the northeastern - july 24, 2012

7/31/2019 The Northeastern - July 24, 2012

1/16

To err is human. To x 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

Volume 104, Issue 4 | Tuesday, July 24, 2012 | Tahlequah, Ok la . 74464

Project beginsFinal preparation in theworks for multi-purposecenter building pad.

See page 3

Program aidsOffice of InternationalPrograms helps studentssucceed.

See page 6

Tragedy strikes home for NSU sophomore

New re station set as temporary satellite station

Ashley RogeRsTNe WRiTeR

Taron Pounds, Verdigris soph -omore, was usually one of severallighting the reworks at his fam -

ilys Fourth of July celebrations.This year, though, something went terribly wrong.

Pounds was lighting reworks,spending the holiday with hisfamily after his cousins wed -ding. Tammy Cauthron, Poundsmother, said the family alwayscelebrated the holiday with re -works.

One of the reworks Poundslit malfunctioned, exploding inTarons face, leaving him severelyinjured. The explosion broke his

jaw, hard pallet, nose and left or -bital oor.

Taron has always been a partof the actual lighting of them,

so this was nothing new to him,Cauthron said.

He was Life Flighted to SaintFrancis Hospital in Tulsa. Sur -geons determined that his inju -

ries were beyond their expertiseand recommended transporting him to the OU Medical Centerin Oklahoma City. The follow -ing day, July 8, Pounds was stable

enough to move him by air am -bulance.

For me to explain his injuriesis impossible, Cauthron said.The doctors are still nding in -

juries after each surgery.Cauthron said that Pounds lost

vision in his left eye, but they arehopeful that they will be able tosave the eye itself.

During his rst surgery, which

lasted nine hours, doctors wereable to repair his jaw. He still mustundergo a 20-hour surgery to xhis hard pallet.

Cauthron said she would preferto wait until Pounds is able to dis -cuss his injuries before going intogreat detail.

He is still in a medically-in -duced coma but tends to ght hisway out of daily, Cauthron said.That fact that he is so strong isworking in his advantage.

Cauthron said she hopes hewill be out of ICU within the nextfew weeks, but he will have to un -dergo more surgery between nowand then.

Courtesy PhotoTaron Pounds, third from left, poses along with some of his fraternity brothers in front of

their homecoming art work. Pounds continues on his road to recovery daily with the support of his family, friends and classmates.

continued on page 2

AsmA ZiyAdA TNe WRiTeR

A growing city constitutes agreater demand for facilities anddepartments. The of cials in thecity of Tahlequah are keeping upwith those demands and are stay -

ing on top of the situation. A newre department is open and pre -

pared to run as soon as the man -power is available.

Capt. Joe Enlow said the needfor another department was pro -posed a couple of years ago byinput from insurance companies

and resident voices. Former May -or Ken Purdy and current Mayor

Jason Nichols pushed for thisproposal and made sure it wentthrough to voters and other cityof cials.

The community as a whole isgrowing, said Ray Hammons, continued on page 2

chief of Tahlequah City FireDepartment. Especially on thesouth side; with more people be -ing here, the need for anotherstation became a priority for ourcommunity.

Lt. Casey Baker said the cityof cials are currently debating

on placing a stoplight in the fu -ture on the street coming intothe Southridge housing commu -nity. The new school will bring inmore traf c, and having the stop -light there will ensure more safetyand organization for the southside of the


2/16

The Northeastern

Page 2

July 24, 2012NEWS

Pounds on road to recovery after rework accident

Tahequah re ghters prepare for new station

Cauth -ron is overwhelmed by the sup -port from the NSU community.She said that Pounds consideredNSU his family away from home.

Pounds sister, Lydia Pounds,has set up a PayPal account in hishonor for anyone who would liketo make a donation. She said anydonation, whether $1 or $100,will be appreciated to help with

continued from page 1 his long healing process and fu -ture medical expenses. PayPal do -nations can be made using [email protected].

There will be a blood drive bythe Oklahoma Blood Institute on

July 27, at the Tulsa Home andGarden Show. Chilis in Tahle -quah, where Pounds worked,will donate a portion of the res -

taurants proceeds on Sept. 4 tothe family. There are many otherfundraising efforts currently inthe works. Family friends Blakeand Shannon Andrews are plan -ning a spaghetti dinner and auc -tion Sept. 18.

Blake Andrews said Poundsand Cauthron feel like family andhe wants to do whatever he can tohelp the family.

Pounds enjoyed playing jazzguitar and Cauthron said thereare hopes of organizing a fund -raising concert.

There are also bracelets being sold for $5 each at several loca -tions in Tahlequah and Tulsa.

Pounds was a member of thePhi Sigma Fraternity and they arecurrently working on producing T-shirts to raise money also.

Anyone who would like tomake a donation in person canstop by any BancFirst locationand ask to donate to the TaronPounds Recovery Fund.

For more information aboutupcoming fundraising events, visitthe Taron McLean Pounds Re -covery group page on Facebook.

For more information, [email protected] .

community.I love that we have a new re

station in town, said LynelleArmstrong, Tahlequah resident.It shows the growth of our com -munity as a whole.

Enlow said Chief Ray Ham -mons will remain as leader of

both re departments. He saidthere are 18 volunteer re ghtersand 13 who work full-time. Theshifts are 24 hours on and 48hours off. If there is a need for

continued from page 1 more re ghters, the departmentwill look into hiring extras in thefuture.

It makes me feel much saferknowing there will be more re -

ghters available for us, saidArmstrong. Especially with oursummer heat and dry condi -

tions.Hammons said the originalbuilding budget was estimatedat $700,000. The of cials had tocome up with some last-minuteextra funding, which was pro -

vided for by the county sales tax voted in.

The voters spoke loudly aboutwhat they wanted, said Ham -mons. We will have both sta -tions operating, but the new onewill operate as a satellite stationfor now until further changed orhigher demands are made.

A satellite station is a stationwhere equipment and trucks arekept to be used as extra help for

the original re department. Forexample, if a re or a rescue callis made, and a re ghter happensto be on that side of town - or be -cause they live closer to the south -ern side of town - they can go tothe satellite station and respondmore quickly.

We will have a certain crew torespond at the satellite station,said Hammons. In the future,we hope to have a full-time staff working there.

Baker said he has been work -ing as a re ghter for more than15 years and he is happy to seethe team can better assist thecommunity. He said right nowthey are in the process of some -thing new, growing pains, as faras what trucks they will have atthe new station. He said the cityis equipped with enough trucksfor both stations, and the team islearning to change their style of responding to incidents.

I think it will not only bene tthe city itself, said Baker. But itwill also bene t the people in thelong run and bene t us in waysthat we are able to respond morequickly and ef ciently.

Baker said on average, theTahlequah Fire Department re -sponds to more than 600 runs per

year, composed of re and rescuecalls. During the summer months,most res are caused by peopleburning brush trying to clean out

their elds and the main factor of the grass being so dry.

Right now we are expecting more grass res, said Baker. Wewould like more rain to help out.

Hammons said as of right now,the department is in full opera -tion and is equipped with all thenecessary equipment to enable ef -

cient emergency response.We started the building of this

department in July of last year,said Enlow. We nished withinour expected date and we wereable to open as we planned.

Enlow said the departmentteam is expecting to be more ef -cient in their responses to re andrescue calls.

By making the trucks more uni - versal, they will be able to respond

more quickly and will thereforebe able to prevent the damage inbetter ways.

I would like to extend my ap -preciation for the council mem -bers, the mayors both currentand former, and the men of theTahlequah Fire Department,said Hammons. Everyone hasworked endless hours to make thispossible.

The chief also extends out hisappreciation to the communitymembers as a whole for their sup -port. As well as his appreciationfor the remens wives and fami -lies, who have shown much sup -port and standing behind thesemen.

For more information, [email protected].

Asma Ziyada/TNEFire Department Chief Ray Hammons is joined by Mayor

Jason Nichols, the re ghter team and their families at theribbon-cutting ceremony July 18. The station will serve as asatellite station until more full-time re ghters are hired.


3/16

Page 3

July 24, 2012NE WS

The Northeastern

Multi-purpose event center complete August 2013ChelseA PeRRymANTNe WRiTeR

NSU is in the process of build -ing a 78,200 square foot multi-purpose facility. The constructionincludes site work that will con -nect the existing football stadiumto the new event center site forimproved parking at both venues.The expected completion date isAugust 2013.

According to www.nsuok.edu/capitalprojects.com, the construc -tion of the multipurpose eventcenter is designed for concerts,basketball, volleyball, conferenc -es, lectures, performances, tradeshows and other large events. Thisproject is located on the corner of North Street and Grand Avenuein Tahlequah and is south of DocWadley Stadium.

The multi-purpose building is the largest construction proj -ect NSU has had in a long time,said Dr. Steve Turner, presidentof NSU. It will have a big eco -nomic impact on the communitythrough construction workerscoming to Tahlequah and suppli -ers coming to town as well.

Turner said the building givesthe university a climate-controlledfacility to seat three times as manythan anything else on campus like

Jack Dobbins Field House.I believe that this facility along

with Doc Wadley Field enhancesa gateway on the north side of campus, said Turner.

Turner said the primary struc -ture will have sixty-nine differentrooms that will house the coach -ing staff, facilitate the lockerrooms, trainer rooms and any -thing that would be part of an in -tercollegiate basketball program.

In addition, we are working with our construction managerand evaluating bids to includethe community/economic area,addition practice facility, and theRiverHawk walk, said Turner.

Once the multi purpose eventcenter is completed an estimat -ed $14.4 million will have beenspent.

This large facility will havelots of opportunities for NSU andthe Tahlequah community, saidTurner. Events such as concerts,educational symposium, guestlectures and of course basket -ball.

Turner said the unknown is ex -citing and potentially large eventscan take place at NSU because of this new facility.

Students on our campushave been involved in the designprogramming for this facility,said Turner. If it wasnt for theengagement and support of stu -dents, this would not be taking place.

The new facility will allow for

more programs and events inTahlequah to better the city anduniversity.

The university needed ex -pansion and updated space forathletic and performance eventson campus, said Jon Asbill, In -terim Director Capital Projects& Planning. Seating capacity islimited in the existing venues oncampus.

Asbill said, students have manythings to look forward to with thisfacility.

Aspects such as a comfortableactivity center, expanded parking for all athletic events, expandedseating and an attractive venue

for events.This facil -

ity will have apositive effect onNSU, said Asbill.The universityneeded room toexpand and up -date space for ath -letic and perfor -mance events andwe also needed a

space for confer -ence and conven -tions for the com -munity.

P e r m a n e n tseating capac -ity will be about3,000. However,using the oorand mezzaninespace will permit the seating of

additional people.For the athletic program atNSU this building will raise thestandard in terms of how people

view NSU athletics, said TonyDuckworth, director of athletics.It will be a facility that will rivalany Division II institute in our re -gion or nation.

Duckworth said basketballwill receive the most bene t of all athletics because all of therehome events will take place in themain facility, but the main athletictraining room will be in the newfacility, so all student athletes willuse it.

I believe this new facility will

provide institutional momentum

for NSU, said Duckworth.The facility will provide a ven -ue for students to have a greatgame environment and a betterfan experience.

The building will be a tremen -

dous bene t to our mens and

womens basketball teams and itwill be a great tool for recruiting for our new MIAA conference,said Duckworth.

For more information, [email protected] .

Chelsea Perryman/TNENSU Construction crew using a track hoe to lay storm pipe in preparation

of the new multi-purpose event center. The event center has an estimatedcompletion date of August 2013.


4/16

The Northeastern

Page 4

July 24, 2012OPINION

Adviser: Cassie Freise ext. 2874

Editor-in-Chief: Amber Covington ext. 2890

Ad Manager: Kyle Eubanks ext. 2890

TNE Staff: Derek Dandridge Shane DeversElizabeth Gibson Kayla JohnsonChelsea Miller Robert PinionAshley Rogers Kevin Scrapper Elizabeth White Asma Ziyada

Ad Staff:Maxime Blanc Chelsea Moser

POSTMASTER: Send PS from 3579 to NSU, Tahlequah, Okla., 74464-2399. The Northeastern (USPS # 395-580) is published weeklythroughout 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., 74464-2399. For more information about advertising, classified or display, call 444-2890, seven days in advance of desired publicationdate. Editorial statements in The Northeastern and readers letters reflect those of the individual writers and not necessarilythose of The Northeastern, its editors, staff, adviser or the administration of NSU. The opinions and comments therein do notnecessarily reflect the policies or beliefs of the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges or the regional universities and thatthe student newspaper is not an official medium or expression of the Board or the regional universities. The Northeastern is apublic forum. All submissions become property of The Northeastern. This publication was printed by The Muskogee Phoenixand 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: [email protected].

The Northeastern accepts and encourages letters to the edi -tor. Submissions should be relatively short a nd to the point,and must include your name, and contact information incase we need to contact you about your submission. We alsoencourage submission of any story ideas or pictures. Emailletters, stories or pictures to [email protected].

Letters to the Editor

Countries prepare for 2012 Olympic events

The rst ancient Olympicgames began around the year 776BC. The games were devotedto the Olympian gods and were

held on the prehistoric plains of Olympia. Olympia functionedas a meeting place for religiousand political practices as earlyas the 10th century B.C. Theycontinued for nearly 12 centuries,until Emperor Theodosius, aChristian, declared in 393 A.D.that the games must cease be -cause of pagan in uences.

After around 1500 years of no

such competition, the games were

in need of a revival. In 1894,Pierre de Coubertin, organizeda meeting with 79 delegates rep -resenting 9 countries, inspiredmany delegates when giving aspeech about reviving the Olym -pic games. The delegates votedunanimously to bring them back and Coubertin constructed aninternational committee to orga -nize the future games. Athens wasthe new birthplace for the mod -ern day Olympic games.

On April 6, 1896, Athenshosted the games. Pole-vaulting,sprints, shot put, weight lifting,swimming, cycling, tennis, mara -thon running, target shooting and gymnastics rounded out thegames for the rst modern Olym -pics. Approximately 300 athletesfrom 13 different countries com -peted in Athens.

Fourteen competitors from

the United States competed in

three sports at the 1896 Sum -mer Olympics. The Americanswere the most successful nationin terms of gold medals, beat -ing host nation Greece, 11 to 10.However, the Greeks 46 totalmedals overshadowed the Ameri -cans 20.

In the 2008 Summer Olympicsthe U.S. did not win the most goldmedals for the rst time in a Sum -mer Games since 1992, losing the gold medal count to China

5136. However, the U.S. wonits most medals ever in the gameswith a total medal count of 110and more silver and bronze med -als than any other participating country.

Assuming that all of the USAsOlympic athletes are healthy, thecountry has predicted to havequite the year. Bigger than ever,basketball for the red, white and

blue is among the top teams to

play in London. The super starLebron James, forward Miami

Heat, was quoted in a press re -lease saying that this years teamis similar to 1992s Olympic goldmedalists nick-named the dreamteam.

Not only has the respectedcountry have its biggest Olympicsport projected to play well this

year, but also other individualathletes compete in various sportsacross the board. Swimmer Mi -chael Phelps has always done wellin the competitions that he hasdone. Winning a stunning eightgold medals in eight meets.

This year the 27 year old isteamed up with another up andcoming outstanding swimmernamed Ryan Lochte. The two aresaid to be like a duo of marlin in

the water. Just as fast on land, the team

USA sprinter Tyson Gay waspredicted to be in the 2008 sum -mer Olympics but did not makeit because of an injury in Beijing.But in 2012 its a much bolderprediction. Gays greatest obstacleis the world record holding UsainBolt from Jamaica. Bolt originallylives in the US but because of theOlympic rules races for his de -nomination. Gay is one of onlythree humans that can claim thatthey have ever beaten Bolt.

Supporting the country of thered, white and blue, NBC hasstarted an app that lets us watchthe events on your hand held de -

vices. Along with its channel, thisOlympics is expected to be world -ly watched.

Courtesy PhotoThe 2012 Olympics will be held in London England. The

Olympics cover sports from all around the world.


5/16

Page 5

July 24, 2012FEATURE

The Northeastern

Electronics pose problem in classChelseA moseRTNe WRiTeR

The rise of technology hasstrongly impacted the way stu -dents learn today.

The Internet is a major re -source for students to researchand nd the information theyneed.

Laptops and iPads are nowcommonly seen taken to classes.

One con ict between studentsand professors is the use of iPads,laptops and cell phones

Renee Peters, Muldrow senior,said she takes notes on her laptopand that it is the only thing shedoes with her computer during class.

Peters said she did not knowhow anyone taking notes by handcan keep up with some of the pro -

fessors. Because there is so muchmaterial covered in such a littleamount of time, she nds it a loteasier to take notes by computer.

I allow students to use laptopsor iPads for taking notes if thatis what they are using them for,said Michael Brown, art instruc -tor. If I am lecturing and otherstudents eyes are on the screen of the student with the electronic de -

vice, I can tell they are probably viewing something online and notlistening to me. Once, I had a stu -dent post to their Facebook wallduring the middle of class fromthe computer they were supposedto be editing photos with.

Brown said with time stamps,he can easily tell when studentshave used his class time to post onFacebook.

I try to trust students to keep

their word that they are us -ing electronic devices for taking notes, said Brown. Again, itbecomes fairly obvious if they areusing them for other activities.It is sort of humorous to watchsome students who think they aregetting away with texting during

class.Other professors tend to have a

more laidback approach to com -puter usage during class time.

I have caught a few peoplebrowsing the web while pretend -ing to take notes, said Dr. BillWallace, communication stud -ies professor. I tend not to saymuch to them as long as their webbrowsing doesnt interfere withclass. They are adults who will

pay the penalty for their behaviorat test time. However, if they aredoing this during student presen -tations then I ask them to stop.

Some students have taken theirown initiative to keep themselvesfrom being distracted in classwhile others risk missing valuableeducation.

Cell phone use during lecturesis way too distracting for both the

student using the phone as wellas those who are seated nearby,said Dr. Katy Ellis, assistant pro -fessor technology. However, I domake some exceptions. If thereis an impending emergency andthe student informs me prior tothe start of the lecture. The otherexception that I make is for emer -gency responders. I have policeof cers, re ghters and para -medics in my classrooms. If a callcomes in, they know that it is OKto respond to the call as well asleave the lecture early, if neces -sary.

Ellis she has also allowed stu -dents to use their cell phones to

photograph notes on the whiteboard or overhead projector. Shethinks that is a smart use of thetechnology.

Ellis believes if a student is at -tending a lecture and wearing headphones to listen to musicthey probably are not going toreceive the educational messagefor the day. She would ask themto put it away or leave.

I allow the use of headphones

when students are working during class. Otherwise it is totally rudeto have them in during a lecture,said Brown.

Professors vary in their policiesand most make it very clear intheir syllabuses.

I think the bene ts are therebut I can de nitely see the down -side as well, said Peters. I knowthat potentially theyre just an -

other distraction in the classroom.However, I agree completely withwhat Dr. Scott told one of myclasses. He said if a person want -ed to spend time on their phoneor the Internet and not paying at -tention during his class they wereonly cheating themselves out of the grade they want to achieve inthe class.

It could be extremely bene cialfor students to try to nd a happymedium between the educationaluse of technology and the evergrowing disrespect of texting inclass.

For more information [email protected].

Students enroll

Chelsea Perryman/TNEBrittany Hays, Tulsa junior, is enrolling in the CASE build-ing in preparation of the upcoming fall semester. Studentshave to enroll themselves on goNSU.com and can get helpfor doing so in the CASE Building.


6/16

Page 6


The Northeastern

Organization helps international students to succeedeliZABeTh WhiTe TNe WRiTeR

Students from across the globetravel to NSU to live and learn inthe American culture. Helping the international students adjustand ourish on the campus is justone of the goals achieved daily bythe staff at the Of ce of Interna -tional Programs.

The Of ce of International

Programs is primarily responsiblefor international student recruit -ment, study abroad, internationalfaculty development for NSU fac -ulty and international scholar ex -change and services, said Rich -ard Carhart, executive director of International Studies.

The of ce understands thetransition these international stu -dents make is not an easy one, but

is taking every step to make theprocess a smoother one for thestudents.

According to the Of ce of In -ternational Programs webpage,they offer a comfortable, student-

centered learning environmentalong with learning programsthat prepare for careers and lifegoals.

Carhart said NSU has one of the highest percentages of inter -national students enrolled of anyuniversity in Oklahoma, and theof ce is faced with issues of ac -commodating for the great num -bers.

With so many international

students on campus, demands forhousing, local transportation andactivities tailored for an interna -tional student population are al -ways a challenge, said Carhart.

The challenges the students areexperiencing in their new Ameri -can transitions is made easier bythe students themselves.

According to Carhart, NSUsinternational students are all

highly motivated, uent in mul -tiple languages and eager to studyin the U.S. and at NSU. He alsosaid the students are remarkablyresilient.

Approximately 60 percent are

on the Deans list and their reten -tion rate is typically around 90percent, said Carhart. Theyseem to have unique talent forovercoming adversity.

The of ces webpage offersinformation and resources formaintaining F-1 status, the In -ternational Be a Buddy Programand student activities to the morethan 300 current internationalstudents.

Most have made tremen -dous sacri ces to be here and arethankful for the opportunity to

join us, said Carhart. And wereglad theyre here.

One way to make these newstudents feel more at home inTahlequah and help them inte -grate with the campus and com -munity is NSUs innovative In -ternational Be a Buddy Programwhich pairs domestic studentswith newly enrolled internationalstudents.

This is an NSU student-ranprogram is becoming increas -ingly popular and over time hasproven to be of tremendous value

to international students joining the NSU campus community,said Carhart.

The of ce is passionate abouthelping students succeed beyondinternational borders and invitesall who are interested in study -ing abroad with NSU to contactthem for help.

According to the of ces web -page, students will obtain a qual -ity education which will preparethem for their careers to bene ttheir home country and the inter -national community as a whole.

However, international stu -dents are encouraged to applyearly as admission to NSU iscompetitive.

For more information, email

[email protected].

Elizabeth White/TNE

Danielle Morgan, Administrative Assistant in the O ce of International Programs, preparesfor the Fall semester. The o ce provides services to help NSUs international students succeedacademically and socially in their new environment.


7/16

Page 7


The Northeastern

Safety corridor in practice to keep drivers safeKeviN sCRAPPeRTNe WRiTeR

The speed limit on Highway 51recently dropped in certain areas.

Some may see it as an inconve -nience, the truth is it has a historyof violent crashes rivaling anyother stretch of road in the state.

I dont even take 51 unless Iabsolutely have to, said MichelleSpringwater, Stilwell resident.

While no particular route canguarantee a safe trip or arrival,motorists can make their ownchoice as to which road to travelfrom Stilwell to Tahlequah.

My sisters are always on meabout taking Highway 100 be -

cause of the deer, but I wouldrather hit a deer than a car, saidSpringwater.

Efforts are being taken to lessenthe likelihood of an impact injuryaccident on Highway 51.

You always hear about crash -es out there, said Springwater. Ireally hope the new speed limithelps.

The drop in which Springwa -ter referred is from 65 mph to 55

mph.Ten mph is about 14 feet per

second, said Damon Tucker,Troop Commander of the Okla -homa Highway Patrol. It allowsthem to stop, or take evasive ac -tion to avoid something that they

wouldnt have otherwise.The strategy involved with the

safety corridor does not stop ata drop in speed. Tucker said themulti-agency effort would focuson 3 Es; education, enforcementand engineering.

The Oklahoma Departmentof Transportation have done re -search on some of the high col -lision corridors in Oklahoma,said Tucker. Based on their re -

search theyve identi ed three ar -eas in Oklahoma that have a highcollision rate.

The Highway patrol will not bealone in their efforts to improve

the safety on Highway 51.The safety corridor is a mul -

tiagency effort, said Tucker.Theyve taken the initiative to in -

volve multiple agencies to reducethat rate.

Another part of the effort is theTahlequah Police Department.

All these agencies came to -gether at the request of the High -way Safety Of ce and this is whatwe came up with, said Brad

Robertson, public informationof cer for the Tahlequah PoliceDepartment.

Robertson assures the in -creased attention is not a ply to

increase traf c violations.Its not about citations, said

Robertson. Its about lowering the injury collision rates in thisarea.

The Oklahoma Safety Of ceis sponsoring the corridor. Rob -ertson said they have very speci careas in which they will focus.

Were focusing on impaireddriving and aggressive driving speed, said Robertson. Because

these are the things the HighwaySafety Of ce has identi ed as rea -sons for these collisions.

For more information, [email protected]

Campus improves for fall

Ashley Rogers/TNECalvin Barnes, Mason I, uses pressure washer to wash

away dirt and debris from the sidewalk near the Admin-istration building. Crews are working all over campus toready it for the Fall semester.


8/16


9/16

Page 9


The Northeastern

Photographer praised with prestigious award

eliZABeTh giBsoNTNe WRiTeR

Muskogees Indoor Flea Mar -ket is a good way to save moneyand beat the Oklahoma heat.

My wife and I just had a babyso we try to save as much moneyas possible, said James Hardin,Tahlequah resident. We try tobuy baby clothes from garagesales and ea markets because thebaby is growing so fast.

With temperatures reaching triple digits, it becomes some -times impossible to be outside forany long length of time.

Im glad its inside, said DoraCarey, Muskogee resident. Itgets so hot outside, I dont like to

stay out for very long.Flea Markets are a good way to

make a living and one of the plussides is you do not have to put alot of money into it in order for itto take off.

According to an article writtenby Calvin Merrick, one of the

best ideas for a ea market venuewould be a custom T-shirt designshop or a custom jewelry shop.This will bring in repeat custom -ers who like the designs.

Muskogees Indoor Flea Mar -ket is a great way to also supportlocal businesses.

According to an article in Timemagazine written by Judith D.Schwartz, buying local, at themost basic level, more moneystays within the community.When money is spent elsewherelike Walmart or other big retailstores, money ows out of thecommunity and into the pocketsof corporations.

I like supporting Muskogeebusinesses because it helps the

community grow as a whole,said Carey.

Muskogees Indoor Flea Mar -ket is Aug. 4 at the MuskogeeCivic Center and the price for atable is $35.


Flea market pleases

RoBeRT PiNioNTNe WRiTeR

Capturing life on this campuswas recently awarded to NSUsuniversity photographer from theUniversity Photographers Asso -ciation of America.Pete Henshaw, university pho -tographer and adjunct professor,won an award from the UPAA

on his book about Dr. Don Betzstenure at NSU.The book was a farewell gift toDr. Betz and won second placein the Publications of Excellencecategory.The book was a conglomerate of photos and stories with Dr. Betzin them while he was president of NSU.

UPAA has photographers fromcolleges from all around the coun -try enter it, said Henshaw.According to the UPAA website,there are ve competitions avail -able for entry.There is the monthly image, an -nual print, Nikon shootout, annu -al publications and multi mediacompetitions.The website said the UPAA is an

organization of university andcollege photographers interestedin the practice and applicationof photography as it relates withhigher education and its setting.Henshaw entered the annualpublications competition and re -ceived second in publications of excellence.This book also recently won a

state award. The Oklahoma Col -lege Public Relations Associationgave this book the grand award.A recent press release states thatpublic and private universitiesand colleges throughout Okla -homa competed for awards incategories encompassing visual,written, oral and web develop -ment projects.The OCPRA awarded the book

the Grand Award of Special Pub -lications.It helps bring notoriety to the

university, said Henshaw.This kind of award winning ma -terial helps bring accreditation toNSU, brings in a more prestigiousname and makes the universitystand out as a gure of art in thephotography setting.He also said how these competi -

tions help him and motivate him.The competition makes photog -raphers strive to be better, saidHenshaw.He said when he goes and com -pares his work with other photog -

raphers work, he is inspired to trynew ideas. He said he is working on a new project for the athleticsdepartment.What we are working on now istaking photos of athletes with wa -ter, said Henshaw.He is doing this because the ath -letics department is moving intothe Mid-America IntercollegiateAthletic Association.

Their slogan is making a splashin the MIAA, so he decided torun with this idea and create pic -tures of the athletes with waterexploding.He, with many of the student ath -letes, has worked to make thesepictures possible.He said they tried taking picturesin his studio, but the water gets ev -erywhere and it is dif cult to work

with because it creates a mess.He also said they have workedto take pictures at NSUs FitnessCenter pool.All this work is for an opportunityto win in next years competition.

For those who wish to see thepublication that was awarded,

visit the UPAA website and look under annual publications com -petition.For more information email pin [email protected].


10/16

Page 10


The Northeastern

RBC in motion for incoming fall freshmenRoBeRT PiNioNTNe WRiTeR

NSU students create an envi -ronment to bring incoming fresh -men into the college life.

Rookie Bridge Camp is de -signed so experienced students

volunteer to help out incoming freshmen. They help them to feelaccepted, prepared for collegeand give them the possibility to

create a social niche for them -selves.

This camp contains a helpfulamount of knowledge for those

freshmen who are nervous anddo not know what to expect in theupcoming semester.

Brandon Melton, Verdigris se -nior, is this years camp director.

He said the camp is sort of likea freshmen orientation. They splitthe freshmen into color groupsand that particular group will bethe people they know most dur -ing camp.

We try to make them do things

to get the freshmen to do whatcollege students wouldnt nor -mally do to get them out of theircomfort zones, said Melton.

He said if they can achieve thisthen it gets easier to socialize withthe rest of the group.

On the rst day of camp, theyplay name games to get to knowone another. They also do otheractivities such as playing tag,singing songs and going to ropescourse.

These activities help pull thefreshmen out of their comfortzones and create a safe environ -

ment for them to be themselves.The second day is a oat trip.

After everyone is a little morecomfortable around each other, itis time to relax and have fun.

The oat trip is time for therookies to relax and get to knoweach other, said Melton. Theyget to talk about what they wantinstead of doing what we havethem do like on the rst day.

During the camp, they willhave free time in the evening.They want to open the pool andhave a pool party, play on the vol -leyball courts and have a cookout.

Sarah Fletcher, Muskogee se -

nior, is a third-year volunteer. Shehas the most experience and isnow a color group leader. Theseleaders help get the ball rolling forthese incoming freshmen who donot know what to do.

I can be there to answer ques -tions and reassure them thatcollege is going to be fun, saidFletcher.

Leaders can answer any ques -tions that freshmen have in their

arsenal. They have the most ex -perience with the most importantfacets of the college campus in re -gards to what the freshmen needto know.

RBC is a good opportunityto be eased into college, saidFletcher.

She also said it is good thatfreshmen get to know some of theupper classmen, this way they donot come into college like a pack of freshmen fearing it is highschool all repeating itself.

Ashley Barnett, Tahlequah se -

nior, said this is the rst time shehas volunteered since she went toRookie Bridge Camp.

She said she was able to bondwith people she would not get tomeet under normal circumstanc -es.

I was a rookie in 2009 and Iloved it, said Barnett. It was thebiggest thing that got me excitedabout NSU.

She said this year, she is look -

ing forward to singing songs andmaking skongs with the fresh -men. Skongs are a combinationsof skits and songs.

According to NSUs website,Rookie Bridge Camp has two dif -ferent camp dates.

The rst occurs Aug. 2 and 3and the second camp is Aug. 5and 6.

The registration fee is $60 andthis includes lodging, meals and aT-shirt.

For more information [email protected].

Sidewalk construction begins

Ashley Rogers/TNESidewalk construction on campus has began. The con-

struction is an e ort to prevent trip-hazards.


11/16

Page 11


The Northeastern

Sororities prepare for new fall 2012 membersKAylA JohNsoNTNe WRiTeR

Sororities have been on NSUscampus since 1929 and have beenexpanding ever since.

Currently, there are four so -rorities on campus, Alpha SigmaAlpha, Delta Zeta, Sigma SigmaSigma and Alpha Omicron Pi.

This years recruitment week will be Aug. 7-11.

Girls should go through re -cruitment because it is going tobe something that will push themto succeed in college, said ErielleBuckmaster, Hilldale senior. Re -cruitment is not what you see onTV. The party scene, hazing girlsor making them become some -thing they are not is not whatbeing Greek is about. Instead, re -cruitment takes a new freshman,asks them what their goals andaspirations are for college and

then nds the chapter that is go -ing to help them carry that out inthe best way possible the next four

years.Buckmaster said she thinks girls

should go through recruitmentbecause it is an eye opening ex -perience that allows them to meetnew freshman, meet the upper -classmen and to be able to havethe opportunity to join something that is much bigger than them -

selves. The thing about the sorori -ties at NSU is, for the most part,they are all founded on the samemorals.

Buckmaster said only hard partabout joining a sorority at NSU ishaving to pick between the amaz -ing chapters and all they have tooffer.

As of right now, Greek affairshas 37 girls signed up for sororityrecruitment, said Lauren Davey,Verdigris senior. We are expect -

ing 80-100 total for recruitment.However, a lot of girls will usuallysign up as close to the deadline aspossible which happens to be the

rst day of August.Recruitment looks to be prom -

ising with a busy yet exciting week full of activities.

According to Buckmaster,events for recruitment week willinclude things to allow the girls tolearn about each chapters philan -

thropy. Also to learn about theirsisterhood, to see how individualthese chapters are.

Buckmaster said they will thenbe able to attend their preferencenight. Where for an hour poten -tial new members will have theopportunity to sit in and try tocomprehend the amazing thing that these girls are a part of.

New girls will get to watch justhow much it means to sororitymembers and what it has done

for them thus far in their collegeexperience.

With a week as emotional andstressful as recruitment, Panhel -lenic members believe it is impor -tant to have people put in placefor girls participating in recruit -ment to talk to and be able to relyon.

These women are also knownas Gamma Chis or Gamma forshort.

Im excited to be a GammaChi because I want to be ableto help potential new members

nd their homes with one of ourawesome sororities on campusand help with any questions theymight have, said Tarah Davis,Adair junior. Im looking for -ward to helping potential newmembers with their problemsif they have any and to act as amentor when needed.

Girls are encouraged to gothrough recruitment. They willmeet hundreds of people andlearn a lot about NSU and col -lege life as well.

Im excited to give the womenan actual insight to Greek life andwhat lifelong membership is allabout, not what the media playsit out to be and hopefully helpthem nd a chapter to be a partof, said Alicia Woodrum, Tahle -quah senior. Im ready to getrecruitment started. I miss being a part of Greek life. Since Im agamma, I have to be disaf liatedwith my own chapter through -

out the entire summer. Being agamma Im expected to guide thepotential new members towards asorority of their choice while be -ing unbiased and also giving themsomeone to talk to who has beenin their shoes. Its scary and over -whelming so Im needed to calmnerves, I love it.

To sign up for sorority recruit -ment, girls are able to apply onthe NSU website. Or they cansign up downstairs in the studentactivities of ce of the UC. Theregistration fee is $35.

For more information, email [email protected].

Shane Devers/TNESamantha Parrish and Kristy Proctor work diligently in the nancial aid o ce in the CASE

Building. They are two of many who make nancial aid run smoothly.

Financial Aid ofce workers help students with FAFSA


12/16

Page 12


The Northeastern

Suicide among leading causes of college deaths Ashley RogeRsTNe WRiTeR

Each year, more than 4,000people aged 15 to 24 die by sui -cide in the United States. Accord -ing to the American Foundationfor Suicide Prevention, suicide isthe second-leading cause of deathamong college students.

More than 90 percent of peo -ple who die by suicide had at least

one psychiatric illness at the timeof death. The most common di -agnoses are depression and drug or alcohol abuse.

Sheila Self, director of coun -seling services for HawkReach,believes many students do not re -ceive the care they need becauseit is such a dif cult topic.

Theyre dif cult conversa -tions, so people want to not havethem, Self said. Its easier tonot have them than to awkwardlystumble through and unfortu -nately you can save a life awk -wardly stumbling through.

Self said the staff at Hawk -Reach tries to work with students,faculty and staff on having theseconversations. She said they want

to teach others how to ask thesedif cult questions.

Even how you ask can skewthe answer, Self said.

She said anyone can learnthree simple steps to help save alife using the QPR system. Whichis question the person about sui -cide, persuade the person to gethelp and refer them for help.

Although there are manywarning signs related to suicide,

Self does not think any one signis more important, but warns thatmany suicidal people will with -draw from those around them.

Someone who always goes toclass, and now suddenly theyre

missing from class, Self said.Its hard to see, because yourenot seeing someone. Its almostcounterintuitive, I know what towatch for, but you cant watch if someones not around.

A common misconception isthose who commit suicide willnot talk about it. Self says that isa myth. In fact, 70 percent of allpeople who consider suicide givesome warning of their intentions

to a friend or member of theirfamily, according to AFSP.Err on the side of safety, who

cares if they are asking for atten -tion, give them some, Self said.Some people get desperate andthey will harm themselves. Itsalways best to err on the side of paying attention to these thingsrather than blow it off.

Self believes there are almostalways signs leading up to sui -cide and more people need to beeducated not only on recognizing these but how to address them.

Ronnie Sue Culie, counselorfor Youthcare of Oklahoma, be -

lieves extra attention needs to bepaid attention to the LGBTQ community.

Prevention is key for all de -mographics but the suicide ratesamong the LGBTQ populationare alarming, Culie said.

Brandy Jenkins-Avery, Tahle -quah senior, was shocked tolearn suicide was such a problemamong college students.

I never realized how many

college students commit suicide, Jenkins-Avery said. Its very trag -ic, because this is the time we all

nd ourselves. To end a life thatcould have been; its just awful.

HawkReach is located inNorth Leoser Hall. Students canobtain free counseling services tohelp address all psychological is -sues. Male and female counselorsare available and can be request -ed.

For more information aboutHawkReach and their services,call 918-444-2042.



13/16

Page 13


The Northeastern

Campus police help to keep NSU safeshANe deveRsTNe WRiTeR

While NSU is a relatively safeschool, every campus has itsdangers. The deterrent of crime

makes a school more desirable forstudents to attend. Campus Policeis the backbone to safety at NSU.

The NSU Police Departmentis made up of certi ed police of -

cers who have the same powersof arrest and law enforcementauthority as municipal and coun -ty of cers. They work with state,tribal and local law enforcementauthorities to investigate crimeson campus and in the community.

Campus police jurisdiction in -cludes all NSU owned facilitiesand the adjacent public property.They encourage everyone in thecommunity to report any offense

or disturbance promptly. All re -

ports of criminal behavior willbe handled in an appropriate andprofessional manner.

Campus police strive to keepthe campus within the safer sideof things. Always improving their

program so students at NSU cansleep with no worry in mind.

One improvement to the pro -gram is called operation ID. If astudent brings their valuables bythe police department they willengrave a unique number onthem. This aids in recovery if theitems are lost or stolen.

Another addition is for the stu -dent that feels a little uncomfort -able walking to or from their car

or class at night. Safety escortscan assist them in their walk orcan escort them to their destina -tion in a patrol car.

This program comes in handyfor someone who believes they

are being followed or has had adispute with someone else, saidCaptain James Bell.

Most buildings at NSU Tahle -quah campus remain unlockedthroughout the night.

Custodians are instructed toreport any suspicious situations tothe police immediately, said Po -lice Chief Patti Wells. Universityof cers will often walk throughbuildings to enhance security.

Other universities have put inplace new and improved emer -gency blue light phones to deterany unsafe activities. NSU, how -ever, decided not to install them.The university has an emergencyphone system in place, but israrely used. Campus police havea system set in place that seems towork. Text messages can also besent to students phones if there issomething happening that is un -

lawful. It is somewhat of a heads-up for those living on or aroundcampus.

Other modes of communica -

tion can be social networking.The campus police has a face -book page that can be checkeddaily for news or anything thatsgoing on around campus.

For anyone wanting to be aapart of the campus police thereis an initiative program wherethose interested can participatein ride-a-longs with the of cerson duty.

This way the participant can

learn the lingo and gain the expe -rience of a of cer of the law.For more information email de -

[email protected]

Courtesy PhotoThe NSU Police Department goes out of their way to make the students, faculty and sta feel

safe. They have implemented many new methods, such as using bikes, phone applications andnew solar speed signs.


14/16

Page 14

July 24, 2012 A & E

The Northeastern

The Music Man comes to Muskogee Aug. 2eliZABeTh giBsoNTNe WRiTeR

Muskogee Little Theatre kicksoff the 2012-2013 season withThe Music Man.

The Music Man is a musicalby Meredith Wilson that is basedoff a story by Wilson and Frank -lin Lacey. Auditions were held

June 9 and 10.I wanted to audition, but it

con icted with my work sched -ule, said Alicia Rosson, Musk -ogee resident. I still plan onmaking it to one of the shows.

The Music Man is about acon man named Harold Hill, pos -ing as a boys band organizer andleader. Hill sells instruments anduniforms to townsfolk before leav -ing with the cash. Hill then falls inlove with Marian Paroo, the townlibrarian, and risks getting caughtto win her.

Its an interesting musical,said Rosson. I wanted to audi -tion for Marian, Hills love inter -

est.Other characters include Mar -cellus Washburn, former conman and Hills old friend. Along

with Winthrop Paroo, Mariansshy younger brother and MayorGeorge Shinn, the towns mayorwho is suspicious of Hill. Along with a cast which includes all agesand featured dancers.

Season tickets are for sale for$55 and are good for ve shows.

My husband and I get sea -son tickets every year, said BethColeman, Muskogee resident.Its better than going to see a

movie because its live.Those who donated to theUnited Way get an early perfor -mance on July 31 at 7:30 p.m.

I donate every year and usu -ally get to see a play early, saidBrandon Sharp, Muskogee resi -dent. Its nice to go see it withoutworrying if theres going to beenough tickets.

According to the MuskogeeLittle Theatres website, there areother jobs besides acting that canbe done. Stage managers run theshow.

They prompt lighting and

sound cues and note costume andprop changes. They are neededfour nights a week for six weeksand six performances.

People wanting to volunteertheir time should contact ConiWetz, the Executive Director of The Muskogee Little Theatre.

The show starts Aug. 2 and willrun through Aug. 11. Curtain is at8:00 p.m. Advance tickets will goon sale two weeks prior to open -ing night and can be purchasedat SoundWorld, located at 123 E.Okmulgee St. Tickets may alsobe purchased 30 minutes before

each show at the Theatre Box Of -ce.For more information, email

[email protected].

eliZABeTh WhiTeTNe WRiTeR

Watching the latest Hollywoodblockbuster with a tub of pop -corn, candy and an ice-cold soda.All of these amenities from theconvenience of inside the car isexactly what the Admiral Twin

Admiral Twin Drive-In open for business after two yearsDrive-In is selling to their cus -tomers.

It is exactly what they havebeen selling to their customersfor many years and now they cancontinue with the tradition.

I think everyone should getto have a drive-in movie experi -ence, said Julienne Mann, spe -

cial assistant to NSU president.Drive-ins are good for anyone,family fun, dates and groups.

The drive-in suffered a seriousloss in 2010 when the woodenscreens burnt down. Which wasquite the crisis for the countlesscustomers who frequented theclassic, beloved drive-in theater.

According to the owner, BlakeSmith, who stated in a recent in -terview, the rebuild costs totaledaround $300,000.

The last time I went to thedrive-in was before the re hap -pened, said Sarah Fletcher,Muskogee senior. My familyused to drive there from Musk -ogee all the time when I was

younger, and it was always worththe drive.

According to the interview, theentire Tulsa community ralliedaround the drive-in and raisedmore than $30,000 through abene t concert and other dona -tions for the rebuild.

Through social media, like thedrive-ins Facebook page, the Ad -miral Twin was able to inform thepublic of their progress and thegrand re-opening. The daily postsof construction and showtimeshave helped keep movie goers inthe loop.

The drive-in experience can bemore than just watching a moviefor some patrons. Moviegoers canenjoy the old-timey feel of thedrive-in that can lead to a sort of camaraderie with fellow movie -goers.

I think my favorite thing about the drive in was the historyof it all, said Fletcher. I mean,a scene from The Outsiders was

lmed there. How awesome.Mann, like many, can recount

her rst time at the Admiral TwinDrive-In.

I was around 10 years old andremember it as a great night,said Mann. I went with my sis -ter, mom and aunt. It was a JamesBond movie.

With the re-opening, the Admi -ral Twin Drive-In has also addedsome upgrades.

According to recent interviews,the drive-in is now accepting credit cards for the rst time.

The Admiral Twin Drive-Inalso plans to sell a greater varietyof concessions. There will be cus -tomer favorites such as pizza, icecream and fried foods.

The historic Tulsa landmark saw a great turnout at the re-

opening on July 15.To plan a future night out atthe drive-in, the public can getmovie information and showtimes at www.selectcinemas.comor by calling 918.392.9959.



15/16

Page 15

July 24, 2012

The Northeastern

A & E

Grappling Federation prepares for tournaments in TulsaKeviN sCRAPPeRTNe WRiTeR

Combat gyms from neighbor -ing states will join grapplers fromacross Oklahoma. The event willbe July 28 at Soccer City in Tulsa.

This long-awaited event willthe American Grappling Fed -erations second venture into thestate.

Jiu Jitsu practitioners in Okla -

homa, especially around here,normally have to travel pretty farto compete, said Wes Craig, Jiu

Jitsu practitioner.In an area like Tahlequah,

combat sports are beginning tomake a name. As the gyms andclasses grow, it is more likely tosee tournaments coming closer torural areas.

Ive had to shell out moneyfor a hotel just so I dont spend allday and night driving before anevent, said Craig. Itll be niceto sleep in my own bed, wake up,compete and go back home.

Craig, like many other com -bat sports athletes, follows a strictregimen of diet, training and rest.Excessive travel can mean the dif -ference between winning a goldmedal and going home in the rstround.

I competed in a tournamentin Texas a few years back and itwas tough, said Craig. I didnteven take off work the day be -fore and it hurt my performance,bad.

If they compete long enough,

everyone will experience a badperformance in their competitivecareer.

When it happens, a good sup -port system is always nice to fallback on.

Theyre willing to help eachother out and have a sense of brotherhood, said Piet Wilhelm,co-owner and head coach at Tri -ton Fight Center. It allows them

to x their mistakes, turn thataround and be more competi -tive.

The competition providescompetitors to build their skill-set in an actual combat situation.The experience that teaches matand life lessons, particularly withchildren.

If its well ran, it builds theircon dence, said Wilhelm. Theyalso need to make sure they haveparents who enforce what theirdoing.

Wilhelm said the biggest differ -ence in a child being a successfulgrappler is often a difference of their parents attitudes.

The parents can either makeit or break it, said Wilhelm. If they have parents that think its awin-win situation, thats ideal.

Whether their hand gets raised,or their opponents, there are al -ways lessons to be learned.

If they win a gold, then theywin, said Wilhelm. If they gettapped out, they learn. If youhave that mentality, then youll al -

ways be a winner. Thats the thing

we enforce with the kids and theparents.

As a Jiu Jitsu teacher, competi -tor and promoter of the Ameri -can Grappling Federation, Bran -don Quick provides a uniqueperspective and understanding tograppling promotion.

Quick has gained experiencecompeting in and coaching stu -dents in grappling tournaments

around the world. Which has al -lowed him to see how what otherpromoters do right, what they dowrong and what he should im -prove on it.

What separates us is our orga -nization format, said Quick.

Quick said at most other tour -naments participants can registerthe day of, which causes chaos.His method is a little easier for

competitors for follow.

When competitors and coach -es enter an American Grappling Federation event, the surprisesare kept at a minimum.

We have it bracketed and for -matted before the tournament,said Quick. If it says you com -pete at 12, your division startswithin 20 minutes of that. Youcan schedule your weight cut,rest, and travel. Its all about pro -

fessionalism and format.The organization of the eventprovides structure for coacheswith more than one competitor,or parents who may not be famil -iar with the grappling scene.

As with most martial arts,particular emphasis is placed onbuilding con dence, disciplineand respect in the younger prac -titioners.

With kids, it really boosts their

con dence when they win, saidQuick. Any sport thats 1-on-1, it can be dif cult too lose andits the greatest to win. It teachesthem more.

The atmosphere in competi -tive martial arts has always beena foreground for innovation,change and adaptation, andgrappling is no exception.

Its a safe environment for

training in self-defense, saidQuick. It helps people stay inshape, motivated and positive.They get to compete, learn les -sons in life and learn lessons onthe mat.

The American Grappling Fed -eration will be returning to Okla -homa, in Bethany, in October.



16/16

Page 16

July 24, 2012 A & E

The Northeastern

Football players dedicated to practice, improvementKAylA JohNsoNTNe WRiTeR

College football is under waywith less than 40 days until kick -off against Pittsburgh State atNSUs home eld, Doc WadleyStadium.

Most of the team have beenworking out and practicing ontheir own free will multiple timesa day this summer trying to get

faster, stronger and better at thesport.If we attend the workouts on

campus, we will typically warmup and do some abdominal work -outs then we will do the main liftposted on the board followed byauxiliary lifts, said Anthony Fra -zier, Midwest City sophomore.After everyone is nished withthat we go outside and stretch

our legs before we do our con -

ditioning and agilities. Then wewill stretch again so we wont getsore. Some guys usually stay afterand do some individual stuff withsome of their teammates.

Frazier said the team will usu -ally nish their workouts in aboutan hour and 45 minutes to 2hours, depending on the condi -tioning of that particular day.

On a normal day, there are

usually about 20 guys who showup to workout. Of course, withcertain weather and other ob -stacles, this is not always the case.

Where I went to high school,we never had a break, said Da -kota Moran, Midwest City fresh -man. Its an everyday thing. Soit is kind of stuck in my mind tocome work out on campus con -stantly. I want to keep that up

for as long as possible. This is my

rst college football season so of course Im excited and being withthese older guys, it really helps mecompete to do more than them inhopes of becoming better.

There are many new trans -fer students as well as incoming freshmen who are new to theteam this year.

This years offensive line looksgreat with Ross Dvorak as center

and Jonathan Brown at guard,said Brad Ross, Oklahoma Citysophomore. The defensive linelooks to be progressing with a fewbig and experienced d-linemenlike Rowdy McCauley, DannyWilliams and Kenley Choute.This season we lost an entire of -fensive line and an all-Americanreceiver. It hurts but with CruzWilliams transferring to NSU we

will be set.

Ross said his favorite part aboutbeing an incoming freshman onthe team last summer was coming in and having everyone treat himlike a brother as well as a team -mate. It is like a brotherhood.The older teammates go out of their way to provide advice andpointers to younger players andhelp them with anything they arecapable of.

Last season, the RiverHawkswent 7-5 against some of thegreatest and toughest teams inDivision II. This year, the teamwill transition from the Lone StarConference to a new conferenceknown as the Mid-America Col -legiate Athletic Association. TheMIAA is a 16-member confer -ence of NCAA Division II insti -tutions which is headquartered in

Kansas City, Mo.

Some of the current MIAA members include Central Mis -souri, Emporia State, Lincoln,Missouri Southern State, Mis -souri Western State, Nebraska-Omaha, Northwest MissouriState, Pittsburg State, South -west Baptist, Truman State andWashburn. All of which will playagainst the RiverHawks this up -coming season.

The team is hoping for an evenbetter turn out this season. Thereare some guys coming back fromboth sides of the ball and they arehopeful they can pick up rightwhere the team left off last yearand get a championship ring inthe end.

Our goal is to make the na -tional playoffs and with the tal -ent we have we should be prettygood contenders, Johnny Dea -ton, Moore junior. Two-a-daysare always hot and are very long practices to gure out who all willbe starting and ne tuning thelittle things.

The team will report for campon Aug. 5 for dorm check-ins andwill be able to move into theirnew rooms. The following day,the team will have equipmentcheck out and a team meeting.

The rst day of practice will beon Aug. 7. The rst RiverHawk game is set for Thursday, Aug. 30at 5 p.m.

For more information, email [email protected].

the northeastern - july 24, 2012

Documents