Field house retires RiverHawks basketball prepares to play final game at Jack Dobbins.

See page 7

Golf season begins

NSU Riverhawks golf prepares for a winning season.

See page 18

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

Women mentor peers

ANDREW SCOTT
TNE WRITER Northeastern State University is taking steps to help women on campus through March Mentoring. March Mentoring is a program designed to introduce women to strong and successful women mentors, said Danielle McCollum, Claremore junior. Dr. Amy Aldridge Sanford said it is a mans world and she feels women need a good mentoring program. The program allows students to gain connections with strong women in the community. It is designed to network and build lasting friendships. The purpose of March Mentoring is to expose women to possible mentors they think would be a good match for them and vice versa, said McCollum. McCollum said it is a building block for creating bonds that will last a lifetime. March Mentoring is far more than having a mentor, it is about building lasting friendships. Aldridge Sanford said continued on page 2

NSU Movement supports NSU athletes

Jessie Billings/Contributing Photographer NSU Movement is a flagship group of students whose goal is to support all athletic events and games. The group seeks to demonstrate inter-athletic support among all NSU teams. The students paint their bodies, cheer and dance to encourage the playing team.

O.I.L. participates in state legislature

JACCI ALWORDEN
TNE WRITER NSU students are getting hands-on experience and knowledge about the workings of the government. The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature program also allows students to earn credit hours. A student can take the course for three credits, but this can only be done once, said Dr. Daniel Savage, O.I.L. faculty sponsor. Savage said the course course is either an elective for non-majors or a political science elective for majors. Thomas Teague, NSU student body president, said schools that participate take legislation they would like to propose that deals with real issues. He said these issues do not necessarily pertain to just college issues. He said the bills these students prepare are printed, and what is passed and signed by the governor of O.I.L. is then presented to real legislators in the state capital. O.I.L. is a group of college students from all across the state who go as a delegation from their school 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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March Mentoring benefits women Student publishes novel

continued from page 1 she hopes it is more than having mentors and networking for the future, but it will evolve into a lasting relationship. These mentors will help the mentees in everyday life. I think March Mentoring is a good program because everyone deserves a respectable, successful and upstanding citizen of society as a role model, said McCollum. Networking for the future plays a role in this program as well. March Mentoring helps women find someone that may be able to help them with their future, said Christine Hensley, Mustang junior. I was taught that it is not necessarily about what you know but who you know. Hensley said this program helps women find that person. The mentees are encouraged to attend a segment on March 11. There is a segment entitled Work-Life Balance that will be held on March 11, said McCollum. Although I dont have a job right now, I want to get as much advice as possible from that session. Once I do find employment again, whether it is a part time or the beginning of my career, I want to apply what I have learned in that session. McCollum said she hopes she can use these skills to be more successful in that area in the future. This is the first year of March Mentoring but mentees look toward the future. I dont know if this is in future plans or not but I think it would be neat to make another mentoring program for high school girls and let women who have been in the March Mentoring program become the mentor instead of the mentee, said McCollum. Students are eager to see what comes from this program. I am excited to see where March Mentoring may lead, said Whitney Stroup, Tahlequah freshmen. Who knows, this program might lead one lucky lady to a very bright future. For more information, email Scott33@nsuok.edu.

Meredith Barker/TNE Dana Boren Boer, instructor of media studies, purchases The Universe is Ours from student author Brittany Porter. The book is available for purchase in the RiverHawk Shoppe.

Oklahoma Collegiate Legislature anticipates session

continued from page 1 compete at the state capital in mock legislature, said Teague. They have a governor, an entire cabinet just like the state of Oklahoma, right down to the representatives and senators. Former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh founded the program in 1969. The students participate in mock court and journalism competitions. The competitions take place at the state capital and last five days. I have competed in about six semesters of competition, each one in the legislation, said Cody Robinson, O.I.L. chairman. I learned that working together with your delegation to create legislation is one thing, but the politics involved in persuading delegates from other schools to vote on your bill is another. Joshua Romeo Harris-Till, O.I.L. member, said he has competed in the senate competitions. He said it is a smaller more formal legislative branch. He said he loves the leadership interacting with the delegates. These students are earning college credit hours, learning the ins and outs of the government and making lasting friendships. All training is designed to prepare students for the five-day mock legislative sessions held once per semester at the state capital, said Savage. While attending the mock legislative sessions, students sometimes have a chance to voice their opinions to Oklahoma state lawmakers. Savage said they they also establish friendships with other students from around the state, many of whom will become state political leaders. Harris-Till said he has made many great friends from his time with O.I.L. ones who have helped him with everything from internships to law school. These students are also giving back to the community. Last year O.I.L. sponsored a canned-food drive. All cans received benefit the Oklahoma City food bank. I raised the highest amount of cans in our delegation, and NSU actually won the most weight of cans per delegate, said Robinson. Robin said it was a great way to give back to the community and get rid of the many cans of corn that she had stocked up. Any student can join O.I.L., not just political science majors. NSU has to compete against much larger delegations from OU, OSU and ORU, said Savage. The more students we have compete the better. NSUs delegation has done quite well despite this stiff competition. Harris-Till said O.I.L is always looking for new members, and to be involved it is as simple as coming to the meetings on Thursday at 8 p.m. in room 224 of the UC. There are a few aspects of our lives that are affected by political decisions made in either Washington D.C. or Oklahoma City, said Savage. If people do not know how government works, or want to get involved in that decision-making process, then a large part of their lives will be determined by the decisions of people they neither know or agree with. Savage said nderstanding the system, enables a person to have an effect upon those decisions. For more information, email alwordej@nsuok.edu.

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Students may study abroad for spring break

LINDSEY TAYLOR
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Study abroad is a growing interest at NSU. Many trips are taken in May, but during spring break some student will get the opportunity to go to London. Students will visit the world famous Portobello Market, The Vaudeville Theatre to watch a Charles Dickens play and see the Hogwarts Dining Hall at Trinity College in Oxford. The London trip is coordinated by Dr. Brian Cowlishaw, associate professor of English and Christian Alyea, program director of Oklahoma Study Abroad. Alyea said every time a student travels they see something new, and it is nearly impossible for the students to get bored. Alyea said London is always a very popular destination. It offers a lot of history and culture, said Alyea. Over the last few years, we have found that British literature, history of nursing and international theater courses are excellent matches with London and its surrounding cities. Cowlishaw has recently been to India and has traveled to Italy. He proposed a Charles Dickens class, which incorporates learning about Charles Dickens life and reading and visiting sites in London. Dickens makes reference to many specific locations in London that have not changed much since his time, said Cowlishaw. The Tower of London, London Bridge, Parliament, Westminster Abbey and St. Pauls Cathedral are to name a few. Students have been reading about these places and can now actually translate that literary experience into real life. Also, Dickens used to visit one pub call the Cheshire Cheese, and it will be exciting to quite literally sit where Dickens sat, Oklahoma Study Abroad does research before sending students abroad. Representatives from OSA will be on site in London to be tour guides, offer advice and alternative sites students may want to visit and they will also assist with any problems that may arise. Our number one priority is enabling students to travel confidently and smartly on their own after the program, said Alyea. I would never send a student group to a location that I have not experienced first hand. We research all of our new trips for approximately a year in advance. This allows us to find the best accommodation, transportation, guides, and activities. Also, through actually visiting each location, I am able to learn how the locals go about doing this. This protects our groups from over spending on tourist traps or making uniformed choices. Elaina Ross, graduate student said studying abroad can help broaden every students world view, and it can also make the world seem like a smaller place. I encourage students to study abroad because this is the perfect time in our lives to do it, said Ross. Not only does it look great on a resume, but you get to see a part of the world that is completely new. You get to explore and try new customs and really live. The London spring break trip is March 15-24 and costs $2,200. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience a new country, even the typical college student living on a tight budget, said Alyea. For more information, email taylor20@nsuok.edu.

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Page 4 February 26, 2013

Obama pushes for minimum wage increase

People who work minimum wage jobs may have a pay increase coming their way. President Obama is calling for an increase in wages. Minimum wage is currently set at $7.25 an hour. This wage does not include tipped employees. The president is trying to push minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2015. Economists believe that this pay rise could put $21 billion back into the economy, and could possibly create as many as 120,000 jobs. This increase, however, would only keep pace with inflation in todays economy. Minimum wage began in 1938 and was set at 25 cents an hour. In that 75-year gap, wages have only increased 22 times. This equates to a little less than a dollar a decade increase. Ten states have already made adjustments to keep up with the rising cost of living. Oklahoma is not one of these states. The last pay increase for minimum wage workers came under President George W. Bush in 2007. The process was a gradual one and resulted in an increase of $2.10 an hour. This current increase could also affect those who work in tipped industries, such as wait staff. President Obama is the first to address this issue in 20 years. Currently, tipped employees can receive as little as $2.13 an hour. The president could attach a pay increase to the annual cost-of-living adjustment for these workers. Nationwide, there are about 15 million workers who earn minimum wage each year. This amounts to about $15,080 earned income. For a family of four, this amounts to about $50 below the poverty line. A family with two parents working full time should not be living in poverty. It seems these hardworking parents would still be unable to get ahead in life. It does not bode well that these indi-

Jacqueline Alworden/TNE Felicia Taylor, Westville junior prepares for work. Her minimum wage job keeps her in school, but only just. Living on a budget is tough, but still she manages to balance work and her social life.

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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., 74464-2399. 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.

viduals would not be able to buy a new car or send their children to college. They are working full time and striving to better themselves. Yet, their reward for their labor is living in poverty. This is the greatest free nation in the world, where hard work and ambition are supposed to pay off. There is another side to this coin. Employers could face new burdens if this proposal passes. A raise in wages does not necessarily correlate to an increase in business. In fact, the last recession began in the middle of the pay increases. There is no evidence to directly relate the recession to this pay increase. Yet, during the last recession minimum wage jobs accounted for 60 percent of jobs lost. Keeping jobs in America is hard enough for those willing to work. This spike pay could en-

courage small businesses to think of labor cutting. Cost-effective solutions may not be the economic advantage President Obama believes it to be. President Obama is striving to build the American middle class. The economy needs more middle class workers if it is going to survive, it needs people spending money in order to reverse the economic downturn. If the president can get this proposal passed, it would effectively put more money in the pockets of those that are working. There is no clear solution to the economic problems this country faces. It is a gamble, a roll of the dice if you will. On one hand, increasing wages could be the push we need to break the recession, or it could be the push that lands us back in the very recession we were trying to avoid.

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SCEC relocates popular fundraising event

BLAKE HARRIS
TNE WRITER The Student Council for Exceptional Children produces fundraisers for the organization. The organization will have their spaghetti dinner March 5. This fundraising event is not new to SCEC, but it is the first time it will be on campus. The past spaghetti dinners were located at the Tahlequah Elks Lodge, said Jessica Breske, SCEC president. We also would hold them there because our past adviser Dan Glasgow, who passed away recently, was a member of the Elks Lodge. We decided to move to our new location on campus so it would be easier and more convenient for both faculty and students at NSU. We are hoping by making this more convenient we will gain more business. SCEC has many events during the year, but the spaghetti dinner brings the organization a lot of funding. Most of the funding received goes toward organization of other events and the SCEC conference. The spaghetti dinner is a fundraiser for SCEC to send our members to the Council for Exceptional Children conference in San Antonio, said Morgan Hitchcock, SCEC secretary. The spaghetti dinner is $3 for students with an NSU ID. It is $5 for anyone else who wants to attend. Hitchcock said tickets can be purchased in advanced from any of the SCEC members. Students that do not know any member can pick up a ticket at the education building or buy tickets at the door. Switching the location of the event closer to campus was a topic of discussion among the members. The SCEC members searched for a good location that has the room and the capability to serve plenty of patrons. They decided to move the event to the first floor of Baptist Collegiate Ministries building on campus. We usually only have 30 to 50 people attend this fundraiser, said Breske. We are hoping that more people will attend this fundraiser since it is on campus and help support a great organization that supports the area of special education. Members of SCEC also organize dances for children who have special needs. These dances take place at the Elks Lodge. Recently, SCEC visited the School for the Blind. We took coloring books to the School for the Blind in Muskogee, said Molly Erwin, SCEC Historian. We passed out the coloring books and sat down with the students to hang out and get to know them a little bit. They enjoyed the coloring books so much. The money received at these fundraisers also enables SCEC to participate in various campus activities. Erwin said SCEC has dances once a month at the Elks Lodge. The next dance is April 27 from 1-3 p.m. Erwin wants to encourage everyone to come to at least one dance because they can be so much fun. This is a time for students to learn more about special education, said Breske. Students can learn what is new in special education technology and special education laws. You will also have fun while learning. Breske said she hopes this location will be a great move for SCEC. The ticket purchase will allow students to eat as much spaghetti and cookies as they want. It will allow everyone to eat, have a good time, visit with other faculty and staff and help an organization that relies solely on donations. SCEC has a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/nsu.scec, which posts upcoming events and allows students more information about joining or donating to the organization. Students who want to join the organization can also attend the SCEC meetings the first Monday of each month from 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in Bagley Hall room 210. For more information, email harris28@nsuok.edu.

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Big Ticket event to assist CCF missions

JOSH WOODSON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Campus Christian Fellowship will sponsor The Big Ticket March 12. The Big Ticket is a day of fun and entertainment to help raise money for a mission trip to Haiti. Tom Tucker, director of CCF, has been highly involved in helping the local community for many years, and is now organizing trips to help out and share the gospel with other countries. During this fundraiser, there will be desserts, skits, singing, dancing, and other acts. CCF is in the process of raising $13,000 for mission trips, and from The Big Ticket event they should bring in somewhere around $2,500-$3,000. That is what the average amount has been in the past. Here at CCF we focus on missions, said Connor Allen, vice president of CCF. Our main goal through this event is to raise money for our trip to Haiti this summer where we will be handing out straws that provide them with clean water for a year along with sharing the gospel. This event is free of charge to attend and we would love for anybody and everybody to come out and support us at the Big Ticket whether thats participating in the talent show or just showing up to have a good time. After CCF has raised $13,000, Tucker will take several members to Haiti to dig water wells and teach them how to dig them for themselves. CCF gets its supplies from the Water4Foundation, which is the organization that started the idea of the well digging in other countries. The Haitian people have major difficulties getting water because they have to travel to find a source. Tucker and his team will make this chore easier by digging wells in more convenient locations. I havent been on a Haiti trip, but I have seen it benefit CCF quite a bit, said Nichole Clark, activities director for CCF. We take missions really seriously, because that is one of our purposes as a Christian. We are called to help others, and with the specific goal we set to raise money for filtration straws for the Haitians, we have come together as a group to do everything we can to raise the money. I think everyone has a passion, and clean water is ours. The CCF digging crew will carry 500 pounds of drilling equipment in 10 suitcases when they fly to Haiti. Water4Foundation has developed a drilling system, made up mostly of locally obtained items. The drilling crew can acquire items, such as PVC pipes and plumbing wrenches, after they land. This is also more affordable to the people of third-world countries, which will allow them to build more wells and have cleaner drinking water. CCF has been around for 43 years and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The current theme for CCF is 2 Corinthians 4 which Tucker sums up as, What is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal. The Big Ticket will be March 12, and Tucker says anyone is welcome Tucker says that CCFs main goal is to disciple the people. We are involved in helping students learn how to live, not just get ready to make a living, said Tucker. For more information, email woodsonj@nsuok.edu.

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5K honors NSU Founders Day

JAMES BAGWELL
TNE WRITER The date is set for the fourth annual Founders Day 5K. The race celebrates the purchase of the Cherokee National Seminary from the Cherokee Nation by the state of Oklahoma on March 6, 1909. This was the beginning of the Northeastern State Normal School, which was later renamed to Northeastern Oklahoma State University. Founders Day is a reminder of our roots as a Cherokee Female Seminary and how far weve come in the past century, said Peggy Glenn, director of development. Since our founding as a state school, NSU has evolved from a teachers school to a full-fledged university granting degrees in five different colleges, including a doctoral program for optometry. The celebration of Founders Day at the Tahlequah campus has been a yearly staple since the unveiling of the Sequoyah statue, the center of the Centennial Plaza, in 2009. Glenn said the Centennial of Founders Day was celebrated with great fanfare in 2009, with the honoring of 100 Centurions who have made NSU what it is today. Libby Rogers, director of student health services, said the course is a certified race and Cherokee Wings participates in the event. There is a golf tournament event in September that raises money for the Frank Haven Scholarship, said Eric Pool, security system administrator. I wanted to have a second event and I started running in 5K events and thought that I could put on an event too. I met with a couple of people and we decided to try it. It has grown from 220 runners the first year to over 1000 this year. Many students are excited to continue the 5K traditions in Tahlequah. I love to run 5Ks, said Heath Brownell, Kansas junior. I ran the Founders Day 5K last year, and I have run several other races in the past year. I am looking forward to running the Founders Day 5K to see how prepared I will be for the Warrior Dash thats coming up this summer. Glenn said there is an expo for health and wellness the day before the race in the University Center. Pre-registered participants can pick up their race packets there. Founders Day brings a lot of people to campus for the 5K race, said Glenn. Its great to see runners, from kids to older adults, participating! On Feb. 6 NSU will honor 10 new Centurions with strong connections to NSU. NSU has a lot to celebrate, and participating in the Founders Day 5K is a healthy and active way to join in the celebration, said Glenn. The race is March 2 and begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Centennial Plaza. There is a $20 registration fee. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and a T-shirt is guaranteed to the first 600 registrants. Awards will be given to the top male and female contestants and door prizes will be given away after the race. For more information, email bagwellj@nsuok.edu.

SCEC donates books

Courtesy Photo Student Council for Exceptional Children presented students at the School for the Blind in Muskogee with large-print coloring books. This is one of the many philanthropic acts SCEC performs throughout the semester.

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Rowdy promotes school spirit at NSU

DREW BENNETT
TNE WRITER Rowdy the RiverHawk, the large green bird in the jersey seen wandering around campus from during school events, is an indigenous species unique to NSU. He is the schools mascot, and this is his story. As a mascot, Rowdy is responsible for promoting school spirit at athletic and university events and encourages crowd participation and interaction. The mascot must be present at all home football games, basketball games and other athletic events. The mascot may even be asked to participate with the spirit squad on certain routines. NSUs original mascot was the Redmen. It was changed to the RiverHawk in 2007. The design of the RiverHawk was the result of collaboration between the student body, student affairs and university relations. The student body and NSU community voted on the name Rowdy. Many students are unaware of the process that is behind choosing the mascot. Few even stop to think about the everyday work that goes into the mascot. Being a freshman here, I didnt know how much work went into making him, said Cerry Anthony, Coweta freshman. I dont really think about mascots that much, but that is pretty cool. As with any mascot, it is tradition to not know who is wearing the suit. Tryouts for the position of mascot are in the fall and spring, depending on the need, to add more students to the mascot squad. Currently we are seeking new members, said Jamie Hall, media relations coordinator. You must be a full-time student. The requirements are mainly personality characteristics. Hall said Rowdy is a dynamic mascot. We look for someone who is outgoing, personable, involved on campus and dependable, said Hall. There is a tuition waiver applied each semester for those eligible to receive a waiver. Those interested in being the mascot may email westjl@nsuok. edu or call 918-444-3958. Rowdy can be seen Feb. 27 at the Jack Dobbins Field House. This will be the last home game to take place at the JDFH. The games are at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Fans are asked to wear the official Farewell to Jack Dobbins Field House T-shirt. These can be purchased in the athletics office for $10. Proceeds go to the Make-AWish foundation. For more information, email bennettn@nsuok.edu.

February 26, 2013

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Chi Alpha encourages fun and fellowship

DESTINY HILLHOUSE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Every Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Webb Auditorium, there is the sound of a live band and loud voices singing praises. This is the sound of a group of college students celebrating their love for God. Chi Alpha campus ministries, which stands for Christ Ambassadors, or XA for short, strives to bring students to Christ weekly through a worship service led by fellow college students. I first heard about XA on move in day at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2006, said Baxter Stewart, NSU XA leader. Each Thursday, Stewart introduces a topic after worship service and preaches to students. I just pray about it, try to understand what God wants me to discuss, and go from there. Stewart said. Although there is a XA building in downtown Tahlequah where services used to be held, the building has been abandoned and is no longer used. I dont even know who has the keys to that building, Stewart said, Im not sure how long we will be in the Webb but thats okay, its more cost efficient. Chi Alpha is about bringing students to Christ and preaching the gospel. When Stewart is successful in providing a service that brings one to Christ, it is exactly what makes all the hard work worth it. Just seeing people go after God is what keeps us motivated to keep volunteering, said Stewarts wife, Shayla, Its fun. We really enjoy it. Chi Alpha is not only rewarding to leaders of the ministry but also to students who attend regularly. Chi Alpha has really helped me grow spiritually, said Sarah Hadley, Stigler senior. Hadley has attended Chi Alpha for four years, on two different campuses. Hadley said her favorite part of XA is being able to worship God freely and she would like to see more people getting involved. Chi Alpha has been around longer than a lot of students realize, but the Stewarts and many others involved plan on XA being a big part of NSU for years to come. My vision is to build up the students we already have and build up the new leaders, said Baxter Stewart. Chi Alphas main focus this semester is on discipleship and outreach. When it comes to building new leaders, it seems as if anybody could get involved and push for a Christian campus in their own way. If youre faithful, available and teachable, we want you, said Baxter Stewart. After all, everybody has something to give. For more information, email hillhous@nsuok.edu.

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Non-traditional students call dorms home

KELI HOFFMAN
TNE WRITER In todays economy, it is not uncommon to see non-traditional students attending college. A non-traditional student can be defined as someone over the age of 25 who is at college to either finish a degree or earn a new one. Wes Wheeler, information systems manager, said 61 non-traditional students currently live on campus. Many non-traditional students were traditional students before and it didnt work out, said Val Traenkenschuh, NSU graduate student. They either flunked out, got married, or life got in the way. Sometimes things beyond the students control prevent them from completing their education during the traditional ages of 1824. While it is not uncommon to see non-traditional students in the classroom, it could be considered an unusual sight to see them living in the dorms among traditional students. When you hear about olderpeople going back to college, you usually think theyre commuting from somewhere or doing it online, said Chelsea Carter, Haworth sophomore. So I can see where people might think its odd when they see them in the dorms. Traenkenschuh is in her 40s and living in the dorms at NSU. She earned her bachelors degree in elementary education, but after raising two sons she wanted to pursue a masters degree in speech and language pathology. I started looking for accredited Speech and Language pathology programs, said Traenkenschuh. The closest one with a good reputation and reasonable cost was NSU. I decided that was the place to go. Traenkenschuh and her husband own a home two hours away, so commuting was not an option for her. When she calculated the total cost of utilities, rent, groceries, laundry and other expenses, living in the dorm was cheaper for her than renting an apartment. Having access to health services, counseling services, custodial services, fitness center, internet and other amenities provided by NSU housing also helped in her decision to live on campus. Theres more security in the

Keli Hoffman/TNE Val Traenkenschuh does homework in her quad. She is one of about 61 non-traditional students currently living on campus.

dorm, said Traenkenschuh. In an apartment, theres just you and a door and thats it. Living on campus, you have to have a key for the front door, a key for

the quad door, and a key for your room door. Traditional students and their parents may not always understand why their older counterparts would choose to live in the dorms. My parents werent sure about it at first, said Megan Neal, Tulsa sophomore. I told them Val looks after us and keeps us in line. They know older adults go back to college, but they werent expecting someone in the dorms. Several students that live in Traenkenschuhs hall said that they enjoy having her around. They feel as though they can talk to her and get advice, but she does not try to force her opinions on them. With the changes in the economy, it is possible that even more people will be coming back to college to get their degrees. They may not all live in the dorms, but some may realize the possible advantages to dorm life. For more information, email hoffma04@nsuok.edu.

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Tuesday, Feb. 26 Galaxy of Stars: Neil Simons Biloxi Blues presented by Montana Repertory Theatre 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Tahlequah CPA Blood Drive Tue, Feb. 26, 1:00 p.m. Wed, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. Broken Arrow Administrative Services building, Annex Wednesday, Feb. 27 Career & Graduate School Fair 10:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Tahlequah University Center, 2nd Floor, Senator Herb Rozell Ballroom RiverHawks Basketball vs Central Oklahoma 5:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m. Jack Dobbins Field House Tahlequah Thursday, Feb. 28 The Cherokee Word for Water 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Tahlequah Webb Auditorium Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Broken Arrow Library Building, room 118 Sunday, March 3 Rainbow Royalty Pageant 2 p.m. Tahlequah University Center Redbud Room Monday, March 4 Visiting Indigenous Scholar Dr. Linda Sue Warner 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Tahlequah, Webb 614 Friday, March 1 Womens Tennis at Our Lady of the Lake University 1 p.m. 4 p.m. San Antonio, Texas NAB - Photography Contest begins Saturday, March 2 Founders Day 5K 9 a.m. 10 a.m. Tahlequah

Students Pass the Bucket

The NSU media campaigns and events class, in partnership with Alpha Sigma Alpha, will sponsor a Pass the Bucket fundraising event on Feb. 27. The event will take place at the Jack Dobbins Field House during the last basketball game of the 2012-13 season and will benefit Tahlequah Public School special athletes. Tahlequah Public Schools sends 30-40 athletes to the state competition every May at the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater. All donations received will help buy student uniforms, shoes, and lodging, as well as allowing students to have spending money. It costs each special athlete approximately $300 to participate. Its a good cause, said Dr. Dana Eversole, professor of media studies. I just think its important. Eversole said the overall goal is to raise at least $4,000 to benefit the special athletes. In addition to passing the bucket, there will be stations outside of the field house to accept donations before and after the game. The media campaigns and events class will also have other opportunities to donate throughout the semester, including a station outside the UC and a booth at the Tahlequah Red Fern Festival. For more information, call 918458-4150.

Biloxi Blues stops at NSU

Terry Cyr/Contributing Photographer Hugh Bickley, Colton Swibold, Dylan Rodwick, Sam Williamson and Michael Eisenstein perform in Neil Simons Biloxi Blues. Biloxi Blues will visit NSUs Center For Performing Arts Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

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Girl Scout Cookies have local roots NSU students compete

ANDREW SCOTT
TNE WRITER Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma are proud to have a special place in Girl Scout history. The sale of Girl Scout Cookies began closer than most think. In 1917, Girl Scouts in the Mistletoe Troop at Muskogees Central High School made a simple sugar cookie to sell to their school mates, said Leslie Hamil, marketing and membership executive Muskogee. The sale of Girl Scout Cookies began five years after Girl Scouts began in the United States. Girl Scout Cookies had their earliest beginnings in the kitchens and ovens of our girl members, with mothers volunteering as technical advisers, said Ingrid Williams, chief communications officer. The sale of cookies as a way to finance troop activities began as early as 1917, five years after Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouting in the United States. When they began, the money was for a different purpose than it is today. The money they raised enabled them to buy supplies for care packages they sent to the troops during WWI, said Sue Tolbert, executive director. With eight types of cookies, part of the profit still goes to help the troops. Another part stays and helps with the local troop. Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma are proud of their heritage and even made a statue as a reminder. Unveiled on May 31, 2008, the commemorative bronze A Promise To Keep will be a permanent reminder of the heritage of Girl Scouting, said Williams. It is on display at Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The museum displays the original Girl Scout Cookie recipe and much of the history of Girl Scouts. The troop wants to make sure they see the tradition of selling cookies live on for many more years. For more information, email Scott33@nsuok.edu

Jamie Stocks/Contributing Photographer Haley Stocks, Tawnie Goodwin and Randee Howard, former Miss NSUs competed in the Triple Crown Pageant Feb. 23. Stocks was crowned second runner up, Howard first runner up and Goodwin is currently Miss Okmulgee County.

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Students adjust to improve dorm life

KELI HOFFMAN
TNE WRITER Dorms are notorious for being small. They can feel even smaller when shared with another person, and for a college student with limited funds, it can be hard to make a dorm truly feel like home. In those instances, a little improvisation and rearranging can help a dorm feel cozier. In my old room, I had my bed as high as it would, and I had my TV underneath, said Brandon Morrison, Stillwater junior. I sat down under there and I would play my video games all night with a blanket thrown over the side so my roommate could sleep. I also had my fridge down there. There are many more ways to utilize the space underneath a bed. Raising the bed as high as it will go and putting the dresser or storage containers can help free up closet or floor space, but could decrease shelf space. In some dorms, the closets are large enough to put the dresser inside, and placing shoes on top or in a drawer are some possible options. We are no longer giving residents the pegs to bunk their beds, said Stephen Neal, resident assistant. What you can do instead, is raise one bed as high as it will go, and place your roommates mattress underneath for the same bunk bed effect. The bed frame may be dismantled but must stay stored in the dorm and then reassembled when the student moves out, according to housing regulations. Furniture can be stacked in several different combinations and may be worth experimenting with as another solution to make the rooms feel bigger. To help free up desk space, framed photos can be hung on the wall with command strips or poster putty. Neal said experimenting with furniture layouts at the beginning of the school year, before students bring all of their personal belongings, could be beneficial. It is easier to move furniture when other school and dorm supplies are not in the way, although it is still possible during the semester. There are a number of ways students can improvise or substitute for items that are not allowed in the dorms. It is possible to make cakes in the microwave for those special occasions. Mix one box of your favorite cake mix with a box of angel food cake mix, said Courtney Eggert, NSU Alumna. Take three tablespoons of that mixture in a coffee mug or bowl, and add two tablespoons of water. Zap for three minutes in the microwave or until done, and enjoy. A spray bottle with water can be used to get wrinkles out of clothes in place of an ironing board, while a blanket or comforter can be placed under a fitted sheet to substitute for a mattress pad. Binder clips can be a helpful solution to keep phone chargers and other cords from getting lost or falling behind furniture. When clipped to the side of a desk or bed frame, cords can be threaded through the metal loops and held in place. Since students are not allowed to put nails in the walls, small

Keli Hoffman/TNE Chelsea Carter, Haworth sophomore, has turned her bed into a bunk bed. She did this by raising one bed as high as it would go and putting a mattress from the other bed on the floor underneath.

shelving units can be made from wooden magazine holders placed on their side, on a desk or other place of convenience. Val Traenkenschuh, NSU graduate student, said she has a blackout curtain placed in front of the door to her dorm. It helps block out the light and absorb sound from the common area at night, and allows her to have her door open but still have some privacy. For students interested in similar techniques, Pinterest can be a good source. For more information, email hoffma04@nsuok.edu.

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Emmy-nominated field correspondent visits NSU

Dr. Mireya Mayor, National Geographic field correspondent and primatologist, will speak on the Northeastern State University campus on March 14 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the W. Roger Webb Educational Technology Center. According to Mayors official bio, she is a scientist, explorer, wildlife correspondent, anthropologist and inspirational speaker. Mayor has reported on wildlife and habitat issues to worldwide audiences for more than a decade. Her address will also be broadcast via ITV to the auditorium of Administrative Services on the Broken Arrow campus. As a two-time Emmy Awardnominated field correspondent for the National Geographic Channel, Mayor has reported to audiences worldwide on pertinent wildlife and habitat issues. Mayor recieved two Emmy Award nominations for her work on the television series Ultimate Explorer. Mayor was later named Emerging Explorer in 2007 by the National Geographic Society, which selects rising talents, who push the boundaries of adventures and global problem solving. During a 2000 field expedition to Madagascar she discovered the species Microcebus, or mouse lemur, which she continues to study. Her work convinced the Madagascan government to establish a national park to help protect the rare primate and other species. Mayor recently earned her Ph.D. while conducting research on the effects of forest fragmentation and isolation on two types

Mark Thiessen, NGT&F/Contributing Photographer Dr. Mireya Mayor, National Geographic field correspondent and primatologist, holds a new species of mouse lemur she discovered in Madagascar. Mayor will visit NSU Tahlequah campus 7 p.m., March 14 in the Webb Educational Technology Center, where she will speak as part of the National Geographic Live program.

of lemurs found only in northern Madagascar. When not in the jungle or on assignment, Mayor speaks publicly about the importance of conservation for a vigorous and healthy planet. She is especially popular with student audiences. Mayor will visit NSU through the National Geographic Live program, offered through the National Geographic Society Speakers Bureau. Her visit is sponsored by the Northeastern Student Government Association, the Northeastern Activities Board and the Division of Student Affairs. For more information call the Office of Student Activities at 918-444-2526. Press release courtesy of www. nsuok.edu.

Mark Thiessen, NGT&F/Contributing Photographer Dr. Mireya Mayor is a two-time Emmy-Award nominated field correspondent for the National Geographic Channel NSGA, NAB and the Division of Student Affairs will sponsor her trip to NSU Tahlequah campus.

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Snow closes campus

Pancake dinner raises funds

Keli Hoffman/TNE Students enjoyed the impromptu winter weather. Snowball fights, snow angels and snowmen could be seen all around campus.

James Bagwell/TNE Members of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority got messy making pancakes at the BCM. The money raised will go directly toward their philanthropy the Robbie Page Memorial.

RiverHawks baseball begins

Kirsti Cook/Contributing Photographer RiverHawk baseball began its season February 16 against Northwest Missouri. Despite the temperatures, RiverHawk baseball fans came to watch NSU play Emporia State Tuesday afternoon.

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Mankiller film screened Students pack the house pink

Northeastern State University invites the community to a free screening of The Cherokee Word for Water, Feb. 28. Dedicated to the vision of former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller, the film follows the efforts of Mankiller and Charlie Soap to bring a water line to the community of Bell through the Bell Waterline Project. The screening will take place in the Webb Auditorium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the first 50 people will receive a copy of Mankillers popular book Every Day is a Good Day. A drawing will also be held for a flat-screen television. The film begins at 6:30 p.m. We feel it important to properly honor and respect Chief Mankillers life and work, said Todd Enlow, NSU Director of Auxiliary Services. Likewise, numerous community members were excited about the opportunity to gather as a family and enjoy the story of how volunteers gathered together to change a community. We want to ensure that this story is told so that everyone can enjoy it. We regret the technical issues on January 24, 2013, and would like everyone to learn from a leader, her family and friends. Event sponsors include NSU Auxiliary Services, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, College of Liberal Arts and the Indigenous Scholar Development Center. For more information, call 918444-3042. Press release courtesy of www. nsuok.edu.

Carrie Moore/Contributing Photographer NSU students packed the Jack Dobbins Field House pink on Feb. 13. Pack the House Pink is a fundraiser designed to raise breast cancer awareness.

Renowned trombonist visits NSU

Renowned trombonist Wycliffe Gordon will join NSU for its 46th annual Green Country Jazz Festival March 3-4. The 9th annual Judges Jam is first on the agenda, beginning Sunday, March 3, at 8 p.m. in the Jazz Lab at 315 N. Muskogee Ave. in Tahlequah. Admission is $5. At the Judges Jam, Gordon will perform with an all-star jazz combo featuring Robert Larson of Virginia, James Greeson of Arkansas, Jared Johnson and Mikel Combs, both of Oklahoma, and Dr. Tommy Poole, director of NSU jazz studies. The Green Country Jazz Festival continues with an evening concert Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at the NSU Center for the Performing Arts at 605 N. Grand Ave. in Tahlequah. The NSU Jazz Ensemble will feature Gordon on the trombone. Admission to the concert is $6 for NSU students with ID and $12 for the general public. Gordon tours the world performing hard-swinging, straightahead jazz for audiences ranging from heads of state to elementary school students, said Poole. He was the recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association Award, Trombonist of the Year, for 2011, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002 and 2001. Gordon discovered the trombone at age 12 and developed a passion for jazz at age 13. He has since become a leading composer, performer, writer and instructor. Gordons repertoire includes 15 solo CDs, seven co-leader CDs and multiple TV radio and film , performances. He has been commissioned for several compositions, including I Saw the Light, a tribute to Muhammed Ali, and Beyond the Blackberry Patch, a story about the city of Columbus, Ohio. The Green Country Jazz Series is presented with help from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Council. For more information or reservations, call Poole at 918-4444602 or write to poolet@nsuok. edu. For information about Gordon visit wycliffegordon.com. Press release courtesy of www. nsuok.edu.

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NSU beats Hornets to earn season sweep

RiverHawks beat Bacone
ria State with 13 points off the bench. Paul Bunch recorded 12 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks, and Gavin Brown added 11 points. The Hornets found an early 8-5 advantage, but Northeastern State exploded for a 14-2 run to take a 19-10 lead at the 8:45 mark of the opening half. The run was capped by a three-point basket from senior guard Jon Miller. Emporia State was able to chip away at NSUs nine-point cushion, and a three from Brown with four seconds to play in the opening half gave the home side a narrow 33-32 lead at intermission. There were 12 lead changes and nine ties in the contest, with seven of both coming in the final 20 minutes of action. Bransford tipped in a missed shot with 3:12 to play to tie the game at 58-58, but Wright made a floater in the lane at 2:50 to put ESU ahead by two. DeMasters drained a huge three on NSUs next possession to tip the scale in favor of the visitors, and NSU corralled the rebound following a missed three from Wright on Emporia States next trip down the floor. Northeastern State will now return home for The Farewell to Jack Dobbins Field House. NSU is set to play host to Central Oklahoma at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 in the final regular-season game to be held inside the legendary facility. The Senior Day presentation will be held between the mens and womens games. There will also be a presentation to honor those who have been part of the 58-year history of JDF, and NSUs 2003 NCAA National Championship team will also be celebrating the 10year history of the historic title run. Press release courtesy of goriverhawksgo.com

Jessie Billings/Contributing Photographer Cayce Coleman, Tahlequah senior, pitches a strike in Sundays game against Bacone. The RiverHawks took four wins this weekend against the Bacone Warriors and the William-Jewell Cardinals.

The Northeastern State mens basketball team outlasted Emporia State 67-62 Saturday evening inside William L. White Auditorium. The RiverHawks improved to 18-7 overall and 11-6 in the MIAA, while dropping the Hornets to 12-12 overall and 7-9 in the league. Senior forward Jermaine Bransford exploded for 23 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. He also added five steals and three assists, while shooting 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. The 20-rebound effort was the most by any player in the MIAA this season and was the most for Northeastern State in its NCAA Division II era. Bransford was

two rebounds shy of tying the nations top mark for most rebounds by a player in a single game this year. Junior guard Bryton Hobbs added 14 points and sophomore forward Landon DeMasters poured in 13. NSU outrebounded ESU 3328, while also winning the turnover battle (11-15). The RiverHawks shot 40 percent (21-for-52) from the field, 46 percent (5-for-11) from distance and 91 percent (20-for-22) at the charity stripe. The home side shot 46 percent (24-for-52) from the field, 40 percent (8-for-20) beyond the arc and 60 percent (6-for-10) at the line. Terrence Moore led Empo-

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RiverHawks seek to earn bid in NCAA Golf Championships

ZACH TUCKER
TNE WRITER RiverHawk womens golf kicked off the spring season Feb. 18-19 in San Antonio at the St. Marys Rattler Invitational. The event was played at The Dominion Country Club. The team finished in fifth place in the 15-team field with a two-round team total of 633. Senior Whitney McAteer, Tulsa senior, paced the RiverHawks with rounds of 79-77-156 and finished in a tie for twelfth place individually. It was a decent start for the semester, said McAteer. I am just going to use this as a tournament to improve on the areas of my game and learn from it. Finishing eighteenth individually in the spring debut was sophomore Alex Koch, Tulsa sophomore, with rounds of 79-78-157. Kelsey Kirkpatrick, Golden, Texas senior, was the next lowest individual for the NSU with 76-83-159, finishing in a tie for twenty-fifth. McCandren Lewis, Guthrie freshman, carded rounds of 83-79-162 to finish in a tie for thirty-eighth. Rounding up the RiverHawks was Kayla Schroeder, Bristow freshman, who fired rounds of 87-82-169. The 36-hole total put the freshman in a tie for fifty-seventh in her collegiate debut. Tarleton State won the tournament with a team total of 596 to sweep the field by 17 shots. St. Edwards placed second at 613, while Dallas Baptist was nine shots behind at 622. Oklahoma Christian rounded out the top four at 628. The girls competed hard, but made mistakes that happens

Zach Tucker/TNE Sophomore Alex Koch rips a drive down the middle in the St. Marys Rattler Invitational Feb. 18-19 in San Antonio. The RiverHawks placed fifth with a team score of 633 and next on the schedule is Missouri Westerns event March 24-25.

when you do not compete for over four months, said Brady Wood, womens assistant coach. The teams will travel to Missouri Westerns tournament at St. Joseph Country Club March 2425. The mens team competed at St. Joseph Country Club and played well in early October and the women plan to match their success. That course demands accuracy, and that should benefit our team, said Wood. I expect good

things by the end of the tournament. After a trip to Missouri Western the RiverHawks will head to Phoenix to compete in Grand Valley States tournament. The desert shootout is a test of the regions teams. The squad needs a solid performance in Phoenix to gain wins against the western region teams. The RiverHawks suffered through adversity last fall. The team lost two key players, leaving

the squad with only six available players for the spring. Schroeder was bumped into the starting five. A solid outing this spring could really benefit NSU. The team has really bounced back well from losing a couple key players and we had a couple girls step up and help the team in this first tournament that helped us get big wins over good teams, said McAteer. In early May the top 10 teams

of the MIAA and GAC conferences head to Jefferson City, Miss., to compete in the NCAA South Central Regional Championship. They will look to earn a bid into the NCAA Womens Golf Championships in Hershey, Pa. For our team to succeed this year we need to just play solid, consistent golf and the rest will take care of itself, said Koch. For more information, email tuckerz@nsuok.edu.

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RiverHawks prepare for final game at Jack Dobbins

ZACH TUCKER
TNE WRITER The historic Jack Dobbins Field House will have its last ever NSU basketball game, Feb. 27. The new athletic building and arena will be finished in the fall and the RiverHawks will play their future games in the new facility. For every basketball player currently at NSU, the Jack Dobbins Field House has been home to them for their entire career here. It could be a tough adjustment switching courts, especially after the success each team has had this year. Im going to miss Jack Dobbins Field House, said Bryton Hobbs, junior guard. Hobbs said he loved all his years playing in the gym, and that he would miss playing there. I enjoyed my time there, whether it be practice, games, workouts, or just coming in to work on my own, said Hobbs. Riverhawk in-state rival, UCO, is the opponent for the final showdown in Jack Dobbins. Field House. The RiverHawks beat the Bronchos in Edmond this Jan. and expect UCO to come in shooting hot. The RiverHawks want nothing more than two victories in their last match up in Jack Dobbins Field House. I honestly cannot believe its the last game in Jack Dobbins, said Taylor Lewis, senior guard. So many great athletes have competed in that gym and nothing will compare to the atmosphere in that gym, which is all thanks to our great fans. Lewis and Tosha Tyler, senior guard, are playing their final season as RiverHawks. These seniors both love the loud and rowdy atmosphere that Jack Dobbins Field House has shown them for four seasons. Tyler said she could not think of a better way to end her basketball experience at NSU. Jack Dobbins is not the biggest arena that we have played at, but it is one of the loudest, said Tyler. The fans are so close to the floor and you can just feel their support, and that is why we play so well at home. The new facility will accommodate larger crowds and will be used for more than just basketball. Leaving Jack Dobbins is tough, but the new facility is going to be great. Our team and recruits are excited, said Randy Gipson, head womens coach. Both teams need to close their regular seasons with a boost and the more support Feb. 27 the RiverHawks get, the better. Knowing that is my last ever game to play at Jack Dobbins, I will leave my mark in a memorable game against UCO, said Hobbs. For more information, email tuckerz@nsuok.edu.

Zach Tucker/TNE Senior Guard Taylor Lewis runs through layup drills at practice. RiverHawks basketball teams prepare to complete their final home game at Jack Dobbins Field House.

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