July 22, 2009
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Da Italia con amore UCO journalism students soak up the Tuscan sun during travel reporting class Kory Oswald
groups of three or more and one of the members of the group must have a cell phone. Stan Writer In Florence some of the students waited an hour and For most UCO students, summer school means humid a half and paid io euros a piece to get into the Galleria treks across campus to long classes under humming flo- dell Accademia, The Gallery at the Academy where rescent lights. For the 18 students in Dr. Mark Hanebutt's Michelangelo's David is on display. Travel Reporting class it means a 1,211-mile trek under the "It was amazing,"Amanda Siegried, a senior and photoTuscan sun. journalist major, said. "Photographs don't do it justice. We "We're in Italy," Hanebutt said. "I am trying to intro- could see the veins in his arms and the muscles in his back. duce my students to other cultures and I loved the detail." peoples and places while teaching them Traveling on a 50-seat tour bus with another aspect of journalism." 27 other people from Australia, New Hanebutt and the students, along Zealand, Wales, Germany, Tasmania, with Dr. Jesse Miller, left Oklahoma Canada and the United States the UCO City at 12:4o p.m. on Saturday, July students are getting a detailed two-week 11, and after a brief layover in Chicago, view of the Tuscany countryside. arrived in Rome Sunday morning From the road their views are bomaround 8:45. barded with clusters of Cypress, Palm, "It was tiring...very long and exhausting," Safiya Lucas, Umbrella Pines and Pioppi (poplar) trees as well as acres of a senior, said. "I felt like I was sleepwalking. I showered vibrant sunflower fields that randomly break through the and...had like a twelve hour sleep." multi-shades of greens. Grandiose homes akin to fortresses The class left Rome the next morning at 8:3o and drove also dot the hillsides with vineyards and olive tree orchards north, stopping at the medieval town of Orvieto on their way that march up the hills like columns of Roman soldiers. to Poggibonsi, where they stayed for four nights, using it as "It's enough reason to stay here and not want to go a hub for excursions into the cities of San Gimignano, Siena, home," Sean Beall, a senior and broadcast major, said. "It's Florence and Pisa during the day. not littered with so much crap that we have in America like During the outings, Hanebutt, who spends most of his [billboards and fast-food restaurants]." time doing headcounts, requires the students to stay in A large part of the student's itinerary involves driving
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Florence Pisa Pogglbonsl Orvieto
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through the Apennines Mountain Range, which is considered the spine of Italy. The class left Poggibonsi on Friday, July 17, and headed 250 miles north, crossing the Tuscany border into the Emelia-Romana region around 8:30 in the morning and driving into the flat lands of the Po Valley. See ITALY, page 3
English professor learns lessons from Founding Fathers are an expression of art." Smith's literary works. Since, One book that had become Hayes has published five addiStaff 17,7ter important to Hayes was one tional books. from his collection. "The Road Many of the books written Long before UCO professor Kevin Hayes to Monticello: The Life and was born, the literary road had been paved by Hayes are still inspired by Mind of Thomas Jefferson' is by the founding fathers. History had been the founding fathers and the my favorite," Hayes said. set and Hayes had thrust it into the forefront modest beginnings of America. "It's the book I put the most His writings focus on early of the present. work into," he said. American libraries. Libraries Just as several of founding fathers had Hayes's autobiography of done since the beginnings of America's his- in America began as private Thomas Jefferson was nomicollections in the homes of tory, Hayes began his writing career by jotnated for several book awards ting down ideas and recording his thought those who could afford them including the Oklahoma during early colonial times. with a pen and paper. Book Award and the George HA YES Private collectors included "For many years I kept a journal," Hayes Washington Book Prize. Thomas Jefferson, Thomas said. For Hayes, the road has not stopped at It was not until Hayes entered graduate Henry, George Washington, Benjamin Monticello. He is currently working on a Franklin and many others. school at the University of Delaware that he "Books capture a part of the past that is book about George Washington and he will wrote his first book. Hayes originally wrote be writing a book that features a collection of still influencing the present," Hayes said. "Captain John Smith: A Reference Guide" essays by Edgar Allen Poe. Poe is an author "They are important to preserve so we as his master thesis. It was a compilation of can read and study them," he said. "Books he teaches his students about, he said.
Tiffany Brown
Writing books is something he is passionate about, he said. Not only is he passionate about writing, he considers it an accomplishment. In addition, writing and teaching are two of his accomplishments he is most proud of, he said. For young authors getting started Hayes offered this advice. "Keep a journal," he said. "Its a good way to record thoughts and practice writing." When you find something you want to write a book about, stick with it until it gets done, he said. For Hayes, the Founding Fathers have taught more than one lesson. They have taught "the importance of democracy," Hayes said, and have taught "the importance of making sure everybody gets their voice heard."
Inside UCO-trained team wins Euro Cup The 2009 Euro Cup belongs to the United States after the U.S. dominated the Netherlands in the finals Thursday. See page 6
Rock Musician joins ACM@UCO As the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM @UCO) moves closer to its August opening, Dr. Peter Pollack joins the academy staff as the Director of Academic Operations. See page 4
And that's the way it was...
A tribute to Walter Cronldte Photo by Musleh Alkathami See page 2
Pablo Padron, a landscaper for Myers Landscape Management, takes a water break from the scorching heat at UCO. "Liquid Assets" with Caleb McWilliams
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