Celebrating 100 Years
THEMISTA The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2003
Breaking boards, confronting fears West Hall residents learned self-defense during Women Empowerment Night. by Rachael Tully Staff Writer The women of West Hall dorms learned self-defense moves and confronted fears at the first "Women Empowerment Night" Nov. 4. "Tonight is about individual empowerment," said Shai Rasmussen, coordinator of the event. "An empowered woman is one who is confident and comfortable with herself." The program, sponsored by West Hall Council, was designed to educate, inspire and motivate the residents, Rasmussen said. Nearly 40 residents started the night by defining what empowerment meant to them. A big banner was posted on a wall, and Rasmussen listed the motivating words dictated from the audience — confident, independent, determined, focused, educated and capable. "An empowered woman possesses qualities like these," Rasmussen said. "An empowered woman can be a 65-year-old in a wheelchair or a stay-at-home mom baking cookies. We all can."
Rasmussen, a black belt in karate, also taught residents selfdefense moves at the meeting.
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Photo by Justin Avera
Dana Rodd, undecided freshman, breaks a board held by Shai Rassmussen, corporate communications senior, during the Women Empowerment Night Nov. 4. "In order to be empowered, you have to be confident and capable," she said. "These moves will keep you from feeling vulnerable." Katrina Harper, freshman family consumer science major, helped Rasmussen demonstrate defense tactics. "The moves [Rasmussen]
Betz announces Central's participation in American Democracy Project by Rick Russick Staff Writer Dr. Don Betz, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, officially announced Central's involvement with 146 other universities in the American Democracy Project Nov. 5. ADP's goal is to create nationwide conversation about civic engagement and to develop campus-wide involvement in the project, Betz said. Although no formal cornmittees have yet been created, the agenda of the meeting included sharing ideas about civic engagement across campus. The project was created in an effort to make students and
faculties aware of the need to become more involved in their civic duties, Betz said. "This is not a debating society," he said. "Education does not come with debate; rather it comes with involvement 'I when the rubber meets the road." The national project, directed by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, represents more than 1.3 million students nationwide. Participants of ADP-UCO include students, faculty, administrators, student organizations and community organizations.
see ADP page 3
`We hold these truths to be self-evident...' Central will host an exhibition of the Declaration of Independence. by Sherrod Wall Staff Writer Students, faculty and visitors to Central will have a chance to view one of 25 original Declaration of Independence manuscripts in December. The Declaration of Independence Roadtrip, a nonprofit nonpartisan project, will display the historical document Dec. 4 through 14 at the Oklahoma City National Monument. It will make an 'exit stop' Dec. 6 in Constitution Hall of the Nigh University Center. "An exit stop is a one-evening, off-site program centered around the DOI," said Sue Lynn Sasser, a member of the host committee. 'And UCO is fortunate enough to be selected as the exit stop for the OKC show."
This particular copy of the declaration is the only copy owned by a private individual, Norman Lear. The copy was discovered by a
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couple after they bought a picture frame at a garage sale, Sasser said. "They liked the picture frame but not the picture inside, so when they cut the picture frame out, a. piece of paper fell out," she said. The couple investigated the paper more thoroughly, discovered its value and sold it for $8,000,000. Sasser said this copy is touring because Lear didn't want the document to sit in a museum. "He wanted it to be a living, breathing document," she said. Lear put together a group that has sent it to several different com-
munities. The tour will make its final stop this year in Oklahoma City. The document will tour U.S. colleges next year, Sasser said. The Declaration of Independence display will be interactive with films, photographs, onsite voter registration and other fea-
see DOI page 3
taught us gave me more confidence," Harper said. "I now know what to do if I was in a threatening situation." Sandra Manzo, freshman kinesiology major, said Rasmussen taught her .how to defend herself. "I feel more educated," she said. "Now I won't feel scared
to walk by myself." After residents mastered the defense moves, Rasmussen brought 30 square wood boards and instructed them how to break the boards. Rasmussen told the women to pick a board and write a personal fear on top of it. Residents wrote words like
worry, image, trust, procrastination and intimidation on their boards. "The word you write down represents your fear," Rasmussen said. "When you break through the board, it is symbolic of confronting what is holding you back." The women of West Hall
cheered each other on as each one took a turn breaking her board and confronting her fear. "The words written on the boards represented opposing forces," said Camiell Farrell, senior business communication major. Destiny Harris, freshman broadcast major, said breaking the boards was the most inspiring event of the night. "I broke through the board," she said. "It taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to." Rasmussen has taken karate for over eight years. She has taught self-defense classes on campus and nationally. Two years ago, Rasmussen's program won "Top Program in Residence Halls" at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Farrell said Rasmussen's "Women Empowerment Night" united the residents together. "College is the time to find who you are," Farrell said. "Culture is constantly telling women who they have to be." "Tonight the girls who live in West refocused on who they are and what makes them strong in that," she said.
Women's soccer caps long season with tough loss by Gavin Elliott Staff Writer The final road trip of the season. Two big passenger vans idle on the sidewalk outside Hamilton Field House as cars intermittently drive up from empty Ayers Street and park in •the adjacent parking lot. Women wrapped in hoodies and windsuits get out of the cars. Carrying duffel bags and pillows, they quickly make their way to the vans and pile in. The two white vans crammed full of Central's women's soccer team lumbered down 1-44, through Lawton and into Wichita Falls, on Saturday afternoon for the Lone Star Conference Championship tournament. Six teams: One common goal. The women arrived at their hotel around noon. "Go' put your stuff in your rooms girls, we're going to eat in five minutes," Coach Cook tells the women as they pile out and filter in through the two glass hotel doors. Five minutes later the team amasses in the lobby, anxious to eat and acquire that energy that would be so vital in the upcoming game. A long line of soccer players winds its way through the wooden rails in Luby's to the front of the line where a moustached woman in a hairnet asks, "What kind of salad — garden or fruit?" While waiting in line, Valerie Gutierrez asks, "Hey coach, what if you get a red card in the last game? What happens?" Cook replies, "It carries over to the next season." "Oh yeah?" she asks with a raised eyebrow. "Well, what if you're a senior and it's the last thirty seconds of the game?" Laughing, the team agrees the
deed should be carried out as they tell the server to put a plate of mashed potatoes and gravy on their trays. The team fills a small banquet room at the back of the restaurant, tucked away from the other dining areas in the building. The sound of spoons scooping up mashed potatoes and scraping against plates fills the room as idle chitchat gurgles up and a loud burp here and there resonates. Talk about soccer is absent except for recollections from previous games in the season. After the team finishes their meal they head back to the hotel for a small break before they have a team meeting in one of the rooms, then on to the field for the game against West Texas A&M. The team files in Photo by Gavin Elliott through the door, crowding onto the beds, tables and floor. Central's women's soccer team warms up before their game in Cook, sitting on the Lone Star Conference Tournament Nov. 8 in Witchita Falls. top of a dresser next to Cook goes on in an excited Cook emphasizes the edge his the TV, ponders over his game voice, "They're ripe for a loss. team has, saying, "We have fresh plan notes, muttering "Where do We've got to score first — put the legs, we have to get up on them I start, where do I start?" The fear and doubt in them — play in the second half— raise the level team surrounding him waits for our game." of play — so their legs are more the plan with attentive eyes. The Bronchos were fresh and tired." Cook starts in, "We can't rested, placing second in the conHe points out two of the come in and think we're gonna ference and therefore receiving a players. "Val and Joy, you gotta' beat someone because we're mad. bye in the first round. The West attack." They solemnly nod their We've gotta' play." Texas A&M Lady Buffaloes heads in agreement. The Bronchos lost to West played the previous night in the Texas A&M only eight days earcold and rain. see soccer page 3 lier.