Foundation dinner for the retirement of Dr. Terry Britton and Regent Joe Cole of Rose State College.
Category Archives: News
Britain’s “Iron Lady” dies at age 87
Jennifer Byrd
News Editor
Baroness Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female Prime Minister, died Monday after suffering yet another stroke.
“It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning,” Lord Tim Bell, Thatcher’s spokesman, confirmed, according to Reuters.
Thatcher was born in 1925, the daughter of a grocer. After attending the University of Oxford, she worked her way up through the British Conservative Party, starting in 1959 when she entered the House of Commons.
In 1979, Thatcher led the right wing of her party to a decisive electoral majority, ousting James Callaghan of the Labour Party. She became the first female head of government in Europe.
Known for her uncompromising politics, Soviet journalists coined her “The Iron Lady” due to persistent antagonism of their country’s leadership.
To her enemies, she was a stonehearted tyrant. Criticized for not empathizing with the poor and middle class, she was accused of having cruel and short-sided policies that hurt the poor and widened the gap between the upper and lower classes.
She cut national financing for the arts and academics, forced the Labour party to forsake its commitment to nationalized industry and deregulated the economy.
But to her supporters, she grew the middle class by revitalizing business and spurring industrial growth. Her progressive policies turned the Conservative party into the party of reform, as it had long been associated with upholding the status quo.
Regardless of personal opinion, Thatcher helped move Britain away from socialism and ushered in a new era of British politics that still reins today, liberalism.
“The thing that people do not recognize is that Margaret Thatcher is not in terms of belief a Tory. She is a nineteenth-century Liberal,” Milton Friedman, famous American economist once said of Thatcher.
Commonly called “Thatcherism” in Britain; classical liberalism advocates free markets, tax cuts, nationalism and firm control over public spending. It is often compared to “Reaganomics” of the United States.
Thatcher resigned from the office of Prime Minster in 1990 after public disapproval of the 1989 poll tax prompted Conservative Parliament members to vote against her.
The BBC said her critics claim British society is still feeling the effect of her divisive economic policies and the culture of greed and selfishness they allegedly promoted. Meanwhile her supporters believe she was a revolutionary figure who transformed Britain’s stagnant economy, tamed the unions and re-established the country as a world power.
Regarding criticism, Thatcher famously responded, “if you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at anytime, and would achieve nothing. ”
Regardless of varying opinions on her policies, her legacy will certainly not be one of inaction that achieved nothing.
Bond passage secures funds for campus improvements
Chelsea Ratterman
Editor In Chief
The $22 million bond that Rose State sought passed on March 5 with a 64 percent approval rate. This means that RSC will be able to remodel the LRC, Aquatic Center and upgrade the IT systems equipment. Project start dates have yet to be set.
The Aquatic Center will be receiving part of a $2 million allotment for upgrades. Photo by Marisa Caban
The most visible updates will be to the LRC, which has grown to house many services within the two-story building. According to Chris Meyer, dean of the LRC, with the new construction they will be able to offer more conducive spaces to the needs of Academic Testing, Tutoring, Disability Services, Distance Education and Instructional Support. Meyer also said he hopes to see the LRC lobby host more cultural events, guest speakers and community events.
“We are preparing to have a building that is a place where visitors find an inviting and welcoming environment to study, train, work, research, relax, and gather in clusters,” Meyer said.
In the opinion of many students and staff on campus, the most needed update will be to the equipment that provides the campus with Internet services. According to John Primo, vice president of Information Technology Services, the targeted areas will be the replacement of fiber optic infrastructure and the installation of a backup generator to keep campus resources running in the event of a power outage.
“The ability to provide robust, production-level quality wireless Internet access to faculty and students is going to improve their accessibility to online resources and course materials using their mobile devices,” Primo said.
Finally, the Aquatic Center will be receive updates to the infrastructure around it. Holes and wood rot have been found in the exterior walls, and these will be fixed alongside other upgrades.
Other projects in the bond election are for a Student Union lounge renovation, replacing ceiling tiles, flooring, lighting and exterior doors of various buildings, a sign on the S.E. 15th Street entrance and restroom renovations across campus to bring them up to ADA standards.
Dr. Jeanie Webb named new RSC President
Dr. Jeanie Webb will step into the position as president on July 1.
Chelsea Ratterman
Editor in chief
Rose State College Board of Regents elected a new president on March 8. The Board announced the selection of Dr. Jeanie Webb, the current vice president of Student Affairs, to succeed Dr. Terry Britton when he retires, effective July 1.
She will be the college’s seventh president and has served as the VP of Student Affair for 13 years.
On becoming the next president, Webb said she is “honored that the board would select [me], and humbled at the same time. It says a lot if they have the confidence to select you. But excited too, because [I’m] ready to go.”
Until then, Webb wants the focus to be on Britton and for him to have these months of celebration about his future in retirement.
“It’s really important to me that Dr. Britton be honored and have the excitement and enthusiasm for him,” she said.
In the next few months she will be working alongside Britton as they begin to transition, wanting it to be as seamless as possible, according to Webb.
Webb has been visiting with faculty, staff and students around campus to hear ideas on what they hope this new era at RSC will bring. She placed emphasis on the integration of technology into the education experience, with the next generations coming to college being groups that have grown up with it.
Rose State serves eastern Oklahoma County, as well as a wide base in Oklahoma City and Webb hopes her time as president will see Rose State emerge as the premier community college for central Oklahoma.
Her support base features her daughter, Anna Grace Webb, and husband Roger Webb, who served as the President of the University of Central Oklahoma for 14 years.
On if her husband was giving her any tips to leading a college, Webb said, “I know the expectations of a president going into this and its helpful to know what to expect.”
Lady Raiders knock it out of the park
Jennifer Byrd
News Editor
Sophomore Lady Raiders (Left to Right) Nikki Brandt, Tanner Moody,Sam D’Alessandro and Ashley Sanferd. Photo By Marisa Caban
The RSC Softball Team played two double-headers March 2 and 3.
On Saturday, the Lady Raiders faced Eastern Oklahoma State College. They won the first game 9-1. The second game was slightly more challenging. The final score ended in a 5-6 loss.
The team didn’t let that loss get them down and played Sunday’s double-header brilliantly. They won the first game 6-5 and the second game was a shut out with a final score of 7-0.
“Cassidy Hart & Sherrena McPherson both had an exceptional weekend, both hitting 1 double and 2 homeruns apiece. Sherrena also pitched 12 innings, only allowing 6 hits, 1 run and she had 15 strikeouts,” said Head Coach Nickie Williams.
The next home games are March 14 when the Lady Raiders take on Seminole State College and March 16 against Conners State College. The Lady Raiders will play double-headers both days with games starting at 2pm and 4pm.
Admission is free to all RSC students who show their valid student ID at the gate.
Indian Tacos! $6, Feb. 28 in the SS kitchen!
Student Activities kicks off Black History contest
February is Black History Month and Student Activities is hosting a contest to test student’s knowledge of the history of this celebration.
Black History Quizzes
Each week on D2L will feature a quiz for students to take. There will be a new quiz each week, with random questions generated from a bank of over 100 questions. The quiz will be open from Sunday to Saturday. Multiple attempts will be allowed, but the questions change each time. Participants will be entered into a drawing for one of two $50 Wal-Mart gift cards each week, to be held the following Tuesday. The final drawing for the last two gift cards and a grand prize of an iPad will be held March 5. In order to be entered into the iPad drawing, participation in each week’s quiz is required.
Historian Currie Ballard examines a grave at Beulahland Cemetery near Langston, Oklahoma. Several towns in Oklahoma that were among the settlements built by African-Americans are hoping looking to draw tourists based on their history.
Did you know?
A little lesser-known history about Oklahoma is that it was originally intended to be an “All-Black State,” as introduced by a bill in the 1880s from Sen. Henry Blair(N.H). Oklahoma was promoted for people starting anew after the abolition of slavery, and resulted in over 40 all-black townships.
The Social Sciences building will feature a display in the large display case on the east end of the building that features more facts about Oklahoma’s African-American roots.
For more information on the quizzes and display, contact Rachel Fixico, assistant coordinator of Student Activities, at 733-7371
Science Museum Oklahoma to feature new exhibit
Dennis Gosnell
Assistant Editor
Artist rendering of the interrior of the Science Museum’s Oklahoma children exhibit. Image courtesy of Science Museum Oklahoma
The Science Museum Oklahoma recently received a capital grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to improve the science facility.
The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation has been a big contributor to the science museum for over five years. The foundation has invested more than $22 million in funds, and has recently given the museum a $12 million planning grant.
The museum plans to use these new funds by adding a new children’s exhibit for ages 3-6 and improving interior and exterior facilities, such as a new entryway, and amenities.
In a press release, the museum said, “The new exhibit will essentially be a ‘children’s museum’ within the museum. The exhibit will feature multiple layers of activities designed to educate and inspire the entire family.”
The exhibit will be 21,000 sq. feet, and will emphasize inquiry-based learning in order to introduce young children to science.
The entrance and lobby of the museum will also receive some attention as it moves from its current location to the “west one-third” of the building.
“Careful consideration is being given to every detail from ticketing systems to location of amenities such as stroller rental and restrooms,” the museum said in its press release.
As the museum wraps up their renovations guests will notice a change in the exterior of the museum as there will be “improved parking, and new landscaping” which will also signal the “completion of the project.”
The grant also served to kick off the museum’s $25 million capital campaign that will be put toward the improvement project.
With help from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation the museum has raised $15 million in donations with another $10 million to go.
The museum had 150 guests visit for free Jan. 22 to celebrate the unveiling of artist renderings of the upcoming renovations.
For more information about the project contact the Science Museum Oklahoma at 405-602-6664 or visit their website www.sciencemuseumok.org.
Rose State kick off party
Spring service learning fair pleases participants
Chelsea Ratterman
Editor in Chief
The Spring Service Learning Fair was held on Feb. 5 in the Main Dining Room. There were 14 community partners who came seeking assistance from RSC students, through a program that integrates course content with community service.
According to Cindy Brown, the Service Learning Coordinator, organizations were encouraged by the interest that students showed this semesters, and a number of students signed up for service-learning opportunities.
Representatives of the Oklahoma Blood Institute tell an interested students about the organization.
Photo by Tracie Bullen.
“One community partner commented to me that she liked to come to the RSC Service-Learning Fair because historically RSC students have been so dependable following through with their commitment,” said Brown.
More information is available on the Rose site as rose.edu/service-learning. Forms that are required to be filled out are attached to the page, as well as a link to a list of service-learning partners. For more information, contact Cindy Brown at 733-7346.
