To the Editor:

State Rep. Kern and State Sen. Breechen have recently introduced legislation (HB 1551, SB 554, respectively), addressing the methods and philosophy of teaching “controversial’’ scientific topics including evolution and global warming.

Breechen’s bill in particular contains specific curricular adoptions lifted directly from the Texas state science standards adopted there in 2009.

To the Editor:

The President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented during the spring of each year to a full-time faculty member who exemplifies teaching excellence. The office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs administers the process of receiving nominees and developing recommendations to the President.

To be considered for this award a faculty member may be nominated by a fellow faculty member, by a current or former student, or by a staff member.

Nominees will be asked to complete a reference sheet supplying personal and professional information.

On Tuesday, Feb. 8, the decision was made to shut down the college at 5 p.m. due to incoming winter weather.

The issue is, the winter weather didn’t materialize until much later that night.

Last Tuesday, Feb. 8, local meteorologists predicted that a monstrous snowstorm — one just as large as the icy beast that shut down campus for a consecutive four days the week before — had taken aim at Oklahoma City.

To the editor:

The OCCC College Democrats club has voted unanimously to oppose the Concealed Carry on Campus legislation that is being brought before the Oklahoma Legislative session.

Stress: A physiological response to environmental factors.

Example: Having missed nearly one third (or more) of the semester thus far due to nasty weather.

Going to college is a fairly stressful event because of all the changes we must go through to be successful.

Oklahoma Senate Bill 858 is a bill intended to allow citizens to conceal weapons on college campuses.

Although advocates say the bill will allow concealed carry on college campuses but not inside classrooms, SB 858 raises more questions than it answers.

A study compiled by John Wood of Rose State College found in the U.S., from May 2007 to the present, concealed permit holders in the U.S have killed at least 282 individuals, nine of which were law officers.

Despite the many useful reforms the recently passed healthcare bill includes, it is fundamentally flawed in that it forces individuals to buy and maintain insurance.

Of course, there are many arguments in favor of President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform.

Strong among them are the provisions to eliminate refusal of coverage for pre-existing conditions, and the provision allowing children to remain on their parents’ insurance up to age 26.

To the editor:

Poet Nathan Brown will read his work at OCCC from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, in Room 132 in the Visual and Performing Arts Center.

Nathan will also host a poetry writing workshop for any interested persons from 1 to 1:30 p.m. the same day.

Brown believes poetry “should be written to be understood and the message of a poem should be accessible to everybody.”

Are you thinking about transferring to a four-year institution? Did you know that there is an office on campus to help you with your transition? The Transfer Center offers many services to get you headed in the right direction.