March 2010
What’s Inside...
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Stick It in Your Pipe But Don’t Smoke It
The Story of a Saint
CreativeCommons
By Kimberly Carlton, Contributing Writer
Preschool..pg. 4
Smokers may soon find themselves out of work.
provides a “healthy and safe environment for all associates, volunteers, patients and Turmoil has rocked the typvisitors.” While this point ically calm seas of Chattanoomay be valid, what about ga, the biggest little city this those who do not smoke side of the Mason-Dixon line, while on the premises? and it is threatening to take Chastity Masters, a student away what was once a source in ChattState’s nursing proof success for the South. gram, argues this perspecTobacco, once a highly valtive. “I don’t even think to ued crop, is now at the epismoke at work. I have a few center of conflict, once again. cigarettes at home or with In the past 15 years, there friends but that’s it.” Masters has been debate over where finds disparity in the new nicotine users are welcome. rule. “If they are going to take There was even a campaign away our right, why don’t to make Chattanooga State they talk about drinking or a smoke-free campus. Now, weight issues? They shouldn’t there is a new move to further have the right to decide what the plight of the smoker: emyou do in your personal life.” ployers are hiring based on a One can only wonder “To some extent whether person’s tendency to light up. or not the action It is a new rule that has some will gain velocity and spread it does violate asking if it is an infringeto other hospitals or beyond rights.” ment on the people’s rights. the healthcare field entireFebruary 2010 began with ly, or if it will simmer and the regulation by Memodie in city of Chattanooga. rial Health Care System of The populace can be sure those who use tobacco or Ted Nelson, a current stu- that this debate is not over. nicotine products. The hos- dent in the nursing program, As a matter of fact, it has only pital will no longer consider says that the decision is “a begun. This industrious little such people for employment. bit extreme. It includes those city may even be the spur in They will be testing for nico- who use nicotine patches. the horse’s side, an initial cattine and other substances This can be discouraging alyst in a campaign to answer found in cigarettes as part for those trying to quit. To one question: do businesses of their application process. some extent it does violate have the right to choose emBrian Lazenby, a spokes- rights. People should be able ployees based on what they man of Memorial Health to smoke on their own time.” do in their personal life? Care, told how the idea came The Memorial Web site Stick that in your pipe, but be about. “Several years ago, we says that this new practice careful where you smoke it. By Amber Lewis, Assistant Editor
Poetry....pg. 5
Pills....pg. 2
Artwork by Jaye Harris/Communicator
initiated a program called ‘Helping Memorial’ to make employees healthier and more health conscious.” The rule does not take effect on current employees, though tools are provided to help them quit. Lazenby is aware of criticism of the rule but remains positive. “While some disagree, most community feedback is positive,” he says. Ryan Cooke, a Chattanooga State student preparing to go into the nursing program, shared his opinion. “I think it is good for the hospital. It is healthier and lowers insurance rates as well.”
Whether of Irish descent or not, many of us claim the lineage every March 17. Most quasi-Celtics associate Saint Patrick’s Day with green beer and beads, chubby leprechauns and excusable revelry. While Saint Patrick’s Day in the States has become more of a celebration of what Americans presume is all things Irish, historically in Ireland, it is a holy day of reverence, honoring the most beloved of the six patron saints of Erin. As the Irish culture has become more marketable to a world in love with Irish stepdancing and Gaelic singing, it has become more difficult for even good Catholics to avoid the secularization and profit of Saint Patrick’s Day. While one could wonder how he did not become the patron saint of pub crawl drunks (that, in fact, is Saint Martin of Tours), this man was more than just a dashboard saint for clanking beer mug lifters. Although good Irish storytelling has built quite a legend around the man, in reality St. Patrick could truly have been named the patron saint of survival and unbelievable forgiveness. Surprisingly, the fifth-century patron saint of the Emerald Isle was not born in Ireland nor did he willingly go there the first time. His name was not even Patrick. Because he documented his genealogy in writing and through Catholic Church records, it is believed that Patrick’s real name was Maewyn Succat. The Catholic Church required that Maewyn adopt a Christian name at baptism so that See SAINT page 3
Politics....pg. 6
Can We
some day arrive at a universal understanding of the actual truth, or at least come to live In nearly every culture in peace while surrounded by there exists a belief in a high- our supposed religious rivals. er power or universal creThe Phi Theta Kappa ator, a presence that, through Honor Society hosted an inknowledge of it, can lead to terfaith seminar at Chattasalvation or eternal joy. How- nooga State on February 18. ever, as each culture gains Called Coexist, its purpose more and more knowledge, was to explore the relationeach ideology seems to sepa- ship between Christianity rate itself from all the others. and Hinduism and help proWith each of these divergent mote discussions on religion philosophies, or religions, it and pluralism in an effort appears unlikely that we may to increase awareness of the By Dorothy Foster, Senior Staff Writer
Performances.pg. 5
differences and similarities found in “rival religions.” ChattState student Matt Nassar was the moderator for the event. The speakers were Dr. Michael Krogman, a religion and philosophy professor and an expert in Christian apologetics at Chattanooga State, and Dr. Sarla Murgai, an expert in the Hindu religion and a professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. According to Dr. Murgai, Hinduism is believed to be the
?
oldest religious tradition in the world. Having no founder and no written doctrine like the Bible or the Q’uran, the meaning of Hinduism derives from the words Sanathana, meaning ancient, and Dharma, meaning right conduct. Hinduism believes in the transmigration of souls and an afterlife. To get to that afterlife, however, one must go through a series of reincarnations, repeating life over and over until the soul is perfected and becomes one See COEXIST page 3
March 2010 • Page 2
Campus Emergency Pill Drill tional Stockpile Coordinator. He says a main facet of this emergency precaution is to facilitate the compounding of pediatric medicine in the correct and necessary dosages in the event that they would have to be distributed to children. “There are other Tennessee schools we are partnering with, like Belmont, Lipscomb, and some other schools in Nashville. We are at the beginning of the process, but Chattanooga State has been very involved,” says Peterson. The partnership was Photo by Isaac Craft/Communicator struck between Dr. Nancy Pharmacy students and faculty train to dispense medication to the masses in Watts, the pharmacy technicase of an emergency. cian director at Chattanooga By Amber Lewis, cow disease, swine flu and State, and the local ChattaAssistant Editor others, we as a nation must nooga Health Department. Charlotte Lowe, the dibe prepared to face such a diImagine illness and pes- saster. Luckily, Chattanooga rector of pharmacy at Chattilence striking the state of State is training to be prepared tanooga Hamilton County Tennessee - or worse, the if the worst were to occur. Health Department, attendentire country. Panicked On January 29, the phar- ed the emergency drill to citizens scramble in search macy technician program observe and get an estimate of medicine and treatment. hosted a mock emergency of whether or not it was a Frenzied medical companies drill in the Health Science “smooth and timely process.” attempt to meet the grow- Center. The drill was held so Among the other attending needs of a sick and dying that in the case of a pandemic ees were Maurice Cobb, the public. Children do not re- or other public health emer- district manager of Bi-Lo ceive enough medicine to be gency, the Tennessee Depart- Pharmacies, and Dr. Michael cured or overdose due to the ment of Health would know Leazer, a ChattState alumni, fact that few medical compa- the amount of time needed to class of 1998. Leazer, now a nies provide pediatric dos- compound, repackage, and/ fully-licensed pharmacist, ages in times of emergency. or export medicine to clinics says that it was good to reWhile this may seem dras- for dispensation to the public. turn to the roots of his edutic, the nation could face a Paul Petersen is a phar- cation. “You learn a lot more similar situation if a plague macist with the Tennessee hands-on skills here [at Chatwere to occur. With recent Department of Health, serv- tanooga State] that they don’t scares such as E. Coli, mad ing as their Strategic Na- teach in pharmacy college.
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Some [students] graduate and they’re clueless about everything that the job entails.” Leazer says that these emergency precautions are essential to the community. “If a widespread outbreak were to happen, it would be to everyone’s benefit if we all chipped in and worked together. Doctors will be volunteering their time. This
is how I volunteer mine.” The community most assuredly thanks these noble volunteers and willing students for their dedicated devotion. It is people such as Nancy Watts, Paul Petersen, Michael Leazer, and other such helpful individuals that play instrumental roles in helping society.
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March 2010 • Page 3
Student
Life
:
continued from page 1
Photo Courtesy of electrode/Creative Commons
The Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster still affects the population of the surrounding region almost 25 years later.
Radiologists Research Chernobyl By Ryan Tyler, Junior Staff Writer
April, 1986. The city of Pripyat, Ukraine, a town of 50,000 built specifically for its power plant’s employees and families, is fast asleep and dreaming away the early morning hours. It is a slumber from which some will never wake…from which some will wish they never had. Unwitting design flaws in the Cernobyl Nuclear Power Plant would turn a routine safety test into the worst and most breathtaking radioactive cataclysm mankind has seen before or since. The reactor’s coolant would vaporize in a blink, decimating the reinforced concrete roof, and vomiting the fumes of the core into an unsuspecting sky. The number four reactor would burn for ten days straight, fueled only by the nuclear material at its heart. Winds carried much of the nuclear plume over the border into Belarus, the rest spread itself across a large part of Europe with contaminated rains falling as far away as Ireland. Nuclear disaster finally had a face. More than 330,000 faces, actually, that needed immediate rescue from the sweeping sickle of death. Pursuit of nuclear power would slow to a crawl, and the quality of life in Eastern Europe would never be the same. Students of radiology at Chattanooga State study the effects of X-ray technology on the human body by comparing high to low dosages. Researching Chernobyl — the only Level 7 Nuclear Event ever experienced on Earth, resulting in over 400
times the fallout released during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima— technicians in training are taught to appraise and respect the overwhelming power of nuclear medicine, which is still a young and burgeoning field. Stacie McPherson, assistant professor of radiologic technology at Chattanooga State, aims to expose her students to the real-world tragedies they may soon face. She also hopes to address the skepticism of the practice of radiology, saying the benefits of Xray technology far outweigh the negative connotations. Nearly 25 years after the disaster, the true horror of Chernobyl is only beginning to reveal itself. National Geographic paints a grim picture of the after-effects of the disater in the article The Long Shadow of Chernobyl. Due to the exposure of their parents’ reproductive organs decades prior, the most unlikely victims still have yet to be born. Birth defects, both physical and mental (cleft palates, debilitating scoliosis, Down Syndrome, stillbirths, etc.), are at all-time highs. The appearance of thyroid cancer has increased some 3,000 percent in affected areas, amassing a vast and quiet army of gauze-collared patients that grows by the day. Referring to the inhabitants as “victims” rather than “survivors” has taken a grave toll on their psychological states, as well. Fred Mettler, doctor of nuclear medicine at the University of New Mexico, makes regular visits and studies of that region, and has said, “A number of adolescents and young adults who have
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been exposed to modest or small amounts of radiation feel that they are somehow fatally flawed and there is no downside to using illicit drugs.” Some, believing they are doomed, have even embraced an abysmal new vice: the intentional consumption of mushrooms and berries grown from contaminated soil. “It’s tragic,” says Megan Sheffield, a student of radiology on campus, “…just seeing what they go through every day.” Today, as the slow-motion holocaust continues to unfold, a flourishing albeit mutated treescape overtakes the pastoral city walls of Pripyat. And those who survived the initial explosion cannot escape the lit fuse of cancer they still hold. Worse still is the fact that only an estimated three percent of the core was released that day, leaving the other 97 percent hungry for freedom. Its prison: 5,000 tons of lead, sand, clay, and miscellany dropped by helicopters in desperate attempts to douse the fire. And as the stone and steel sarcophagus that entombs the still smoldering ashes threatens to crumble, the next Chernobyl-sized catastrophe portends to be Chernobyl itself. Various organizations have mobilized in response to videos like the one McPherson shows in her classroom (search YouTube for the four-part series, Chernobyl Heart). For further information, please contact Chernobyl Children’s Project International or Chernobyl Children’s Project USA.
with God. It is an evolutionary journey toward bliss. In each life, we are attempting to live more rightly. The actions of a past life affect this life and the actions of this life affect future incarnations. The Hindu dogma accepts all religions and paths and embraces thousands of gods, because, as Dr. Murgai noted, “All paths can lead to God. Every human can be like God or even be God.” Dr. Krogman says that the beliefs of Christianity are radically different. Although Christians also believe in God, He is seen as the Supreme Creator, separate from His creation. Man is good, but in a sinful state, fallen because of Adam’s fall. Krogman went on to say that according to Christianity, humans cannot reach God through their own efforts. There must be a mediator whose sacrifice would erase the sins of man. According to Christian doctrine, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ redeems those who believe and makes them acceptable to God. While Hindus believe that all paths lead to God, Christianity states that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. The seminar was thought provoking and many students
asked questions of the two presenters. Many found their own beliefs to be challenged, not necessarily changed - just called into further examination. Chattanooga State student Ashley Hart remarked that she found what Murgai had to say about the core beliefs of Hinduism to be very akin to her own Christian beliefs. “They are similar in that we all seek to be closer to God and we all have a choice to live righteously,” said Hart. Chattanooga State student Jessie Knowles also commented on the days events. “I believe that the goal of a seminar like this is to bring people together, to bring people to an understanding that even though we disagree about details, the ‘good news’ that Jesus Christ had to share was about love, not just tolerance. I think every religion can agree that love is at the core of God, whatever we understand Him to be.” Whether or not you agree with Hart and Knowles, gaining knowledge of that which is different from you is the first step towards coexisting peacefully in our society, and Phi Theta Kappa’s Interfaith Seminar brought to the campus another piece of the puzzle that makes up humanity.
Saint:
continued from page 1 any ties to the pagan or secular world would be erased. The name Patrick derived from “Patricius” meaning “a patrician” or nobleman. The only evidence of a biography that scholars believe to be accurate comes from two letters he himself wrote. In one titled Confessio, he declared he was born in what was then Roman inhabited Britain, and was the son of a well-to-do deacon and grandson of a priest. Their Christian examples would later influence young Maewyn and Ireland’s history. When Maewyn was a teenager he was kidnapped from his home, taken as a slave and removed to Ireland to serve a master as a herdsman. It took him six long years to escape captivity and Ireland; embarking on a land and sea journey to return home to Britain. Although Ireland was then a pagan land, filled with rivaling tribes, his own Christian faith and principles became stronger there. 15 years after his escape, Patrick willingly returned to Ireland as a different type of servant- a missionary. Quite remarkably, Patrick had experienced for-
giveness for the people who deprived him of his freedom - even when he was aware that most of them despised him and would rather see him dead. Supposedly, he even repaid his master for the monetary loss of a slave he incurred when Patrick escaped. Further evidence of his commitment to the Irish is seen in his Letter To Coroticus. In this ancient document Patrick addresses the Welsh king who was invading the Northern coast of Ireland. Patrick was angered and even heartbroken by the enslavement and slaughter of the Irish that had once stolen him from his family. 16 centuries later, in a world still at war over religious differences, filled with intolerance, differing political views and unjust loss of rights and freedoms world-wide, perhaps Saint Patrick’s Day should be less about wearing green shamrock boxers and more about sharing his example of character outshining circumstances and change occurring when we have the courage to forgive and show compassion for all people.
E-mail all contributions or concerns to communicator.editor@gmail.com WWW.COMMUNICATORONLINE.COM
March 2010 • Page 4
Lifestyle
Dressed For Success
A Ray of Sunshine
Costuming the Community
costumer who can conceive the costumes, build, fit and perfect them in half that time, There is a well-kept se- for not just one but all of the cret perched above the Hu- characters in the show, and manities Auditorium stage, a sometimes building multiple space jam packed with valu- costumes for each person. able works of art. Called the Anyone who has watched costume shop, this hidden the popular show Project treasure supplies carefully Runway knows that cosdesigned and artfully crafted tume design means nothing wardrobe pieces to not only without the practical skill Chattanooga State’s theater of actually building and fitdepartment but also to vari- ting what you’ve designed. ous people and organizations Plenty of creative designthroughout Chattanooga. ers have failed because they Expertly managed by lack the practical skills. Brenda Schwab, a profesSchwab’s costuming expersional actress and brilliant tise was needed last year durcostume designer for more than 25 years, the costume shop is always buzzing with activity. “Where’s this? Do you have this? I need this for my scene…,” Schwab hears daily from the students of the Professional Actor Training Program. In their first year of study, they take a production class, learning what it takes to have a job behind the scenes of the theater business, including the ins and outs of costuming. Schwab also runs a mentoring program out of the costume shop. A student from the Monday night acting class who is interested in fashion design studies with Schwab two days a week, learning the basics of sewing and costume construction. “It is always helpful to know how to put things together,” says Schwab. “You have to have those skills to do it in that amount of time.” Schwab is talking about the crunch time - what she calls “dinner theater time.” A show that is up and running in two weeks time needs a By Jessie Knowles, Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Jessie Knowles/Communicator
Lexi and Preston play under the expert supervision of the staff at Sunshine Learning Center.
is lovingly called “Nini” by the students. The day is structured with lessons taiFor a single parent and full- lor-made for the students. time student, good childcare Lexi, who will turn two in can be very hard to find. Chatt- April, talks constantly about State has a wonderful facility the fun she has at preschool, here on campus, but for those “pweescoo” as she says. She who have had to look closer to is able to spell her name, home for childcare, there is a say the alphabet, count to hidden gem way up on Sig- ten, sing her favorite songs nal Mountain that deserves and interact healthily with recognition. Sunshine Learn- her peers thanks to the eduing Center, located off Taft cation she is getting. The Highway, provides children environment at Sunshine with a unique nurturing en- Learning Center is warm vironment and on President’s and welcoming and the staff Day, when Hamilton County is friendly and caring. Each schools were closed along one of them seems to finds with most daycare centers in joy from the time they spend town, Sunshine stayed open working with our children. so that two Chattanooga State Early childhood education students would not miss their is essential for our children classes for lack of childcare. to become exemplary citizens “We are educators, not and Sunshine Learning Center babysitters,” says Susan makes it possible for not just Humphreys, owner of Sun- our children, but for parents shine Learning Center, who to get an education as well. By Jessie Knowles, Editor-In-Chief
ing The Chattanooga Symphony Opera’s production of La Boheme at the Tivoli Theater. She was wardrobe mistress for the production. When there was a wardrobe malfunction or a costuming need had to be met, “our costume shop was there to pick up the slack,” says Schwab. Expect to see a costume design course offered to all Chattanooga State students in the near future. Schwab looks forward to growing the costume shop so that it can continue to accommodate the needs of the college and the community.
Photo by Jessie Knowles/Communicator
Ellen Poole sews pajama pants for her production class project.
A Brighter Take On The Business Suit
By Jessie Knowles, Editor-in-Chief
With many students heading towards graduation, job hunting is foremost on our minds. How can we dress for success and still keep our sense of style? Matching every piece of clothing is not necessary to keep it looking professional. Choose colors in the same family but a splash of brightness carefully chosen can help you stand out from the crowd. Our model wears neutral tones but adds a splash of color with a green cropped jacked. A man may choose to wear a dark suit to an interview but add color with a shirt and tie just a few shades apart in the same color family. Make sure that your outfit is befitting of your age, don’t try to dress like your parents, but make sure that you look polished and put together for your interview. Straighten your tie, keep your skirt a few inches above the knee at its very shortest, iron your shirt. You want them to remember your qualifications but it doesn’t hurt to make a good first impression.
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March 2010 • Page 5
Arts
Entertainment
Acting Up! Taking Theater to New Heights
The cast of Godspell surrounds Roman Penney during a spirited rehearsal.
By Dorothy Foster, Senior Staff Writer
The stage is set and the actors take their places. “You’re a seed that’s been planted. Now, burst forth and grow and wave in the wind,” Sherry Landrum tells her musical theater students. She demonstrates while she talks, swaying as she lifts her arms upward. “Remember to improvise. You’re clowns.” The students follow their teacher’s prompts, moving in their individual styles. Landrum watches, commenting that she’s played each clown role in the musical they are rehearsing. “The kinesthetic movement of this play is important. It’s imperative to improvise,” she coaches. The play is Godspell, one which she is superbly prepared to direct, having toured with the national company of the show in the 1970s. Later, while living in California, she both acted in and directed the play. Directing is what Landrum loves, having received several awards from the LA Drama Critics and the Tennessee Theater Association during her career. Her husband, Rex Knowles, is producing Godspell, to be performed by Chattanooga State’s musical theater class on March 26, 27, and 28. Landrum and Knowles also run the Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State,
bringing a rich background of talent and experience to the program, which is in its eighth year under their supervision. The professors have experienced bright lights and big cities, having spent 15 years in Los Angeles perfecting their craft. Landrum’s acting credits include Dallas and General Hospital, and she has appeared in numerous movies and more than fifty commercials. Knowles has appeared in M.A.S.H., Starsky and Hutch, and assorted movies and commercials as well. He has written for several TV game shows, including Jackpot and The New $25,000 Pyramid, as well as many plays, including the awardwinning The Night Reginald Filbert Called It Quits. After a move to New York City in the early 1990s, the pair were full-time faculty for 10 years at the New Actors Workshop, a two-year professional actor training program founded by George Morrison, Paul Sills, and Mike Nichols. This workshop has taught notable actors such as Gene Hackman and Stanley Tucci. The school’s curriculum balances performanceoriented improvisation and scripted interpretation. During a stint in Chattanooga while they were working in the local theater, Dr. Catanzaro asked the couple to move back to the area permanently to replicate at Chattanooga State what they were doing at
Photo by Amy Henricks
The New Actors Workshop. Although they loved New York, Landrum and Knowles did indeed make the move, and Chattanooga has profited greatly from their talent. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, Landrum and Knowles will put on five plays this year, including two musicals. During the summer they will bring professional theater to Chattanooga with the Chattanooga State Repertory Theater, giving local professional actors work opportunities and providing audiences with a quality theater experience. Plus, they have an awardwinning improv comedy troupe called Chattanoodle. Chattanooga State acting students are fortunate to have this treasure trove of talents right before them without having to leave the state or spend tens of thousands of dollars to get first class acting training. “Training is what gets an actor hired,” says Landrum. “Who they trained under is what gets them the jobs.” Their students are indeed getting those jobs. Many graduates of the Professional Actor Training Program are working around the United States in professional acting jobs, touring companies and film shoots, bursting forth and growing as they emerge from the acting program, ready to perform in Chattanooga, Nashville, Atlanta and beyond.
Artwork by Tiffany Woodard/graphic design student
Photo by Abel Isidro/media technology student
Theatre and Concerts
GODSPELL MARCH 26 7:30 P.M. MARCH 27 7:30 P.M. MARCH 28 2:30 and 7:30 Humanities Auditorium
CARMINA BURANA CONCERT CHOIR SATURDAY MARCH 27 2:00 P.M. Humanities Auditorium
Ostara’s Herald By Amber Lewis Trapped around a fire, gazes droll and sullen Wait those impatient for the warm days of summer They do not cherish my mountains, places I hold dear Rolling hills of evergreens, frosty nights that shine clear Draped in coats of snowy ermine and skirts of stark velvet Decked in the wealth of Mother Nature, plumage rivaling an egret Quiet footprints in the snow A chill so deep one thinks of nothing else A dreamy landscape lit by a pocked moon’s glow A peace more complete than you’ve ever felt A muted silence that permeates all A frosty night garnished with snowfall Frozen lakes joining sky with earth Tales of the cold that return one to the hearth Winter’s kiss will be what I miss A friend I’ve lost with the melting frost A new friend waits to embrace me with Spring My companion till once again I find the joy that winter brings.
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March 2010•Page 6
Editorials
Opinions
Prey for Political Pundits By Ryan Tyler, Junior Staff Writer
I was hoping former TVA employee Tommy Crangle would serve to be the wise old owl in Tennessee’s Third District Congressional Debate held last month in the Humanities Auditorium, but in reality he has the same amount of experience as most on that stage, which is to say none at all. Sadder still is his lack of real-world experience, called into stark question with his healthcare gem: “Everyone [already] has coverage inasmuch as you can just go to the Emergency Room.” Unfortunately, when compared to the opposition, this elder lacks the youthful exuberance of Chuck Fleischmann, is lost for the knowledge of legislature boasted by Art Rhodes, is too slow to race the quick wit of Van Irion, and has a much less commanding presence than either Robin Smith or Tim Gobble. In a story that, so far, hosts six Republicans and no Democrats, you have to see the Chuck Fleischmann character coming from chapters away: a diminutive caricature of the post-Obama conservative movement to rescue America from the bowels of “communism.” Obviously and flawlessly coached in flair and poise, he moves his lips and swings his arms majestically, hoping to be caught on camera in some heroic pose. Repeating the phrase “for the people, not the politics” over and over during each response like an anthem, the right-wing muppet sang every word the people wanted to hear without ever actually saying anything. And acknowledging that a lion’s share of politics can be found in the art of language and
avoidance, what made Fleischmann’s ruse so transparent was his pointed finger, accusing others of answerdodging. It was rude, petty, and (pun intended) belittled the entire Republican field. Much taller in stature, Art Rhodes was the 13-year-old son-of-a-preacher-man when he first became interested in politics. Now, half a century later, he has participated in more than 100 campaigns from the local to national level, up to and including George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election, and has written legislature at the national level. It was the moment he quoted John F. Kennedy’s congressional lunar challenge, however, that made it clear to me this man wouldn’t be the same Republican everyone else on stage was trying to be. And it was a ginger tiptoe from that quote to his belief that, “Any government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you’ve got.” The only man on stage whose stature rivals that of Mr. Rhodes, Tim Gobble, is your basic Sergeant York in this company. His theater reminiscent of Reagan’s former stateliness, Gobble’s words sometimes took on an air of nobility provided—if not solely—by his history as a Secret Service agent. His interest in bipartisanship walks hand in hand with that more palatable approach to all the old-school Republican values. Surprisingly, Gobble also takes a strong vocal environmental position, pledging to continue gubernatorial hopeful Zach Wamp’s pursuits of solar and atomic energy. The concerns which face a narrow conservative voter base, echoed by nearly every candidate on stage, were
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Editor-in-Chief Jessie Knowles Assistant Editor Amber Lewis Art Director Jaye Harris Assist. Art Director Margie Penn Sports Editor Abel Isidro Web Editor Charles Fannin Business/Ad Manager & Distribution Chasity Masters Photographer Isaac Craft
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Ryan Tyler interviews Chuck Fleischmann after the congressional debate.
perhaps best honored, addressed, and quipped by Van Irion. When asked what he’d most like to hear President Obama say during the State of the Union that night, he answered only, “I quit,” which took home the award for biggest laugh that day. Dangerous for today’s Republican, he also suggested that the U.S. response to terrorism needs to be more realistic than “reactionary.” Any conservative ground he may have lost with that statement was won back by repeatedly slandering the President, calling him a “communist” whose methods were “unconstitutional,” which ruined my humble opinion of Mr. Irion by his laying down with sheep and may result in his not being voted anything more than most likely to succeed. Last but not least (and the only lady on the ticket), Robin Smith wore a polished smile with an attitude
to match, but many of the things she said either to or about my peers felt extremely condescending. Referring to community college students as “tomorrow’s labor force” while at a live debate on their campus is probably not the best way to garner votes or attention. But the ability to say these things with a smile made it easier for her to convince the half-hearted listener she wasn’t insulting us. After the curtain fell, I was disappointed with everyone on the ballot save Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Gobble. I can only hope that either of these men wins or loses a respectable campaign to an experienced, noble Democrat. And if no Democrat is willing to throw his hat or her bonnet into the ring, I might think about running for Congress myself next term. As evidenced by Mr. Fleischmannn, all it takes is a few rich friends and a home button-making kit.
It’s ‘Bring Your Sled to School’ Day!! By Amber Lewis, Assistant Editor
There has been plenty of buzz in Chattanooga about the sudden crop of bizarre weather; fluffy, fat droplets of snow blanketing the ground, covering buildings and streets alike. It’s a beautiful thing to behold— but gorgeous scenery touched by the sadistic hand of Jack Frost overnight is no fun, having to scrape ice three or four inches thick off the hood of your car and rev it so that the wheels can be free of their encasing of snow. Many may wonder why such odd weather has come to Chattanooga. I have a theory: Global Warming. Yes, I said it, the big GW. Not Guerilla Warfare, not G. Dub Bush, but Global Warming. Fanaticism, you say? Sure, why not. Let’s take a walk on the wild side. Travel with me to the playground of imagination. Completely based on no scientific research whatsoever
(other than skimming headlines from a Google search of global warming that took only 0.55 seconds), I have come to the only logical conclusion— carbon emissions will block the sun, sending us into an eternal night of perpetual snow. And Chattanooga State still wouldn’t be closed. If rain is pouring out of our ears, they tell us to get a poncho and rain boots. If the river is flooding, we buy canoes and turn the sidewalks into the canals of Venice. Hail the size of golf balls, and they’re ready to slap a helmet on us like we’re stepping up to homeplate. Does this school ever close? Blizzards wrap the world in another Ice Age similar to a scene out of The Day After Tomorrow (which is for some reason a profound title despite the fact that since Genesis every tomorrow has had a day that succeeds it.) In this scene, power lines snap and structures collapse beneath the obnoxiously overbearing
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weight of the snow, seeking to bury humanity and everything that it has created. The environment has come to tell us that pay back is...well, let’s just say she’s unpleasant, and her name is Mother Nature. Of course, ChattState students need not worry about the end of the modern world interrupting our education. No doubt they’ll throw us a shovel and say start digging as they rummage about in an igloo, searching for financial aid checks and transcripts as an incentive to keep us coming. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for the world to be wrapped in darkness. With any luck evolution will rob us blind. Maybe with the loss of our eyes the world will lose its habit of judging on appearance. People might be better without the hindrance of visual first impressions. There probably won’t be anything worth seeing anyway. Who wants to see snow for several centuries? Maybe during that time we’ll develop as varied
a language as the Eskimos. To conclude on a note completely contradictory to my prior statements, the snow here in Chattanooga was absolutely gorgeous.
Staff Writers Dorothy Foster Lee Lunsford Matt Nassar Ryan Tyler Contributors Kimberly Carlton Adviser Betty A. Proctor Address Communicator 4501 Amnicola Hwy., Room S-216 Chattanooga, TN 37406 (423) 697-2471 E-mail communicator.editor@gmail. com The opinions expressed are those of the author only and not of the entire Communicator staff.
M E M B E R S
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ChattState students throw snowballs during the blizzard of February 2010.
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March 2010 • Page 7
Sports Lady Tigers’ Powers and Colbert Lead the Pack By Abel Isidro, Sports Editor
Photo by Abel Isidro/Communicator
#12, Sophomore Guard Hannah Power
Hannah Powers and Beniedra Colbert are two of the leaders on this year’s Lady Tigers basketball team. Powers, a sophomore point guard, is undeniably the player who tries to take the mantle of leadership for the team. Colbert, a relatively unknown freshmen, is starting to make a presence for herself on this year’s team. Powers has been the one to lead the team in taking on opposition. She is an unsung hero who for two years now has been working hard in practice day in and day out. She gives her all in every game, even if the score is not in the Lady Tigers’ favor. She
is one of the prized jewels on Coach Price’s team, and unfortunately will be leaving the team after this semester. Colbert, on the other hand, still has one year of eligibility left. When it comes to playing out on the basketball court, she evokes the memory of another great former Tennessee player, Chamique Holdsclaw. She has God-given talent when it comes to shooting hoops. Her slashing style is similar to that which made Michael Jordan a famous basketball player. It’s been a long hard road for these ladies, but with these two continuing to play hard along side the other Lady Tigers, it will be a good finish to the season.
Tigers on the Hunt lege from Memphis, TN; the foe that knocked the Tigers from the regional tournaAlthough the men’s basket- ment competition last year. ball team is often a top conThe Tiger’s big man on tender in the NJCAA, they campus, Phillip Jurick, along are struggling to improve with B.J. Frazier, Alex Dean their 11-3 position in TJCCAA and Roy McFadgon, make conference play (as of Febru- up a front court that is at ary 15, 2010) as the season least six feet and four inchwinds down in Region Seven es or above in height. Also, competition. The Tigers are Alex Wells hits a 49.5 perstill on the hunt for a national cent average of his attemptranking, any additional loss- ed three pointers, accordes will impact their standing. ing to www.TJCCAA.com. This team has shown Add in a six foot five inch throughout the semester that Rayshawn Walker, and the they can beat anyone that Tigers have a team to be comes to play. In the very reckoned with. So you say first game of the season the to yourself, “height doesn’t Tigers took out the Salukis of necessarily make a team Southwest Community Col- good.” Let’s look at it for a By Abel Isidro, Sports Editor
moment. Frazier, Dean and McFadgon are all high flyers and easily dunk the ball with or without a defender under them. Walker is an all around good athlete who has surprised many a spectator. Wells is a very streaky shooter; all he needs is a split second to catch and shoot. Jurick is a monster in the defensive end who has improved his offense and free throw shooting. This team is good enough to make it all the way to a championship in national competition. Let’s hope they keep their impeccable balance while standing on shaky ground.
& Baseball
Softball
#23, Freshman Guard Beneidra Colbert
We’ve Got Game Action from Jan. 28
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Olympic Standings 2/21/10 Place Country Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 United States 7 7 10 24 2 Germany 5 6 5 16 3 Norway 5 3 4 12 4 Korea 4 4 1 9 5 Canada 4 3 1 8 5 Austria 2 3 3 8 5 France 2 2 4 8 8 Switzerland 5 0 2 7 8 Russian Federation 2 3 2 7 10 Sweden 3 1 2 6 11 China 3 1 1 5 12 Netherlands 2 1 1 4 12 Poland 0 3 1 4 12 Italy 0 1 3 4 15 Slovakia 1 1 1 3 15 Japan 0 1 2 3 17 Australia 1 1 0 2 17 Czech Republic 1 0 1 2 17 Latvia 0 2 0 2 17 Belarus 0 1 1 2 17 Croatia 0 1 1 2 17 Slovenia 0 1 1 2 23 Great Britain 1 0 0 1 23 Estonia 0 1 0 1 23 Finland 0 1 0 1 WWW.COMMUNICATORONLINE.COM
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