December 2009 • JANUARY 2010
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Gandhi Inspires Students
Going Green
A Blast From Issues Past...
By Matt Nassar, Junior Staff Writer
1989
Arun Gandhi greets the community.
By Dorothy Foster, Junior Staff Writer
1990
1997
1998
Growing up in apartheid South Africa, Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, the famous nonviolent peace activist, was constantly reminded of the color of his skin. As an Indian, “I was too black for the whites and too white for the blacks,” he remembers. The victim of countless taunts and beatings, he visited the gym so he could retaliate with brute force. That’s when his parents sent him to India to live with his grandfather. Dr. Arun Gandhi spoke to a crowd that filled the Humanities Auditorium and spilled over into neighboring classrooms. He was met with thunderous applause when he humbly took the stage and shared “Lessons I Learned From my Grandfather.” “There is one thing about him that we all need to learn from. He had the determination to become a better person – everyday,” Dr. Gandhi says. Gandhi shared several memories of his legendary grandfather, who not only gained India’s independence from British rule, but worked for the
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emancipation of women and the untouchables, the lowest class in India. When Mahatma Gandhi married at the age of 13, he “didn’t know who was going to be the boss.” After reading many books on the subject,”probably written by a male chauvinist,” Arun Gandhi joked, he decided that his wife needed to be confined to the house. She went out every day and visited friends despite his orders. When he confronted her, she replied that she was brought up to obey her elders and she was acting on his parents’ behalf.
“Nonviolence is the only alternative for humanity.”
She kindly told Gandhi to explain to them why she would have to start disobeying them. Arun Gandhi noted
that this was the most profound lesson in nonviolent conflict resolution his grandfather had ever learned. During the speech, Arun Gandhi shared that he was now banned from the Gandhi Institute of Nonviolence that he founded in Rochester, New York due to a blog he had posted on the Washington Post Blog site about Jewish identity. He said, “for sixty years we have been fighting a war in that part of the world, trying to find a solution to the problem of Israel and we haven’t succeeded. Now is it not time after sixty years to stop – and find some alternate ways of resolving this conflict?” According to Gandhi, his views created a lot of controversy and anger and he was forced to leave the organization that he had started. Now Gandhi travels, promoting peace throughout the world. He stressed the importance of transforming our culture of violence into one of non-violence. “Nonviolence is the only alternative for humanity,” he stated. “if we call ourselves civilized then we should be able to find civilized ways of resolving conflicts instead of fighting and killing each other.”
The program coordinator of Scenic Cities Beautiful Commission, Jeanette Eigelsbach, the operations clerk of Coca-Cola Enterprise, Debbie Millard, and Matt Nassar are working together to develop and implement a recycling program at Chattanooga State. The proposed program would ensure that recycling receptacles are placed at every trash bin on the main campus. With the resources being provided by these organizations and the research of an eager student, the program will make a large impact on campus and the surrounding community. This program works to conserve natural resources and to sustain the environment in three ways; it reduces the need for landfilling and incineration, it saves energy, and it prevents pollution caused by the extraction and processing of virgin materials. College campuses are great test beds for environmental change. The initiatives that are emerging are models for the larger society, and the students pushing for them will be taking these lessons with them as they enter the work force. Foremost on the minds of greenleaning students today is the issue of global warming, and many are joining hands to persuade their schools to update policies and streamline operations so that their campuses can become part of the solution. Reaching out to communities with the help of energetic college students is a tremendous boon for the college. It can only enhance young people’s motivation to be a significant contributing factor in the betterment of the communities in which they live and attend school. As an institution of higher learning we have an obligation to preserve and protect our environment and it starts with you. Are you a seasoned recycler and want to learn more? Contact Matt Nassar at mattnassar@yahoo.com
Questions for the King By Ken Low, Assistant Editor
2003
1996
When it comes to music, people tend to recognize, relate to, and love the artist that’s performing the song, but what about the unseen artist? Are we fans of the writer or producer? What about the people that we don’t notice in the background helping to create the music we all love? This author had the pleasure of meeting one such producer, songwriter, and music executive, Craig King. Mr. King’s roots go back to Nashville, TN. His love of music migrated him from the classrooms of Howard University in Washington, DC to Temple University in Philadephia, PA, then to Los Angeles, Detroit and many other famous
music production cities all over the country. He currently resides in what some would call the mecca of rap music, Atlanta, GA. Craig King has produced for Mary J. Blige, Lucadris and Aaliyah, just to name a few, and has worked with greats like Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. He talks about the music industry and the direction young artists should be taking to promote their message. Ken Low: I noticed from your Web site that you wear a lot of hats. I see you are a producer, music executive, songwriter, arranger, music director, and scorer. Which one do you relate to the most? Craig King: Well I could really put some more titles on my web-
site. I like doing them all at different times but production is how I got into everything else. Ken Low: When did things take off in your music career? Craig King: It’s really kind of hard to recall dates. It’s crazy because sometimes I remember my tour dates or the back of album covers. But a lot of my production started in the early ‘90s when I graduated from college. Things just took off from there. Ken Low: You let me listen to your latest production Sexylicious by B Angie B and I’ve got to tell you, it’s my new theme song. Craig King: Hey you can’t listen to this song unless you’re Sexylicious. It is what it is. Ken Low: B Angie B likes
to keep her fan base on the internet and has been lying low on the music circuit. See Questions page 5
Photo courtesy of CraigKing
December 2009 • January 2010 • Page 2
Campus
6Joe
Buzz Booker Boosts Morale
Degrees of
Photo by ChasityMasters/Communicator
Joe Mosier; • Chattanooga State Student ‘97 • Registrar for the Bright School. Dr. Stanislawski picked you as the person I should interview. That’s great. He’s a great guy. I know. He’s very charitable. I can’t believe all the things he does working with kids. Yes. I was amazed. I knew about some of those things but I was unaware he does as much as he does. How did you come to be at ChattState? I was here in, I think it was 1997, and I was taking some classes both here and at UTC working towards dentistry. What happened with the dentistry thing? I figured out that it wasn’t something I was passionate about. My family wanted me to pursue dentistry, and they were a little disappointed that I didn’t go in that direction, but I have a great family and they have been very supportive of my decision. That’s great. Your family
sounds like a good one. Are you happy with your decision? Yes. I feel like I made the best decision for myself. How did you end up doing what you do? I spent some time trying out other things I was interested in. While I was here at Chattanooga State, I did a work study with Dr. Stanislawski. I did an internship at CNN for a summer and I also wrote for the Chattanooga Free Press before they merged with the Chattanooga Times. I also worked for a law office for awhile. You have a B.S. in political science from UTC right? Yes. One thing that I want to say though is that I really enjoyed my time at Chattanooga State. When I first started attending classes here, I couldn’t believe how much smaller the classes were and how the faculty seemed to really care about the students. The professors were there to help you if you needed it. It was really great. Scott Douglas was my English teacher at Baylor and he also taught English here and he is just a really great guy. Chattanooga State is a really good school. Why did you end up picking political science as a major? I had thought about being a lawyer at one point. That’s one reason I ended up working in the law office. What I would really like to do though is go into politics one day. I keep up with what is going on in government and I would like to do some good there someday.
That would be great. We need honest people in office. It sounds like you sort of bumped around trying to figure out what you wanted to do. I was never one of those people who “always knew what I wanted to do” and I think there are advantages and disadvantages to either way. Do you feel that has worked well for you? I do. I feel like I researched the things that I was interested in and probably saved myself from making some bad decisions. I am very pleased with where I have ended up and I am still learning things about myself. I have been working on some computer related things lately at The Bright School and although I don’t think that I’ll ever be a computer tech, I have enjoyed doing and learning about that end of things. That’s great. I always think it’s a good idea to look before you leap, especially when you are investing money and years of your life. Your job sounds interesting. Do you like it? Yes, I do. I am really happy working there. Working with the kids is really fun. Kids are great. You never know what to expect. Who do you have in mind for me to interview? Bea Lyons would be a good one. She worked with the hearing impaired and was a really great lady. There is also Rick Cochrane. He worked with the softball team quite a bit.
By Margie Penn, Senior Staff Writer Justin Booker knows a thing or two about student life and student activities. He says students should question things they have never questioned before and start thinking for themselves and believes that activities outside the classroom are the way to achieve this goal. Booker, the new director of student activities, is a graduate of UCF (University of Central Florida) and attended high school in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lettered in basketball and football. Booker’s goal is to create a thriving student life department at ChattState – one where not everything is about fun and games. He wants to promote a lot of activities that are educational events. He hasn’t had a chance to visit each club individually yet, but would like every group, club or organization on campus to become more involved in our school so that an average student can see every aspect of student life and know what’s going on in the real world. Recently, he went on the Leadership Retreat and was able to meet some club members. Eventually, he would like for a member of each club to attend the retreat. It is a free program offered by Chattanooga state. Spirit Day, he said, “was a big deal.” Spirit Day was held so that
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each club and organization on campus could show the students exactly what they have to offer. A community college campus is very different from four-year campus, where most students actually live. It can present more of a challenge for students to show support. Spirit Day was a huge event, but only half the battle. The other half is actually showing that spirit and ChattState pride at upcoming basketball games, baseball games, and other school activities. Booker currently is planning a tailgate party to inspire students to become more involved. Concession tickets will be given out for the games, which will hopefully help to boost our school’s morale. He also plans to start a pep rally where the members will attend the games, while hyping the team (t-shirts will be provided). Booker is beaming with good ideas, but he makes it very clear that student input is necessary for this to be a success. He has an open door policy for ChattState students and hopes that it will be utilized in the upcoming semester. Visit Justin Booker in S-216.
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December 2009 • January 2010 • Page 3
Student
Life
A Typical Marine: My Stars
Staff Blast From The Past!
A Student Reflects on Life Overseas
By Sgt. Brandon Diaz, Contributing Writer I remember my first tour to Iraq, we did not have much. I always felt alone, as if something was missing. I was young and far from home. I would spend my free time daydreaming about home, friends, partying, even food. We did not have things like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut or Burger King. All I had was the brother that I worked with. Days went by very slowly. Minutes passed like hours, hours like days, and days like weeks. We were on a small F.O.B. (Forward Operating Base) and one thing I did to get away from it all was stare at the sky. It kept my mind off of the day-to-day events of life in Iraq. At night, the view was the most beautiful. Every star that has ever existed could be seen, and there is no light to keep you from seeing every single one. The land was so ugly - with a smell that was disturbing - and there was destruction everywhere; however, the sky was not touched by the land, by war or by any human and it was
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amazing. The sky was as perfect as perfect could get. Every time I had the opportunity, I took time to look at the stars. I was mesmerized. I had never really noticed the stars before. At night, I saw miles of stars. Just below the stars I would see commercial airplanes. My mind would race with questions. Who is on that plane? Where are they going? Do they know that they are flying over Iraq? Do they wonder if anyone is looking at them from down here? It was my escape from the land that imprisoned me. I dreamt of the day that I would be flying overhead and someone would be asking the same questions about me. When my time came, I sat on the plane and thought about the people I was leaving behind. I prayed they would have the chance to leave the same way I did. I thought about them, but was glad my time to go home had arrived. I couldn’t help but smile because my dreams had been fulfilled. Semper Fidelis
1996 Was a Good Year at Chattanooga State
Sandy Kluttz
Consuelo O’Neal
Doug Byrd
LPN Graduating Nursing Class of 2000
LPNs who received caps included, from left, seated: Mia Johnson, Sharron Suttles, Stephanie Whan and Jo Baginski. Middle row: Instructor Grace Medley, Denise Morris, Betty Stacy, Marlene Casteel, Kellye Smithy and Instructor Vicki VonSchaaf. Back row: Susan Harbey, Yolanda Byars, Megan Davis, Alycia Foster, Dee Sales and Kristi Lupo.
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December 2009 • January 2010 • Page 4
Lifestyle looking back to 1989 By Jessie Knowles, Editor-in-Chief
Fashion always seems to come full circle but there are some trends that appear more often than others. 1989 brought us designers like Karl Kani who was the first designer to merge hip-hop culture and fashion. Today many of his inspired fashions can still be seen in the music world and on everday people. Below we see Adidas jumpsuits, which were all the rage in 1989, as well as the giant boom box worn on the shoulder. Perhaps this was the first indication that soon our music would be made portable. Perhaps we won’t take our iPod for granted if we remember what we had to go through to get it! At right, a young man demonstrates the popularity of what would later be dubbed a “Cosby sweater” named for the quintessential doctor that, Cliff Huxtable played by Bill Cosby, who changed the face of the television sitcom family. At far right, two men in London exhibit the emergence of the punk culture which demonstrated yet another way that the youth of the world wanted to break free from the typical conservative mold. Above right, two girls from 2009 relive a style that was very popular in 1989. Hot pink lipstick and big bangle jewelry could be seen on every pop princess at the time. But in 2009, style is what you make it! Look around you and you’ll find that anything goes! Send us your favorite fashion trends and we’ll feature them in February’s issuse of the Communicator! Photo by u2canreed/CCShareAlike
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The Mystery of Massage By Jessie Knowles, Editor In Chief
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
“Massage should be a lifestyle, not a luxury,” says April Sinclair, a licensed massage therapist who lives in Chattanooga. Imagine a world where anyone could feel the benefits of a massage after a stressful day, where anyone could spend an hour in a dimly lit room on a comfortable massage table, listening to soothing music and giving over their tension to a highly trained professional. The students in the Massage Therapy Program at Chattanooga State, studying under the very capable Michael Matthews, hope to make this a reality. By putting in 1290 clock hours of time, far more than any other program in the state says Matthews, these students are working towards licensure in a field that is quickly becoming one of the most important aspects of our society. “Our society says fix it after it’s wrecked instead of maintain it so it doesn’t get unhealthy.” Matthews says. “Every single system in the body can benefit from the effects of massage.” According to Matthews and Sinclair, our healthcare system could benefit greatly by incorporating massage into patients’ care. A full body relaxation Swedish massage, the techniques of which are the focus of the first semester of the Massage Therapy Program, can bring all the functions of the body back to their optimum level. If the average patient could get hour-long massages on a regular basis, it is likely that they would not need as much preventative or emergency care. Therapeutic massage, geriatric massage, pregnancy massage and other medical massage practices are the focus of the second semester of the massage therapy program. It is vital for a licensed therapist to know the
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Edward Roberts “Good Looking Out”
precise techniques when working on patients with specific medical needs. Matthews explains that a professional massage is very different from a “good back rub.” A trained professional knows the physiology and anatomy of the human body, where the muscles connect and which direction to massage. “A good back rub is very sensual. It feels good but it’s not necessarily done with intent nor knowledge of the muscles or the human anatomy. Someone might rub the back and they might do only half the muscle and they might do it not in alignment with the way the muscle is attached in the body,” explains Matthews. There are some companies, like BlueCross BlueShield, an employee relayed to me, that are hiring licensed massage therapists to come and massage employees during the work day. The company hopes to see a boost in productivity and focus in their employees. “Our society has become internalized, we are communicating less. 93 percent of communication is non-verbal and we are losing touch. We are the least ‘touchy’ society on earth. People’s attitudes towards each other change when they do not touch,” explains Matthews. Having spent an hour on the massage table, receiving a very professional and relaxing (and much-needed) massage from ChattState student Nicole Parker, it seems impossible to imagine that our society would not begin to relax and function more smoothly if we incorporated massage into our daily lives. Chattanooga State’s Eastgate facility includes eight private massage rooms, all decorated according to a theme by Matthews himself, each invoking a sense of peace and well-being, and anyone can call and set up an appointment for a massage at 468-4410.
Berlin Wall Falls 1989
A substantial amount of money was found and turned into the Technology Department by Edward Roberts. We’d like to say Edward “no good deed goes unnoticed.”
“‘Tis The Season” The Veteran Affairs Club is also helping this sea-
The holidays are upon us and now is the time to dig in and help others. Chattanoooga State has numerous oppourtunities to give to the disadvantaged. The Singing Tigers need help to support a fellow student who has experienced a fire in the month of November lost everything. See Carlous Drake in the AHEAD Program Omni -Room 21 697-3393. WWW.CHATTANOOGASTATE.EDU
son by sending packages to our men and women fighting in Afganistan. You will see the boxes all over campus with helpful hints of what to give. Let’s do all we can this year, for those who have already given so much.
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December 2009 • January 2010 • Page 5
Entertainment
Questions:
Photo Courtesy of CraigKing
continued from page 1
How did you come to work with her? Craig King: I actually met Angie years ago when I was on tour with Will Smith as music director. We have two mutual friends that introduced us on two different occasions and we discussed doing music again. I got her in my studio and her vocals were great, so we got in the studio with my man, Michael Garvin, great songwriter - who wrote Waiting for Tonight by Jennifer Lopez and has over 20 No.1 songs. We felt this song applied to Angie, single mother of two and sexy -Sexylicious. Ken Low: Did you learn anything from Quincy Jones? Or were you able to teach him anything? Craig King: Let me just say, I don’t
know what I could have possibly taught Quincy Jones. Although he does say that he learns from people he works with as well. I learned so much because when he opens his mouth a plethora of information comes out and you just want to absorb all that knowledge. And it’s like that not with just me but everybody he works with. I was like a little child. Well, I was ‘cause I was like 19 when I first worked with him and Ray Charles. Ken Low: I remember ole school hip-hop like Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. How do you feel about the change in hip-hop? Do you feel that, although we will always love ole school, a migration of hip-hop music has taken place where new artists have incorporated
knowledge of the past and expanded upon that and we need to embrace it? Craig King: You pretty much answered the question. Maybe I should be interviewing you! I’m fortunate to have played in both eras but in all fairness to the game, as much as we try to hold on to what it was, because everything is evolving there is always going to be something new and we have to allow for change. We had a lot of fun during that era but this is a new era with a lot of cats that are doing their thing. Ken Low: What would you say to young artists today striving to get into the music industry? Craig King: I would advise them to learn the business side so they “don’t get raped by Cold Crush” as Jay Z said. If you don’t understand business you will get taken advantage of because that’s just the nature of the beast. I would also advise them to be honest in their lyrics and their music. It is one thing to be popular and another to be successful. There are a lot of people that are popular but broke. I want to say to the artists that are serious about their music and honest in their lyrics, I have an organization called Rep Your Voice and we’re promoting honesty in music. So if anyone is interested in being heard, rep your voice at www.RepYourVoice. com and support the movement.
The Theatre Department and Chattanooga State Repertory Theater presents
The Nutcracker Christmas Carol Book and Lyrics by Rex Knowles Music by Sherry Landrum and Allen Ledford If you want everything for Christmas, then The Nutcracker Christmas Carol is for you! This fun-filled, family-oriented musical comedy, returns to Chattanooga State for one weekend, December 11, 12 and 13. Adapted from a recently-discovered, long-lost, guaranteed-authentic, e-Bay-purchased manuscript written by Charles Dickens, this musical spoof demonstrates for all literary skeptics that Dickens was, in fact, the originator of every song, story, and theme we associate with the holiday season. From Tiny Tim to Little Cindy Lou-Who, from The Twelve Days of Christmas to Frosty the Snowman, The Nutcracker Christmas Carol would bring a smile to even Scrooge himself. …the next Christmas classic. (chattanoogan.com) …a hoot! Beautiful set and costumes, and hilarious script. We thoroughly enjoyed it! (bookworm@mindsay.net) …make it a part of your holiday tradition. Just go see it. You’ll be glad you did. (Ed, Jane, Richard, and John Nichols) Pearls
of wisdom from margie marge
sometimes you must mentally walk in the past... to physically move toward your future...so remember.
Blast From the Past!
Reviews 9 0 ‘ t s e f r e b OKtcoostumes Photo by ChasityMasters/Communicator
Robin, Robin Hood and Freddy Krueger
Music Students Make Magic
Photo by JessieKnowles/Communicator
By Ashton Taylor, Junior Staff Writer On Friday, November 13, the Chattanooga State music students showcased their talents. Dressed for success, they composed themselves impressively under the spotlight. Hands danced over the piano, hearts sung out with glee, and strings were plucked by trained fingers. Musical passion was delivered on stage for an audience to watch and admire. The passionate performances ranged from Broadway-style singing to acoustic guitar and electric bass presentations. Andy Still kicked off the evening with a rendition of Ol’ Man River, accompanied by pianist Janelle McDonald, who performed on several occasions throughout the night. Still displayed his lower vocal register and projected loudly, filling the auditorium with rich sound. Nothing is Too Wonderful to be True was a sweet and hopeful melody sung by a charming young lady, Jennelle Gilreath. Her inspirational and optimistic performance convinced the audience that any dream is, in fact, possible.
An animated Michelle Waller interpreted a profession of love with energy and life. Although it was sung in another language, her acting translated the meaning of the words. Ashleigh Chatham gracefully performed Sonata in G-major k.283 by Mozart on the piano, and later sang a tender song called American Lullaby. Justin Everett performed a smooth and soothing piece on the electric bass. David Fogle played two Venezuelan waltzes by Antonio Lauro and was later joined on stage by three other guitarists as they performed two baroque danses, Entrée and Adante, by Johan Helmich Roman. The other guitarists were Nicholas Smith, who also played Danza, Adam Hale, and Sydne Rankins, who also performed a piece by Fernando Sor. Mezzo-soprano Sarah Chastain performed a heart-felt song called Sea Shell by Carl Engel. Lady in red, Stephanie Roberts, sang a loved classic, Something Good from The Sound of Music. Katie Betts, performed Sonata in A-Major, K.331 by Mozart with incredible skill, and Jared Madewell sang a moving rendition of Were You There?. Overall, the variety of talent and potential we have at Chattanooga State was very impressive. I expect to see those same faces one day on a much larger stage, entertaining huge live audiences. The future is bright for these gifted musicians and performers. Filmed by the media club, the concert will soon be playing on Channel 3 as well as on www.communicatoronline.net
TipToe Through The Presents By Dorothy Foster (inspired by Tiny Tim) Tiptoe through the window By the chimney, that’s where I’ll be. Come tiptoe through the presents with me. Oh, tiptoe round the playroom Past the lovely lighted Christmas tree. And tiptoe through the presents with me. Knee deep in presents we’ll stay. We’ll keep unhappiness away. And if Rudolph’s in the garden Eating the grass Will you pardon him? And tiptoe through the presents with me.
At right, MTV visted the Chattanooga State Campus for Rock the Vote in 1994. Below, Judith Light and Fred Savage were the stars at the 1989 Emmy Awards.
Judith Light WWW.CHATTANOOGASTATE.EDU
Fred Savage WWW.COMMUNICATORONLINE.NET
December 2009 • January 2010•Page 6
Editorials What’s Going on in Government Looking Back 20 Years By Ken Low, Assistant Editor In celebration of the Communicator’s 20th anniversary, “What’s Going on in Government” reflects on a few social and governmental issues that were relevant 20 years ago. When the 1980s arrived, it became apparent that the structure of government, politics and the most important jobs and skills had undergone major changes. According to www.workmall.com, by the mid to late 1980s, more than three-fourths of all employees worked in the service sector as retail clerks, office workers, teachers, physicians and other health care professionals, government employees, lawyers, and legal and financial specialists. Meanwhile, smokestack industries such as steel and textiles were declining in the U.S. At the same time, work force skill jobs were evolving. Computers, originally designed for military use, were quickly becoming one of the most important pieces of electrical equipment our society would ever use. Today, service sector jobs are still on the rise as Americans go back to school to be educated in technology, service, and entrepreneurship opportunities As noted at www.workmall.com, “in the early 1990s the U.S. competitively started to win back the automobile industry from Japan but it came at a struggle to cut costs which included the loss of jobs to thousands.” The automotive industry today fights to revive itself from a recession economy. We have made progress in terms of our competitiveness with other countries in technology and military. It is time to look at our domestic policy and work to resolve some of the issues still plaguing our democracy in 2009. Reflecting on where we were in our country’s history 20 years ago, it seems some issues of yesterday are current in our society and topics for debate today. We still have issues with abortion, gay rights, and war with Afghanistan.
The Cloud on Campus By Lee Lunsford, Senior Staff Writer Everybody knows that smoking is bad for you. It is not as wildly publicized as it was before. In the past, there were Joe Camel commercials, and there were characters smoking in most movies. I remember Dan Ackroyd’s character smoked in Ghostbusters 1 & 2. Even Cruella Deville smoked in One Hundred and One Dalmatians, which is a children’s movie! Today, smoking is looked down upon. There are the “truth” commercials reminding all of us that smoking is bad. Smoking causes lung problems and even cancer. Yet people continue to do it. Some teens smoke to fit in or because they believe it is the cool thing to do. I even smoked as a teen sometimes with friends but haven’t smoked a cigarette since I turned eighteen. It wasn’t fun anymore. There is nothing worse than trying to walk through a door at a mall when there are a bunch of people huddled up in front of the door smoking. That same scenario happens here on campus trying to walk into any of the buildings. The question is, should smoking be allowed
• In July 1989, in the Iran-Contra Affair, Oliver North was sentenced by the U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell. www.spiritus-temporis.com • On November 15, 1989, Massachusetts Governor Dukakis signed the Gay Rights Bill into law. Massachusetts became the second state after Wisconsin, to pass such a bill. en.wikipedia.org • In December 1989, under the Presidency of George H.W. Bush (elected in Nov. 1988), the U.S. invaded Panama and code named the invasion: Operation Just Cause. andromeda.rutgers.edu
on campus? Or should smoking be allowed only in certain designated areas? Or should Chattanooga State not change a thing about their smoking policy…? It is a no-win situation. If Chattanooga State just came out and mandated that there will be no more smoking on campus, people would continue to smoke. It happened at my former job all the time. You would be terminated if you were caught smoking at Carmike Cinemas 12 in Dalton, GA but that didn’t matter to the nicotine addicted smokers. Would things work better if there were designated spots to smoke in? It would if everybody would abide by it - but there is no chance that would happen. Inevitably, somebody would smoke while walking to class or standing out on campus somewhere. I feel we have no choice but to deal with smoking on campus because no matter what the rules are, it will continue to go on. Unless we go back to the day when you got in trouble, like you had to go sit in detention after school or you got suspended, I don’t see things changing. I honestly don’t think disciplinary action would work either, unless the smokers start getting fined. Make ‘em pay!
Campus Crusaders for Christ By Dorothy Foster, Junior Staff Writer There’s a new Bible study group at Chattanooga State. The impetus for the group came from student leaders at UTC and Chattanooga State, particularly Lauren Womack, Sierra Bean and Elise Torner, who have partnered together to conduct the Bible studies. Called Cru, an abbreviation for Campus Crusade for Christ, they meet on Mondays from either 10 a.m. -11 a.m. or 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.; or Thursdays, from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Their vision involves bringing college students together through fellowship and sharing Christ, with the hope of starting a spiritual awakening. In these postmodern times, Christianity has bypassed many people. Elise spoke of a mission trip to England where she was sitting on a bench talking to a woman who had never even heard the name Jesus. Cru hopes to become an officially recognized Christian group on campus. Currently FCA is the only group
• Twenty years ago, after a nine year conflict with Islamist Mujahideen Resistance, the Soviet Union withdrew allied troops from Afghanistan in February 1989. • According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there were an estimated 1,396,658 legal abortions performed in 1989.
Opinions
with that distinction. Cru is having their mid-South conference called Encounter from December 28 to January 1 in Greensboro, NC. So many Chattanooga students attend the conference that they fill an entire hotel floor. The leaders say the experience is life changing. If you would like more information about the group or the trip, visit Omni, room 137 at the aforementioned times. But is it legal to hold Bible studies at a publicly funded college? There is much confusion surrounding this topic. In an informally conducted survey of several dozen students on this campus, the majority felt that the Bible studies held here were legal. And in fact, they are. The Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” However, the predominance of political correctness, with its emphasis on “diversity,” propagates myths and misinformation. At Montclair State in New Jersey,
Why has no one challenged the aggression of Atheists? This question has been forming in my mind for a few years now, and I do not understand why it has not been addressed. It does not seem to have occurred in the minds of the public or the media. I have looked at the platform of an atheist. On the Web site www.atheists.org, atheism is defined as, “A belief that there are no gods.” I have no problem with atheists having this belief. However, I would like to know why some seem to have an issue with being reminded of the very existence of religion in a country where freedom of religion, press, and expression is supposedly allowed. There is a particular tension between Christians and Atheists. I do not understand the reason for this tension. Atheists are allowed to have
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their own set of beliefs, just as any other group in America. This is a privilege given to us by the Constitution through the first amendment: Freedom of Religion, Press, and Expression. Some Atheists may feel as though the belief in God or gods is being perpetually forced upon them in our modern society, and feel as though they should remove such influences. This is not possible. America is called the Melting Pot. It is known globally for being a country of mixed influences from around the world, and that includes those of religion. It is not possible to ever eliminate an influence. The fact that Atheists are always fighting for rights to remove some expression of Christian religion seems strange to me, as though they do not want to be aware that Christianity even exists. Living in America means that you agree to take the good with the bad. The same freedoms you
Editor-in-Chief Jessie Knowles Assistant Editor Ken Low Art Director Jaye Harris Assist. Art Director Margie Penn Sports Editor Abel Isidro Photo Coordinator Isaac Craft Web Editor Charles Fannin Business/Ad Manager & Distribution Chasity Masters Staff Writers Colleen Casey Dorothy Foster Amber Lewis Lee Lunsford Ashton Taylor Contributors Sgt. Brandon Diaz Adviser Betty A. Proctor
Cru was denied status as a student group. The reason given was that the student government association had concerns regarding Cru’s leadership style, their views on homosexuality, and the negative connotation of the word “Crusade.” Intervarsity Christian Fellowship was also denied status at Rutgers because they wouldn’t open up their leadership to non-Christians. Only when the group threatened to sue, were they reinstated. Ironically, other clubs are not scrutinized by the same criteria. Groups such as vegetarians can discriminate, choosing to eliminate members who eat meat. The general counsel for Campus Crusade for Christ, Dennis Kasper, says, “By quieting Christians simply because of their beliefs, every person’s freedom of speech is threatened. Its public schools are subject to all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Christians need to know the law, to understand their rights and to act if a dispute goes too far.”
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Atheism vs. Christianty: Who’s Showing Aggression? By Amber Lewis, Senior Staff Writer
Published by the students of Chattanooga State
have are available to everyone else. There is no picking and choosing, only compromise. If you agree to live in a country with freedom of religion, press, and expression, you are agreeing to live with the constant presence of many cultural and religious influences. I have heard many cases where Atheists have had a problem with something in the schools that shows Christian views. Some are not allowing bibles, scriptures, or even the mention of God to be in the National Pledge. This seems to me as though Atheists are now forcing themselves upon Christians. A part of the First Amendment often overlooked seems to be that of Expression. Religions should be allowed to express their beliefs in any way as long as in the process they do not force them upon a group with differing beliefs or disobey some other law of society. Bibles should be allowed in schools. Scriptures should be able to be put
up without fear of retaliation. Children should be given the choice of whether or not they want to say “One Nation Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. If their families have different beliefs, they should not be forced to say something that goes against that. Yet, if their beliefs are in accordance with it, then they should be allowed to say so. I do not like to see aggression from any religion or belief, Christian, Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, etc. No one should be forced to remove a bible scripture from the public eye when the only infringement of rights is those of other beliefs having to look upon it. Others should not get angry or excited when people disagree with what they believe in. I would like to see an understanding that people can develop a true tolerance of each other’s ideals while continuing to adhere to their own.
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December 2009 • January 2010 • Page 7
Sports Three Cheers for the Chattanooga State Cheerleaders!!
Photo by JessieKnowles/Communicator
By Abel Isidro Jr., Sports Editor Drum roll, please! Your 2009-2010 cheerleaders are Shauntae Lloyd, Diamond Ringer, Christopher Warren, Shatoya Young, Cassandra Person, Melissa Akridge, and Dominique Blackwell. You will be able to find them at sporting events getting the crowd excited about our sports teams. The cheerleading squad made their presence known at Spirit Day on November 4. They were also present for ChattState’s Oktoberfest, serving hot wings and chips at their booth. The cheerleaders are looking to raise funds for new uniforms, pom-poms, and general funding in order to travel. At tryouts in late October, they were nervous about it but nonetheless are now an important part of the cheering squad. They look to innovation as some of the members are choreographing their cheers, and with this, looking to spark the crowds more during our basketball season.
Intramurals Invite Friendly Competition By Margie Penn, Junior Staff Writer Intramurals are a way for the average Joe student to become involved in sports. But Dedric Maffett, one of the two new Intramurals P/T directors, along with Thomas Burge, also hopes that the intramurals facility will be a place where students can come in and relax. This program is intended to be a stress reliever for students, providing them with a way to get exercise and at the same time promote better health and student involvement in campus life. You may have seen Maffett on campus and thought you recognized him. He played arena football for five years until a knee injury forced him to retire. Maffett graduated from Howard High School in 1995, and then attended Austin Peay, where he received a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance. He coached football and taught science at David Brainerd Christian School. He currently is a personal trainer at the Rush Gym. Burge has worked at the YMCA in Ashville, NC, organized adult and youth leagues and summer camps. He graduated from Robert B. Glenn High School in North Carolina and attended UNC in Greensboro and
Gilbert College. Burge has a bachelor’s of health and science and a master’s degree in injury prevention and human preparedness. Burge expressed that he has always had an interest in working at Chattanooga State. “Chatt State held for me the kind of position I wanted and
Photo by AbelIsidro/Communicator
Dedric Maffett and Thomas Burge
it was where I initially wanted to be.” He wants ChattState students to get involved in student activities and spend more time on campus - doing whatever the intramurals can throw at them - from basketballs to frisbees. From hiking to camping, Burge wants to encompass everything and he has noticed that ping-pong is very popular already. Right now, a racquetball ladder has
been set up and student participation is very high. Burge says that they will not teach racquet ball per se, but are willing to give pointers to anyone wanting to come and participate. Maffett and Burge will play alongside the students in order to mix-it-up as much as possible. As far as athletics, Maffett and Burge are willing to try all things. The only problem they foresee is that they don’t fully know yet what the students want. Their challenge is to find activities that will keep students on campus. They have been making things more personal and trying to find out what the students really want out of the intramurals program by hanging in areas students frequent and getting to know them as individuals. There has been talk of a 30-minute exercise program headed by these two gentlemen. Who doesn’t have 30 minutes to devote to training, when you are in such good hands? Maffett and Burge are willing to go the extra mile for students. They are very excited about being here at Chattanooga State and hope that excitement will rub off on students. All we have to do is be willing to jump in and participate.
Tiger Cheerleaders December 1999 Top row, left to right: Shannon Matherly, Carly McMellan, Niki Nix Jillian Bull, Heike Love, Rebecca Gott, Melissa Jinnette, Angie Kohls, Laura Lance, Nickie Blevins and Kim Parks.
So You Think You Can be an Athlete By Abel Isidro Jr., Sports Editor So you think you can be an athlete? Well, strap in and buckle up because this isn’t for the arm chair quarterbacks. This isn’t for the Monday morning-sit around-the-office and say, “I could have done that play better!” crowd. It is discussed countless times around the water cooler, in a gazillion blogs around the world. People second guessing what could have been or should have been. Those with small accolades from yesteryear touting their high school wins or that near-miss at a championship. What makes most people think that they deserve the glory? It’s time to prove you are what you think you are. And start proving to everyone else that you are a stellar athlete, but more importantly its time you prove it to yourself. Are you ready? Let’s start! Your day begins at six in the morning; you have to be in study hall. You have a 10 page research paper due tomorrow. You then meet with the coaches, in order to look at a film of your game performance and analyze your mistakes. About that time you head to class where you spend the better part of the day. The late afternoon comes and it’s time to head to the weight room. You have been given strict instructions to increase your muscle mass to improve response time. You’ll need to reach at least 225 pounds in bench pressing WWW.CHATTANOOGASTATE.EDU
for this to happen and you’re an athlete that weighs only 185 pounds. You do the math! Now it’s time to get off the sidelines and get into the practice, not the excitement of a game but simply a dimly lit, termite-eaten gym, with no cameras, no crowds, and no air conditioning. Are you ready to run and keep running? It’s close to midnight when you’re body wants to shut down and everyone else has already turned over twice in their beds. But you run until you are off in the corner of the gym regurgitating your dinner from six hours prior. Do you think your teammates will have sympathy? No! What about the coach? Even less! Once you finish in the corner, you’re lucky if you get a chance to drink a small amount of water, then it’s to the back of the line since you’ve missed a lap. And you better not slack off. The responsibility at the back of the line is more than at the front. You’d better hustle since everyone will be watching and you can’t be the cause for everyone to have to run again. You don’t want to be seen as an outcast by your teammates. There is good news, however, if you can survive this - and only a few can. You will be given a chance to showcase what you’ve got. Hard work, strong work ethic, dedication and courage are what you need to be an athlete. The reward for being driven will make you want to better yourself not only as an athlete but as a person.
Lady Tiger Softball Team Finished 4th in Nationals 2001 WWW.COMMUNICATORONLINE.NET
December 2009 • January 2010 • Page 8
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