You cannot change a person into someone you want them to be.

Those were among the words of wisdom Debbie Chansombat had to offer students who attended a seminar entitled “Playing the Relationship Game” on campus Nov. 10. Chansombat said it is vital to cultivate relationships with those who already have the characteristics.

The seminar was headed by Chansombat and Nate Cottle, family life education professor at the University of Central Oklahoma.

In 1990, then President George H.W. Bush designated the month of November as Native American Heritage month, according to nps.gov.

Candice Parker, of the Comanche Nation and President of the Native American Student Association, said she and club members want to honor this month by bringing awareness to the Native American heritage through events on campus.

The road to better health can be made simple with helpful ideas that can be life-changing, said Lisa Vaughan, Employee Wellness Task Force chairwoman, in a Nov. 2 luncheon speech that focused on nutrition.

About 20 students attended the event.

Vaughan, an aerobics instructor, believes diets are only a temporary solution to losing weight.

“It has to be a lifestyle change,” she said.

Students were lectured on the importance of financial planning during the final Money Matters session, held from noon to 12:45 p.m. yesterday in CU3.

Rebecca McGee, ING representative, spoke at the event.

“If you are one of those people, like I was, who can’t live on what you’re making right now, ask for help,” McGee said.

She said that professors and even Financial Aid could help students with financial advice.

The Advocates of Peace will participate in the annual Fall Peace Festival from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14, at the Civic Center Hall of Mirrors, said Katie Williams, club president.

The Civic Center Hall of Mirrors is located at 201 N. Walker in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Peace Education Institute is a non-profit, Oklahoma-based organization founded in 2007. The organization’s purpose is to provide educational opportunities to children, youth and adults that will contribute to non-violence in all aspects of living and encourage people to become active in peaceful social change.

After working with OCCC’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries on and off for the past 32 years, director Mike Barnett will be stepping down. Taking his place will be Denny Freeman, another leader who has worked with the BCM in Oklahoma for more than 20 years.

Since classes have resumed this semester, Barnett and Freeman have led the BCM meetings together as a team, but Freeman will soon be on his own.

Eight high school students in OCCC’s Upward Bound program served as volunteer workers at the Fillmore Elementary School Fall Festival on Oct. 15.

Fillmore is part of the Oklahoma City Public School system and is located at 5200 S. Blackwelder Ave.

Participant John Nguyen, 17, from Westmoore High School, said he enjoyed helping out.

The Oct. 12 Photography Club meeting was all fun and games as members planned its booth for OCCC’s annual Halloween Carnival Oct. 29, in the College Union.

Vice President Megan Riggs said the club is reorganizing after nearly a year without any members.

During the first meeting, she said, members also elected officers, including Julie Bragg as president.

A gaggle of ghouls, ghosts and goblins will haunt the campus Friday night, Oct. 29, when OCCC hosts its annual Halloween Carnival from 6 to 8:30 p.m., said Katie Treadwell, Service Learning and Student Life Program Coordinator.

The event is designed to entertain children from the area, as well as children of OCCC students. Ages typically range from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, she said.

“We wanted to provide a safer option for children on Halloween,” Treadwell said.

Thirteen new student members joined the ranks of the Kappa Beta Delta international business honor society in a ceremony on campus Oct. 8.

The Beta Epsilon Chapter of KBD has among the most difficult membership standards for student organizations on campus, said Germain Pichop, business department chair and KBD faculty sponsor.