FEATURES

by Shawn Campbell

	Recently the Appalachian Studies class
on the Whitesburg campus was visited by Chris
Holbrook, a professor at Alice Lloyd College in Knott
County.  Aside from his duties at Alice Lloyd,
Holbrook is a published author.  He spoke of his
experiences growing up in the hills of Eastern
Kentucky and read a story from his book “Hell and
Ohio”.

	Holbrook grew up at Soft Shell in Knott
County and graduated from Knott County Central
High School.  After graduation he went to the
University of Kentucky.  Surprisingly he did not think
of becoming a writer until the age of 20; while at UK
he read the works of and was influenced by Gurnie
Norman.

	After graduating from UK, Holbrook
went to the Iowa Writers Workshop, where he got his
Masters Degree in Writing.

	He said that the workshop was fun
because all he had to do was write.  It is obvious with
his book that the time he spent at the workshop was
time well spent.

	Holbrook’s book, “Hell and Ohio”, is a
collection of short stories and jokes written from his
Appalachian perspective.

	The story he read to the class was titled
“The First of the Month”.  In this story Holbrook uses
the first-person perspective to show one man’s view
on the issue of welfare.

	The Appalachian Studies class seemed
to be impressed with Holbrook, an example of a true
success story from the Appalachian region. 

by Patty M. York

	Three years ago, the University of
Kentucky and the Council on Higher Education
formed a partnership that sought the involvement of
the colleges and universities in Kentucky.  Their
objective was to develop a consortium among the
individual colleges and universities who would, then,
participate in a program that was designed as
Service-Learning.  This program would also support
the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990.  At the
present, 26 colleges and universities, including 14 UK
community colleges, participate in this consortium. 
This is the third year that the Southeast Community
College has participated in this project.  

	"At SECC, we are unique because we
have three separate campuses," says Walt Green,
who is the Director of the Service-Learning/KEYS to
KERA program at SECC.  Green’s job is to coordinate
everything that is done in Service-Learning on the
three campuses.

	To help him with this task, Wanda Lewis
is the project director on the Cumberland campus,
Joe Marcum is the project coordinator on the Bell
County campus, and Greg Collier is the project
director on the Whitesburg campus.  Besides, each
campus has a student advisory council strictly for
Service-Learning.  There is also a community
advisory council in the three representing counties of
SECC--Harlan, Bell, and Letcher. 
   
	What are the Service-Learning/KEYS to
KERA objectives?  Some of the goals include:
providing help and support for local schools and for
family resource and youth service centers; providing
help with the Christian ministries and with the habitat
for humanity programs in the area; and to provide
helpful service for the community, at large.  These
objectives can be accomplished by the students of
SECC as they conduct Service- Learning projects in
their various classes.

	During the first year of the program, the
main objective was to contact all of the faculty--to see
who was interested in implementing Service-
Learning/KEYS to KERA into their syllabi.  "We
encouraged our teachers to become involved in
Service-Learning, then, it was their task to encourage
their students to become involved," said Green. 
Ordinarily, the teachers give their students the option
to receive extra credit if they participate in a Service-
Learning project.  

	In the second year of the program (last
year), one of the successful projects was a
comprehensive handbook that was written entitled
"KERA Success through Sharing."  This handbook
was developed through the cooperation of the public
schools (both elementary and secondary) in Harlan,
Bell, and Letcher counties.  The schools were asked
to give their opinions of the Kentucky Education
Reform Act.  "This handbook was recognized as a
very good comprehensive evaluation by the state-
level people," states  Green.

	One of the goals set for this year that
has already been accomplished is the addition of six
new faculty members who would become a part of the
Service-Learning/KEYS to KERA program.  There are
over 20 active SECC faculty members participating at
the present time.  "We are very happy about that,"
says Green. He went on to add, "Once a teacher
becomes involved in Service-Learning, we keep them
because they see the benefits of it."

	Another advantage is that "one of our
most ardent supporters is the President of SECC---
Dr. Bruce Ayers; he has certainly put his stamp of
approval on Service-Learning," adds Green.

	During the last three years, a lot of good
things have been accomplished in Service-Learning
and KEYS to KERA.  "I feel that we have been very
successful in our endeavors," says Green.  

	As proof of that fact, he received a
complimentary letter from Mr. Wendell Cave who
came to the Bell County campus on February 11,
1997.  He came to SECC to make a site visit for the
Kentucky Council on Higher Education.  In his letter,
Mr. Cave wrote, "I am especially pleased with the way
the project has been implemented on all three
campuses---continue the excellent work."  
   
	"As far as Service-Learning/KEYS to
KERA is concerned, our institution doesn't have to
take a back seat to anybody," says Green.  Besides
receiving academic credit, how does a SECC student
benefit from Service-Learning?  "Being involved in
voluntary Service-Learning will do more for you (the
student), than you will ever do for it," replies Green. 
Primarily, the student will understand more fully the
importance of helping others.  Additional benefits
include: a sense of accomplishment, an expanded
knowledge of oneself, and a greater understanding of
the world, in general.

	Joe Marcum, the coordinator for the
Service-Learning program on the Bell County
campus, said, "Our teachers are very involved; they
are integrating elements of Service-Learning into their
courses."

	Marcum certainly encourages his own
students to participate in Service-Learning.  The
students have conducted a wide-range of projects in
both his History and Leadership classes.  "The
students go out into the community to provide a
service, and while they are doing it, they are acquiring
some type of learning skill," explains Marcum.       

	Marcum is presently working on a
Service-Learning project that will be beneficial for the
teachers and the students on all three campuses--
that is, the development of a "Home Page" on the
computers at each campus.  The "Home Page" will
have a listing of everything that is done in Service-
Learning/KEYS to KERA.  This information will be
stored on the "Home Page."  Therefore, the
campuses will be able to compare and share their
experiences.  In this way, the students will learn from
one another.      

	Jamie Vaught is another SECC faculty
member that feels that Service-Learning is important. 
He said that he is pleased with the results of it in his
Accounting 202 class.  "I would recommend Service-
Learning to anyone--it is very beneficial," says
Vaught.

	Astor Simpson, a Psychology professor
on the Bell County campus of SECC, agreed
wholeheartedly.  "I think that Service-Learning is an
excellent way for students to apply the knowledge--
concepts, ideas, and philosophies of a particular
subject learned in the classroom--to real life
situations," he said.  He went on to say, "I see it as an
excellent opportunity to expand the learning
experience from the classroom out into the
community, which makes the community the school."

	Another teacher on the Bell County
campus of SECC, Mrs. Sheila Gibbs Brooks, is very
dedicated to Service-Learning.  She  devotes a large
part of her time and effort to Service-Learning. 
Brooks teaches several science courses, such as
biology, ecology, and genetics.  In her classes, the
students have the choice of either conducting a
Service-Learning project or making a presentation to
the class.  Since the majority of students do not like to
speak in front of the class, most of her students
choose to do projects.  Brooks makes it a point to
personally observe each and every one of her
students as they conduct their projects at the various
learning sites.  She keeps impeccable records,
including photographs, of every project.

	When Brooks was asked to explain her
dedication, she said, "I think that Service-Learning
benefits our students by giving them exposure to
different situations, and when they see that they can
actually relate something about science to others, it
builds their self-esteem. I also feel that it is good
public relations for the college because when our
students are out--we're more visible, and the people
realize how capable our students are here at SECC."

	And she finished her explanation by
saying, "I think [Service-Learning] is probably the best
thing we've done on this campus."

by Veronica Shackleford

	Summer School is not just for
dummies.

	Many students envision summer
school as a place for people who failed
classes during the fall and spring semesters,
when, in reality, it is for any student who
wants to get ahead.

	The 1997 edition of summer
school at SECC consists of an eight week
session and a six week session.  According to
the Registrar’s office, a student can sign up
for a maximum of seven credit hours during
the six week session or 10 credit hours during
the eight week session.  The President can
approve up to eight credit hours during the six
week session and 12 during the eight week
session for students with a GPA of 3.0 or
above.

	However, a student on academic
probation shall not take more than  six credit
hours during the six week session and seven
credit hours during the eight week session.

	The cost of tuition for either
session is $276 for a full-time student or $46
per credit hour for a part-time student. 
Registration for classes is set for June 12.

	Classes are scheduled to begin on
Friday, June 13, but, seeing that SECC does
not have classes on Friday during Summer
School, classes will meet for the first time on
Monday, June 16.

	Important dates for the eight week
session include Tuesday, June 17, the last
day to enter a class for the summer session. 
Midterm for the eight week session and the
last day for a student to withdraw from a class
at his or her discretion  is Thursday, July 10. 
Friday, August 8, is the last day of classes.
Monday and Tuesday, August 11 and 12, are
finals.

	The six week session is scheduled
to begin June 13, the same as the eight-week
session, and June 17 is the last day to enter
an organized class. Midterm is Monday, July
7. Thursday, July 25, is the last day of
classes, and July 28 and 29 are finals.  

by Terry Day

	This is the last installment of a
three part series on distance learning, but it
is by no means the end of the story--quite the
contrary.

	It is pretty much an inescapable
fact that distance learning will play an ever
increasing role in the field of education at
almost all levels.

	Southeast Community College now has
an up-and-running interactive TV/distance
learning center, located in the Gertrude Angel
Dale Library on the Cumberland campus.

	While courses were offered there
this semester, the only ones to take advantage
of them were some of the faculty.

	Although the primary purpose of the
ITV facility is that of providing access to
courses that normally would not be offered here
at Southeast for one reason or another, it also
serves as a connection to distant sites for
things such as conferences and meetings.

	One example of this type of
utilization of these facilities is the meeting
held on April 9th which was sponsored by KET and
the UK Community College System to discuss the
future of community colleges.

	Through the use of the ITV center,
Southeast’s Student Government Association
President, Rachel Standridge, was able to
participate in those proceedings, along with
representatives at four other community colleges
and a four member panel stationed at KET studios
in Lexington.

	Another example of this type
utilization of these facilities is the planned
system-wide meetings of STUDENTS’ T.A.L.K.,  a
new student organization that would not be
realistically  possible without the use of this
new technology.

	There are still a few minor bugs to
be worked out of the current system, but the
biggest problem seems to be one of  “techno-
fright.” The technical bugs in the system will
be the easier of the two problems to correct, as
this will be done by engineers;  the techno-
fright will only be cured by time and
experience.

	Bugs or no, techno-fright or no,
distance learning and its accompanying
technology is sure to play a major role in
educating the world of our very near future.

by Dorothy Thrash

	The Southeast Players’ Production of
Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” presented
throughout the month of March in the Appalachian
Center Theatre on Southeast’s Cumberland campus,
was truly  a barrel of laughter.

	The cast of this innovative play
left its audience in stitches.  It’s not
Broadway, but you couldn’t tell the difference--
their artistic talents were shining on the
stage.  The actors  worked well together as a
team and obviously have great feelings for this
show, which is a wonderful vehicle for
entertaining, educating, and enlightening the
audience without coming across as all comedy.

	The characterizations were so
complete, so believable, and so incredibly
familiar, that you could have easily associated
yourself with one of the characters.

	Theresa Osborne played Olive,
hostess to her friends who took her through an
emotional whirlwind.  She was the slob of the
group and fought any attempts made by her
invited roommate to change her messy ways.

	Dianne Corriston played Florence,
the neat cleaning fanatic.  She was determined,
against all odds, to keep everything neat and
tidy, driving her roommate to the brink of
insanity.

	The supporting female cast members--
Erica Wilder, Wendy Sergent, Crystal Caudill and
Brandy Scearse--exchanged one liners of
hilarious expressions with precision and
artistic genius.

	Brent Barker and Chris Hockenberry
played foreigners who hadn’t mastered the
English language.  Their performances were
exquisite, and the audience was full of laughter
when they spoke.

	Bravo as well to the lighting crew
and set designers.

	Michael Corriston proved an able
director, allowing his cast to create a
wonderful atmosphere of freedom while
maintaining a good balance of comedy and
tragedy.

	For all audiences, this show was a
wonderful lesson on the meaning of friendship
and the many twists that friendships can take. 
It was good theater.

	Don’t miss the Southeast Player’s
next production, “The Timid Dragon,” opening
April 25 as part of Spring On Cloverlick at the
Appalachian Center Theatre.  Additional
performances will be given April 25 and 26 and
May 5.  For information or ticket reservations
call 606-589-2145 or 573-9654, ext. 2013.

by Cristi Brigmon

	Every semester seems to close with
that frightening, sickening word--FINALS.

	College students' stress levels
increase drastically during finals week.  Some
students refrain from eating and sleeping--they
sit all night cramming, studying, or even
praying for answers to suddenly appear in their
minds.

	In contrast, there are some students
who are collected.  They have studied, listened,
and taken notes all semester--why should they
worry?

	Then, there are those who sleep
during class if they show up.  Students approach
finals week in diverse manners, but the goal is
still the same: each student desires to make
proficient grades.

	Students should remember a few tips
when finals week approaches.  Staying awake all
night is not the solution; sleep is necessary to
perform well.  Study in moderation each night
before the exam.

	Always eat breakfast the morning of
the test; it will be much easier to concentrate
if you are not thinking about lunch.

	During the test, answer the
questions you know first.  It is a waste of time
to ponder on solutions that may not find their
way onto the page.  Then, go back to the ones
that you are unsure about.  If you still do not
know, at least make an attempt.  A guess is
definitely better than leaving blank spaces.

	The key is to not become
discouraged.  Always put forth a reasonable
effort, and the result should be pleasurable. 

by Mike Petra

	Terry Day, a journalism student at
Southeast Community College’s Cumberland campus,
has been involved in a project to help make our
school newspaper more accessible to anyone who
wants to see a copy.  He thought it would be a
good idea to have The Southeasterner on the
WorldWide Web.

	The Web idea was born when his
Internet Management and journalism assignments
started blending together.  From that time on,
most of his free time has been consumed by this
enormous task.  Terry estimates that he has
spent in excess of 150 hours online getting
everything to go together.

	A large majority of this time was
spent learning the ins and outs of HTML and
doing a lot of experimentation.  The largest
problem that stood in his way was finding the
best format to suit the variety of systems that
might access the site.

	One such example, Dr. Roy Silver,
designer of the college’s home page,  provided
an exceptional photograph of the mountains of
southeastern Kentucky.  Day said the photo
showed up great on high resolution monitors,
but, on lower resolution monitors, the most
common, the photo was fuzzy and just not
appealing.  So he set out to design graphics
that would look equally good on high and low
resolution monitors.

	By far, the most time consuming part
would be transferring all the articles from hard
copy to the web.  With the exception of
Bethsheba Hollon, Terry had to do most of the
typing himself, although he does credit Dr. Gary
D. Gibson and Dr. Roy Silver for their valuable
input and knowledgeable hints on the Internet.

	Terry feels all the bugs are
basically ironed out, and the site has
officially been launched into cyberspace.

	You can check out all of Terry’s
hard work and effort at
www.uky.edu/~@cwhugh1.WELCOME.html or you can
access it from the SECC home page. 

	Southeasterner faculty advisor
Carlton W. Hughes commended Day, stating, “I am
very proud of all the hard work that Terry has
done to get our newspaper online.  He took the
initiative himself to jump-start this project
and to see it through; he has accomplished
something that will serve not only Southeast
Community College but also the world at-large.”