The Student Voice Since 1903 University of Central Oklahoma
thursday, september, 14, 2006
"Fire Away"
Teenline helping for over 20 years by Andrew Knittle Staff Writer
by Yuko Watanabe
Tucked away in an unassuming Oklahoma City office complex, Teenline – a program of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services – has been helping teens from across the nation since 1985. Working among the health professionals and volunteers at Teenline are six UCO students, each earning college credit while gaining important real-world experience. Julie Geddes, director of Teenline, said that any UCO student with “an open mind and a willingness to learn new concepts” could apply for an internship with the organization. Debbe Canby, a junior community health major, recently began working at Teenline to fulfill the 100 hours of practicum required by her degree, logging around five hours every Tuesday evening. “When I first started, I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” Canby said. “I have medical
Sept. 11 service project volunteers learned how to use the hose, rode the fire trucks and made dinner for Oklahoma City firefighters. Corporal Tommy Allen from fire station #12 helped UCO student Christen Meyer, freshman nursing major.
see HOTLINE, page 7
Venezuela is divided, students stay in America Ebony Gospel Choir singing word of God by Ivo Lupov Staff Writer
Two UCO students from Venezuela have no plans of returning home after graduation. The current political status of the state-run government, does not give them enough reasons to participate in their country’s development. The United States is their new home, this is where they feel free. “I like my lifestyle here,” said Marco Rodriguez, UCO international business senior after living here for five years. He said the changes in political, social and economical aspects of the president’s administration in Venezuela are preventing him from returning to his homeland. “Everything is changed. It is a complicated situation,” he said. Venezuela President Hugo Chavez was democratically elected in 1998, since he continues to provoke criticism and approval at home and abroad. He became favor to the media with his drastic political platforms to split the oil wealth among the lower class using social tools. Ironically, Chavez who was part of a plot against the Venezuela government in 1992, became a similar target from people who did not agree with his politics. In April 2002, failed military attempt to overthrow Chavez led to short instability in Venezuela. Thrown in prison for his illegal action against the government, Chavez responded with the same judicial accuracy against his opponents. “He had a remarkable political comeback. He was elected as president with strong support,” said Dr. Louis Furmanski, UCO political science professor. “His popularity is based on his appeal to the common mass-
AP Photo
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, Sept. 1, where thousands of supporters gave him a hero's welcome after his international tour. es in Venezuela who have not profited in Venezuela’s recent growth.” Furmanski agrees that Venezuela is a state run enterprise. Rodriguez believes his country now suffers from the president’s administration. “I do not justify some of
“My First Time,” displayed in the Art, Media and Design Building, is turning heads
See pg. 6
his actions. He has good ideas but he does not know how to apply those ideas in a good way,” Rodriguez said. Juliana Marin, UCO nursing junior from Venezuela, would like to go home, but for her that is also impossible. “The political situation is get-
ting worse by the minute,” she said. “At the beginning he was not that irrational and delusional.” Marin personally feels safer in the United States, which was her reason to come. The Venezuelan government is controlling her rights, even children are a government property, she said. For Rodriguez internal political clash is almost inevitable. “There is no civil war, but we have reached a situation that anything can trigger a fight between them,” Rodriguez said, while discussing the conflict between Chavez’s regime and the those who oppose. Rodriguez refers to his childhood as a period far away from its current social and political reality. “Before Chavez was elected, the country was a paradise… with free education and health care,” he said. Chavez did not lie to the people, but managed a moderate campaign, not leaning left or right. He was with the people; he promised to destroy corruption, Rodriguez said. “I am playing naive here, but I did not see this oppression and hurting of freedom coming at all. “If you are against the government you cannot get a passport; you cannot get an ID,” he said because those who are against Chavez signed a referendum against his control. Media censorship is Chavez’s totalitarian tool to oppress public opinion. “You cannot talk about the president unless it is something good,” Rodriguez said.” The media has changed. If you are against him, he can freeze your bank account.” Carolina Lam, 2004 UCO international trade
by Divona Phillips Staff Writer With so many different ministries on campus, UCO’s Ebony Gospel Choir has taken a unique approach to spreading the word of God. Originating in the 1970s, but recently restarted in the 1990s, EGC has performed numerous engagements at UCO, throughout Oklahoma at churches and weddings, and also in other state schools like Kansas State University, Texas State University-San Marcos and University of Colorado. Phillip Thomas, the choir director and an interpersonal communication senior, said that the main purpose of EGC is “to give students an opportunity to sing and worship and fellowship with each other and lift up Jesus in song.” Thomas became the director of the choir in 2001 and said that it was hard at first but the choir has flourished since then. “We started from nothing to having one of the top choirs in the nation,” Thomas said. “When I took over we had no adviser and ten [members]. Now we have 45 and we are opening for national gospel artists like RiZen, VaShawn Mitchell and Marvin Sapp.” Thomas said he enjoys EGC mostly because they are a family; they are all on one accord and they are people who really love God. “EGC really feels like a family and they operate as a body of Christ and not just a school organization; they are young but honestly sincere about the Lord,”
Alton Buggs, undeclared sophomore and musician for EGC said. “It doesn’t matter what it is they go through, I know these people will be giving God the praise regardless. That is different from other choirs who only praise him at rehearsals or performances.” EGC has several events throughout the school year including Unity Fest, Nov. 1 in front of Hamilton Field house, a fall reunion concert in December and their 6th Annual Gospel Extravaganza in April. They also perform in events for Black History Month, Winter Glow and anywhere else in Oklahoma and other states. “Because of our name we are getting the opportunity to travel and sing in other states and becoming very well known,” Thomas said. While at UCO working with EGC, Buggs hopes to grow in musicianship and songwriting. “Sitting under the leadership of Jeremy Thomas [music director of EGC] because he is a very skilled and seasoned musician for his age and in writing songs I am learning to tune into the Lord and write accordingly,” Buggs said. EGC is open to any UCO students who would like to join. “It’s a great music ministry,” Buggs said. “It is beyond just music, [singing] helps usher in a nice atmosphere of worship, because with them it is all about God.” For booking or more information on EGC, contact Joe Thomas, at (405) 921-3566.
Divona Phillips can be reached at dphillips@thevistaonline.com.
see CHAVEZ, page 6
Get This... with Desiree Treeby
Singer/songwriter Michelle Deak
See pg.7
See pg.5