By RS

     Day to day, anyone who frequents the campus at Northern Oklahoma College, can see the many clouds of smoke rising about twenty-five feet from any given entrance.

     These are the smokers of today, though their numbers are dwindling, they are there none-the-less.

     Gone are the days of “social smoking”. We now live in a health-conscious era, a time when McDonald’s serves salads and yogurt, a time of diet sodas and light beer, also a time of restriction.

     Smokers have unwillingly been restricted and blacklisted from public areas. When I look around the campus at NOC I see my fellow smokers complying with the restrictions and laws, and now I believe it is time for a commendation!

     As I said, day-to-day you can see any number of people enjoying a much awaited cigarette before or after class, but what happens when it rains or snows? Smokers have accepted that all smoking must be done outdoors, but are we honestly expected to be drenched or frozen while doing so?

     The days that we experience rain or snow, these poor people can be seen huddled in the masses under any awning available. This usually means an awning right next to a door, and sadly it warrants disgusted glares or exaggerated coughs as people pass going to or from class. Why should this be necessary?       

     This campus provides salt for icy sidewalks to prevent injury, and yet there have been no awnings or lean-tos installed over benches to provide shelter for those who wish to enjoy a cigarette?

     I find it unfathomable to think that Northern Oklahoma College could not afford something so incredibly simple for its students, staff and faculty.

     Some of you, particularly the non-smoking party may be saying to yourselves, “Go, smoke in your car.”, but I now want you to ask yourselves if you have time between every class to run, not walk, to whichever parking lot you happened to find a spot in and sit for ten minutes? It’s just not always possible now is it?

     The smokers of this campus pay fees and tuition like everyone else and forgive me if I am wrong, non-smokers do not particularly enjoy walking through a cloud of smoke.

     I believe that it would be better for everyone if some sort of lean-tos were installed in a few locations on campus.

     We do live in a time of health, but we also do, and always will live in a time of rights and choices. With a puff of smoke I say, smoke on NOC and hopefully this wrong will be righted!

By ELIZABETH GOLLIVER

Do you like history? Do you want to be involved in restoring a historic building? Do want community service hours for your club, organization or class? Get your working clothes on and your paint brush in hand because you can do just that right here in Tonkawa.

The Tonkawa Historical Society is restoring the Tonkawa Santa Fe train depot and is asking for volunteers to help with the restoration. Volunteers can help in numerous ways. They can help by cleaning up the grounds around the building, painting, providing refreshments to workers on work days, sawing, hammering and providing assistance to professional workers.

The depot was built in 1899 as a 24 by 80 foot standard depot. Wheat, scrap metal, oilfield supplies and other merchandise were hauled by train cars to the depot. An average of 800 railroad car loads of oilfield supplies were shipped in and 120 tank cars of crude oil was shipped out each month. The freight room addition on the north end was built in 1922 because of the increase in freight coming in and out of the depot.

In the 1930s the depot became an integral part of the Three Sands Oil Field south of town. The depot shipped oil field supplies to the oil field and oil was shipped out of the depot. The depot also played an important part in the Prisoner of War camp north of town. The German prisoners were brought to and from town by train. The train brought the prisoners to town to work on local farms and ranches and at the alfalfa dryer plant in town. In 1946 the waiting room addition on the south end of the depot was added to the depot for the increase in passengers.

Through the years the depot served as a bus station, a telegraph station and a museum. Now the depot sits vacant and is threatened by deterioration. It has been placed on the 2008 Most Endangered Historical Places List by Preservation Oklahoma, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, promoting and preserving Oklahoma’s historical and cultural landmarks.

The Santa Fe Depot Renovation Project Committee wants to make the depot an attraction to the community. Some ideas that the committee is considering are a community room, a youth education center, a dining establishment, a farmer’s market or an office space while maintaining the atmosphere of the train station.

Phase 1 of the renovation project is to preserve the structure by repairing the roof and giving the outside of the building a fresh coat of paint. It will be painted cotton yellow with dark green trim since that is the original color of the Santa Fe depot. Phase 1 is estimated to cost $50,000. The committee has already raised $20,000 through local businesses and private donors.

It is hard to imagine that before mass communications and the automobile, the only way to get mail, livestock and supplies to town is to have them arrive and leave via the town depot. The depot now stands as a silent reminder of an era gone by. There is still an aura about the train whistle that lingers in the memories of those who remember the good old days of the depot.

Those interested in volunteering with the project may contact the Tonkawa Historical Society, P.O. Box 27 Tonkawa, OK 74653 or the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce at 580-628-2220.

Anyone who currently uses AT&T or Cingular wireless cell phone services in the Tonkawa area knows how bad or almost non-existent the cell phone service/reception is. According to their website, Tonkawa falls into the “Best” and the NOC campus in the “Good” service areas. Everyone utilizing their service in the Tonkawa/NOC area knows this is not true!

If everyone that utilizes AT&T or Cingular service and is having these problems would please use one of the following ways (or both) to report the “poor” or “no service” that we all get on the NOC campus or around the town of Tonkawa maybe they will get something done.

To use the website you must know your account information.

Use the following link:

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/welcome/?_requestid=47388

Then click on “SUPPORT”.

On the Support page click on “Tech Support Chat” (this is where you will need your login information)

Or you may call 1-800-331-0500. When prompted, enter your cell phone number, then “Option 0”, then “Option 3” and a person comes on the line.

Hope this helps with our future cell phone service with AT&T and Cingular.

By PETER DAVIS

The Northern Oklahoma College Counseling and High School and College Relations departments are presenting the 2008 Career & Internship Fair. The fair will be held at the Renfro Center on October 8th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. This career information fair is to help the students here on the NOC Tonkawa campus get information about potential future employment opportunities.

“This is a great opportunity for the students to interact with future employers,” says NOC Counselor Gina Conneywerdy. “This also gives the students a chance to learn great networking skills and opportunities for employment and internships as well.”

Many area businesses will be on hand to take part in the Career Fair such as; Sykes Enterprises, Tonkawa Casino, Edwin Fair Center, Alpha II, TPI Staffing, Quality Water, Blue Star Casino, Smith Technologies, Oklahoma State Employment Office, the U.S. Army, and many more.

The fair will also feature the “How to Get the Job,” Seminar by Jeff Seymour of the Ponca City Development Authority. The seminar starts at 12 p.m. and is open for all students to attend at the Career Fair.

Suzanne Mayo, NOC Career Development Counselor, will be on hand to visit with students about career options. Suzanne will be demonstrating the Oklahoma Career Information System (OKCIS) to assist students in researching career paths for the future. If you are undecided or considering changing your major stop by and visit with her.

This is an excellent opportunity for the students if they a need a job or are unsure about a career. Bring your resume to share with potential employers and the dress code for the Fair is casual. Several door prizes will be awarded from local businesses including Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and one of them will be a 32” Plasma TV from Blue Star Casino! Hope to see you there!

Steve Riggs

By ELIZABETH GOLLIVER

We all saw Michael Phelps make history at this year’s Beijing Olympics on the U.S. swim team. Well, Believe it or not, Northern had its own Michael Phelps in 1974.

His name was Steve Riggs and he went to the National Junior College Championship in 1974. He was the only 1-man team there and also became the fan favorite. He ended up being a three time All-American at the meet.

Steven Riggs was born in Tulsa, OK and the rest of his family was born in Ponca City, OK. He attended Tulsa Edison High School as a sophomore and then attended Norman High School for the rest of his high school years. He quickly developed a love of swimming while in high school. In high school he was the state champion and record holder for the 400 Medley Relay, Captain of the State Championship team in 1972, All-American Consideration 1972 and All-State 1972. He attended the University of Oklahoma for a year, then he moved Ponca City to live with his grandmother. He attended NOC for his sophomore year in the 1973-1974 school year.

He found out about the National Junior College Swimming Championships in Lavonia, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He contacted Leo Canady, the athletic director in 1974, about the possibility of being sponsored by NOC at the meet. No one on the coaching staff at Northern was going to be able to go with Steve to the meet, so he was able to stay with the host swimming coach, who was Steve’s acting sponsor at the meet.

NOC did not have a swimming pool in 1974 so Steve worked out at the Conoco pool in Ponca City. The National meet was held at Schoolcraft College in Michigan. He entered in three events; the 100 Yard Butterfly, the 200 Yard Butterfly and the 200 Yard Backstroke. He quickly became a fan favorite since he was the only 1-man team of the 27 teams who entered the competition. He finished 1^st in the 100 Yard Butterfly, 2^nd in the 200 Yard Butterfly, and 3^rd in the 200 Yard Backstroke. This made him a three time All-American since he finished in the top 6 of each event.

He graduated from NOC in 1974 with an A.S. in business and went on to Oklahoma State University. While he attended OSU he was All Big Eight , Captain of the 1976 swimming team and Varsity Letter.

From 1976-1977 he worked as a Graduate Assistant Coach at OSU where he worked with Big Eight champions and Australian Olympic team members. From 1978-1983 he coached the Bullfrogs of Edmond Swim Team where he started a USA swimming club from scratch. He was also an Assistant Swimming Coach for the Kerr-McGee Swim Club.

Steve is currently the Swimming Director and an elementary school teacher at Edmond Public Schools. He has been elected to the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2003 he was selected as the National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of Swimming. He has also been selected as the Oklahoma Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2008. He has received the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association “Excellence in Coaching Award” and has received numerous other rewards. He has a wife Gerre of 18 years and two children- Christa, 16 and Sara, 13.

During his coaching career at three high schools he has trained 10 state champions, 23 state runner-ups, 69 conference champions, 9 OSSAA Academic Champions, 86 Individual Champions, 21 State Record Holders, 1 National Record Holder, 18 All-American First Team and 69 OK Coaches All-State Meet.

His motivation is in Proverbs 16:3 which states “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established!” and in James 4:10 which states “Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up!”

The Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents met Sept. 8 on the Enid campus for their regularly scheduled meeting with Chair Keith James presiding. Other members present were Vice Chair Lynn Smith, Secretary Richard Detten and members Dr. Jesse Mendez and Linda Brown.

The meeting was called to order and the minutes for the previous meeting approved.

Representing Enid City Manager Eric Benson, City Attorney Carol Layman updated the history of higher education in Enid concerning NOC. Following Phillips University’s declaration of bankruptcy in 1998, the City of Enid aided NOC in purchasing the campus, securing a local loan for the city’s portion. The City of Enid does not own NOC property but has a residual interest and is a continuing partner with NOC and Northwestern Oklahoma State University in providing higher education for Enid residents.

The Board approved a recommendation to dispose of surplus property at a public auction held at the Agricultural Facility on the Tonkawa campus and approved a “Section 13 600-650 allocation request for various projects totaling $185,000: furniture and equipment, $95,000; campus site development, $20,000; library acquisitions, physical plant and equipment, computers and networking, and campus dining facilities, $15,000 each; and repair of educational facilities, $10,000.

Among the monthly purchases of $10,000 or more approved were a lighting system for the Kinzer Performing Arts Center, training mannequins for the Division of Nursing, presentation equipment for the Enid campus, portable metal buildings for the Sheep Center and surveillance systems for Tonkawa and Enid campuses.

Routine and other business included travel claims presented for signatures, items for the next agenda, new business and announcement of the next meeting scheduled for Oct. 16, 3 p.m. in the President’s Conference Room on the Tonkawa campus.

Miscellaneous reports were given by the Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents, President Dr. Roger Stacy and executive staff members during the meeting.

Regent Brown reported a successful art auction held by the University Center Foundation which raised $16,000 for scholarships.

President Stacy announced the retirements of Marion Tucker, vice president for information technology, and Randy Taylor, director of information technology technical services, and the resignations of Kim Sneed, marketing assistant for NOC and for the University Center; Charlene Bouchard, administrative assistant for information technology; and Philip LeBaron, information technology technician.

Stacy announced that the recent presentation of the Carl and Carolyn Renfro Endowed Lectureship series was “a quality evening and a great success”. The lectureship series plans to bring Dr. J.R. Fears of The University of Oklahoma to the Tonkawa campus in January. Fears is currently giving a series of lectures on the Enid campus regarding America’s Legacy of Freedom.

Vice President for Academic Affairs July Colwell said each college division is developing a plan to assess student needs and document progress. Initiatives are in place to improve student retention and faculty advising. The college is working with the Tonkawa Tribe to provide accounting compliance and internal auditing training. The new sheep program has marketed a number of sheep in Perry and will market more in October.

Mick Weiberg, vice president for student affairs, reported that the college is
trying to cover every possibility” in its update of the campus emergency procedures guide regarding the emergency response plan for all three campuses.

Vice President for Enid Campus Dr. Ed Vineyard said college officials had met with representatives from Vance Air Force Base concerning educational needs of base personnel and had given base personnel a list of spring semester interactive television courses. The college is working with Northwestern Oklahoma State University to install a donated bridge connecting the two campuses. Vineyard reported that in October Dr. Joe Bryant, director of community band and instrumental music, would address the Princeton University Music Department.

Anita Simpson, vice president for financial affairs, reported that NOC had received “a very good audit” from the Office of State Finance, which had audited miscellaneous claims. She said the legislature is looking at an interim study of the impact on student aid of increased tuition and fees. NOC s now looking at budget needs for 2010.

Sheri Snyder, vice president for development and community relations, presented samples of college promotional items and noted that NOC would host students from 10 area high schools on the Tonkawa campus for an area-wide College Day.

Debbie Quirey, associate vice president for Stillwater campus, said construction of the new educational building was on target and that she expected to take occupancy in mid-December with classes beginning there in the spring semester. “We will be able to provide more classes in prime time hours,” she commented. She noted that social science instructor Wade Watkins, will attend the Institute of Global Peace in Washington, D.C. and that NOC is the only community college invited to join a consortium of five institutions in developing training for disaster relief.

Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Rick Edgington presented the Fall 2008 preliminary enrollment report. Total numbers for 2008 were 4,605 students enrolled in 44,011 credit hours compared to 4,781 students enrolled in 47,006 credit hours in 2007. “About 400 more students will be added when the enrollment of technology students in completed,” he said.

Associate Vice President for Physical Operations Larry Dye reported on the status and maintenance projects on all three campuses. Work continues on the President’s Home in Tonkawa and on the observatory in Enid as well as carpet installation in Stillwater.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 16 at 3 p.m. in the President’s Conference Room on the Northern Oklahoma College campus in Tonkawa.

You may visit the Northern Oklahoma College website at www.north-ok.edu.

Coming This October

To Northern Oklahoma College

Its …

“BritCom Monday’s!”

Mr. Bean

Every Monday night in October, Northern’s Communication Organization will host a FREE showing of British Comedy’s!

If you like Monty Python and Mr. Bean, you’re in for a treat!

Each night will feature three, thirty-minute episodes of the original BBC television broadcast.

October 6^th - Mr. Bean

October 13^th – Monty Python’s Flying Circus

October 20^th - Mr. Bean

October 27^th – Monty Python’s Flying Circus

It’s “BritCom Monday’s” every Monday night in October

8pm in Central 202!

Free Gottigo’s Pizza while it last!

By JACKIE SMITH

Photography club members elected officers during their Aug. 28 meeting.

Jackie Smith was voted president, Rachel Weeden was elected vice president and Sean Smethers became the secretary. The membership cost of $5 will be due at the next meeting.

During the meeting, students discussed the fall break trip to Colorado. Anyone is welcome to attend the trip which will include a visit to southern Colorado. The travel experience will count as one credit hour. Those interested in participating may talk to Dr. Glen Cope.

The next meeting is Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. Members will discuss the trip to NOC Cove on Sept. 19 and 20. Everyone is welcome to attend the event and the cost is $10. Discussion of a possible photo contest among members of the photography club will also take place.

A photography seminar, wedding photography, will be held Sept. 26 and 27.

By ELIZABETH SPEARS

The Eleanor Hays Art Gallery opened its 2008-09 season with ”Filling the Void,” a two-person exhibition of paintings by Betty Bowen and ceramics by Paul Pfrehm.

Gallery Director Audrey Schmitz chose the artists because of their strong sense of color and form and the rich, textural surfaces each creates in their given media.  Although these two Oklahoma artists have never shared an exhibit space, Schmitz said she realizes the complimentary nature of their work and is pleased to present their art for the campus and community through Oct. 10..

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. and during evening performances in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center.

Betty Bowen is a print maker. She is currently a teacher in Cushing. Bowne studied painting and printmaking in Oklahoma City and Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned a master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

“My paintings are about movement and light, the way light and shadow move across the surface; bubbles in water, wind, branches, leaves, light coming through and around things,” Bowen said. “I begin with an excess of marks and activity, and from then on, it is a process of editing. I am finished when I have taken away everything that feels unnecessary.”

Paul Pfrehm, whose motto is “Have wheel, will travel,” has worked in clay for over 40 years and holds a bachelor’s degree for art education and a master’s degree for fine arts in clay and sculpture. A master clay artist from Wewoka, Pfrehm has over 20 years experience as a college professor along with an extensive exhibition history. Pfrehm will give a come-and-go demonstration of methods and techniques for working with clay Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the ceramics lab located in the Creative Arts Building room 110. The demonstration is open to everyone on campus as well as the community. “

“The porcelain works in the gallery are of the highest quality and the reason Pfrehm’s work continues to receive awards and honors throughout the United States,” said Schmitz. For more information, contact Audrey Schmitz at 628-6670. Schmitz may also be reached in the ceramics studio at 628-6671.

The Eleanor hays Art Gallery is open to the public and is free of charge.

By CHAD JOHNSON

The NOC blood drive set a new record for the second year in a row for pints donated to the Oklahoma Blood Institute.

Last year the record was set with 163 pints and this year 211 people turned out with 178 pints being donated – beating last year’s record.

OBI staff member Ashley Rumford had some thoughts on using the new Renfro Nursing Center.

“We love it, its way better in the nursing center then in the student union,” Rumford said.

For those who missed the blood drive the OBI team will be back in January hoping to break the record again. Donators must be at least 17 years old, weight at least 110 pounds and be in good health. There is no longer a wait time for those with tattoos obtained from a licensed facility.

Rumsford said the OBI was grateful to Dr. Roger Stacy for allowing the use of the NOC facilities.