App available GuardianSentral app developed by NSU provides safety.

See page 6

5K approaches Registration for the Tulsa Color Run 5K continues through June.
See page 17

Vo l u m e 1 0 3 , I s s u e 2 9 | Tu e s d a y, A p r i l 2 4 , 2 0 1 2 | Ta h l e q u a h , O k l a . 7 4 4 6 4

Water bottle refilling stations available in Fine Arts building

GreGory Holbird
TNe CoNTribuTiNG wriTer

Going green and sustainability are ongoing initiatives that NSU has made an effort to maintain. In the fine arts building the university has installed two water bottle filling stations. The water is free and filtered. It has a sensor to know when a bottle is present and instantly releases the water. The units are next to water fountains on the first and second floors. I didnt know that, said Melissa Hutchinson, Midwest City senior. I actually would use them. It makes sense to put it in a more localized building. I dont go to that building. This is a part of a nationwide trend of universities attempting to reduce the amount of plastic

bottles that end up in landfills. The refilling stations have a small digital counter that shows how many bottles have been spared the fate of the landfill. There are two major companies providing these units to businesses, schools and homes. According to an article in the Sept. 15 edition of USA Today, between Elkay and Brita there is an estimated 300 universities across the country using the filling stations. The Facilities Management Department is responsible for adding the news stations during a remodel of the Fine Arts building, said Joe Spence, director of Facilities Maintenance. There are only two water refill stations and both are in the fine arts building. At the moment

there is no immediate plan to expand the system. As we remodel/upgrade buildings, we will consider continuing with this program if water fountains are included in the remodel, said Spence. As with any new system or product we will also evaluate its serviceability and maintenance to determine if we should purchase this product in the future. Many universities installed these systems in an attempt to ban bottled water sales on campus. NSU has a simpler goal. Its just an added benefit for our students and staff as an upgrade of water fountains with an additional benefit of contributing to sustainability/green efforts, said Spence. W h i l e continued on page 2

Gregory Holbird/TNE Contributing Photographer Amber Vance, Tahlequah junior, uses one of the two water bottle refilling stations available in the Fine Arts building. The refilling stations were part of the Fine Arts building remodel.

Council announces Circle of Excellence recipients

Amy Howe
TNe wriTer The NSU Faculty Council recently announced this years recipients of the three Circle of Excellence awards, each given for contributions to teaching, research and service. These three individuals represent the best of an exceptional faculty that we have at NSU, said Dr. Denise Deason-Toyne, associate professor of business law and financial planning and president of the Faculty Council. It is an honor to be nominated by your peers, let alone be selected to join the Circle of Excellence from so many other great faculty. Either a student or another colleague nominates each recipient, often anonymously, for something believed to be deserving of the Circle of Excellence award. To be nominated, someone had to believe that Id done enough academic service to deserve special recognition for mine, said Dr. Brian Cowlishaw, associate professor of languages and literature and recipient of the Circle of Excellence award for service. I still dont know who it was. The Faculty Council, which serves as a liaison body between faculty and administration, selects a recipient for each of the three awards. This selection process can prove to be quite difficult and demanding. It is a very time consuming matter to continued on page 2

To err is human. To fix it is TNE Policy. Corrections can be found on Page 4. To report a correction call 918.444.2890. TNE Web site: www.nsunews.com

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Free refills available

continued from page 1 d r i n k ing water is much healthier than sugar-filled energy drinks or other soft drinks, using the wrong bottle can cause harm. It is recommended students buy and use bottles made to be reused many times. According to inspiredwater.org most bottles used by water bottling companies are made up of #1 PET plastic. #1 PET plastic bottles are intended for a single use. To find out what kind of plastic a bottle is made of students can look inside the recycle logo on the bottle. The best plastic choice is #2 HDPE. This is the plastic that milk jugs are made with. While most students walk within feet of one of the water refill station they do not have a reason to go into the fine arts building. Its a very cool idea. I would be willing to use them if they were more accessible in other places. That building is out of my way, said Erica King, Rocky Ford sophomore. For more information, email holbird@nsuok.edu.

Dodgeball tournament benefits food pantry

A group of NSU students is taking a unique spin on the fight against hunger in Cherokee County. As part of a class project, the group of public relations students will host a dodgeball tournament. The cost of playing five non-perishable food items. We wanted to do something to help our community, said Jordyn Jorgenson. Feeding those who cant afford the rising cost of groceries seemed like the perfect project for our group. The tournament, which will benefit the Cherokee County C.A.R.E. Food Pantry, today at the Fitness Center from 3-6 p.m. Prizes for first, second, third, Last Man Standing, Most Supportive and Best Dressed will be awarded. Participants must present their NSU ID card to participate. We wanted to find a fun way to get students involved in helping our community, said group member, Chelsea Miller. The dodgeball tournament will be a great way to raise awareness and donations for the food pantry. To register for the tournament, email hamilt03@nsuok.edu. Participants may also register via Twitter at Twitter@FoodPantryBenef or Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/314466611948567/.

Faculty members receive honor

continued from page 1 review the
applications and then try to select from so many diverse and deserving participants, said DeasonToyne. The selection committee is to be commended as well. Dr. Roger West, professor of optometry and recipient of this years Circle of Excellence research award, is pleased his research is being recognized. I was considered for the Circle of Excellence research award primarily due to my research on what cues are used to determine where another person is gazing, said West. It shows the commitment of NSU to support research. As it stands now, a faculty member can only receive the Circle of Excellence award once in the course of their careers. This, in addition to being chosen among ones peers for their contributions in their respective fields from such a large group of considerations, makes receiving this award an great honor. Currently, a faculty member can only win a Circle of Excellence Award once in a lifetime, said Dr. Daniel Savage, associate professor of political science and recipient of this years recipient of the Circle of Excellence award for teaching. Members of faculty are chosen for a Faculty Council committee to select each years recipients of the award. According to Deason-Toyne, taking part in the selection is a special experience. Most faculty are very busy and have no idea what their colleagues are doing until they serve on this selection committee and read 25 or more application packets for the Circle of Excellence, said Deason-Toyne. It gives us a whole new appreciation for the quality of the faculty at NSU. Though the award itself has changed over the years, the Circle of Excellence award has been given at NSU since 1965. This years winners join a long list of 47 recipients of the Circle of Excellence award since its inception. It is a tremendous honor to receive this award, said West. Cowlishaw, after many years of diligent service to his department and his students, feels proud his hard work is being appreciated. I feel happy and honored to receive this award, said Cowlishaw. This recognition for the time and effort I put into my work is very sweet and satisfying. Any information regarding the Circle of Excellence award and its recipients can be found through contacting the Faculty Council. For more information, email howe01@nsuok.edu.

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Shakespeare Festival application deadline extended

dents who are interested to get more information. It is not too late to sign up, said Mercer. Weve opened up the deadline to May 15 in hopes that we can get more people to sign up. Mercer feels one of the reasons why students do not sign up for the trip is due to its relatively high price tag. The main obstacle that keeps people who want to go on the trip from going is the cost, said Mercer. It costs a little more than 1200 dollars plus three hours tuition, so it is expensive. The Oregon Shakespeare Scholarships that were awarded this year are giving $600 toward the cost, which is about half the cost of the whole trip. The recipients of this years Oregon Shakespeare Scholarships are Joseph Dickens and Jacob Miller, with Shelby Joiner as an alternate winner. Another scholarship, while not based on financial need, is designed for teachers of English in public school. These scholarships would be for high school English teachers who are perhaps working on a Masters degree, said Mercer. We have three people who will be receiving this scholarship. These lucky students attend a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It has encouraged people to go on the trip who might not otherwise think its within their price range, said Mercer. Angela Given, Coweta senior who attended the festival in 2010, was the first-ever recipient of the Oregon Shakespeare Scholarship. Given said winning the scholarship made it possible for her to attend her first trip to the Shakespeare festival. I had seen the advertisements for the trip for the previous year and I really wanted to go, said Given. Without the scholarship, I definitely would not have been able to go the next year. It would not have even happened. Thanks to her attendance at that years festival, Given is now a Shakespeare enthusiast. Olaf Standley, Tulsa graduate student and access services coordinator at the Broken Arrow campus library, attended the festival in 2008 and 2009. It brings Shakespearean plays to life, and Dr. Mercer makes sure you fully understand each play before you see it, said Standley. It is a fantastic learning experience. Mercer hopes the incentives of scholarships and the excellent learning opportunity available for students will boost awareness and attendance for this years Oregon trip. We have about 15 students and five non-students attending so far, said Mercer. We a have enough people currently to make the trip, but we can certainly take more. The final deadline to sign up for the trip is May 15. Any information regarding the trip can be found at, http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~mercer/. For more information, email howe01@nsuok.edu.

Amy Howe
TNe wriTer Interested students have an opportunity and can still sign up for the trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore. Dr. John Mercer, professor of languages and literature at NSUBA, is having this annual trip as a fall intercession course that counts for three credit hours.. I think students are beginning to see the trip in the schedule and theyre curious, said Mercer. Ive received many inquiries from students wanting more information about the trip. While the deadline for signing up for the trip was originally March 29, that date has been extended in order to create more awareness and allow more stu-

The Northeastern

OPINION

Page 4 April 24, 2012

Technology aids students with cheating

As the semester comes to a close, students study diligently in preparation for finals week. A time, in which college students stress the most, many finals test a semesters knowledge in one standardized format. On the day of the finals, the students are in their desks, the test has begun, and in some cases, so has the cheating. Cell phones, such as the widely popular iPhone needs just a few simple of pecks at the keypad to offer students the correct answers. It does not matter whether the subject is math, social studies, science, English, or a foreign language; information is available at your fingertips. As technology has evolved to provide a vast wealth of information at any time, anywhere, cheating has never been easier. Academic cheating is a problem, which affects all schools nationwide. Students relying on cheating are not learning anything for their personal benefit and can soon be a behavior, which is used all the time throughout their life. Students resort to cheating academically as the easy way out of studying or managing their time for academic work. Many students cheat just to receive a passing grade and may have jobs or other priorities, which seem more important to them than studying for a few minutes on a subject. In the old days, cheating was a simple affair and as a result not too difficult to track down. Now catching cheaters requires a level of surveillance at all times throughout the test. Today, students merely rely on the Internet to provide them with answers to tests, quizzes, and even reports without even attempting to study or research. It is possible to track down some of the cheaters by typing in an excerpt of their essays in the Google search engine to discover the source. And such websites

Courtesy Photo Cheating has been made easier with the use of cell phones and the internet. Cheaters often find easy ways around studying and preparing for exams.

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as Turnitin.com, which checks student papers against a massive archive of published and unpublished work for signs of plagiarism, can also be useful. But the available materials are so vast, and the opportunities for students to create hybrid papers so easy, students are now one step ahead, especially since underground networks of materials are constantly cropping up, concealed from the peering eyes of teachers. Cheating is a risky business, which does not always pay off. The hours spent scheming up new ways to cheat could simply be used to actually study the material. Students will walk away with a clear conscience, and can actually learn the material.

Learning the material will pay off eventually, plus it is kind of difficult to cheat ones way through a job interview, much less throughout an entire career. An important thing to remember is that cheaters truly never win. Technology makes it easier to cheat, the modern cell phones allow students to have the information in just about any format at their fingertips. Cheating has become a real issue in our modern society, young adults feel they must do anything necessary to achieve their passing grade, even if it means breaking all of the rules in the process. When students cheat they are not only hurting affecting their present, they are hurting their futures as well.

POSTMASTER: Send PS from 3579 to NSU, Tahlequah, Okla., 74464-2399. The Northeastern (USPS # 395-580) is published weekly throughout the year except college holidays by Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Okla., 74464-2399. Periodicals postage paid at Tahlequah. Postmaster: send address changes to Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Okla., 744642399. For more information about advertising, classified or display, call 444-2890, seven days in advance of desired publication date. Editorial statements in The Northeastern and readers letters reflect those of the individual writers and not necessarily those of The Northeastern, its editors, staff, adviser or the administration of NSU. The opinions and comments therein do not necessarily reflect the policies or beliefs of the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges or the regional universities and that the student newspaper is not an official medium or expression of the Board or the regional universities. The Northeastern is a public forum. All submissions become property of The Northeastern. This publication was printed by The Muskogee Phoenix and issued by NSU as authorized by House Bill 1714. Four thousand copies were printed at a total cost of $695 for 32 pages. The Northeastern is a member of the Associated College Press Association, Oklahoma Interscholastic Press Association, Society of Collegiate Journalists and College Media Advisers. e-mail address: tne@nsuok.edu.

Letters to the Editor

The Northeastern accepts and encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be relatively short and to the point, and must include your name, and contact information in case we need to contact you about your submission. We also encourage submission of any story ideas or pictures. Email letters, stories or pictures to tne@nsuok.edu.

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to try to operate the buildings, said E. Thayne King, director of Housing. There have been different rumors about what will happen to the area where Cedar Craft currently resides once its demolished. No decision has been made so far about use of that area after these projects. The future use will be decided through the campus master planning process, said King. The families that are being evacuated from Cedar Craft are not being hung to dry by any means. University Housing has worked with the residents of Cedar Craft through letters, public forums, and one-on-one meetings to determine each familiys needs and then to develop a plan for each familys relocation, said Randy Shelton, Director of Auxiliary Services. Some of these families are due to graduate, move off-campus, etc. Those requesting to continue to reside in campus housing will be moved to Courtside Apartments. Those specific arrangements and assignments are being worked through now via the individual appointments. We have procured boxes and packing materials for their moves. However, some people no longer wish to live on campus. Shelton said, We are working with off-campus apartment complexes for those who would like to relocate elsewhere in Tahlequah. Rental trucks will be provided for those families who request one. A special rate has been established with local moving companies for those families that wish to use this kind of service. Residents staying on campus will also have their rental rate kept the same as it was in their Cedar Craft unit. Also, those moving off-campus will have their deposits and unused rent returned to them. There were many people involved in making this transition for families and NSU the best possible. This decision has developed over the past two years and has included input from all areas of campus, said Whitney Arbaugh, Leoser Hall Manager. No decision was made without proper thinking as well as making a foolproof plan. Arbaugh said, Ambling Companies and Scion Group were hired by NSU to work with input from all areas of campus to create a Housing Master Plan for housing needs for the next 10 years. This plan has been incorporated into the campus master plan and is currently the roadmap the University is using to develop new halls and/or renovate existing halls. For questions, concerns or comments about campus living please contact University Housing at 918-444-4700, or nsuhousing@nsuok.edu. For more information, email johnso59@nsuok.edu.

NSU Cedar Craft apartments residents vacate premises

KAylA JoHNsoN
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer Located on the southeast edge of campus, Cedar Craft Apartment Complex provides the most convenient location for families on campus. Each apartment includes a full size washer and dryer, electric range/oven, new appliances and a playground for children to enjoy. Its seems like the perfect setting for a non-traditional student to live with their family except all of those families are being evacuated from Cedar Craft. Cedar Craft Apartment Complex is being closed at the end of this semester. The decision has been made to close the buildings due to continued deterioration of the units and the cost that would have been needed to continue

The Northeastern

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GuardianSentral app provides extra security on campus

KirA CoKer
TNe wriTer Feeling unsafe when leaving a late class or just having to walk across campus to the dorms and not knowing who is creeping around campus could make any student feel uncomfortable. On March 13 NSU official launched an application called GuardianSentral that was developed to fit NSUs needs with Illume Mobile help. We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to keep our NSU community safe, said Patti D. Buhl, Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police. The creators of this application approached NSU regarding being a pilot for the new application. Students, faculty and staff can find this app under the iTunes and android store under GuardianSentral and it is made for iPhone and Android phones. Once the app is downloaded, the student, faculty or staff member must use their NSU email address to register, said Buhl. Because this application is specially for NSU, this is how we validate that the person downloading the app is truly part of NSU. Once downloaded, the app will inform the NSU campus police and this app is useable at all three campuses. Activation of the application notifies the Tahlequah Campus Police dispatch center, but branch campus police will receive immediate alerts of requests from Broken Arrow and Muskogee campuses, said Sergeant Jim Flores NSUPD. Sometimes calling and having to explain a situation can take far longer then just a press of a button. This is just one of many reasons students should take advantage of this opportunity. This information is vital, especially if time is of essence and someone is in need of help right then, said Flores. What people really enjoy about the app is that it gives them peace of mind. They know someone is always paying attention to make sure they get where they need to go. The Guardian app, as it might be referred to, has three different modes students can use for different types of situations. The first, is the Danger mode, said Buhl. The user will press a button on the screen that will call our police dispatch and send a GPS coordinate for the users location so that we can send an officer to the location. This is to be used in emergency situations. The second mode is called Follow Me and is used when someone feels uncomfortable with a situation they might be in. This will send a GPS coordinate to our police dispatch and indicates the user is not comfortable, said Bulh. This will allow us to send an officer for a safety escort if available. Otherwise, our dispatch will contact the person so we can determine the situation. There is the Check In mode which is like other apps where it allows someone to let another person know where they are going and how long it would take them to get there. This mode can be used for inclement weather situations. This allows the user to identify a destination and estimated time of arrival, said Buhl. If the phone does not arrive a the specified time, it will initiate a nonemergency call to the designated friend or the police. Students who are on campus think this is a great idea to help protect students even if they might never use it. I do think it would be helpful for college students, said Felicia Graff, Vinita junior. I honestly have never felt in danger on campus but when it is late and I am walking across campus it is not well lit so it makes me kind of feel uncomfortable. This app gives everyone on campus an extra way to be safe and feel safe while attending classes or work. We are very excited about GuardianSentral because it provides our students, faculty and staff another level of added protection, said Flores We think of the app as another form of 911 , or a more advanced form of the blue light emergency phones. Since the GuardianSentral was launched there have not been any emergencies yet students are encouraged to download the so if they ever needed a officer they would be able to each one. We hope no one ever has to use it in an emergency but I would rather they have it and not need it than need it and not have it, said Buhl. Not only will this make the people on campus feel safe, but for freshman who have never left home or students with parents that worry this app could be what they need. I think it would help students feel more safe and also parents or guardians of students feel safe, said Graff. This is just one of many things that are going to be happening at NSU to help promote safety on campus. Over the next several months, we will be implementing additional technology and safety components in and around the campus that will further protect students and staff, said Flores. Nothing more important than the safety and welfare of our campus community and we plan to take advantage of any and all innovative technology out there to help service our community better, said Flores. Instead of risking not being able to reach someone when something unexpected might happen download GuardianSentral so there is always someone when needed. For more informational, email stevensk@nsuok.edu.

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drens activities for the festival, and there is something for children of all ages to enjoy. For the children there will be a duck race, crawdad hole, cake walk, old fashioned childrens game, and much more. Along with the many activities for the children, there have also been several events scheduled for the adults as well. There will be a barbecue tasting contest Saturday at 11 a.m. and live music all day. This year there will be a second stage for the festival. The festivals main stage, Keetoowah Cherokee Casio Main Stage, will be set up facing south on Muskogee Avenue, between the main-street businesses of The Branch and Grannys Attic. Some musical acts for the festival include Tahlequah singer/ songwriter Mark Sweeney, Tulsa folk and bluesman George Barton and Tahlequahs Outlaw Sons Acoustic Trio, according to Tahlequah Daily Press. Along with a barbecue tasting contest and live music, there will also be arts and crafts. There will be many booths set up around Norris Park. One of the booths that will be set up will be a booth by Kortni Brannon. She will sell her It Works! Skinny Wraps. This is my first year to set up a booth at the Red Fern Festival. I decided to set up a booth to promote my new business, said Brannon. I am very excited to see how well I do at the Festival. The Red Fern Festival is a must see of the spring in Oklahoma. Not only is it fun, it is educational for all visitors. For more information, email@ nsuok.edu.

Red Fern Festival April 27-29 Comm Lab helps students Amber VANCe
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer This year at the Red Fern Festival there will be an extra day to enjoy the activities. The festival is a family-oriented event packed with fun and excitement for all. The Red Fern Festival draws its inspiration from the novel Where the Red Fern Grows, written by the late Tahlequah-area native Wilson Rawls in 1961. The festival has been around since the 1970s. It is held in historic Tahlequah where the first movie was shot. The festival still holds the same traditions today as the movie did then. This year the festival is April 27-29 in downtown. Im excited to take my daughter to the Festival this year, said Joshua DeShazer, Tahlequah junior. I have heard a lot about it, and I think it will be a good experience. There has been a lot of work put into the development of chil-

Shawna Blake/ Contributing Photographer Brenna Welch, Tulsa graduate assistant, organizes consultation forms in the Communication Lab. The Communication Lab, located in the Journalism Building, is a place for students to receive consultations on speeches and communication related projects.

The Northeastern

FE AT URE
CorbiN browN
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer NSU art students may have something to look forward to in the fall 2012 semester with the addition of a new Bachelor of Fine Arts program. NSU plans to instate the new program in the fall. We have been approved by the board of regents and were gearing up to begin the new BFA program this August, said Jacob Cotton, assistant professor of art With the addition of the BFA degree, NSU student will be exposed to a wider range of classes to take. This program allows students to take more classes toward their major, and courses in new areas, said Cotton. Some of these new classes that will be made available will be a web graphics course, an identity systems [branding and logo design] class, a more in depth look at the history of graphic design and an ad campaign class which focuses more on aesthetics than on selling ad space. Currently NSU only has a Bachelor of Arts degree or a BA. According to Cotton the BFA is meant to prepare the students better for either grad school or the workplace. The BFA is the preferred program, said Cotton, It increases the chances for students to be accepted to graduate school. Cotton specified Bachelor of Arts graduates could still get into graduate school, but Bachelor of Fine Arts will look better on a resume and it makes it easier for the student to be accepted. People have differing opinions about the BFA program, but it would make grad school more accessible, if I plan on going to grad school, said Briana Maxwell, NSU student. A Bachelor of Arts degree consists of 33 percent professional classes and 66 percent general education classes. In contrast the Bachelor of Fine Arts is made up of 66 percent professional coursework and only 33 percent general. Which could be better for some. I would have liked the BFA because its a more disciplined and involved program than we have now, said Maxwell. BFA programs are quickly becoming the industry standard

Page 8 April 24, 2012

Students produce BFA opens doors to future

Jon Dallis/TNE Daniel Talbot, Stilwell senior, is seen filming from the sidelines at the Green and White Weekend spring football scrimmage working with the NSUTV film crew. NSUTV and journalism students will produce and film home games during the fall 2012 semester.

for most colleges and universities who offer art degrees. Its a more professional degree, said Cotton, It also helps NSU to recruit by offering incoming student a more in depth approach to their field. Currently the other schools in our region with BFA programs include the University of Arkansas, the University of Tulsa and Rogers StateUniversity. It took me five years to graduate with a BA, but the BFA is more structured and each year is planned out so I could have been done in only four years, said Maxwell. Tim Fouch, NSUs vice president of Operations, said Northeastern is planning on building a new state of the art building to house the art department. Cotton said a new facility would also greatly help the efforts to recruit a higher number of students to the art program and also help in becoming a NASAD certified art school. NASAD is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and being certified through that governing body would attention and recognition to NSUs art program. There will be three degree plans within the new Bachelor of Fine Arts, which is a 2D studio art emphasis, a 3D sculpture and ceramics emphasis and a graphic design emphasis. With all this new expansion in the department some are worried that the teaching staff in the art department might become overworked. My concern is that the lack of professors in the department might put undue stress on the ones already there, said Maxwell. For more information, email brown046@nsuok.edu.

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RiverHawk Drum Group brings students closer

PATriCK roCKford
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer The drum echoes like a heartbeat all across what is called Indian Country. At powwows and ceremonials each year it draws individuals from almost every tribal nation together to enjoy themselves as well as celebrating their heritage as Native people. At NSU a group of native students have taken up the task of learning some of the songs that are sung at powwows by different drum groups across the country. Every Wednesday evening, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at different locations such as Centennial Plaza, Second Century Square or the Webb Auditorium, the NSU RiverHawk Drum Group can be heard practicing and learning new songs. The NSU RiverHawk Drum Group was first formed by a small contingent of dedicated students along with Dr. Les Hannah and Ken Rivas as a means for native students to socialize outside of the organization meetings. We asked Ken Rivas, who works in NSU parking, to help get us started. Travis Wolfe was the first student to step up and help form the group. For the first couple of times it was just Travis, Ken, and me. Then a couple of other students started coming. We would meet in the Cherokee offices and just go for about an hour or so, Word started getting out and a few more each time began to come, said Dr. Les Hannah, Director of the Cherokee Degree Program. Ken contacted Kelly Anquoe and asked him if he would come and help, and when Kelly got involved is when it really began to take off. . We started going outside with the drum and getting more visible. The drum group has even performed at the NSU womens basketball game halftime two times in the month of February where they received standing ovations both times. I think the drum group is a great blessing for our Native American students and NSU. It has brought us together, not only as different tribes but closer together as friends, said Rylee Grimmett, Jay Freshman. The student drum group is another opportunity for students to get involved on campus. I am very proud of what these students are doing here, forming this drum group was a good way for some of the native students to create even tighter bonds with each other and has been a great way for us to socialize, said Kinsey Shade, Briggs senior. For more information about NSU RiverHawk Drum Group, contact Dr. Les Hannah at 1-918444-3605.

Summer increases opportunity

JordyN JorGeNsoN
TNe wriTer Summer is right around the corner, and for many students, this means making some changes. I havent really figured out what I am going to do yet, said Lindsey Thomas, Gore sophomore. Some students may use this summer to follow their dreams or spend a little more time investing in their favorite pastimes. Brady Webster, Tahlequah sophomore, is one of the students taking a step closer to accomplishing a major goal. I have always loved singing, said Webster. I learned to sing from my mom and spent a lot of my time traveling and singing in churches. This past semester I have stepped outside of my comfort zone and participated in some on-campus events like NSU Idol and did a filler act for the Mr. NSU pageant. There were some people in the crowd at NSU Idol that took interest in me and asked me to be apart of the Stars in the Summer. I will be performing on stage every Thursday through Saturday night, and Im pretty excited about it. Over a course of three months with little or no school, it is much easier for students to do some traveling. I hope to be selected to go on some NACA training trips, said Theron Ogendenbe, Boynton sophomore. NACA stands for the National Association of Campus Activities. Some of the NAB board members get to go to these conferences over breaks to gain more knowledge in event planning skills. It seems NSU attracts some of the most dedicated and promising students in Oklahoma. With such a variety of students at NSU, there seems to be an equal variety of summer plans and activities. Of course, students should always be safe while traveling and carrying out these plans while enjoying their three months of freedom while they can. For more information, email jorgenso@nsuok.edu.

The Northeastern

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AAroN luCAs
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer Technology changes rapidly in todays society. The rate at which technology changes is astonishing to see from the human eye. Apple seems to have new iPhones come out every eight to 10 months and the Android platform is growing day by day. The programming languages used for such devices are becoming more like a fourth generation language and keep their speed closer to machine language. It is incredible how fast the computer a consumer buys is quickly out dated. The new ideas from these different developers send a shockwave down the education system. Technology is hard to keep up with, but what if the classroom is depending on the professor for the latest information of new ideas? I like to read different computer compiler books and do online searches, said Bill King, instructor of mathematics and computer science. Right now I have a class that I teach called game programming 4223 or math 4223. I have to write one book that is over several different books, such as 3D computer graphics, vector analysis and XNA game studio. The technology bug seems to grab everyone in the computer science department. We got Macintosh so we could teach students about programming in an Apple operating system environment, said Gordon Shamblin, instructor of mathematics and computer science. We got Apple so we could run virtual operating system software for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Linux because Apples OS is patented to Apple hardware. In a dense technology based society the demand is far greater than supply and the teachers are quarterbacking these changes to the class room. Using technology can change the way teachers teach. Some teachers use technology in teacher-centered ways. On the other hand, some teachers use technology to support more studentcentered approaches to instruction, so that students can conduct their own scientific inquiries and engage in collaborative activities while the teacher assumes the role of the facilitator or coach. according to itari.com.

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Technology updates essential on college campuses

Amber Covington/TNE Canada, Toronto, Ontario junior, looks at the available features of the NSU app on his iPad. The app features a campus directory along with other features.

The technologies change on a daily basis, but change does not have to be bad either. The teacher has a passion toward their niche in the technology field of choice and the pressure to deliver new ideas to students. The NSU com-

puter science department has all their classes organized and syntax strategically placed to provide students with updated material to take with them in the work force. For more information, email lucas01@nsuok.edu.

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Organization helps needy

sTACie GuTHrie
TNe wriTer College students usually need help. They are out on their own for their first time and sometimes do not have everything which they need or their household items can sometimes tend to break. A new program which is coming about in Tahlequah will see to it that college students and people all around will have the resources they need to live a little more of a stress free life. The group is called Pay It Forward. I have always been one to open my heart and home to those in need, said Cindy Clark, Tahlequah resident and president of Pay It Forward organization Tahlequah. I started this to help others as much as I could. Rather it was cleaning out my pantry to give food to others or emptying my closet for them to have something to wear. Pay It Forward is an organization, which is geared to helping those in need. Whether they need help with food and clothing or household items and emergency funds the group has their back. The group started its humble begins on Facebook as a page to help others out. Now, the page has grown and the group is all throughout northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. I thought that starting this I would have the ability to help so many more people, said Clark. The group started with a few people and now is almost to 1000 in only a few short months. We have already expanded in ways I cannot believe. Shortly after staring this I got a message from a lady in Siloam Springs asking if she too could start a group. I told her absolutely. We will soon have a Pay It Forward group set up in Stillwell. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into such a group as Pay It Forward. Events have to be planned out and items have to be picked up for donations. I help out in this group any way I can, whether it is picking up and dropping off donations, cooking at the fundraisers or going to businesses and getting donations, said Christina Garrison, Stillwell native and treasurer for Pay It Forward organization Tahlequah. We had our first fundraiser dinner on the 12 of this month. I helped with cooking, serving and I baked a lot of the desserts that were auctioned off at the silent auction. Members get great rewards from being a part of such a great organization. They want to reach out to those in need and show them there is hope, people do want to help. The thing that makes me really proud of this site and group is the fact that strangers come together in order to help each other and make each others lives easier, said Garrison. I think that if everyone would pay it forward the world would be a better place. The recent tornado disasters have left many families with nothing. Pay It Forward plans to help them out in their dire time of need. They need to know there will be hope when they feel there is no hope left. We are working on many projects and trying to help as many people and familys as we can, said Brennon Stickel, Ponca City senior and event coordinator of Pay It Forward organization Tahlequah. There are many people in the group working to help the victims of these devastating storms. If not for all of the wonderful people invoked we would not have a Pay It Forward. The group wants to try to reach out to college students and involve them in the group rather it is to give their time and things or have items donated to them. I think my favorite thing about working with Pay It Forward is just the reward of getting to help as many people as we do, said Joey Hurst, Tahlequah junior and public relations for Pay It Forward organization Tahlequah. We plan on getting as many college students and community members involved as we can. College students should get involved for the same reason everyone else should. The groups page can be found at this link https://www.facebook.com/groups/tahlequahpif/. They also have a website which is http://www.tahlequahpayitforward.org/main.php. Students can help out. They never know when they too will need help in their own life. For more information, email guthries@nsuok.edu.

Weather allows for breaks

Yuichi Morimoto/Contributing Photographer Hideyuki Nishizawa, Gunma, Japan senior, is a computer science major. Nishizawa slept on the bench in front of Seminary Hall after studying for upcoming final exams to wrap up the spring 2012 semester.

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FE AT URE
rAymoNd CArey
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer In the late spring to early summer is usually best time to catch a few powwows. On any given weekend there can be up to five powwows in a single area. Tim Washee, Briggs Oklahoma, has been involved with powwow since an early age. At the age of three he first started dancing. Along with dancing Washee also sings, plays the drums and has been master of ceremonies on several occasions. I guess you can say I was born into it, said Washee. In my family we dance as soon as we are able to walk. One way people can find out about powwows is by going to current powwows in the area where the master of ceremonies may announce upcoming powwows. The best way to find upcoming powwows is the MC giving naming off upcoming ones, said Washee. You can also find a lot of people handing out flyers for other powwows. Technology has changed many aspects of modern life, powwows not excluded. Back in the days you learned of powwows by word of mouth, said Washee. Now you have the Internet and apps for your phone. Originally a website, Powwows. com has expanded to be an app, which lets users find powwows, by city and state. There are many different reasons you can dance, but you can not dance for just your self, said Washee. Christopher Chanate, Tahlequah freshman, dances the gourd dance in honor of his grand father Jake Chanate. The Gourd dance is typically danced by warriors or veterans, said Chanate. I dance to honor my Grandpa who was a veteran. For years Jake Chanate was a member of the local Cherokee County powwow scene. Christopher honors his grand father by dancing for him at powwows. Both Washee and Chanate see themselves having a part in powwows for many years. In the next five years Id like to put on a powwow and be the master of ceremonies, said Chanate. Unlike ceremonies, which are strictly religious, powwows are more for fun or competition.

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Local powwows honor tradition and ancestry

I like them because I can meet up with old friends and make new ones, said Washee. Powwows are awesome. For more information, email careyr@nsuok.edu.

NSU community donates to Red Cross

Corrina Whiteley/ Contributing Photographer Matt Ross, Broken Arrow junior, awaits a nurse at the Blood Drive, April 17, while Freshman Andrew Ross finishes his donation. The American Red Cross regularly visits NSU campus and students are always encouraged to donate.

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100 perform in Tahlequah Ballets TB3 show

Starting in January, they began rehearsals for TB3. Being with the crew for hours and hours, were like a family, and we rehearse together and we dance together all the time, said Rebekah Wallace, student at Tahlequah Ballet. The entire performance is a culmination of all that the students have learned over the semester, and is split up into three acts. The first act is Broadway Lights, a series of current and past Broadway numbers performed by the Musical Theatre students, said Kim Huffman, artistic director of Tahlequah Ballet. Broadway Lights also features a special mothers dance, which includes many mothers of students at Tahlequah Ballet, said Amy Helm, organizational manager of Tahlequah Ballet. The second act, Flights of Fantasy, is an original ballet set to music from popular video games. The ballet is choreographed by Lena Huffman, ballet mistress of Tahlequah Ballet, and a select few of her students. The screenplay for Flights of Fantasy is loosely based off the opera Maria and Draco from the video game Final Fantasy VI, written by Nobuo Uematsu, said Alex Huffman, screenplay writer for Tahlequah Ballet. The show concludes with Rocky Road to Dublin, an original step dance showcase set to traditional Irish music. Its taken from various Celtic and Gaelic folklore, said Alex Huffman. It is choreographed by Lena Huffman, and stars Jake Woodson, student at Tahlequah Ballet, and Rebekah Wallace. The entire show features nearly 100 students from Tahlequah Ballet, ranging in age from 7 to 17. In addition to students, each faculty member has a role in at least one part of this production. The show is on May 4, and it begins at 7:30 p.m. It is at Crescent Valley Baptist Church, located on highway 62, between Fort Gibson and Tahlequah. Tickets are $5 each, and can be reserved now. For more information, contact Tahlequah Ballet at 918-2070111, or at tahlequahballet@ gmail.com.

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AdAm wAllACe
TNe CoNTribuTiNG wriTer

As the semester comes to an end, everyone is rushing to get finished, but at Tahlequah Ballet, everyone is rushing to get started. Tahlequah Ballet is preparing their end of the year performance TB3, an original performance written and choreographed by their staff. Students at Tahlequah Ballet started the semester in August learning techniques in ballet, musical theater and traditional Irish step dance.

Summer time offers outdoor activities in Tahlequah

Amber VANCe
TNe CoNTribuTiNG wriTer

As the spring semester is winding down and the warmer weather is approaching, many are getting anxious for the summer events Tahlequah has to offer. Whether it is hitting the river to go floating or headed to the lake or just staying around town, there is fun for everyone. Norris Park has become a popular place for many of these events here in town. Every Saturday from 8 a.m to noon is the Farmers Market. The produce at the market changes as much as the Oklahoma weather. According to tahlequahfarmersmarket.com, an early spring has provided a large variety of onions, greens and radishes. There is also bok choy, watercress, peas asparagus and some flowers. I usually buy cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes, said Jeremy Combs. I also buy lamb chops and eggs when they have them available Other upcoming events in Norris Park will included the Red

Fern Festival, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and the Citywide Garage Sale. Norris Park will not be the only place to enjoy some summertime fun. The Illinois River is also a popular place for many students and visitors who come to Tahlequah. There are a number of float trip outfitters along State Highway 10 which offer canoes, kayaks and rafts. Most visitors like to rent the watercraft and have the shuttle take them up the river, allowing them to float back down to their destination. The river is a great place for visitors of all ages, said Greg

Holbird, NSU sophomore. It is absolutely beautiful and you get to see much different wildlife as well. I love bring my camera out here to get some really great shots. Lake Tenkiller is another great place students and other visitors like to go. Scuba diving, camping, hiking, fishing, golfing, water sports, scenic nature, fishing and hunting are all surrounded with beautiful rock bluffs and days that end with spectacular sunsets. July is a popular month for Lake Tenkiller with fireworks on the fourth of July at dusk. Fireworks are set off on the south end of Lake Tenkiller, just north of

the dam. On July 21 and 22, will be the annual Cookson Jubilee, which is fun for all members of the family. The Jubilee has live music performed by national acts, arts and crafts vendor booths and food

from one of the many on-site vendors. Children can also participate in various activities, and cash drawings will be held both nights. For more information, email vance@nsuok.edu.

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Page 14 April 24, 2012

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes raises awareness

KeViN sCrAPPer
TNe CoNTribuTiNG wriTer

The thought of hundreds of men wearing womens high heels might prove too much for one trying to hold back a smirk or laugh. On April 28th, at 11 a.m., Norris Park will provide just such a spectacle. Every year, Help-In-Crisis hosts Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an event to support the fight against domestic violence while raising funds for Help-In-Crisis. The mood will be light and playful, but the purpose driving the event is nothing to laugh about. Well, it is a very serious topic when we talk about violence against women but, Walk-AMile is a fun event, said Jana Green, Volunteer Coordinator at Help-In-Crisis. It is fun to watch, participate or volunteer, and always a great opportunity to take photos.

With an 11 a.m. starting time, weather permitting, there shouldnt be any shortage of spectators or cameras for the event. Last year, participants were also plentiful, as men showed up in droves to dawn a pair of pumps. We had 220 men walk and many great volunteers, Green said. We also raised $26,000.00. We are hoping for 350 - 400 walkers this year. If the event produces the type of participation predicted by Green, no one should worry about feeling self-conscious. As hundreds of men from the surrounding area stand side-byside, show their support for gender equality and take these labored, but very necessary, steps to stamping out domestic violence, Jana invites everyone to attend. If a man would like to walk, he can get a registration form from our website: www.helpincrisisinc.org or they can stop by our

Courtesy Photo Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is the international mens march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. This is the second year for the Tahlequah event.

office: 205 N. College Avenue, said Green. One such participant, Wes Craig of Tahlequah, is looking forward to his chance to participate in the noble cause, but he knows its not going to be a walk in the park. I expect a few hours of pain and being uncomfortable, but its well worth it. Craig said with a smile. I dont have shoes yet, but if theyre open toe, I hope they match my toenail polish. Craig said that this type of event would be a first for him, but he feels like its important to show support and raise awareness.

As participation in the event may seem like an eternity, he can remove his shoes, nurse his wounds and his life will go back to normal. But for some women, normal isnt any easier, explained Craig. Most men will never understand the horrors that some women suffer through, Craig said. I would love to contribute anything I can to help. I think its important to show support and rally other men together to prove that we wont stand for the injustices that some women are faced with. The events focus is raising

awareness and needed financial support for Help-In-Crisis. Craig also sees an opportunity for personal improvement during the brief trials that his high heels may present. Its not just about donating money, Craig said. Its about humbling yourself and stripping down those layers of masculinity and seeing what its like on the other side. Understanding the other side is important, especially in situations where conflict may be involved. The Grant Writer for Help-In-Crisis, Stephanie Jordan, agrees. Its the first step that men can take in understanding a womans perspective, Jordan said. Im glad to be a part of it. Jordan said this was only the second year for the event, but the response last year and overwhelming support for this year means the future looks bright for this event. It was one of our biggest fundraisers last year and its growing, Jordan said. We had one in Wagoner this year. This year, Walk-A-Mile has gone one step farther to ensure that the kick and the event are more than just passing thoughts. Weve got a calendar were going to put out, said Jordan. Its got some of the Cherokee Marshals, some of our State Representatives, the Chief of the Cherokees, Bill John Baker and their red shoes. With the Walk-A-Mile team making it so easy to support the fight against domestic violence, its no wonder the event has enjoyed, and looks to enjoy, so much success. For more information, call Jana Green at 918) 456-0673 or email Kevin Scrapper at scrappek@ nsuok.edu.

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NEWTS,SDS teams for Ball LipDub today at 2 p.m.

this semester, said Mynatt. I see the same students doing all the planning and work and then others taking the credit for it. Mynatt said this could be a stressful thing for an organizations sponsor to see because they want students to learn from their experiences. Mattingly also expressed some struggles she had with helping organize the dance. It was sometimes hard to plan meeting that worked for both organizations, said Mattingly. Schedules sometimes didnt match up well. Mattingly said a positive side to the planning was that they were able to do more by working with another group. We are able to do so much more than what one group could do on its own, said Mattingly. We are able to get more decorations and raise more money. We worked together to figure out who the victim is, the possible weapons, suspects, and locations. The two groups will try to do at least one dance together per year. I hope to do another Yule Ball, said Stambaugh. Stambaugh joked that if there is going to be another dance in the works itll be up to SDS who is the brainpower behind the dances. Mattingly said the group hasnt started planning for next semester yet, but the usual standbys are definitely still taking place. We usually have a Sock Hop and Masquerade Ball in addition to the Yule Ball, said Mattingly. We are also planning on having a Dancing with the Stars in the Fall. We are still working out the details on it, but it will be a great thing for us. Stambaugh said things with NEWTS are also still up in the air for next semester, but the plans are coming together. We will, of course, be trick or treating for UNICEF like last year and we hope for another Yule Ball if SDS likes the idea, said Stambaugh. NEWTS is also thinking about a book drive and maybe working with Race for the Cure. Id like to do something for the local community as well. Stambaugh said NEWTS has the opportunity to be a great organization. NEWTS is all about decreasing world suck, said Mattingly. If you want to be part of a group that helps make the world a better place, you should check it out. If you love Harry Potter, you will fit in well with NEWTS. Mattingly said both organizations are a lot of fun. If you want to learn how to do East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Salsa, or Tango, check out SDS, said Mattingly. Especially the guys. Chicks dig guys who can dance. For more information, email walkerls@nsuok.edu.

CoNTribuTiNG wriTer Toward the end of this month, there is going to be a party unlike any the campus has seen before. Social Dance Society and NEWTS are putting on a Harry Potter version of the Clue Ball. The dance will take the concepts from the game Clue and apply them to both a dance setting and a Harry Potter theme. The dance originally started about 10 years ago when SDS first formed, said Amy Mattingly, Sallisaw Senior and SDS vice president. However, our current group was not aware of that at first. Since we started keeping track, this year will mar the 5th Annual Clue Ball. The groups have worked with each other in the past. This will be our third dance together, said Lucinda Stambaugh, Tulsa Senior and founder of NEWTS. The groups have worked together for two smaller dances. We have worked together with our Yule Ball for two years now, said Mattingly. The Yule Ball is our winter dance. Terry Mynatt, the SDS organization sponsor said she felt the groups have had a slightly harder time this semester in working together on the dance than on the previous dances. It has been very challenging

Christine Crockett/Contributing Photographer Aaron Anderson, coordinator of video projects, and Natalie Sullivan, Cleveland senior, walk through the first scene of the NSU LipDub scheduled for today at 2 p.m. They checked camera angles and the exact timing of the music to ensure a successful production of the NSU LipDub.

The Northeastern

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sTACie GuTHrie
TNe wriTer Students might wonder how mothers do it. It is a common thing which is popping up now more than ever. Mothers are getting their education. Most mothers want success in their life and for their children in the future. Nothing will hold these determined mothers back. There might be bumps in the road but the overall event is worth the troubles they may have to face on the road to success. There are many disadvantages while having young children in college, said Michelle Guinn, Hulbert freshman. I have to work to support them which cuts into my study time and my time that could be spent with them. There is nothing wrong with mothers just wanting a daily break away from their children. College is a way for mothers to excel in learning and to get away from the role of mommy for a few hours of the day. Sometimes the mother and childs schedule might conflict but the mother knows it is necessary for both of them to have an education. The advantage is that you get a break for the kids while youre in class, said April Potts, Tahlequah freshman. The hardest obstacle for me is trying to get into classes that will fit around my daughters school. Some of the classes that I need to take I cant because I cant afford a baby sitter for when she gets out of school. Studying is one of the main foundations for college. When a student has a quiz or an exam they study. Sometimes this is not as easy as it sounds for a student who has a child. This proves to be a somewhat more difficult task for some. Others might have the help of their family in such situations as these. Studying is always hard, said Guinn. I have to stop studying to take care of somethings with my boys. My family is very supportive though, they watch my boys when I need them to. Sometimes it is hard for students to leave their children right after birth to continue their college career. It is something which those students have to come to terms with if they want their college degree. At first, they may find it as difficult or unbearable but in the end they realize the college diploma will be well worth it. Its very hard to focus on school at first but once everything falls into a rhythm it makes it less of a challenge, said Heather Howell, Wagoner senior. When you have a baby at the beginning of a semester like I did the separation is heart breaking. I had special circumstances where my mom brought my newborn son to campus so I could see him between classes. Some mothers are continuing their college career after having their child and being out of college for some time. They know it has always been their goal to become a college graduate so they plan on finishing what they came to do, which is to get a college degree. These mothers strive for what is best for their child and their childs future. To accomplish a goal, such as a college degree,

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Mothers struggle with classes, child care

adds to the means of doing something to guarantee that their children have a great future. One thing about coming back to college is that I wont get to spend all of my time with my son Remus, said Ashley Hackworth, Tahlequah resident. I am going back to college for me, yes I want to give Remus everything that I never had but at the same time I cant say that my ambitions have changed by having him. The only thing that is different is that I have a little family to help me along the way. Mothers who attend college sometimes might have their bumps in the road but they know what they want and it is a better life for them and their family. They will strive to the end and have a foundation and show to their children that they can do anything they put their mind, time and effort to. For more information, email guthries@nsuok.edu.

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Tulsa Color Run 5K ends with food, festivities June 23

leAH wAll
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer The Color Run is a 5k fun run. It takes place on June 23, 2012 in Tulsa. Participants can solo racers or have a team. It is for all ages and all physical levels. It is all about having fun and being a walking rainbow by the end of the run. We try and provide a family friendly environment where people can come together and have a great time and get active, said Cameron Beecher, assistant race director. We love the idea of combining color and running. The color is a secret recipe (aka cornstarch) and is thrown at runners. Every 1 kilometer, they get a different color thrown on you and by the end they will look like a rainbow. The one expectation I have for the color run is that I hope to have fun while Im pushing myself to reach the finish. I also just really hope to get covered with tons of different colors along the way, said Amanda Shirey, Sapulpa junior. This is the first year that The Color Run has hosted in Tulsa. We are super excited to come to the Tulsa Area and we hope you are too,, said Beecher. Weve been in the Special Endurance Events industry for the last 10-15 years but this is our first and reach my goal, said Shirey. Spots are selling fast, but there are still some available right now. There are currently spots but they are selling fast. We hopefully will be opening new spots if it does fill,, said Beecher. We hope Tulsa is a pumped as we are. We look forward to coming there. Crossing the finish line is not the end either. There is a party afterwards with bands, food and other fun festivities. For more information, go to www.thecolorrun.com/tulsa and also The Color Run on Facebook for updates. Im really excited to do the color run! Its going to be a colorific experience, said Shirey. For more information, email walll@nsuok.edu.

Courtesy Photo Color Run participants will have multiple colors of cornstarch thrown at them while completing a 5k. The run will end in festivities , food and fun for all participants.

event in the Tulsa area. They also hope to come back again next year if the turnout is good. We are super excited there has been so much interest in the Color Run this year, it is unheard of in the running industry for an event such as ours to become so popular so quickly, we hope to come back to Tulsa again because we love the excitement and buzz that Tulsa has shown to us, said Beecher. The Color Run is such a fresh idea for a fun run. We came up with the idea after seeing the Holi Festival in India and wanted to combine that with an event that would get people active and have a great time, said Beecher. There are all different spec-

trums of fitness levels participating in the run. Whether it is a first 5k or participants have ran marathons, everyone is encouraged to sign up.

Im doing the color run because I have always wanted to push myself towards accomplishing a goal and the color run is the perfect way to be able to have fun

The Northeastern

SPORT S
ZACHAry TuCKer
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer The RiverHawk Baseball team played this season incredibly strong. The men had a stretch playing fifteen games only losing two. Several winning streaks, along with a few consecutive losses have left the team with a 20-20 record for the season. Five of the eight losses the men have fallen by a mere one run. Things havent been going our way lately, and that is the way the game works, we know a few good plays here and there could change the outcome of the game so we will continue to play hard until the final out, said senior infielder Chris Gallegos. Each out counts and the men know they must take advantage of each time a runner is on base. Late in the season, the future of the all their hard work and dedication could come down to one game.

Page 18 April 24, 2012

RiverHawks look to soar over Hillcats today at ONEOK

men went into the game with an open mindset. They knew the Cowboys were a division one team and rather the RiverHawks won or lost, they could earn confidence for later down the road. At the beginning of the year we didnt expect to play a Big 12 team and it was fun to play against a school with so much tradition, said junior pitcher Craig George. Against Oklahoma State the RiverHawks were down a quick two runs after an early inning home run by the Cowboys. A three run rally in the top of the third inning by the men gave the team the 3-2 lead. Scoring two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings left the RiverHawks needing to score at least three runs in the final inning, but just a single run effort left the final score 6-4. Although we didnt win, it was a great opportunity to play a program like OSU and we hopefully brought some recognition to NSU, said Gallegos. Today the crew will face the Rogers State University Hillcats at ONEOK field in Tulsa. This will be a fun environment for the two teams to play and they will battle it out to see who is the best team in the area. April 10 the men played the Hillcats, winning 10-3. The RiverHawks look to sweep the Hillcats for the season. With just three games remaining after the game against Rogers State, the men will look to finish the season strong. For the rest of the season we are going to just going to play pitch-by-pitch baseball, said junior pitcher Cody Honea. This is a game of failure; it is how you act on that failure that makes a good baseball team. For more information, email tuckerz@nsuok.edu.

Pete Henshaw/University Photographer No. 4 Chad Davidson, Noble junior, fields a hit in a matchup against the Roger State University Hillcats. The RiverHawks baseball team will face the Hillcats again today at ONEOK field in Tulsa at 3 p.m.

A late season hot streak could push the team to the position they

need to be in come time for postseason play.

April 18, the men faced the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The

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SPORT S

Softball team battles Southeastern Oklahoma today

with before, I am glad this is the group I get to go out with. With a young team it can sometimes be hard to get cohesiveness. All around we work well together and I cannot think of one person who has a negative impact on the team, said Bowin. This team has great talent. Sara Dornelas, co-captain of the team is also a fourth year senior. We have become a lot closer as a group this is one year that the entire team has not had an issue with each other, said Dornelas. We have all bonded so much in the past few weeks and that makes me proud to be a lady RiverHawk. Each year on a team is a new year with new people. This team will only be this way one year at a time, said Dornelas. Thats the beauty and the beast of college sports, no team will ever be the same year after year. Now that the seasons end is near the family will not be the same. For myself and the rest of the seniors this might be the last month of softball for us, said Dornelas. I know softball has been a major part of all of our lives and Im sure all of us will lose a piece of ourselves when its time to hang up our cleats. Coming to the end of a path is only the beginning of another graduate assistant Melissa Simms has stuck with the team and continued to contribute even after her last games. I love these girls, said Simms. Its been such a pleasure to be able to help these girls when they needed it as a grad assistant. Coaches, assistants and captains are usually the leaders but thats not to say they are not learning as well. The team has grown on and off the field so well, said Simms. I havent seen a group stick together as much as these girls have and its been a really great experience to be a part of it. Theyve also taught me things in return and I couldnt be happier to be a part of a team thats so special. The season is not over yet. Our goal is to finish the rest of the season out strong, said Simms. We have some pretty good competition coming up to wrap up the season so well work hard at practice and work to get the rest of these wins so please come out and support us. The team faces Southeastern today at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, email cosby@nsuok.edu.

Autumn Barnett/ Contributing Photographer NSU RiverHawks softball Head Coach Dee Gerlach watches as the RiverHawks softball team battles through a game. The softball team faces off against Southeastern today at 2 p.m.

JAmes Cosby
CoNTribuTiNG wriTer When most people think of Midwest college athletics they think of football, basketball and baseball, because these are of the most popular of the sports in the region. Many people also associate winning or school representing a with the team. To others teamwork, unity and friendship come to mind. These are the building blocks, which make up NSUs softball team. With a tough schedule and a young team the RiverHawks softball team have still managed to keep a winning season. Shelbi Bowin, team captain is one of the few women who have been with the team for four years. I love this team, we had to overcome a lot of obstacles and I think even though we do have a winning season it does not express our full capability, said Bowin. I

have grown with these ladies and out of all the groups I have played

The Northeastern