As the new semester begins, familiar sights abound: cars fill the parking lot, students buzz through the hallways, and dozens of backpacks are left ripe for the stealing in front of the OCCC Bookstore.

For those of you who do not know, the bookstore forces students to abandon their backpacks near the cubbyholes in front of the store, where they are left out of the owner’s sight and unsecured.

While at least one campus security officer routinely prowls the bookstore aisles, bags containing everything from expensive textbooks to laptop computers go unwatched outside.

To the editor:

Martin Luther King Jr. was an amazing man and his contributions to the civil rights movement in America are not only phenomenal, but also are without parallel.

Deservingly, we celebrate his leadership, strength, and perseverance on his birthday every year. However, there is something missing from our celebration of Dr. King’s life.

It is this something that I have been trying to impart to my son and it is for this missing element of his message that my son and I marched in the MLK parade with the Oklahoma Center for Conscience (a group that defends conscientious objectors to war).

The beginning of a new year always provides an opportunity to reflect on the past and anticipate what a new year may bring.

Last year will be remembered in Oklahoma for our historic election of our first female governor. It is no doubt that Gov. Mary Fallin will serve as an inspiration to women throughout our state.

As we move forward this year, it is reassuring to see the economy in Oklahoma recovering, albeit slowly. One of the lessons learned from the most recent recession is that those with more education were more likely to remain employed, or to become employed.

I commend our students for making the wise choice to continue their education. An education is something that cannot be taken away and is your best insurance to weather the ups and downs in the economy.

Nearly two weeks ago, Ted Williams was an ordinary homeless person begging for money on the streets of Columbus, Ohio, when a Columbus Dispatch videographer found the man with the “Golden Homeless Voice.”

After the Columbus Dispatch video went online, Williams found himself showered with a variety of offers for his talents ranging from NFL Films, MSNBC, MTV, to the NBA’s own Cleveland Cavaliers offering Williams a two-year contract with mortgage payments for housing.

I am not chiding the previous down-on-his-luck Williams for getting into a bidding war with various media outlets for his talents.

To the editor:

First let me commend Morgan Beard for his thoughtful editorial in the last issue of the Pioneer.

He asks a legitimate question: If students can pass a class without attending, should they be penalized by the attendance policy if they don’t go? The writer contends the answer is no.

He reasons that students who make the decision not to attend class should face the consequences.

To the editor:

Regarding Morgan Beard’s opinion piece, “Attendance policy too restrictive,” in the 10 Dec. 2010 issue, I submit a different opinion.

After being laid off last year, I returned to college to finally complete the degree I started 20 some years ago.

I have two sons, one 17 and the other 4, and work part-time. I chose to return to college and treat it like a job.

When a person voluntarily does something they should honor the rules set before them.

To the editor:

One of my former professors will no longer be teaching regular classes here at OCCC.

I am referring to Professor Virginia Hovda, whom I had for General Biology [in the fall] semester.

Mrs. Hovda will not be teaching regular classes any longer.

From what I have been told, she will be teaching two online classes [during the spring] semester as well as being retained for the position of Lab Supervisor.

Happy New Year, everyone, and welcome back or to OCCC!

Just like clockwork, the wheels of time have brought us to a new year, a new semester, and changes in our lives.

Whether you are a brand new college student or a seasoned veteran, we hope you will avail yourselves of the many resources on campus that can help you be as successful as possible in your academic endeavors.

If you can pass a course without going, should you be forced to attend?

That’s a question many students here at OCCC and other colleges throughout the country ask themselves quite often.

Attendance policies are not set by the college but are up to the individual faculty or department chairs to determine instead.

To the editor:

I often find that many students looking for a non-traditional degree in Art are never told about the programs that our computer aided technology department has to offer.

More often than not when many individuals think of art, there are only a handful of disciplines that come to mind including film, literary arts, music, performing arts and visual arts.

OCCC offers excellent degree programs in these traditional art disciplines, but now we also offer some non-traditional studies of art as well.