New piece of art added to FLITE
Mark Chatterley adds his collection to the Art Walk.

By Abby Bearman
News Editor

In the words of the creator
Artist Mark Chatterley gives the crowd his take on "Journey to the Body Collective," a collection of sculptures on the second floor of FLITE.
Photo By: Dan Gellasch
Photo Editor

A new part of the Michigan Art Walk was unveiled Tuesday, Oct. 29 in FLITE. "Journey to the Body Collective," a collection of sculptures by Michigan artist Mark Chatterley, now graces the wall of the reading room.

According to Barbara Chapman, vice president of Academic Affairs, "We won't consider the art if it is not created by an award-winning Michigan artist."

The art walk follows a trail of original artwork that has been installed throughout the campus.

Richard Cochran, dean of the Library and chief information officer, stated at the unveiling that "this is a multi-faceted structure and the celebration of art is a wonderful opportunity one has with a building such as this.

"You can't get enough art in FLITE. The display of art is really for the students and their learning experiences," Cochran added.

Another speaker at the unveiling, R. Thomas Cook, the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees, reflected with a smile that during his time as a student at Ferris, "There was a library here, yet not many of us went into it."

He went on to reinforce the fact that the Board of Trustees has committed itself to continue to beautify the campus.

"The growth of the arts here on campus can be seen, not just through the art walk, but through the walls of the Rankin Center Art Gallery and on the stage of Williams Auditorium," Cook stated.

Finally, Dr. John Cullen, professor of literature, spoke, telling the audience that one of the principles of the Art Walk project is to "create a feeling of mutual support between art and the environment."

The artist, Mark Chatterley, is from Williamston, Mich., and has been working with clay from a very young age.

"As a child we would get clay from the river and let it dry in the sun - I've always been playing in the mud," Chatterley said.

In creating his piece, Chatterley sought to explain how we all fit into what life is all about.

"We're not here to stay, we're here to go out. We're leaving to become part of a greater organism."

Each of the sculptures was hand-made. "I don't do anything on molds; we have become too much of a mechanical society," Chatterley explained.

He worked at a pace of 6-8 inches per day and created 14 sculptures. However, only 12 hang on the reading room wall.

"One had a crack in it and it's in my personal collection out back in the woods, and another I added things to and created a different piece of art. There are 12 numbers on the clock; it's a power number," Chatterley said.

The sculptures are hollow with 1/4-inch thick walls and they are hung on two-pronged brackets mounted onto the wall.

The finish on them is composed of a silicon carbide glaze that gives them a "dug-up look," according to Chatterley.

He uses 60,000 pounds of clay every year and it takes him three months to fill his kiln with work before he fires it at 2,300 degrees.

Chatterley concluded by saying, "Hopefully, 100 years from now, it will still have the same meaning."

An apple a day
Birkam Health Center doctors are available for students.

By Jessica Wortley
Ferris State Torch

Ready to help
Dr. Susan Davis looks over some papters at the Birkam Health Center.
Photo By: Alicia LaFrance
Assistant Photo Editor

As winter approaches and the flu and cold season begins, many students may be wondering what to do if they get sick.

The answer lies no further than visiting the Birkam Health Center, located next to Johnson Hall on north campus.

Birkam has two full-time physicians on staff, Susan Davis, D.O., and Keith Newell, M.D.

These two doctors each work at Birkam 40 hours a week and offer services similar to that of a private family practice office.

The two doctors say the most common illnesses treated are respiratory infections.

According to Davis, these can include colds, sinusitis, ear infections and sore throats. The physicians see approximately 8,700 students a year, although all health center visits total around 12,800.

Davis has worked at Ferris since May of 1990. Before that, she had her own general practice in Big Rapids from 1977-1989. When asked why she liked working at Ferris over a hospital or general practice, Davis responded, "This job is the best in town. It gives me intellectual challenges and enough time off to enjoy my family and hobbies."

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from Michigan State University in 1973 before going on to osteopathic school and earning a Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 1976, also from Michigan State.

Newell graduated in 1972 from Western Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He then got his medical degree from University of Michigan in 1978.

From 1978-1981 Newell completed a family practice residency and then worked from 1981-1987 as a physician in the U.S. Public Health Service and in a private practice.

In 1987, his practice was breaking up and Ferris had an opening, so he took the job. He started in September 1987 and has been here for 15 years.

"I like working at Ferris because it keeps me largely out of the business aspects of medicine, which I don't like very well," Newell commented.

When not working at Ferris, Newell likes hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. He said he attends some Ferris events but spends most of his time off at home.

Davis said she enjoys attending the Ferris Jazz concerts, and mentioned that there's one coming up on Nov. 21.

Her hobbies and interests include organic gardening, church activities and studying nutrition and natural therapies. She lives at home with her husband and two parrots.

In addition to the two physicians, there are many other people at the health center, including nurses Shirley Ream, Phyllis Lindsay, Judy Issette and Sharon Parker; clerical employees Nancy Sage, Karen Sims, Carol Johnson and Sharon Metcalf; pharmacist Joe Ward; and director Paul Sullivan.

According to Newell, "these are the people that keep the health center humming."

Birkam is open Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8-11 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. On Thursdays, the health center closes at 3:30 p.m.

Services provided include gynecological and contraceptive care, physicals, allergy shots, immunizations and some lab work.

Students can be seen mainly on a walk-in basis but appointments are needed for Pap and pelvic exams, physicals and rechecks.

During flu season, the health center is very busy, and if students cannot wait they may be advised to visit the urgent care center at nearby Mecosta County General Hospital.

The basic charge for an office visit is $25, but the cost may be higher depending on the degree of service or procedures.

Students have two weeks to pay the bill or set up a payment plan.

They are advised to check with the Birkam billing department in regards to their own personal medical insurance, as the health center does not accept all types of insurance.

For more information or to set up an appointment, please call the health center at 591-2614.

Save a life drive to be held at Student Rec Center
Blood isn't the only thing students can offer to others.

By Adam Wiese
Ferris State Torch

A blood drive will be held tomorrow, Nov. 7 on Ferris State's campus at the Student Recreation Center.

This drive is being sponsored by the Ferris student chapter of the American Red Cross and will take place from noon until 5:45 p.m.

This particular blood drive, however, is going to be different.

Along with donating your blood, students who participate in this blood drive can have their blood marrow type submitted on a national blood marrow donor list.

Marrow is the tissue in the cavities of bones that contain stem cells, which produce red and white blood cells.

While donating blood like at any other blood drive, patients will also donate a test tube of blood for analysis and submission to the National Marrow Donor Program.

Once registered on the program, patients who need a bone marrow transplant can contact possible matches on the marrow list.

One of the best aspects of this program is the fact that the donors don't have to pay for anything.

"All testing is being paid for by a grant we (Red Cross) have received for this drive," Lisa Zelt, president of the Red Cross Student Chapter, said. "If you are matched to donate, you will also pay $0."

"In addition, all minorities are always tested for free because of a nation-wide grant to diversify the national registry," Zelt stated. "Many minorities cannot find matches because the list is not very diverse."

If interested in participating in this upcoming Save a Life drive, donors must be at least 18 years old and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.

Also, it is recommended that donors eat a good breakfast/lunch on Thursday and drink lots of fluids.

If you are going to donate blood, plan for Red Cross officials to draw one pint of blood.

"College students are the prime age to be marrow and blood donors," Zelt noted. "You can save someone's life. What else matters?"

For more information on donating marrow, call 1-800-MARROW-2 or go online to www.marrow.org .

Study Abroad Fair displays opportunities for students
Ferris students learn about traveling around the world.

By Adam Wiese
Ferris State Torch

The Study Abroad Fair, sponsored by the Ferris Study Abroad Program, took place on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Rankin Center Dome Room.

The goal of this fair was to promote international benefits to students and let them know of the opportunities available to them for studying abroad.

Over 100 students attended the fair and were exposed to the wide variety of foreign locales where students could take classes.

Just a few of the possible countries to travel to include Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and New Zealand.

Many different courses are being offered through the Study Abroad program, all of which are taught in English. Some examples of subjects include international business, nursing and accounting.

Students at the Study Abroad Fair also learned that there are two different types of ways to study abroad.

One way is to stay a whole semester or academic year in another country.

The other programs are called faculty-led programs, which take about two weeks to complete, where a student travels with a Ferris professor.

These programs are carried out during the summer or over spring break, and are usually taken as a three-credit class.

According to Debbie Carley, Ferris' Study Abroad coordinator, there are three benefits to studying abroad.

"Of course, the first benefit affects you academically," Carley said, "since you earn credits which help you graduate from Ferris."

"You are also benefited professionally," Carley stated. "Many employers today look for employees who are open-minded and take risks. When studying overseas, employers can easily see that you have those two characteristics."

"Most importantly, a student is affected personally," Carley said. "Many students come back to Ferris with a whole new point of view on life. Studying abroad can open many new cultural perspectives that would not be seen otherwise if you just studied in America."

If students are interested in these trips, but are worried about not being able to afford them, there are some forms of financial aid available.

As long as students satisfy a minimum amount of credits for an academic semester, they have the possibility of earning some financial aid.

"On average, the overall cost of studying abroad varies depending on the trip," Carley expressed. "The location of where you are traveling, the amount of time you study abroad, and many other factors affect the cost of a trip.

"Considering all of the benefits that you will receive, how can you not afford to study abroad?" Carley said.

For more information regarding these programs, call Carley at 591-3921.

Where the money goes
United Way of Mecosta-Osceola Counties spreads money to 21 service groups.

By Amy McElmurray
Assistant News Editor

"Where does the money go?" seems to be a question on many students' minds when asked to donate to the United Way. After being asked to "make your caring count," many students are able to scrounge up a dollar or two, but with no idea what their dollar will do.

The budget for the Mecosta-Osceola United Way is broken into eight areas. Of every dollar you give:

~ 5 cents will help strengthen families

~ 6 cents will help older citizens

~ 7 cents will be uncollectable

~ 10 cents will help with mental and physical health

~ 13 cents will work towards safety and justice

~ 18 cents will be used for management of the campaign

~ 19 cents will help youth development

~ 22 cents will go towards economic survival.

Six of the eight categories represent subgroups of the 21 organizations that will receive funding from this year's campaign.

Organizations that help strengthen families are the Kent 4-C Regional Child Care, Mecosta Habitat for Humanity and Catholic Social Services.

Help for older citizens includes the Senior Meals Program and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, both through the Commission on Aging of Mecosta and Osceola counties.

The Hospice of Michigan and Human Aid, Inc. represent mental and physical health organizations.

To help with safety and justice, the Western Michigan Legal Services, Mecosta-Osceola Youth Attention and Women's Information Service will ask for funding.

The youth development section includes Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, Michigan Trails Girl Scout Council, Mecosta County 4-H Program and FSU Student Volunteer Center.

The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Project Starburst and Northwest Osceola Food Pantry comprise the last group of organizations that help with economic survival.

Part of the United Way budget has to cover operating costs.

Eighteen percent of the total budget pays for fundraising materials, office expenses and the salary of the executive director.

There is also a percentage of the budget that is considered uncollectable. This seven percent stems from those who pledge a donation but do not follow through monetarily.

FSU has decided as a whole to officially support the United Way, setting a campaign goal for students of $3,000.

Student Government moves forward with Business
The State of the Student Union address will be given on Nov. 26.

By Jessica Wortley
Ferris State Torch

During its weekly meeting last Tuesday, Student Government focused its efforts on breaking into committees to discuss issues concerning dining services, the constitution, SAFAC and SAPC.

The committee looking into dining services will be focusing on longer hours of operation for each dining facility and the possibility of opening more facilities on the weekend.

In addition, according to Vice President for Governmental Affairs Mircea Cotosman, four employees of dining services will be coming to a Student Government meeting within the next month to further discuss these issues.

Another committee will be discussing minor changes to the Student Government constitution. Last spring, Student Government completely redid the constitution and had it approved through a campus-wide vote. However, according to Vice President for Rules Catrina Farrugia, some minor changes and revisions to bylaws are still needed for clarification purposes.

The third major committee will be looking at re-working SAFAC and SAPC to the make the allocation processes easier for all involved.

It was discussed during the meeting that problems have arisen involving lack of communication between the two groups and the criteria for RSO's that are asking for money.

One possible solution that was brought up involves combining SAFAC and SAPC into one group.

This and other possibilities will be researched and brought before Student Government at a later date.

President Kaci Baars mentioned that her State of the Student Union address will be Nov. 26 at Java Jack's from 5-7 p.m.

This address is open for everyone to attend. Also, the location for Student Government meetings will be changed to the Presidents Room in Rankin next semester.

During his report, Advisor Dan Burcham announced that Ferris will soon be accepting SAT as well as ACT scores from incoming students and will also be raising the criteria for certain scholarships, such as the Residential Life scholarship.

He also mentioned that the Good Neighbors Association is pleased with the work Ferris has done and would like Student Government to send out another letter to student renters.

Other items that were discussed during the meeting included working with the Associated Michigan Universities on Proposal 4, the opening of the new coffee shop in Rankin Center, the second reading of a resolution regarding the Ferris Web page, and the tailgating situation.

"Guys and Dolls" equals a successful show for Ferris.

By Mary Gurnee
Ferris State Torch

The cast of "Guys and Dolls"
The cast of "Guys and Dolls" gather together on Williums Auditorium's stage for a major scene during the musical.
Photo By: Dan Gellasch
Photo Editor

While some people were out at haunted houses or trick-or-treating, many people chose to enjoy a musical for their Halloween festivities.

"Guys and Dolls" was kicked off by an overture played by the pit orchestra, comprised of Ferris State faculty as well as members of the community.

The musical was coming along so well that the orchestra had a hard time reading their music.

"When we first practiced, the orchestra was watching the dress rehearsal and not me," Scott Cohen, music professor and pit orchestra conductor, said.

With the accompaniment of the orchestra, Tom Davis as "Nicely-Nicely Johnson," Jared Frank as "Benny Southstreet," and Rachael Prusi as "Rusty" performed a song called "Fugue for Tinhorns." This piece is a good example of a fugue, which sounds similar to a round.

This musical blends different forms of performances. The comedy lovers in the audience could enjoy the sarcasm of such characters as "Nathan Detroit," performed by Anthony McPherson Jr., and "Sky Masterson" performed by Karl Hartley.

On the other end of the spectrum, there was romance in this musical.

The unexpected attraction between Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown was enough to satisfy the romantics in the audience. "There are different kinds of musicals," Cohen said. "'Guys and Dolls' is a romantic comedy."

On the same spectrum, there were two different kinds of characters.

There were the prim and proper members of the Mission Board, as well as the edgy Hot Box Girls.

The mission board had costumes that were quite professional. The female members even wore ties and bonnets.

"Our costumes are cute, but they are really heavy," Sarah Boynton, a senior in music industry management, said. "I especially like the bonnets."

Members of the audience would agree with Boynton when it comes to the costumes.

"I think that they are really cute," Matt Turner, also a senior in music industry management, said. "You just want to put them in your pocket and take them home with you."

Then there are the Hot Box Girls. The audience hooted and hollered as these girls went from wearing a formal gown to nothing but a corset and fishnet stockings.

"It was a lot of fun," Gerilynn Pearce, music industry management student and Hot Box Girl, said.

Pearce was also the featured Cuban dancer.

This musical also travels to Cuba, as Sky Masterson bets Nathan Detroit that he could get the head of the Mission Board, Sarah Brown (performed by Meghan Ryan), to go to Cuba with him.

While in the process of fulfilling this bet for $1,000, Masterson falls in love with Brown.

This twist of fate causes complications and other twists and turns in the entire production.

This unpredictable musical kept the audience, young and old alike, hooked to the happenings on the stage.

This musical production was an inspiration to new FSU students.

It showed the new students what FSU theater is capable of. Some may even be inspired to audition for upcoming performances this school year.

One may not have noticed, but some actors and actresses in "Guys and Dolls" have never performed on stage or had any involvement in theater before.

Those who have never acted before quickly learn from the more experienced actors.

But performance skills learned in theater continue off the stage.

"Theater is a great addition to any resume," Kurt Zettel II, production manager for "Guys and Dolls," said.

"Guys and Dolls" came together and went smoothly because of the hard work put forth by the running crews and the production staff and crews.

It was apparent by the spectacular performance that a lot of hard work and preparation was put into this production.

The dedication seemed to have paid off, when after a show, the performers and behind-the-scenes crews hug and have smiles stretched across their faces.

This concludes the Torch's five-part series of the making of "Guys and Dolls."

Ferris students climb to the top
The Rockhounds are lurking in the Student Recreation Center.

By Aaron Carriere
Copy Editor

Heading toward the top
Senior Holly Soule climbs the wall at the Student Recreation Center.
Photo By: Alicia LaFrance
Assistant Photo Editor

Interested in a new sport? Ferris State offers students the opportunity to challenge the climbing wall at the Student Recreation Center (UREC) on campus.

One group of climbers on campus is the Rockhounds.

The Rockhounds are a Registered Student Organization (RSO) on campus that formed last spring to bring rock climbers at Ferris together.

"(The Rockhounds) gives everyone an opportunity to meet people who want to climb," Alex Trevino, a senior in criminal justice from St. Louis, Mich., said.

Trevino also serves as the president of the group.

Trevino has been climbing ever since coming to Ferris four years ago.

A unique part of rock climbing is the diversity you can achieve with each individual climb.

"Every time I go climbing, I learn something different," Trevino stated.

The climbing wall at Ferris opened in the winter of 1999. It measures 1,100 square feet and 35 feet tall at the highest point.

The wall offers a unique opportunity for Ferris students to do something out of the ordinary.

The benefits of climbing are numerous, both physically and mentally.

Wendy Dodd, the assistant director of recreation at the UREC, said, "Physically it can be challenging, a good workout for the whole body."

Trevino added that "rock climbing is a combination of weight lifting and running. It builds endurance and muscle."

Denise Mitten, who teaches the rock climbing classes offered at Ferris, agrees.

"Mentally, problem solving, pushing one's self, and sticking to a challenging situation" are all benefits of rock climbing. Mitten has been involved in rock climbing since 1971.

"It teaches you more discipline and a little bit of patience. Mentally, it helps to make you a better person. When you make a route you've never done before, you feel awesome," Trevino added.

Erick Najadowski, a pharmacy student, sees the benefits that rock climbing offers.

"I enjoy the problem solving opportunities it presents. It's a great cardiovascular workout," he said.

Najadowski is taking one of the two rock climbing classes that Ferris offers students.

"One is basic rock climbing and one is for people who want to become instructors," Mitten said regarding this class.

The classes are on a first-come, first-serve basis and allow 14 students for each class. The class teaches students the beginning knowledge they need to know to get started.

"They learn basic belaying and climbing skills," said Mitten. "Belaying is learning how to work the safety rope for the climbers," added Mitten.

Tanner Alanko, a sophomore in marketing and sales, found the class interesting.

"It's fun. It's a good opportunity to learn basic rock climbing and get into a new sport," Alanko commented.

What do you need to start climbing? One option would be to take a rock climbing class. However, the UREC has other options for students who can't fit the class into their schedule.

"There are usually two staffers from 6-8 at night at the wall. If you've never climbed before, it's free," Dodd said.

The first climb gives participates a feel for the wall. After that, students must be certified to climb on their own.

"There is a Wednesday night belay class from 8-10 p.m.," Dodd stated.

The class is a one time session that allows students to be certified for the whole year. The cost of the class is $20.

The recreation center provides students with the necessary climbing equipment for the wall.

However, Trevino said that many students choose to buy their own gear after they learn more about the sport.

"After you start, you're going to want your own gear," Trevino stated. The cost of the gear varies, but the basic equipment can cost under $100.

For some, the climbing experience doesn't just end at Ferris. Trevino has taken trips to Grand Ledge, Alma College and Iron Mountain, among others, to test his climbing skills.

Trevino added that the Rockhounds are hoping to go on some trips, namely to Red River, Tenn. or Eagle Bay in Ontario, Canada.

The UREC might also be sponsoring rock climbing trips outside of the area for students.

Dodd added that they are thinking about ice climbing trips, or a possible trip for spring break.

For more information on the Rockhounds, call Trevino at 591-6486.

The group is always looking for new members, and no experience is necessary.

"Anyone is welcome. We are about having fun as individuals and as a group," Trevino added.

For more information on hours or questions about the wall, contact Dodd at the UREC office at 591-2679.

It's time to get some air
"Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4" is another hit in the series.

By Matt Cherry
Opinions Editor

Last week was a good week for video game releases. The three main releases, at least to me, over the past week were "Shenmue II" for the Xbox, "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" for the PS2 and "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4" on multiple platforms.

Having always been a skater at heart, I made sure to pick up an Xbox version of "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4," or as I'll refer to it from here on out, THPS4.

Suffice it to say, I was not at all disappointed with the product.

THPS4 brings a lot of new features to the series, while bringing back some of the old favorites.

The very first thing that long-time gamers will notice about THPS4 is that the timing of the levels in the career mode has been abolished.

Players can now take as long as they want to check out the nicely laid-out levels.

How the new game deals with missions is simple. While skating around the level on career mode, you'll see people with bluish-green arrows over their heads. Go up and talk to them to get a mission.

The individual missions are timed, and some are actually pretty hard, but you can redo them as often as you'd like.

And a new feature, which allows you to zoom straight to any mission that you've found on any level, makes getting around a lot easier.

The gameplay is a wonder. The controls are as responsive as ever, and the levels are laid out in such a fashion that bagging a multi-combo isn't all that hard to do.

Unfortunately, the larger Xbox controller takes some getting used to for the tricks, as its bulk can really get in the way.

Activision has brought back the old way of getting a better deck from the earlier games with the inclusion of "cash." You get cash for completing missions, and there's some lying around the levels.

You use the cash to purchase new boards, unlock hidden levels and characters, and get some hidden clothing.

Players can still make their own skaters and skate parks, each of which has an increasingly easier-to-use menu and more options. And that's always a good thing.

Visually, Activision has taken a beautiful game ("Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3") and made it even better.

They've taken the time to make the players more rounded in look, and the backgrounds more expansive.

It's really easy to immerse yourself in the game's environments.

Some of your favorite charaters are back. By purchasing their clothing, you can create Officer Dick and everyone's favorite Ollie the Magic Bum.

As for the stars, there's Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, Steve Caballero, Kareem Campbell, Rune Glifberg, Eric Koston, Bucky Lasek, Bam Magera, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, Andrew Reynolds, Geoff Rowley, Elissa Steamer and Jamie Thomas. All of the usuals are back for another romp.

There are even smaller details that have been added in, such as if you pull a switch or revert while skating or pulling a trick, respectively, the wheels will leave behind a residue.

Sure, it only lasts for a while, but they're taking the time to insert these little details.

And if you liked the blood trails from THPS3, they're still here. And if you don't like them, you can turn the blood off.

And if you really like them, there's even a cheat you can buy that makes it bloodier.

Another high point to the "Tony Hawk" series has been its music. And THPS4 does nothing but exceed my expectations.

With a great blend of "Old School" and "New School" rock and rap, there's something for every skater in here.

Whether you like the sounds of Iron Maiden and AC/DC, or the sounds of Public Enemy and Run DMC, there's enough to get you moving on every level.

Plus the voice acting in this game is great. The stars of the game included their voices to give the game a more realistic flavor. The missions are also voice-acted quite nicely.

Other than that, the sound effects don't sound too different from the other games.

There is still the "whoosh" of the skateboard, the sounds of nature and other background noise.

Nothing too special, but they add character to the levels.

Regardless of whether you're an old pro or a newbie, THPS4 will give you a good challenge while not turning anyone away.

And with new multiplayer modes like "Capture the Flag," you and your friends can play this game for hours.

I'd recommend this game to anyone who likes skateboarding, and "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4" gets a very decent 9.3 out of 10.

Award winning films at Ferris
Professor Clayton Rye displays creativity in and out of the classroom.

By Matthew Gatesy
Ferris State Torch

Clayton Rye
Professor Clayton Rye works on one of the television production and digital media program's cameras.
Photo By: Dan Gellasch
Photo Editor

Professor Clayton Rye may seem like the average Ferris professor, until it is discovered how much creativity he puts into his work.

Rye is a professor in the Television and Digital Media Production department at Ferris State and it is the best job he has ever had.

Rye said, "Ferris is different from every other place I've worked because they encourage creativity."

Born in 1948, Rye grew up in Mount Clemens, Mich.

Before attending college, Rye volunteered to go to Vietnam where he served as an Infantry Sergeant for almost two years.

Rye has used his Vietnam experiences as a means for creative inspiration.

"I have a lot of creative energy concerning Vietnam because I know about it," Rye said. "I've done so much on Vietnam I sometimes try to get away from it on purpose, but I keep coming back to it."

After the war, Rye earned his BA in Advertising from Michigan State in 1973 and his MFA in Cinema from the University of Southern California in 1977.

During his time at USC, Professor Rye created two award winning videos. The first video, "F.N.G.," is a term the soldiers in Vietnam used for any soldier who had not yet been under enemy fire.

After "F.N.G.," Rye created "Boom."

"Boom is probably my favorite of all the films I have made because it was so economical," Rye said. "It tells a story in just over a minute."

"Boom" is available on-line at http://www.atomfilms.com by searching for "Boom."

After graduating from USC, Rye worked a couple of jobs before settling down at Ferris State University.

From 1977-1985 he worked as a Producer/Director for PBS.

During this time, he worked on a variety of programs, most notably his award-winning one hour documentary "Ten Vietnam Vets," which shows that all Vietnam Veterans are not as Hollywood portrays them.

After leaving PBS, Rye worked as a Video Supervisor for St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix.

"I enjoyed my time at St. Joseph's, but it wasn't what I really wanted to do," Rye said. "It's difficult to be creative making hospital training videos."

Finally in 1988, Rye learned of an open teaching position at Ferris.

"I had always thought I would like to teach eventually," Rye said. "That's why I agreed to come to Ferris and check things out."

After visiting the campus and learning about the program Ferris had to offer, Rye was hooked.

Rye said, "I saw the great hands-on program Ferris was offering and I thought, 'What a great opportunity for me.'"

While teaching at Ferris, Rye has continued to create award-winning works. In 1989 he created "Taking Care of Business," an educational/public relations piece promoting Yates Dial-A-Ride. "Taking Care of Business" won two awards from the Michigan Transportation Association.

Rye said, "The awards for Taking Care of Business were very exciting because it was going up against the big companies like GM and Chrysler."

Professor Rye has an interesting hobby which he used to create another video in 1990, "Yard Sale. A How To Video."

"I love to go to garage sales and collect old cameras," Rye said. "I probably have close to 200 now."

As the name implies, Yard Sale is an informational video on how to set up your own garage sale. It is sold primarily to libraries.

Rye's latest work, "Drawing Flies," is a post-Vietnam War drama which has been in production for five years. Although finished, Rye does still not have a definite distributor.

Another of Rye's films, "Frontiers," was recently shown at the Ann Arbor Cinema Scan. More of Rye's films may be screened there in the near future.

For his next project, Rye hopes to work with Dr. David Pilgrim on a documentary about the Jim Crow museum.

After all of his awards, Professor Clayton Rye still believes that teaching at Ferris is the best job he's ever had.

Rye's favorite part about teaching at Ferris is getting to work with the students and using his own creativity to inspire theirs.

"I enjoy the department and working with the students," Rye said. "I enjoy seeing what they come up with."

Education and the single college student
We have to ask ourselves if education is really what it's supposed to be.

By Aaron Hatfield
Ferris State Torch

Not only are college students faced with the many faceted demons that they have dealt with since the dawn of the sixties, but a new demon has been added.

Now students must face the harsh reality of an ever-rising unemployment rate and economic hardship.

Students are spending thousands and thousands of dollars towards their schooling in order to get a good job, good pay and a livable lifestyle, only to get out of school with a pessimistic hiring market.

This now causes many students fresh out of high school to ask, "Why do I want to go to college and spend tons of money to end up without a decent job or less of a wage than I could get by working in a local shop?"

I was recently faced with this question when my program visited a large-scale local company.

This company came right out and said that they were not hiring due to the economic state that the government was in; most companies are not, in fact, and when they are, they will be starting graduates with an associate degree at $12-14 per hour.

Right out of high school, I was offered a $16-17 per hour job, and working this summer I made slightly less than that.

College is inescapable, yet it is now in question.

Why am I spending over $10,000 per year to get an education without the positive outlook of a rewarding future after graduation?

Where's the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel?

Education, in most circumstances, is a screwed-up system.

You are doomed to pay $25-50,000 dollars on classes and knowledge that is supposed to get you a bright future and decent pay, yet most people who I talked to could not obtain a job after getting their degree, or a decent-paying job for that matter, like they had thought before or during their schooling.

It ended as a sort of fantasy world that they lived day to day, going to classes.

Yet, like I said before, education is inescapable. We are slaves to it. We are raised to go to college, get a decent paying job and money to live better than our parents were able to.

We go through high school being pushed to make the decision of which college we are going to attend and what our major is going to be there. We are then thrust into a world of employers who have control over what we make and if we make anything at all.

They then dangle a required degree in our face, only to tell us in the end that they are not hiring or will start us out at an incomparable wage to that of what we spent to gain the opportunity to be smacked in the face.

Don't get me wrong. I am in the same position and, like the rest of Ferris students, I am paying out money for this education in hopes of a good future-but that is exactly what they are: hopes.

It is not education in itself that causes this dilemma. It is, in a big part, our government's fault.

Unemployment is rising, the rise of hourly earnings is slowing, and our economy suffers because of our government's inability to be economically stable. At the beginning of this year, unemployment was up 1.5 percent from 2001.

The aftershocks of Sept. 11 did not help the economy either. Our government has a spending problem that curses its citizens from the possibility of a bright, growing future.

I am left only to say that we are all in control of our own lives. All we can do is live our lives in hopes of a brighter tomorrow.

We can only follow what others tell us and pay for our education in the hopes that we will end up doing what we love, and with a decent paying job.

Sometimes hopes are all we have, and those hopes end up being the driving force for which we live our lives.

Missing some old favorites
American cartoons have lost the quality they once had.

By Karen Langolf
Ferris State Torch

Growing up as a child of the 80's was difficult, except for the sheer pleasure of being able to watch kids' television programming, especially the cartoons.

Back then we had "Looney Tunes," "Transformers," "G.I. Joe," "He-Man," "Flintstones," "Alvin & the Chipmunks," "Thunder Cats," "Voltron" and a whole bunch of others.

It is hard to find someone today who doesn't remember at least one of these shows.

I remember even into the 90's, some of these shows were popular and even a few more became immensely familiar to tykes across America. "Gargoyles," for example, was a big hit in 1994.

Nowadays, kids still have "Looney Tunes" and "improved" versions of "Transformers" and even "He-Man." When I was a kid, it was a treat to watch these shows because they had simple, but good, plots and a few even had morals to each story.

I think having a show that makes kids better people is a good thing. That's one reason I liked "G.I. Joe." They taught you practical things like how to stop nosebleeds. "Knowing is half the battle…."

But if there is one thing I still detest about late 80's and early 90's programming, it is Barney.

Barney broke all the rules that the cartoons installed in me. Rules like not harming any other creature.

I remember laughing at pictures where Barney was strapped to dynamite-and it's still funny.

Kids' cartoons today lack much of a sensible plot.

Not to mention that many of them are spin-offs of the 80's cartoons mentioned above.

Can anyone tell me how many times "Transformers" has been recreated?

"Scooby-Doo" is an exception, because many of the episodes I happen to see on TV are the same ones from the 80's.

However, I did not care for the movie they made about Scooby last year.

The fact that Sarah-Michelle Gellar played Daphne and Freddie Prinze Jr. played Fred was simply too much.

How is it that children in the 21st century are worse off when it comes to cartoons? How did "Digimon" get so popular? Or "Pokemon?" They are not even American cartoons!

If they are going to bring back more American cartoons, don't remake them. If anything, keep the same story lines but upgrade the animation.

Cartoons like "He-Man," "Transformers" and "Voltron" have been brought back and redone to fit the kids' viewing styles-but I think these cartoons suck.

I am just glad they haven't brought back "She-Ra" to butcher it yet.

Sometimes I wish I was a kid just to see if the shows would be more impressing. Part of my liking the cartoons is because I was young and innocent and hadn't yet watched Japanese Anime.

It is sort of funny after watching Japanese Anime and then flipping through old He-Man episodes that I notice huge differences in anime quality.

How could I still like this old stuff when it doesn't compare to the new stuff?

I realize what I did enjoy is the simplicity of cartoons back in the 80's and even some of the 90's cartoons. The quality didn't matter to me, but the characters did.

Something that I am impressed with today is that many of the shows in the older days spoke out against prejudice because others look different.

I do not see that very often in recent cartoons.

In ten years, I wonder, what shows will be popular? With the rapid increase of Japanese anime over here, will there be any American shows left?

I will flip between both if I deem a show worthy of my attention.

Unless Americans can start to produce shows that are of the 80's plotting simplicity and quality along with the upgrades in color and style, I doubt that American shows will be popular with kids today.

After all, I do find Japanese anime to be very entertaining over the current cartoons broadcasted on television.

Return of the gamer
Before you rip on something that is good, check it out first.

By Matt Cherry
Opinions Editor

Last year, when I was the Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor, I wrote a little story about gaming.

Now, when I'm talking about gaming, I'm not talking about "Tic Tac Toe" or "Battleship," I'm talking about things like "Dungeons and Dragons" and "Hunter: The Reckoning."

The article basically talked about why I like gaming, and why I think more people should think about it.

It came down to one of my article themes: imagination.

You may be asking yourself right now why I'm bringing up this old thing again.

Well, the answer is easy: I'm still getting flack over it.

Granted, I don't get it as often as I did when the story first came out, but I'm still getting flack over the fact that I like to play paper and pencil role-playing games.

Why is the fact that I enjoy gaming such a big deal?

Part of the argument that I get is that these games instill bad morals. My answer to this: since when was thinking for yourself and pretending (key word here) to be a great hero bad?

If I remember correctly, that's what most of my childhood games consisted of, and it was an okay thing to do then.

If anything, these games help your everyday skills. Basic arithmetic is a necessary tool for any game out there. These games basically break down life into a series of mathematical algorithms! I can speak from personal experience that by gaming, I've only increased my mathematical knowledge.

Another argument that I've heard a lot is that things like D&D and Harry Potter teach kids how to do magic (boy, that's bad!). However, can anyone prove to me how this happens?

Heck, someone even tried to do them! Sure, it may be satirical, but it has some very good points. Check out the article at www.theescapist.com/random.

html.

As he mentions, every spell has something missing, whether it's a verbal command for D&D or a phoenix-feather-powered wand for Harry Potter.

That makes it impossible to cast any of the spells. Plus, for D&D, some of the material components are not exactly everyday items.

The other basic argument is that it's a game of Satan worship.

I'm not even going to touch the idiocy in that one.

Well, those are the three main arguments that I've been hearing about this "evil" that is gaming, and I'm nowhere near being convinced by any of these so-called "points."

That means that it's time for my retort.

As I mentioned before, the main things that gaming has changed in me is that I am an even more independent spirit, but one who knows the value of teamwork.

My imagination is as strong as it was in my childhood, and I've even learned a new-found respect for mathematics.

I used to hate math, but now I can see the mathematical formulas in everyday life. I'm not going to turn around and become a math major, but I never really thought of math in positive terms before gaming.

I don't know about you, but I sure don't see a single negative thing about any of those factors.

If anything, they've only made me a stronger person.

Of course, I'll be the first to admit that gaming isn't for everyone. But I think that it is something that only allows people to become what they can't be in real life.

I also know that there are some people who live in their fantasy world at the expense of their real life, and that's not healthy.

However, it's just as unhealthy as those who obsess and immerse themselves too much over their favorite movie, band, religion, philosophy, book or anything else.

However, people have to remember that these are minorities.

Most of us gamers play to break away from our weary lives for a couple of hours.

It's just an outlet for our stresses, and there's nothing wrong with that.

So before you buy into the next urban legend of the evil, cultish behaviors of gamers, look into what gaming is really about. You might want to play next time.

Jazz artist relaxes student
My interest in Kenny G's music is one of the ways I relax at Ferris.

By Karen Langolf
Ferris State Torch

Sometimes family habits do fall down from parent to child. Fortunately for me, this habit happens to be something pleasant.

My father's love for music was something that always distinguished him. He was a man who could sing and loved to listen to music, primarily jazz from Kenny G.

"Rolling Stone" magazine says that Kenny G "has bragging rights of being the best selling saxophone player in history."

Last Sunday, I happened to catch a television program that was describing Kenny G's life and what has influenced his love for the saxophone.

The intent behind the show was to promote his latest two albums: "Paradise," released in September of this year and "Wishes: A Holiday Album," also produced this year.

Truthfully, I am not a big jazz fan. I have given it a try for a while, but there is not a lot that truly interests me in jazz music.

I like some Benny Goodman, but not much else.

However, I do take an interest in Kenny G.

His smooth style is very soothing to me. From someone who will generally take Disturbed over any other group, that is pretty odd.

Why do I like Kenny G? That is a simple question to answer. Ever have a lot of pent-up energy that needs to be released? Ever just needed to relax?

Much of Kenny G's music is very easy listening, making it something that is really easy to relax to.

Ever listen to music that was so relaxing you fell asleep? And I thought that only classical music had that kind of power.

There are a few Kenny G songs that I will also get up and dance to, but of course, that entails me dancing in my room with the blinds shut.

What, do you think that I would be dancing in front of people? Get real.

While listening to the show, I found it interesting how many people he has performed with.

One person Kenny G mentioned in particular was Brian McKnight, a well-known singer and songwriter.

Something I found amusing from the Internet chat rooms is that there are quite a few people who don't understand why Kenny G is not a technical jazz artist.

Well, I think he just loves to write music to make himself, and other people, feel good.

I played in a high school jazz band for a year, and we played some really annoying pieces of music.

We did some popular music that would allow for improvisation and half the time the audience got bored after ten minutes.

That is not what Kenny G does with his music.

The saxophone has always been an instrument that intrigues me, which might just be another reason why Kenny G's music appeals to me so much.

Sometimes I hear jazz music, saxophone preferably, that is nice and relaxing, and it makes me wish I had taken up that instrument instead of percussion.

For one, carrying a saxophone is a whole lot easier than carrying a fifty-pound drum set.

Have you ever listened to his song "Forever in Love?"

There are very few songs that will stop me in my tracks so that I can truly listen to it play through. This is one of them.

When I have the money, I will more than likely get my father a copy of "Paradise."

To be honest, I'd be shocked if my father didn't already have it. I won't know until the end of November.

The weekend before finals, if we are even allowed to play music that weekend, will more than likely include some Kenny G being played in my room.

Now that I think about it, I might just ransack my father's collection prior to that weekend when I am at home.

There is some music that is for all kinds of people. This is one of those types that anyone could truly enjoy, if given the proper atmosphere.

"Paradise": how utterly true of his music.