Outreach Coordinator continues journey

Dr. Jerry Bread has had extensive experience in coordinating outreach programs at the University of Oklahoma and other higher educational institutions. Dr. Bread currently serves in as the Outreach Coordinator in the academic unit of Native American Studies. Dr. Bread reflects on his experiences, as well as other faculty members on his role and work.

Students use class for motivation and inspiration during trouble time.

Norman-The challenges of college often take its toll on students. Students who don’t maintain or achieve a 2.0 grade point average are given the opportunity to continue with trying to achieve their educational goals. Students at the University of Oklahoma who don’t maintain or achieve the minimum GPA are placed in Strategies for Success, a class offered by University College. Jennifer Dye, a former student at OU took the class last semester. “The class wasn’t hard, it was everything that was hard,” Dye said. “Everyone’s going through something different. People are in school so it affects how they work and how well they do,” Dye continued.” Strategies is nice because it encourages you and makes you think why you’re there,” Dye said.
Strategies for Success is offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Each student in the class differentiates why they’re there. Dr. Lisa Portwood, the instructor and creator of the class said “There are 400 students in Strategies, and that’s 400 different stories of why they didn’t do so well the previous semester.” Despite her academic mishap in school, Dye is determined to return to OU and graduate. Dye believes Strategies helped her find her motivation to obtain a teaching degree.

Community Comes Together To Share and Learn Language

NORMAN--Seated in an informal circle Davetta Geimausaddle listens to Dane Poolaw as he leads the group in a lesson on conversational Kiowa. Davetta is one of several Kiowa language students who attends a weekly community class devoted to learning the Kiowa language. Leading the class is Dane Poolaw and Carole Willis, both are Kiowa language instructors in the Anthropology department at the University of Oklahoma. The class meets at the historic Jacobsen House on the corner of Chautauqua and Boyd. The class is surrounded by the infamous artwork of the Kiowa Five artists. The class is free and open to anyone interested in learning the Kiowa language.

Motivation inspires the desire to get a college degree

NORMAN-For some, reasons to go to school vary. For some students, their parents are the driving factor and reason to attend and graduate college. Other students have different reasons to attend and graduate with a degree. American Indians are the most to state that getting a degree builds a relationship with their community, family, tribe, or other support group to attend and graduate college. Sarah Kernell, a nurse at the Indian Health Clinic in Oklahoma City said "Yeah, graduating from college was something I wanted to do and to give back to my community." Kernell, is an American Indian from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Kernell is active at both the Norman First American Methodist Church and her tribal community of Hillabee, near Hanna, OK. Many American Indian students in college see the chance of getting their degree and going back to help their tribe or community.

Kiowa Instructor

With the University of Oklahoma facing budget cuts in all of the departments and programs, Kiowa instructor Dane Poolaw has little doubt that his position and other Native Language teaching positions and classes will be cut for the upcoming academic year.

Ole Pub builds strong relationship with college students

Norman, OK- Every college town has one; a favorite bar and grill or “Pub” that every student visits sometime during their college years. Norman has several but one that sticks out amongs the rest is O’Connell’s Pub and Grill. Known for it’s green beer on St. Patrick’s Day and over-capacity limits on a Friday or Saturday night, O’Connell’s is frequented by almost every student at the University of Oklahoma.
With two locations in Norman, O’Connell’s has no problem building its relationship with the patrons at OU. “O’Connell’s build its relationship with students by showing them a good time,” said a waitress at O’Connell’s who wanted to remain anonymous. “Cheap beer, warm burgers, and an OU discount as a way to draw them in,” she continued. “It’s a place to relax, have fun, and forget about school,” she added.
With one prime location on historic Campus Corner and another at the intersection of Lindsey and Jenkins, O’Connell’s is a place that many students have created new relationships and continue with old ones.

Jacobson House builds relationship with American Indian Community

NORMAN, OK- Famous for once being the home of Oscar Jacobsen, a European artists who brought the works of the famous “Kiowa Five Artists” and other southwestern art into the spotlight, the Jacobson House is a link to the American Indian community in Norman. Hanging on the walls are the famous paintings by “the Kiowa Five” and other artists the Jacobson House helps bring American Indians together for community support and involvement. The spring 2010 semester has the house being used on Sundays by the Norman First American Methodist Church in conjunction with their Campus Ministries meal and gathering. Reverend Glen “Chebon” Kernell, Jr. says, “The Jacobson House lets us use the facilities to hold our meetings and provide a venue for us.” Kernell continues, “It allows a person to come see what the Jacobson House stands for, the artwork that is held here, the artists, special shows. It really is just provides a service to the community.” The Jacobson House is located at 609 Chautauqua on the northwest corner of the University of Oklahoma campus. The executive director is Kricket Connywerdy, a Kiowa-Caddo American Indian. The house has Indian taco sales on Tuesday and this semester has introduced a Kiowa community language class on Thursday nights.