Professor of English Jim Hoy talks about his experiences on his ranch Sunday afternoon outside of Emporia. Hoy says that he has strong ties to the Flint Hills. Chris Franklin/ The Bulletin

For Great Plains native Jim Hoy, professor of English, Kansas is a state full of interesting people and places.

“I was reared in Cassoday and I was raised on a ranch, when I came back to teach, Pat O’Brien set up the Center for Great Plains Studies and I began teaching classes about the Great Plains area,” Hoy said.

Hoy said it was good to do research from the heart of the area he specializes in. The folklore of the area holds a specific interest to Hoy because he said it makes him look for “the extraordinary in the ordinary” from people.

One of Hoy’s favorite legends involves Bill Pickett, a cowboy famous for his invention of bull dogging. Pickett said he would show some locals something they had never seen before. Allegedly, Pickett leapt from a horse and brought down a steer with his teeth.

Hoy was featured on the History Channel, aiding with some research on Joseph McCoy, the founder of Abilene as a cow town. He offered to let them shoot some footage of their cattle on his son’s ranch.

“It was a really interesting experience,” Hoy said. “We spent three hours one morning driving the cows in a circle, and I asked him how much of that would be in the movie, and he said about 10 seconds.”

After graduating from K-State, he worked odd jobs including on the railroad and doing some rodeo and ranch work. Hoy said he won enough money in calf roping that he didn’t need to work for awhile. When he realized he would need to work, he began to teach.

“I started teaching in El Dorado, and I taught there for two years, and eighth graders drove me to college,” Hoy said.

He wound up at Emporia State after finishing his graduate studies and he said he was glad for that because the Center for Great Plains Studies opened up shortly after his joining the school. He soon became the chair.

Hoy also writes a weekly news column for the newspaper “Plains Folk,” which he has been writing for since 1983.

Brianna VanSchoelandt, senior English major, said she enjoys Hoy’s classes because of his broad knowledge base.

“I really like Hoy because he’s an endless supply of knowledge and information – He seems to know something about everything,” VanSchoelandt said.

Hoy’s personable and approachable nature makes him a favorite teacher of Chelsea Lewis, senior English major.

“I’ve taken a class from him every semester for the past two and a half years, he has his niche and he knows everything about it,” Lewis said.

Along with teaching Hoy raises horses on his land and also helps out with his son’s cattle ranch. The Hoys have six horses, and he used to make his own hay. He also breaks his own colts though he no longer shoes them.

Hoy also spent time as the chair of the American Folklife Center Board of Trustees. He was appointed to the board by Sen. Bob Dole. Other members of this board during his tenure included Mickey Hart, the drummer for The Grateful Dead, and professors from schools like Harvard.

Charlie Heptas

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Brianna VanSchoelandt

The world has been mourning the tragedy that occurred in Haiti last week. Countries have been donating millions of dollars along with supplies and volunteers to help the earthquake victims.

Pat Robertson feels differently. The day after the quake, Robertson, a Conservative televangelist, said on his “700 Club” television show that the earthquake was “a blessing in disguise” because of all the money flooding in to help the victims.

This may seem like a mild statement, even a sincere one since the victims are receiving some care, but Robertson apparently has no apathy for the Haitians, according to his following quote:

“Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the Third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, ‘We will serve you, if you will get us free from the Prince.’ True story. And so the Devil said, ‘OK it’s a deal.’ And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But, ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another.”

Wow. “True story,” according to Robertson. Was he there, I wonder, when the “pact” was forged? Maybe he was waiting in line to strike his own television deal with the Prince of Darkness himself.  Instead of offering consolation and sympathy to the millions of people killed or hurt in the earthquake, Robertson seems more interested in insulting them while they are down.

On the show Robertson apparently tries to convince people that the deal in question was indeed made. He remarks that the neighboring Dominican Republic is flourishing financially with healthy citizens and resorts galore while Haiti’s residents are “in desperate poverty.” This is irrefutable evidence that Haiti did make the deal since they have been “cursed” while the Dominicans with whom they share the island are doing so well – according to Robertson’s thinking.

Chris Roslan, spokesman for the Christian Broadcasting Network, which airs Robertson’s show, said in a press release later in the same day as Robertson gave his history lesson on Haiti’s deal with the Devil, that the Haitian slave rebellion in 1791, combined with the recent earthquake, has “led countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed.” Roslan also stated that Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear – if you watch the entire video segment.

Man do I feel like a fool! How could I have missed the “compassion” in the video clip I watched? Perhaps I was too stunned with the entire Devil dealing discussion that I missed the prayer Robertson called in for the servants of Satan.

How is that a constructive way to deal with the situation? Saying those hurtful and inappropriate things is not going to fix the problems in Haiti. What the world needs right now is positive and proactive words to inspire others to get involved and help those who need it. Especially from a spiritual leader! We all look to them for guidance in times of crisis, and that’s what he has to say?

As a college student in the heart of Kansas, it is probably easy to feel that you we cannot make a difference in places as far away as Haiti. But we all can make the situation better, through small actions that take only moments to complete.

We just have to remember that the individual has a lot of power, whether we realize it or not. We all can do good, or in Robertson’s case, damage, in times of suffering. We must choose to do good for those who really need it.

There may be many more deaths to come, as the Haitians are still in distress because of the lack of food, water, medical attention and basic sanitary conditions. Donating help is quick and easy if you are interested. You can find all the information you need at www.redcross.org or simply text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross relief for Haiti.

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Brianna VanSchoelandt

I am sure most of us have done it. Answered a quick phone call or returned a short text while driving. I used to do it all the time. Even though I heard about cell phone-related accidents and even deaths, still for some reason I felt I was invincible – that something serious would never happen to me because I am a superb multi-tasker.

Well that feeling of security came crashing down – literally – this summer. There had a been a few close calls in the past where I almost rear-ended a car because I was distracted by texting, but luckily I have amazing brakes and an innate ability to know the precise when moment to swerve to avoid the bumper in front of me.

This summer, however, was another story. I was driving home from work one night, playing on my new phone (thanks, Facebook) when I looked up and all I saw was the pale green of a new Volkswagen. I stomped the brakes and my tires screeched as they had so many times before, but this time I did not have enough time to swerve or even stop (even though I was only going about 30 mph) to avoid a collision.

The Volkswagen in turn tapped the minivan in front of it. We all pulled into a Taco Bell parking lot to make sure everyone was okay. Minivan guy was fine and he left. Volkswagen and I exchanged phone numbers so we would not have to file a police report.

I though I was off the hook since there was not really any visible damage and Volkswagen and I agreed he would take his car in for some estimates and I would pay the cost out of pocket.

About 20 minutes later, everything began to snowball. He called me to say his hood would not open and something was leaking so we exchanged insurance information. This was my first time being in trouble with the insurance guys and I was terrified. My rate has yet to go up but I know it is only a matter of time and who knows how expensive it will be then.

According to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study conducted this summer, people who are texting and driving are 23 times more likely to crash or be in a near-crash situation than undistracted drivers.

The study noted that the average time someone’s eyes are away from the road while texting is 4.6 seconds. This, they say, is essentially the same as traveling the distance of a football field at 55 mph blindfolded. I can not think of anyone who would drive with their eyes closed for nearly five seconds, which is basically the same thing, so why do people still text?

The study also noted that texting while driving is one of the most dangerous activities one can do behind the wheel and its dangers rival those of driving while drunk.

Steven Yantis is a cognitive psychologist and professor at John Hopkins University and is an expert in the area of multitasking. He states that when your attention shifts toward one thing (like texting) it shifts away from another (like the road).

Yantis states that most people think they are better at multitasking than they really are, and that’s because most of the time, errors have no consequences. But when you are operating a potentially deadly machine- like a car- one small error could end up disastrous.

I know it seems harmless to answer a text, but it is slightly safer to place a phone call if you have to. The ideal situation would be to wait until you are not driving to use your phone. Think about it – if you were in an accident – either a fender-bender or a car-totaler – is that text message worth it? I know if I could go back, I would have waited until I got home to play with my new phone.

Because of my accident, I do not text and drive anymore. If someone is in the car with me I simply ask them to type for me. If it is too important to wait, I make a call rather than text. No message could possibly be more important than my life, or the life of someone else.

Brianna VanSchoelandt/The Bulletin

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Brianna VanSchoelandt

I have many fond memories of my high school’s Homecoming and all the events during Spirit Week. From spray painting the sidewalk to spilling blood while working on the class float, I was dedicated, and I was excited. I dressed up every day of Spirit Week, watched all the parades, and cheered loudly at the games. My favorite part of Homecoming was dressing up for the dance and sharing moments with my friends.

It has been years since I attended a Homecoming game and I miss the feeling of unity I once felt among my fellow classmates. This year, the football players of ESU will just have to try and push through the game with the heavy knowledge of my absence weighing on their minds.

I just cannot get into the Homecoming spirit that I used to enjoy so much. There are many reasons for this conundrum. First of all, I do not feel as connected with my fellow Hornets as I did with my high school classmates. With varying schedules and a student body of 5,500 more people, it is harder to share the same experiences with my ESU classmates than it was with my old high schoolers.

Secondly, I will be missing the game and festivities this year because I do not spend my weekends in Emporia. Actually, because of my work schedule, I do not participate in any extracurricular activities, a situation I am sure many students face.

Another reason I am not excited about Homecoming is a seeming lack of advertisement. The only times I see anything related to Homecoming are the few signs posted around campus telling me to vote for royalty or when I get on the school’s Web site, where there is a Haunted Homecoming 2009 link.

The Web site does a great job of amping excitement for Homecoming. There is an agenda for Homecoming week, from when to vote for Homecoming royalty to when the parade is. There are actually a myriad of activities planned for Homecoming week. Students can purchase a Homecoming button and receive discounts at certain Emporia businesses, go on a tour of ESU to learn of its haunted history, attend a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” performance and dance in costume to the band “Sleepwalk, a Robot.”

Although there are so many activities going on, if I had not looked up the information on the Web site myself, I would have little knowledge of them. If the activities of Homecoming were advertised more I believe there would be more student involvement and excitement for what should be a fun and memorable time.

Another glaring discrepancy I notice between my cherished high school Homecomings and this year’s is the importance of Homecoming royalty. I do not feel as compelled as I once did to vote for king and queen. Probably because I have no idea who the candidates are and I do not have the time to get to know them during the Meet the Homecoming Royalty Candidates portion of the celebration.

There is only a four hour window for the meeting of the candidates, and it all happens in one day. What if I have class during that time? I, like many other students, would not get the chance to meet them and afterwards make an educated decision when it comes to voting for them.

Also, there does not seem to be the same kind of honor in winning royalty in college as there was in high school. Everybody is familiar with the high school Homecoming queen, but I have never heard a song about a college Homecoming queen.

Lastly, one huge reason for my decision to not attend Homecoming is its date. Although it might not have been purposefully planned, Homecoming lands on Halloween (hence the Haunted Homecoming). Perhaps if it were not on a holiday that I enjoy celebrating with friends I would be more apt to attend.

I know I will remember my high school’s Homecomings for years to come, but sadly I do not think I will be able to look back on my college years and say I went to any Homecoming activities.

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VanSchoelandt

Walking around in Wal-Mart the other day, I noticed dozens of magazines still mourning Michael Jackson’s death and flashing rumors about celebrity relationships. It seems I cannot pass through a grocery line or flip through the channels on my T.V. without hearing the latest celebrity gossip.

More and more it seems our society is concerned with celebrities’ private lives than what truly matters. Almost every magazine cover or pop culture television station is spattered with the intimate details of Hugh Heffner’s divorce or the uncertain future of Michael Jackson’s children.

Why it is so many Americans care more about the status of a strangers’ marriage rather than important issues that, in reality, have a bigger impact on them? The fact that our country is in the deepest recession since the Great Depression or that we are oil hogs and are using up our planet’s natural resources at an ever-increasing rate is pushed to the back burner if a movie starlet is found with drugs in her car, famous sisters are feuding, or a late-night talk show host passes away.

Although it is not unnatural for our country to mourn the loss of a familiar face or great entertainer, it is almost as though the nation forgets how to function with the loss of one person. The fact that the national debt is almost $11.8 trillion or the U.S. troop death toll in Iraq is over 4,000 almost goes unnoticed.

What about the soldiers overseas? Sure, a fatality may be mentioned on the evening news, or multiple deaths may even warrant brief national coverage, but are there day-long memorials for these individuals who are keeping this country safe and free? Do any of these soldiers get featured on the cover of multiple magazines? It is almost an insult to them when a news anchor offhandedly reads off the current death toll from a teleprompter only to quickly move on to the headlining story where some movie star’s child is having a birthday.

What is even more amazing is how short our attention spans are. Once some new drama pops up on the internet our attention is snatched away from one finite rumor to the next, while the whole time our economy is still suffering, and international pandemics are still affecting people worldwide.

Rumors from TMZ that Michael Jackson’s children were all born of surrogate mothers and donated sperm seem to be much more interesting to hear than the fact that 3,205 people globally have lost their lives to the Swine Flu so far.

It seems that not only are Americans addicted to oil, they are also addicted to gossip. Although there is nothing wrong with being interested in celebrities, our nation needs to stop revolving their lives around people they do not even really know, and start focusing on how to fix the issues that continue to plague our country.

-Brianna VanSchoelandt/The Bulletin.

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Junior physics major Kiwamu Otsuka and freshman physics major Tetsuya Yamamoto, both former participants in the Sakae Institute of Study Abroad, talk to each other in the Memorial Union Tuesday. The Sakae Institute of Study Abroad is a special program that prepares Japanese students for their studies in the United States. JONATHAN ELLIOT/THE BULLETIN

Emporia State hosted 17 Japanese students from June 6- July 31 in an eight week program known as the Sakae Institute of Study Abroad.

The program was founded in 1972 by Yoko Sakae, who felt that international students needed a support system to help them through their transition into American schools.

The Sakae students start off with this program to ease their transition into American classrooms so they can obtain a degree from an American school. Sakae counselors visit the students three times throughout the program to ensure they are adjusting well and to offer advice if they are not.

Tetsuya Mihama, an undergrad in Music, said he was glad he came to the Sakae program.

“The program made it easy to enter the university,” Mihama said. It also prepared him to learn in American classrooms.

During the first three weeks, the students took intensive English classes based on their knowledge of English.

The last five weeks, the students take English classes along with other classes of their choice, from Economics and History to Interpersonal Communication and many others.

Shota Nojiri, an undergrad in History, said he liked how the program built up his basic English skills and that his English is gradually improving. He took a politics and a computer class as his electives during the eight-week program.

Nojiri said that his views are broadening since he came to the U.S. and the way he is interacting with people is changing. He transferred from Rikkyo University in Japan.

“The library (at ESU) is available much longer,” Nojiri said. “Libraries in Japan close early and the cafeteria and bookstore are easier to take advantage of.”

Overall, he said the Sakae program was a positive experience and he would recommend it to others.

The Institute is designed to help students find a college or university that meets their educational goals and help counsel them throughout the eight weeks to see that they are progressing smoothly.

There are also three program assistants who help the students adjust to college life by setting up activities, arranging transportation, and tutoring. These assistants are ESU students who have applied to help the international ones.

Harry Imbeau, the director of International Education, participated in the first year of the program in 2002 and served as the Program Assistant this summer. He believes the program “absolutely” benefits the students because of the great support it offers.

Sheryl Lidzy, who has taught in the program for the past three years and taught the Interpersonal Communications class this summer, also thinks the program is good for the international students.

“Students were forced to learn in an American class, in a safe environment,” she said. Lidzy also said that most of the students had a great experience, despite the culture shock.

When asked if she would teach during the program again next summer, she said she would because she enjoys it.

“It’s nice to feel like it counts, like it matters,” Lidzy said.

Of the 17 international students who participated in the Sakae program this year, five stayed at ESU to obtain degrees. Three more students who participated in the program at other schools transferred to ESU.

The Sakae Institute runs out of Japan, China, and Boston, Mass., and is also expanding into Thailand and Vietnam so more students have the opportunity to attend American schools.

Brianna VanSchoelandt/The Bulletin

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