU Pep
Band.
outheastern
www.sosu.edu/thesoutheastern
The independent voice of Southeastern Oklahoma State University since 1912
By QUIENCY BRANNAN
Staff writer
It is that time of year again,
when we say goodbye to
some fine students. Fall
commencement is scheduled
for Saturday, Dec. 15, in
Bloomer
Sullivan
Gymnasium.
The ceremony will begin
at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a reception for
graduates and family members in the Visual and
Performing Arts Center
from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Crystal Robinson, an assistant coach for the WNBA
Washington Mystics, will be
the guest speaker for commencement. Robinson graduated from Southeastern in
1996.
“Being at SOSU, I had a
chance to be a normal student. Anywhere else I probably would not have had that
opportunity,” Robinson said
in an interview with The
Southeastern last year.
Robinson listed many fond
memories of SOSU.
“One thing I will always
remember is when we lost
by one point in the NAIA
finals for the championship,” she said.
Members of
SOSU’s
Symphonic
Choir and the
Durant High
School choir
performed
Handel’s
“Messiah”
with a string
orchestra
from North
Texas in
Candlelighting, SOSU’s
oldest tradition, Monday
night.
Spring 2008 Preenrollment
SOSU’s Chorvettes will
be guest performers at
the Red River Valley
Chorus Christmas Show
at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec.
8, at First Baptist Church
in Sherman.
Crystal Robinson
returns
SOSU graduate and
former pro
basketball
standout
Crystal
Robinson will
be the guest speaker at
Fall Commencement.
The commencement will
be held Saturday, Dec.
15, in Bloomer Sullivan
Gym. The ceremony
begins at 11 a.m. A
reception will follow.
Holiday Depression?
The holidays can be
stressful. Student
Health Services
and the
University
Counseling
Center staff
remind you
they are
here to listen and help. If
you are depressed and
need help, call 745-2867.
INDEX
News/Lifestyles.................2
Health Tips
Opinion......................3
Editorial
Perspectives
Editorial Cartoon
Entertainment...................4
Bookstore Corner
Comics
Humor-Scope
Review
Sports................................5
Sports calendar
Photo page........................6
Volume 88 No. 12
Robinson played for ciative to have had the mer SOSU basketball great.
SOSU from 1993-96. She is opportunity to have coached
Sheila Gold, assistant regSOSU’s all-time leader in her,” said Nick Keith, retired istrar, said her office has
points scored, rebounds,
SOSU coach.
been busy getting ready for
assists and steals.
Bloomer Sullivan graduation day.
“Crystal is the best
Gym is an appropri“We have exactly 300 stuwoman player I ever
ate
place
for dents
graduating
in
saw; she is a great perRobinson’s com- December,” Gold said.
son, but also the
mencement
The morning ceremony is
best teammate
a d d r e s s , the only one scheduled.
anybody
since it
Dr. Douglas McMillan,
c o u l d
holds interim vice president of
e v e r
s o academic affairs, reminded
have.
the fall graduates that graduAs a
ation rehearsal for all stucoach,
m a n y dents participating in the
i
t
f o n d ceremony
will
be
makes me
memories Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 3
very apprefor the for- p.m. in the gym.
Reception and art will
be on display today from
3:30-5:30 p.m. honoring
fall Graphic Design graduates at the new Gallery
133 in the Visual and
Performing Arts Center.
Emphasis will be on digital photography.
Refreshments will be
served at the reception.
Chorvettes Perform
FREE - additional copies
25 cents each
Basketball star returns to SOSU as speaker
Graphic Design
Reception
The semester is winding down quickly. Spring
semester classes are filling up. Contact your
department if you have
declared a major.
Freshmen and undecided
majors can contact
Academic Advising and
Outreach Offices at 7457516.
Non-profit
organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Durant, Okla.
Permit No. 117
SOUTHEASTERN STAFF
SOSU choir student part of Candlelighting
McGough, a sophomore
vocal performance major,
has accomplished many
Southeastern celebrated
the holiday season Monday goals, including being a
NATS vocal competition
night with the 86th annual
Candlelighting and concert, finalist and a 2006 State
NATS winner, but his
conducted by Dr. Michael
dreams of becoming a
Miles, chair of the SOSU
vocalist didn’t start there.
Fine Arts Department.
“I wanted to be a singer
Among the performers
since I was three, but it
were the Southeastern
Symphonic Choir, directed wasn’t until I was four that
by Stacy Weger, the Durant I presented my first public
performance at Haworth
High School Choir and a
string orchestra from North First Assembly of God
Church, where I sang ‘Jesus
Texas.
Loves Me,’” McGough
Breck McGough, one of
the choir members, is striv- said.
He was a Durant High
ing to reach his goal of
becoming a classical singer School choir member for
or composer. He was one of three years.
“I’ve received superior
five students selected from
ratings in singing competihis honor choir to go to
tions, and I’ve composed
China and represent
five pieces for the piano,”
Southeastern.
By AMBER BATES
Contributing writer
McGough said.
When he became a student at SOSU, he got
involved in the
Southeastern Opera
Company.
“When I graduate from
Southeastern, I would like
to finish my graduate work
either at (the) Curtis
Institute or (the) Julliard
Institute,” McGough said.
“I’m really excited to get
back from China because
I’m getting the privilege to
perform for a lady from the
Curtis Institute.”
He will be one step closer to reaching his goal.
McGough said he has the
lead role in the opera production “Little Red Riding
Hood.” It will be his fourth
production with the company.
Students study for finals, make plans for winter break
By ISLAM ABDUL-MONEIM
Staff writer
It’s a matter of days and the
fall semester will be over.
Final exams are not stopping
SOSU students from planning
winter break.
“This winter break will be
my time of relaxing, I will also
do a little bit of shopping, but
definitely a lot of sleeping,”
said Allen Howard, 2007
Homecoming King.
For Chauncy Lewis, winter
break is going to be a time to
“go home (Maine), hang out
with high school friends and
hunt some caribou.”
Some students, on the other
hand, value spending time
with family relatives to live
the spirit of Christmas in its
fullest sense.
Other students, however,
will have to stay in town and
work over the break, like
“Tonn Tonn” and “Chill
Chill.”
As winter break draws near,
students have impressions and
opinions about the semester.
Want to place an ad? Call 745-2983.
Some enjoy it for special
reasons.
“I liked kicking [tail] in fraternity sports, especially during intramurals and other
competitive events,” Trevor
Hardesty said.
However, some students didn’t like this semester.
“What I like about this
semester is that it’s coming to
an end, and what I didn’t like
about it is that ever started,”
Cody Donnelly said.
After winter break, students
will come back fresh for a new
semester.
In contrast to most students,
though, a small amount will
be living in the Residence
Halls over the break.
“We usually have 20-30 students who submit interim contracts. We will continue to
accept interim contracts
through the end of the semester,” said Kelly D’Arcy, director of Residence Life.
The cost of living in the
Residence Halls for the interim is $10 a night. However,
this rate can be reduced up to
30 percent if applications are
filled in by the appropriate
deadlines.
Residence Life also plans on
entertaining its winter break
residents.
“I believe that we plan to
have a staff member cook
Christmas Dinner for any students who are staying on campus,” D’Arcy said. “As usual,
televisions, pool tables and
other equipment are available
for use by students who are
staying.”
Contrary to popular belief,
SOSU does not completely
shut down during winter
break.
The Student Union and other
offices,
including
the
Academic Advising Center,
will be open during normal
hours until Dec. 21 and will
reopen Jan. 2, 2008.
Unfortunately, the cafeteria
will not be open during the
break. The last meal that will
be served as part of the meal
plan is lunch Friday, Dec. 14,
which is also the last day of
finals and the day that the
Facebook group set up
in memory of Hopkins
By QUIENCY BRANNAN
Staff writer
Students continue to
mourn the death of
Southeastern red shirt football player Johnathon
Hopkins, who died Nov.
28.
Hopkins, a freshman
from DeSoto, Texas, was
killed
over
the
Thanksgiving holiday in
Dallas.
He was shopping with
friends and took cover
when two men arguing
nearby started shooting.
Hopkins was hit in the
head.
He died at Methodist
Hospital, after clinging to
life for a week.
More than 200 persons
quickly joined a Facebook
site established to express
thoughts for Hopkins and
his family.
Welton Johnson, a
sophomore football player
for the Savage storm, set
up the Facebook group
page titled, “Pray for
Johnathon Hopkins and his
Family.”
“This is a group created
to show love and give
blessings to Johnathon and
his family,” Johnson wrote
on the site.
Students from other colleges also responded to the
site.
Floyd Williams of Prairie
View A&M wrote, “May
God be with his family.
My prayer is for the parents, that they not take it
too hard.”
“He was real cool the few
times we kicked it,” wrote
LaToya
Johnson
of
Midwestern. “My prayers
go out to his family and
friends.”
When asked to comment
on the Facebook site,
Cindy Thomas, a senior
communication major at
SOSU, said, “It’s great. It’s
an excellent outreach for
the community.”
Jennifer Bakare, a student at Paul Quinn College
in Dallas, posted this comment: “He will be loved
and missed. I want to let
the family know I am very
sorry for the loss.”
The Office for Student
Life is providing transportation for current SOSU
students to Hopkins’ funeral Saturday.
The bus will pick up students in front of the
Student Union at 8 a.m.
and return after the funeral
at 4 p.m. Students must
sign up by 5 p.m. this
afternoon.
Additional information is
posted on the Southeastern
athletics
Web
site,
GoSavageStorm.com.
Meet the new president
HENRY L. CECIL/The Southeastern
Incoming president Dr. Michael Turner and wife Lisa
were on campus Tuesday to meet Southeastern faculty
and staff. Dr. John Allen Hendricks (right) greets the
new president and his wife.
Residence Halls close.
To compensate, there will be
snacks almost every other day
in the Union. It’s intended to
be a time for a small number
of students on campus to gather together and enjoy Wii
games, which will also be set
up at the Union.
In addition, there will be
Christmas movies played at
scheduled times in the Student
Union Auditorium. During
winter break, there will be a
home basketball game against
Southern Arkansas.
Do you have a story idea or suggestion? E-mail us: [email protected]
News/Lifestyles
Page 2
The Southeastern
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Healthy Tips for Better Living: New year, old myths, new fatalities
Provided by Student Health Services and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Some New Year’s predictions are, tragically, very
reliable.
For example, significantly more people are likely to
die in alcohol-related traffic crashes on New Year’s
Eve than on other midweek winter evenings.
Just look at the numbers.
A recent analysis of
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration statistics shows that, by the
time our country finished
ringing in the year 2005
(the last year for which
data are available), 135
people had died in alcoholrelated traffic crashes in
the 12-hour span between 6
p.m. on New Year’s Eve
and 5:59 a.m. the next
morning.
Two weeks later, on the
same night of the week, the
death toll dropped dramatically to 59.
Myths Persist
Even though many of us
are aware of the higher
rates of alcohol-related
traffic fatalities on New
Year’s Eve, myths about
drinking and driving persist.
Scientific studies supported by the National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism on how
alcohol affects our brains
and bodies provide important information that challenges these commonly
held, but incorrect, beliefs.
These myths are related
to how quickly alcohol
affects the body and how
long these effects can last.
Alcohol’s Effects Begin
Quickly
Many New Year’s revelers get into trouble because
they generally do not recognize that critical drivingrelated skills and decisionmaking abilities are diminished long before they
begin to show the obvious
physical signs of intoxication.
Initially, alcohol acts as a
stimulant and if you drink
you may temporarily feel
upbeat and excited.
But don’t be fooled.
Inhibitions and judgment
are soon affected, increasing the chance of making
reckless decisions behind
the wheel.
As more alcohol is consumed, fine motor skills
and reaction time begin to
suffer and behavior
becomes poorly controlled
and sometimes aggressive,
compromising driving abilities even further.
Continued drinking can
lead to slurred speech and
loss of coordination and
balance that we typically
associate with being
“drunk.”
At higher levels alcohol
acts as a depressant, which
causes people to become
sleepy and sometimes pass
out.
Even When Drinking
Stops, Alcohol’s Effects
Do Not
During a night of drinking, it’s also easy to misjudge alcohol’s lasting
effects.
Many revelers believe
that they can drive safely
once they have stopped
drinking for the night and
have had a strong cup of
coffee.
The truth is that alcohol
continues to affect the
brain and body long after
the last drink has been
downed.
Even after someone stops
drinking, alcohol in the
stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate
through the body.
As a result, judgment and
coordination can be
impaired for hours after
drinking.
Driving home late at
night is especially hazardous because natural
drowsiness is magnified by
the depressant action of
alcohol.
Driving abilities may
even be impaired the next
day, when any alcohol
remaining in the system, or
the general headache and
disorientation associated
with hangovers, contributes
to the general feelings of
sluggishness, even though
the person no longer feels
“drunk.”
Before You Celebrate,
Plan Ahead
No one intends to harm
anyone when they get
behind the wheel on New
Year’s Eve.
Yet traffic fatalities persist and myths about drinking live on, even though
scientific studies have documented how alcohol
affects the brain and body.
Because individuals are
so different, it is difficult
to give specific advice
about drinking.
But certain facts are clear
-- there’s no way to speed
up the brain’s recovery
from alcohol and no way to
The senate looked at
organization requests from
the SOSU Cycling Club,
Kappa Kappa Psi and
Lambda Pi Eta.
Each group wanted to
become a recognized orgaReed
nization, and they presenta cleanup for the two clos- rewarding middle school
interest.
“In the future please
ed their updated constituets” at the Frost Chambers. students by treating them
Dennis then discussed
start showing up,” Dennis tions to SGA.
Mosley said they had
to a free bowling at the
senators not showing up to said.
Vice-President Chad
been cleaned out before,
Durant Bowling Center.
the committee meetings.
The executive officers
Caveny motioned to
but they needed to do it
Several senators showed He said Publicity members and senators present were approve the requests. With
again.
interest in volunteering.
needed to help Floyd.
then told how many
no objections, the organiPresident Michael
Next, Dennis read a letThe senate was then
absences they each had.
zations were recognized.
Dennis reported that SGA ter from Senator Jordan
reminded that absences to
The meeting then turned
Next, several students
bought a display, which
Floyd, Publicity
committee meetings count- to Internal Reports, where brought up campus conwould hold SGA senators’ Committee chair, who was ed against them, and
Dennis reported that the
cerns, compliments or
pictures. The case will be
unable to attend the SGA
Dennis asked Senator
Textbook Committee had
announcements to the senset up outside the chammeeting.
Adam Lovell to read the
met earlier that day.
ate’s attention.
bers.
In the letter, Floyd
bylaws on absences at
He said the committee
After this, the meeting
He also said another
talked about senators not
SGA meetings, events and was not sure what steps to moved into Any Matter
case had been ordered.
showing up to the commit- committees.
take and would be holding Not Known About Before
Dennis asked if any sen- tee’s meetings, even when
If a senator has too
a meeting with faculty at a the Agenda Was Posted.
ators wanted to volunteer
she called them.
many, he or she will be
later date.
With no business under
to help in the Presidential
She claimed that only
given a warning, and if it
With no Old Business,
this category, Caveny
Partners Christmas
one senator and two noncontinues they can be
the senate then turned to
made a motion to adjourn,
Program, which consists of senators showed a real
impeached.
New Business.
and the senate approved.
Senate Minutes
By David C. Reed
Last week’s Student
Government Association
meeting was fairly short.
Matters of business,
included reading a letter
from an SGA committee
chair and recognizing
three organizations.
With 12 voting members
present, quorum was met
and the senate went into
session.
After amending and
approving the minutes the
meeting moved into
Officer Reports.
Secretary Michelle
Mosley reported that the
SGA needed “to schedule
The Southeastern
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[email protected]
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Managing editor
Faculty adviser
JAMIE CARRICK
RAY GASKIN
Staff writer
Staff writer
KAREN MAPLE
JOSH McMULLIN
Staff writer
Staff writer
SHEA McFADDEN
RANDY BRUCE
Staff writer
Staff writer
QUIENCY BRANNAN
ISLAM ABDUL-MONEIM
Staff artist
Staff artist
BRENT SIDES
DAHLIA KILLIAN
Staff photographer
Staff photographer
HENRY L. CECIL
DEBRA PETERSON
Circulation director
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DAVID C. REED
REBECCA ROWLAND
Web Designer
DR. ANN HAYCOCK
Columnist
Columnist
KEITH WATKINS
KAT HARVEY
Columnist
Columnist
QT RAY
JAY CLARK
Contributing writers, editors, artists, photographers
Erin Bagley
Amanda Bates
Casey Baxter
make good decisions when
you are drinking too much,
too fast.
On an evening like New
Year’s Eve (or any other
evening, for that matter),
rapid consumption of large
amounts of alcohol is especially dangerous.
So this New Year’s Eve,
do not underestimate the
effects of alcohol. Don’t
believe you can beat them.
Pace yourself and be
aware of how much you’ve
consumed throughout the
night.
And as you think about
the consequences of an
arrest or a potentially fatal
traffic crash, make alternative plans to get home safely.
Visit the New Year’s
Resolution Booth from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 9, 2008,
in the Student Union
Atrium.
For more information,
call Student Health
Services at 745-2867.
Tedra Franklin
SOSU Theatre
Publication policy
■ The Southeastern student newspaper is published as a teaching
tool for students in the Department of Communication and Theatre at
Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Advertising rates and
deadlines are available upon request. Call 745-2983.
■ Opinions expressed in The Southeastern do not necessarily represent those of the student body, faculty, staff or administration of
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, nor do they reflect the policies or beliefs of the university, the Student Government Association,
the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges or other regional universities. The Southeastern is a student publication with an independent
voice, not an official medium or expression of the Board of Regents
or regional universities. All sides of all issues are welcome.
■ Letters to the editor for the Opinion Page must be signed and
include a telephone number. We reserve the right to decline publishing any letter to the editor, and all letters may be edited for content,
space limitations and libel law compliance. Please hold letters to 300
words.
Opinion
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Page 3
The Southeastern
EDITORIAL
Nearing the end: Don’t stress out
Stress -- most students have it, especially
now that the semester is
coming to an end.
Final tests are
approaching, as well as
some large final assignments.
But, does it have to be
stressful?
One way to keep from
getting stressed out is to
finish the work ahead of
time.
This time will allow
students to relax,
instead of trying to get
the assignments done at
the very last minute.
As far as studying for
finals, students should
definitely not wait until
the last minute, and
should give themselves
four days to one week
to study.
Also, students do not
have to study everything in the test material
all at once.
Instead, students
should break it down
into more manageable
portions, so they can
better retain the information.
But, it is a good idea
to make sure by the
time the final rolls
around that the information has been read several times. If a student
knows the information,
then a test will be less
stressful.
To relieve stress, students should do something fun, if they are on
top of their studying.
Sometimes it is good
to relax the mind and let
it wind down before a
test.
But, if a student is
still working on a project or knows he or she
is not ready for a test,
then work comes before
play.
It is also a good idea
to not stress out during
a test.
If someone does not
think they know an
answer on a test, analyze the question and
take a good guess.
It is always a better
idea to give a good
guess than leave an
answer blank.
So, students should
get their studying time,
as well as relax for their
finals.
Stress can hurt a student’s grade and sanity,
so don’t stress out.
This week’s editorial is written by David C. Reed and reflects The Southeastern staff’s collective opinion.
Erin Bagley
Farewell, adieu, c’est la vie and hasta la vista, baby
“The time has come,” the
Walrus said, “to talk of
many things: Of shoes -and ships -- and sealing
wax.”
I’m afraid it’s that time,
my friends. I have fought
the good fight and arrived
at the finish line, and now
it is my time to see what I
can make of the world.
I have been very blessed
to spend time at this campus, forging relationships
with people and learning
from many excellent professors.
I think this is a fine campus, and the faculty of this
institution provide students
with a quality education.
I think those in charge of
Southeastern have an obligation to the students to do
what students have been
asking for quite some time
Josh
McMulin
Staff
writer
now -- work on our current
buildings before raising
new buildings.
I know our college doesn’t have a huge budget, but
I find it frustrating that the
Communication
Department has to work
with old equipment, while
money has been generated
for other projects, such as
the Student Union and the
new football stadium.
Don’t get me wrong; I
think both of those facilities were needed, but I
think that the voice of the
students as a whole has
been overlooked.
My challenge to the students is this: they should
elect people to the Student
Government Association
who can help facilitate
these changes and hold
them responsible for their
campaigns.
My challenge to those in
charge is that they would
be mindful of the students’
voices.
The greatest danger I see
that faces my generation
and those to come is the
grip of apathy that has
seemed to latch onto us.
We live in a culture of
mediocrity, mainly because
most of us are simply interested in serving our own
interests.
Mediocrity produces the
need for extremists,
because people are desperately aware of the fact that
we are not meant to live a
meaningless life.
Thus, we have a giant
polarization of political
parties in our nation, terrorists on our soil and, ultimately, the potential waning of the values that many
feel this country stands for.
The problems of leadership on this campus and
this nation are due mostly
to lack of involvement.
Leaders are only given as
much power as we allow
them to have.
Most of us are willing to
let things continue going as
they are, as long as we
remain comfortable.
This mentality is very
dangerous because it is
putting us to sleep, while
dangers brew ever more on
the horizon.
I believe the America I
inherited will be much less
herself when I pass her on
to my children, if we do not
change our reckless ways.
The liberties that we
advocate as a nation are
becoming the very thing
that is undoing us.
There must be a balance
to liberty, because absolute
freedom means absolute
tyranny.
In our attempt to be
“open minded and tolerant,” we have become
afraid to be offensive to
people.
It is interesting to me that
minority groups in America
are given a free platform to
voice their thoughts and
opinions, while others are
criticized and called bigots
when they voice their
thoughts and opinions.
Do I not have just as
much right to say that I
believe homosexuality is
wrong or abortion is wrong
because God says it is
wrong as those who would
promote it?
Why, then, is it considered hate speech and intolerant when I say these
things?
I doubt our Founding
Fathers established this
nation with the principal
concern of allowing women
to kill unborn children
because it is inconvenient
for them to raise a child at
this point in their lives, and
I doubt they intended for us
to have sexual liberty to
engage in potentially harmful activities.
We must wake up from
our slumber before we find
that our great nation is no
more.
Perspectives
from different ends of the political spectrum
D
D
etermined
The Determined Democrat, Intuitive Independent and Resolute Republican provide readers with
their own insight regarding an issue relevant to the current political environment each week.
This week’s topic is: the political correctness of “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas”
I
emocrat
by Keith Watkins
Watkins
Let’s get
this
straight
right off
the bat: I
will not
vote for a
Republican in the next
presidential race, nor do
I support any
Republican candidates,
Ron Paul or no Ron Paul.
But, having said that, I
have to say that I greatly
respect Mike Huckabee,
who is running with his
Christian faith at the
forefront of his campaign.
At one of the recent
Republican debates, he
was asked what he
thought about evolution.
He responded by saying
that he can’t say if God
used evolution to create
the world, but that he
did believe that God did
it, regardless of how.
But he premised his
answer by saying that he
isn’t looking for a
chance to write the curriculum for eighth grade
science students; he’s
looking to get elected as
the President of the
United States. He was
simply stating what he
believed when the question was asked of him.
Wow, what an answer!
In the age where everything gets politicized —
from John Edwards’
$400 haircut to George
Bush’s accent — it is
good to see someone,
Republican or not, take
the politics out of something that is extremely
personal to a lot of people — their faith in God.
One’s personal faith in
God should never be the
subject of political correctness.
When you tell someone that their personal
faith and private beliefs,
regardless of what they
are, are too offensive to
even be hinted at, what
does that say for the rest
of the issues? Can anything one says be considered benign enough
not to make any one
uncomfortable?
This Christmas, let’s
just try to remember the
love at the heart of this
holiday, even if it means
loving Republicans.
V
S
ntuitive
ndependent
by QT Ray
by Kat Harvey
Here in the
“Bible Belt,”
Christmas is the
main form of
celebration preceding New
Harvey
Year’s Eve parties. The
engorgement of food,
exchanging of gifts, the
gathering of all the friends
and family you can, the fun
of using creativity to decorate a variety of inanimate
objects, and most important
of all (in my opinion), the
birth of my Savior.
So why is it politically
incorrect or impolite to say
“Merry Christmas” this time
of year?
The “correct” term to use
is now “Happy Holidays.” In
the last decade or so, I have
heard the saying “holiday
break” or “Winter break”
when students are dismissed
over the New Year.
I can understand the use
of “holidays” as a mean to
encompass Christmas and
New Year’s Day celebrations,
even the Jewish ceremonies
or rituals of other religions
that take place over this
absence from school and
some business activities, but
it is somewhat ridiculous to
use it as a replacement.
With the way people are
talking in some of the
debates I have come across,
it will be very disrespectful
and may offend someone if
you are to wish someone
you love a “Merry
Christmas” in public.
This is absurd. Even if one
does not believe in the
whole and true reason for
this holiday season, there
are many other aspects of
the holiday that are associated in the general population with Christmas that are
not religious views.
These other aspects can
often times bring people
together more closely as a
community than many other
activities or previous holidays
throughout the year.
Here is what I am going to
do: I am going to continue to
say “Merry Christmas,” and
if anyone objects or is
offended, I will ask what
they prefer. I will then
address that individual by
whatever it is they wish to be
adorned in — as long as it is
child friendly.
In the end, I may compromise a bit and say what is
expressed in England:
“Happy Christmas.”
R
R
esolute
epublican
V
S
Honestly,
the politically correct business drives me
Ray
crazy.
I don’t even know if
I’m black or AfricanAmerican. I just say I’m
the former in order to
save face.
In regards to the term
“Happy Holidays,” I honestly had no idea it was
just factoring in
Christmas.
I thought it encompassed both Christmas
and New Year’s Eve, but,
if it is just for Christmas, I
can see how it is politically correct and I will go by
it.
I’m all for uniformity,
instead of having 50 different types of holidays
for the last two weeks of
December. Why not say
“Happy Holidays,”
instead of trying to offend
someone?
Wouldn’t it be slightly
embarrassing to walk up
to a Muslim and say
“Happy Hannukah?”
I would never do that,
but there are some people
that would.
In many public school
systems, before “Happy
Holidays” became the
correct way to say things,
many teachers and principals would only say
“Merry Christmas,” even
though a small minority
of the class was either
Jewish, Jehovah Witness
or some other nonChristian denomination.
Sure, they were young
and didn’t know any better at the time, but, as
they get older, I can see
how it begins to get a bit
offensive.
Even though we are trying to get away from having “Merry Christmas”
lined everywhere, there
are still Christmas things
all over the place.
As long as the majority
of a particular town or
city celebrates Christmas,
it’s going to be everywhere.
So, I’m for “Happy
Holidays,” but I just don’t
see “Merry Christmas”
going away any time
soon, just like any other
“politically incorrect”
term.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and Vii of the Civil Right Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disabilit, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment,financial aid and education services.
Entertainment/Lifestyles
Page 4
The Southeastern
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Theatre brings classic to life
Bookstore Corner
From the Barnes and Noble Campus Bookstore
National Campus Bestsellers
HARDCOVER
Fiction
Non-Fiction
1. Thousand Splendid Suns--Khaled Hosseini
2. Double Cross--James Patterson
3. Playing for Pizza--John Grisham
4. World Without End--Ken Follett
5. Stone Cold--David Baldacci
6. Confessor--Terry Goodkind
7. Choice--Nicholas Sparks
8. Book of the Dead--Patricia Cornwell
9. Home to Holly Springs--Jan Karon
10. Almost Moon--Alice Sebold
1. I Am America (And So Can You!)--Stephen
Colbert
2.Daring Book for Girls--Andrea Buchanan
3. You Staying Young--Michael F. Roizen
4. Good Dog Stay--Anna Quindlen
5. Musicophilia--Oliver Sacks
6. Dangerous Book for Boys--Conn Iggulden
7. Secret--Rhonda Byrne
8. Born Standing Up: A Comic s Life--Steve
Martin
9. Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the
World s Biggest Problems--Glenn Beck
10. Clapton: The Autobiography--Eric Clapton
PAPERBACK
Fiction
Non-Fiction
1. Love in the Time of Cholera--Marquez
Garcia
2. Pillars of the Earth --Ken Follett
3. No Country for Old Men--Cormac McCarthy
4. Gathering--Anne Enright
5. Fury: Star Wars Legacy--Aaron Allston
6. Water for Elephants--Sara Gruen
7. Road--Cormac McCarthy
8. Next--Michael Crichton
9. Atonement--Ian McEwan
10. What is the What--Dave Eggers
1. Eat, Pray, Love--Elizabeth Gilbert
2. Into the Wild--Jon Krakauer
3. This Is Your Brain on Music--Daniel Levitin
4. Skinny Bitch--Kim Barnouin
5. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell--Tucker
Max
6. Innocent Man--John Grisham
7. Three Cups of Tea--Greg Mortenson
8. Stumbling on Happiness--Daniel Gilbert
9. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without
Thinking--Malcolm Gladwell
10. Omnivore s Dilemma--Michael Pollan
Mishaps: Finals Week
Inspired by Insanity
By DiRK
by Casey Baxter
Jay ’s Little Known USELESS FACTS
From Jay Clark, the creator of “Sweets, Treats & Eats,” comes a column so
revolutionary it will knock your socks ON!
*All fun facts come from “The Book of Useless Information” by Noel Botham
When you just need to know ...
1. A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
2. A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
3. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
4. A snail can sleep for three years.
5. Babies are born without kneecaps. They don’t appear until the child reaches 2-to-6 years of age.
6. Butterflies taste with their feet.
7. Cats have over 100 vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 100.
8. “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt.”
9. In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
10. If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of six months
waiting at red lights.
11. It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
12. The cruise liner QE2 moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
13. The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter of the alphabet.
14. The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
15. The words “racecar,” “kayak” and “level” are the same, whether they are read left to right or
right to left (palindromes).
16. There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous”: “tremendous,” “horrendous,” “stupendous” and “hazardous.”
17. There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: “absternious”
and “facetious..”
18. There’s no Betty Rubble in the Flinstones Chewables Vitamins.
19. “Typewriter” is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the
keyboard.
20. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
The witty humor of the
characters was outstanding,
and I loved old Ebenezer
Scrooge, played by Chris
“A Christmas Carol” is a
Page. It was an amazing perclassic tale for the holidays,
and I enjoy it every time that formance that anyone would
enjoy.
I see it on TV. I attended the
Page was well received and
play at the Visual and
it was hard to dislike him as
Performing Arts Center last
you looked into his past to
Friday night; the house was
packed, and for good reason. see all the trials he endured as
a young man.
The musical performance
Theatre review
had a wonderful sound, and
The stage design was excel- the way everyone moved it
was attention-getting for the
lent, and the costumes took
younger audience.
me back in time. The play
Josh Harris, as Mr.
was set for all audiences; I
Fezziwig, gave an outstandloved it as much as my 6ing performance, and the
year-old daughter Addison.
entire time he was on stage
Choreographer Jennifer
Wills played a big role in the the crowd was very enthusiastic.
success of the play. The
The part of Marley, played
dance moves flowed well and
by Shawn Studevant, was fun
were proficient in shedding
and had just the right amount
the story in a whole new
of scary to add to the dynamlight.
The director, Dell McLain, ics of the play.
Dani Daniels played the
realized that this story was
part of Belle, young
written for children and for
the child in all of us, and this Ebenezer’s love interest. She
seemed to prove important to was outstanding in the dramatic part of the play.
him in the way he directed
Overall, it was a winner.
the play.
By REBECCA ROWLAND
Contributing writer
Humor-Scope
It s not your typical horoscope.
By Josh McMullin
Zodiac from Zen Master Butt3rs
for December 6 - December 12
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Join my “World of
Warcraft” dating service. Happy Questers are meeting
every day.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Cover your roommate with glue and feathers while they’re sleeping.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Avoid the color purple, stripes and giraffes. They are very dangerous to
your health.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Give your friends and
family something unique this Christmas, like a pet alligator or a Christmas tree made of spam.
Aries (March 21-April 19): Pretend to be blind
and spy on people this week.
Taurus (April 20-May 20): Wear a different brand
of shoe on each foot this week.
Gemini (May 21-June 21): Build a statue made
entirely of old newspaper.
Cancer (June 22-July 22): Challenge everyone
you meet to a duel of honor.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Beware of polar bears.
They have been spotted on campus, due to the melting
of their natural environment and the dwindling of their
natural foods, Eskimos and seals.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Have your feet surgically removed and replaced with wheels.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Join a polar bear swimming team.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Buy me something
this week to ensure that you will have a mansion in
paradise. Disclaimer: The gift must be a yacht, a country or a time machine.
Sweets,
Treats &
Eats
by Jay Clark
The theme behind this tasty and fun dish can be boiled down
to the zest of traditional Caribbean chow, combined with
Creole spice.
Island Getaway in a Pan
Ingredients:
❏ 1 can of sliced pineapples
with juice
❏ 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
❏ 1 tsp. hot sauce
❏ 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
❏ 1/8 cup chopped bell’
peppers
❏ 2 Tbsp. honey
❏ 2 chicken breasts
❏ olive oil
❏ salt
❏ pepper
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients, except chicken, olive oil, salt
and pepper, into a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil.
2. When the sauce boils, remove from heat and allow to
cool.
3. In a separate pan, bring 2 Tbsp. olive oil to medium
heat and add chicken. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cook chicken until it reaches an internal temperature
of 165 degrees or the thickest part of meat is white.
5. Pour sauce over chicken and enjoy.
Jay’s Tasty Tip:
Try adding brown sugar or teriyaki sauce to the mixture
and discover how your taste buds respond.
Sports
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Sports calendar
Football honors
■ To have your
team’s schedule listed, call 745-2983, or
e-mail:campuspages@ gmail.com.
Eddings
MEN”S
BASKETBALL
Dec. 6 vs. Angelo
State, 8 p.m.
Dec. 8 vs. Abilene
Christian, 4 p.m.
Dec. 17-18 @ River
City Classic San
Antonio
Dec. 21 vs. Southern
Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Jan. 3 @ West Texas
A&M, 8 p.m.
Jan. 5 @ E. New
Mexico, 8 p.m.
Jan. 8 @ Southern
Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs. Tarleton
State, 8 p.m.
Jan. 12 vs.
Midwestern state, 4
p.m.
Jan. 16 @
Northeastern, 8 p.m.
Jan. 23 @
Southwestern, 8 p.m.
Jan. 26 @ A&MCommerce, 4 p.m.
Jan. 30 @ Cameron,
8 p.m.
Feb. 2 vs UCO, 8
p.m.
Feb. 6 @ ECU,
8 p.m.
Women’s
BaSKETBALL
Dec. 6 vs. Angelo
State, 6 p.m.
Dec. 8 vs. Abilene
Christian, 2 p.m.
Dec. 30-31 @ St
Mary’s Classic
Jan. 3 @ West Texas
A&M, 6 p.m.
Jan. 5 @ Eastern
New Mexico, 2 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs. Tarleton
State, 6 p.m.
Jan. 12 vs.
Midwestern State, 2
p.m.
Jan. 16 @
Northeastern, 6 p.m.
Jan. 23 @
Southwestern, 6 p.m.
Jan. 26 @ A&MCommerce, 2 p.m.
Jan. 30 @ Cameron,
6 p.m.
Feb. 2 vs. UCO, 6
p.m.
Feb. 6 @ ECU, 6
p.m.
Feb. 9 vs
Northeastern, 6 p.m.
Feb. 13 vs.
Southwestern, 6 p.m.
Feb. 20 vs Cameron,
6 p.m.
Feb. 23 vs. A&MCommerce, 6 p.m.
Page 5
Cliff
Eddings
has been
named the
LSC-North
Academic
Player of
the Year.
Eddings is a senior
from Coalgate. He started
every game this season.
Eddings is a computer
science and math double
major at SOSU.
Joining him on the allacademic team are fellow
Storm players Jarrod
Anderson, Jairus Martin
and Jerome Hewitt.
Martin is a senior from
Antlers and majors in
communication.
Hewitt is a sophomore
from Gainesville, Texas.
Anderson, a junior from
Allen, Texas, started all
10 games on the offensive line.
The Southeastern
Basketball teams ready for action
Women face Angelo State Men tip off in game two
Lone Star Conference
teams invade Bloomer
Sullivan Gym for the next
few nights.
The Savage Storm women
(6-1) host Angelo State
today at 6 p.m.
Saturday afternoon the
Storm will host Abilene
Christian.
SOSU’s early-season success continued Tuesday
night when the Storm defeated St. Edward’s (Texas) in a
thriller, 73-72, at Bloomer
Sullivan Gym.
Leading the scoring for
SOSU was Jessica Hocker
with 20 points. The leading
rebounder was Destiny
Brown with eight boards.
Ashley Tucker made a pair
of clutch free throws, and
Jasmine Hughey scored a
key basket in the final half
minute to preserve the win.
Southeastern got an
impressive road victory Dec.
1 when they traveled to
Kingsville, Texas, and handed A&M-Kingsville a 75-70
defeat.
It was SOSU’s second
straight victory over a LSCSouth team.
Leading scorer for the
Storm in the Kingsville victory was Kacey Russell, who
came off the bench to tally
17 points.
Jasmine Hughey added 14
points as a reserve, as well as
a game-high nine rebounds.
For the season, SOSU features four players averaging
double-digit scoring, led by
Hocker, at just under 17
points per game.
Southeastern hosts Angelo
State today at Bloomer
Sullivan Gym. The action
gets under way at 8 p.m.
The Savage Storm men
will try to improve on their
(2-3) record against the first
of two straight visiting
Texas teams. Saturday night
SOSU will host Abilene
Christian.
In its last outing Dec. 1,
Southeastern dropped a road
game at Texas A&MKingsville, falling to the
Javelinas 58-52.
The win kept A&MKingsville undefeated in
five starts.
SOSU was led in scoring
by Ken Reed, who tallied 18
points. Kyle Phifer added 12
points off the bench.
The Savage Storm shot 46
percent for the game, but
turnovers and free throws
proved to be the team’s
downfall.
Southeastern had 24
turnovers and went to the
foul line only eight times,
hitting 5 of 8.
The Javelinas converted
on only 14 of 22 from the
charity stripe, but it was
more than enough to ensure
victory.
The Storm stayed close in
the first half, trailing by only
one point with a couple of
minutes left.
They led by two at intermission and held a five
point lead early in the second half.
The Javelinas reeled off a
14-2 run midway through
the second half.
Photo page
Page 6
The Southeastern
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Christmas at Southeastern
Left, Cardinal Key
members Tera Puckett
(left), Ashley Doshier,
Lauran Hixon and Paige
Guest smile for the
camera before the 86th
annual Candlelighting
Monday. Members of the
Cardinal and Blue Key
honor societies lit candles
during the ceremony.
Bottom, SOSU Theatre
performed “A Christmas
Carol” to kick off the
holiday season.
SOUTHEASTERN STAFF
Photo courtesy of SOSU Theatre
Photo courtesy of SOSU Theatre