To the Editor:

I noticed recently the annual chili cook off is about to take place.

This led me to wonder: will this year’s winning recipe actually be chili?

Last year, several excellent chili recipes were entered — along with one non-chili entry. That particular entry was more like a chicken soup.

I know because I bought a bowl of each entrant’s chili last year to share with friends — and a bowl of the winning soup.

It was a great soup. It was tasty, different and quite popular with those who tasted it.

To the Editor:

The possibility of war with Iran has never been greater. Daily there are new provocations, and at each step, the threat of hostilities escalates.

A third U.S. aircraft carrier has passed the Straits of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf. There have been attempts on the lives of Israeli diplomats. Iran nuclear scientists have been the victims of what could be covert operations on the part of the Israelis.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said the Israelis might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities between April and June.A conflict with Iran would be disastrous for the world.

To the Editor:

I must strongly disagree with the College Republicans for slamming Obama for enforcing the right of Americans to have access to medical care, including birth control.

The arguments in their letter are flawed and demeaning. Let me count the ways.

Obama “forced” the faith-based organizations to follow the law of the land. Any organization on our soil with the legal limit of employees must provide benefits, including health care. What is considered an “assault” is ludicrous.

Would it be an assault to enforce pollution controls? Traffic codes? What about labor laws?

I’m sure no one wants to go back to those good old days of the overpriced company store or unpaid mandatory overtime or disbanding OSHA.

To the Editor:

Every single day I sit in class in the VPAC building, and out the window, I see students go behind the red metal display behind the Arts and Humanities building to take a smoke break.

If it were one smoker, I would think nothing of a student being misinformed to OCCC’s new non-smoking policy on campus.

However, Monday through Friday, it’s student after student going behind the display to get their nicotine fix.

To the editor:

This is a joint statement from the OCCC College Republicans and the OCCC College Democrats stating our opposition to any legislation that would allow firearms on Oklahoma’s campuses in the hands of people other than security professionals.

The College Democrats and the College Republicans have voted unanimously to oppose any and all carry on campus legislation being brought before the Oklahoma State Legislature this legislative session.

To the Editor:

I find it astounding and disappointing that in this day and age a person has to physically sign-up for an appointment in the Biology Lab.

OCCC has numerous electronic systems in place: student/adjunct email, MineOnline, and Angel/Moodle. I can apply for financial aid, register for or drop classes, get tutoring, make payments, do homework, Skype with the Comm Lab, and take tests online. However, I have to walk into the Bio Lab to get a lab time. I cannot even get a time by phone.

To the Editor:

I am writing in frustration to the frugal Valentine’s Day dining options as published in an article by Mary McAtee in your publication last week.

Since OCCC is located in south Oklahoma City, I hoped to maybe hear about some new restaurants located in this area, or maybe some old favorites.

But instead, Ms. McAtee elected to talk about the same preppy, hipster, northside crap that’s shoved down our throats on a daily basis. I was disappointed, to say the least.

To the Editor:

A recent ruling by the Obama administration would have faith-based organizations paying for birth control for their employees. This is seen as a landmark ruling, but ultimately [puts] the government in a dangerous position.

By forcing religious groups to partake in something they do not agree with — as this resolution most assuredly will — the question has to be asked: where will it end?

Where will the governments veritable assault on the liberties of groups and people, brought on by both Republicans and Democrats alike, stop?

We will tell you where: when they can trample over any and all who disagree with them.

To the Editor:

State Sen. Ralph Shortey, the Senator from Senate District 44 that OCCC falls into, has a few bills on the floor of the state Legislature that may raise some eyebrows this session.

One of those bills calls for the removal of the power of judicial review from the state Supreme Court.

For a little refresher civics lesson, the power of judicial review lets our Supreme Court review laws passed by the Legislature and make sure that they do not violate the Oklahoma State Constitution.

To the Editor:

With the start of the new semester at OCCC, the halls are once again filled with the uncertain, occasionally lost faces of new students wandering around in search of classes.

As campus becomes flooded with both new and returning students, it is often easy to feel alone in a crowd of people.

However, I witnessed a scene Thursday night that proves that is not the case.