The Student Voice Since 1903 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2004
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Vol unteers still sought ought for annual community service day
UCO student remembered by friends, students
Week raises poverty awareness, donations
by Joseph Wertz
Staff Writer
by Michael Robertson
Staff Writer
The UCO Volunteer Center is looking for students and others to sign up for "Make a Difference Day," an annual day for community improvement. Created by USA Weekend Magazine, "Make a Difference Day" has been incorporated into UCO's own Poverty Awareness Week as one of the many events designed to improve the lives of Oklahomans. "Make a Difference Day" volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. Oct. 30 at the second floor entrance of the Nigh University Center. Derek Burks, UCO Volunteer Center coordinator, said that the volunteers would be spread out over six different locations. Volunteers will work feeding the homeless at the Jesus House, painting at the Grace Rescue Mission, organizing food storage at Pets & People, working for the Regional Food Bank, Infant Crisis Services and winterizing flowerbeds for the OKC Beautiful Adopt-A-Park program. According to the event's sponsors, "Make a Difference Day" is the nation's largest single day of volunteering. "This event is about double the size as previous years, they usually do three or four events," Burks said. "We have about seventy-five people signed up so far." Though Burks hoped to have all volunteers signed up before Oct. 27, he said he will allow late-comers to participate. To join the "Make a Difference Day" volunteers, contact Derek Burks in Nigh University Center, room 414, call 974-2621, or e-mail Burks at dburks@ucok.edu .
Photo by Justin Avera
B.J. Waeger, junior education major, feeds a llama Oct. 26 during Poverty Awareness Week. "The Giving Farm" was set up by Broncho Lake to raise donations for-a non-profit organization that gives livestock to impoverished families worldwide.
■ 'Poverty Awareness Week' began Oct. 25 and continues through Oct. 30. by Chris Fox
Student Writer
Livestock crowded the lawn north of Broncho Lake Tuesday as students made donations and waited to have their picture taken with the animal of their choice as UCO's Second Annual Poverty Awareness Week continued with the
"Giving Farm." The dollar donations, for which students receive an iZone® picture sticker of themselves with the livestock, go toward a campus-wide donation to Heifer International, a non-profit organization which gives livestock to impoverished families around the world for economic gain through offspring and other livestock benefits.
"The Giving Farm gives students a visual of the help they're providing to impoverished families around the world," said Dr. Kathryn Gage, vice president of Student Affairs who came up with the idea of the Giving Farm and coordinated the arrival of seven species
More than 500 people attended the funeral of Angela Abbitt on Oct. 25. Abbitt, 24 of Midwest City, was a dedicated friend and highly regarded student at UCO. Abbitt was the Midwest City High School valedictorian and graduated with honors in 1999. After receiving her Associates Degree from Rose State College in 2002, Abbitt Angela Abbitt came to UCO to earn her Bachelors in Journalism. "She was very outgoing, talented and intelligent," said her mother, Vicki Abbitt. "She loved to write. I knew from an early age that this (Journalism) is what she wanted to do. She would build her own magazines, and write bios of pop stars." Abbitt also had an interest in nutrition, stemming from her involvement in softball and athletics. "She was talking about possibly writing for a nutrition magazine," Vicki Abbitt said. Abbitt made an impression in the classroom with many instructors and professors. "She was very outgoing and bright," said Dr. Mark Hanebutt, an associate Journalism professor. "She was determined to learn, almost as if she was on a quest" "She always talked about Hanebutt, he really challenged her," Vicki Abbitt said. "She came home mad at him sometimes, but she felt like he made her more creative." Melissa Merideth, a long time friend noted how much she
see POVERTY, page 3
see ABBITT, page 3 CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Freshmen offer Halloween treat ■
Twenty-four theatre freshmen will give a 25scene Halloween performance Oct. 30.
■ The annual International Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Nigh University Center Ballroom. For information, e-mail Hans Dookhony at hdookhony@ucok.edu Or Steven Ondieks at ondieks@yahoo.com .
by Kelley Chambers
Staff Writer
The Theatre Department will offer treats and maybe even a few tricks when they present the play "70 Scenes of Halloween," free of charge, at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Communications Building. The cast is composed of 24 freshmen from theatre faculty Daisy Kopp and Donna Dickson's beginning acting classes. Each scene is three to four minutes in length but Kopp said the students will perform only 25 of the 70 scenes that all take place on Halloween night. "Some of the scenes are funny and' some of them are a little scary," Kopp said, and cautioned, "It might be a little too spooky for kids." The performance is an opportunity for freshman to cut their acting teeth in a smaller performance setting, and students will play a pivotal role in the production aspects of the show. "I'm allowing the students to make critical decisions to get their own directors eye," Kopp said. Carisa Gibson, who is in three of the scenes, described one in which a spooky box arrives at her doorstep as she sits watching television on Halloween night with her boyfriend played by Jimmy Pike. "My boyfriend brings in a box from
■ Volunteers are needed for Poverty Awareness Week, Oct. 25-30. For information, visit www.ucok.eduicampuslife/poverty.
■ "Make a Difference Day" will begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 30. Sixty volunteers are needed for the service project, and anyone interested should sign up by Oct. 27. To sign up, contact Derek Burks, UCO Volunteer Center Coordinator in Rm. 414 of the Nigh University Center, at 9742621, or e-mail dburks@ucok.edu .
INDEX Photo by Justin Avera
Clockwise rom left: Richard Foresee, Jimmy Pike, Carisa Gibson, Calin Andrulonis, Jill Gokey, Miguel Montufar and Stacey Bradley, all students in beginning acting, rehearse for "70 Scenes of Halloween."
outside and we don't know what's in it,' Gibson said. "Then when we open it there's a mask inside and when I put it on he can't hear me." What happens next in the scene falls in line with what Gibson described as "random stuff" throughout the scenes that often times might not make sense, but add to the comic and mysterious aspect of the play. Many tears are shed in one scene featuring Miguel Montufar, who is dis-
tracted by the entrance of a distraught friend. "I'm watching TV but then get sidetracked by the story my friend is telling and get grossed out by him describing a water buffalo being attacked," Montufar said. Kopp said that free food and treats will be provided and guarantees something for everyone in the night's entertainment. "If you didn't like the last scene
don't you worry," she said. "There will be a new scene in three to four minutes." "If you want to laugh and have a good time come to the show because it's funny, and see some of the new talent we have," Montufar added. "70 Scenes of Halloween," written by playwright Jeffrey Jones, will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday Oct. 30 in Rm. 120 in the Communications Building.
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