On September 11, an event happened that most Americans had never before witnessed—an attack on America. Some of us tuned in to the news report just in time to see a plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center. For others, the event was replayed repeatedly throughout the day so that anyone could see the horror of crumbling buildings and people jumping from windows in attempts to escape. The first emotion was one of shock, with thoughts of, “this can’t be real.” Deliberate acts of violence and terrorism, of this magnitude, have not been the norm in this country. Some of us might have thought it could never be; that we were so strong as a nation no one would ever be able to launch such an attack against us. Nevertheless, they did. 

In the days that followed, as we watched the unearthing of the bodies of innocent people, saw the grief of families and friends, and witnessed the heroic acts of firemen and others who gave unselfishly of themselves in attempts to save anyone who might be still alive, emotions ran rampant. Grief over the tragic loss of lives was evident throughout the nation, while fear and anxiety grew at thoughts of possible continuing acts of terrorism. Much of the fear gave way to anger as we watched and waited to see retribution to those who had deliberately caused such horror. With the anger came displacement as some “took matters into their own hands” and retaliated against other Americans who were similar in outward appearance to those who were involved in the attack. Clearly, the terrorists had accomplished part of their mission. 

As the days went by, people attempted to return to normal. Air travel resumed, sports events were scheduled and individuals attempted to get on with life. Yet, there were still underlying feelings of unrest. Over 6,000 had been killed, the economic state of affairs had taken a downward turn, and people were being laid off and losing their livelihood as a result. The issue was not settled. 

On October 7, President Bush announced the war on terrorism, proclaiming, “Talking time is over and action has begun.” Air strikes and cruise missiles were launched against the Taliban in Afghanistan. News from around the world confirmed the support of almost 40 other nations for this action, including Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Australia. Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Britain, has just pledged military support saying that British forces are already actively involved. The time is at hand and lives around the world will be affected as “America fights back.”

Many hailed the president’s decision to take action as long awaited and appropriate. Retribution against terrorists and terrorism had finally begun. Yet, most are aware that the action will bring unknown situations that will be challenging. There may be retaliatory attacks as well as other terrorist actions. Our leaders have said that this may be a long, drawn out war. So, as a people, where do we go from here? Clearly, “the die has been cast,” and we are involved in what may be a difficult and different kind of battle. What will it mean to us, both as individuals and collectively? 

Americans have never been afraid to defend what they perceive as right. In the minds of most, the action taken by the terrorists is abominable and should not go unpunished. The feelings are also strong with regard to those who harbor them. We are a brave people, and there are many throughout the world that are pledging their support to us in this time of trouble. This is, in my opinion, rightly so because the affront was not at the hands of a nation, but at the hands of a group of people who seemingly have set themselves against anyone who does not agree with them. Their tactics are against citizens as well as the government. The hoped for result appears to be to create chaos and terror, and no nation is immune to their tactics. To fail to stand against this type of behavior is to encourage it. As it was stated today, “There is danger in action, but the dangers of inaction are greater.”

There have been questions posed as to the psychological impact on the lives of our people. I fully believe the impact will be great. There will be anxiety over coming events, and the unknown factors of what to expect. There will be anger at those who have caused this disruption in our lives. There will be sorrow and depression over casualties and deaths that will come as a consequence of this action. But we will overcome.

What things can we do to lessen the psychological damage? The first thing we should pay attention to is the thoughts we allow to enter and become part of our thought process. Negative thinking is believed to be the primary cause of anxiety and fear. President Roosevelt said, during World War II, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Fear can be our worst enemy in that it affects our very being. Anxiety is implicated in high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and heart problems. Anxiety can also lead to depression. 

Stress is also associated with anxiety, as was found by Hans Selye, a Canadian physician. There is evidence that stress is a psychological factor  that is a product of cognition, or thinking, which impacts the body physiologically as well as psychologically. 

Negative, obsessive thoughts can lead to higher levels of anger, which has also been shown to affect the body through high blood pressure and hypertension. Anger and irritation are emotions that affect others as well as us as evidenced in abuse, road rage, fighting, and murders. These are negative emotions, which if not channeled, can do great harm. 

One may then say, “Are you suggesting that we feel no anger?” I would agree that this would be almost impossible. Anger is the arousing emotion, but does not have to be the continuing feeling. Action, to be most effective, is rational. The events of September 11 have caused death, pain and suffering to thousands of people. This kind of behavior cannot be condoned or it will continue and escalate. Therefore, it must be stopped. Throughout history, there have been those who have trampled on the rights of others, causing much pain and suffering. Throughout history, there have been those who have not been afraid to step forth and help stop the behavior. This time is no different. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “We shall overcome.” Though the path may be rocky, and the emotions overpowering at times, the true mettle of Americans, of every creed, nationality, and origin, will be evidenced. We will persevere, we will be victorious, and the world, once again, will be a better place because caring people, worldwide, have come together.
 

I was returning to my office after class when I heard the news about the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. My department quickly became the gathering place for coworkers, who maintained a vigil around our TV, watching in horror and disbelief as the events of the day unfolded. I drove home that evening past the police cars that had been dispatched to our campus for additional security and put my American flag out as Governor Bush had asked, a grim reminder of a tragedy no one wanted to accept. I felt as though I were going to faint, but didn’t; I wanted to cry, but couldn’t.

I have always enjoyed looking at the lighter side of life, and live by a simple motto: “music is my survival, humor my first-aid kit.”  I don’t think there is enough humor in the world to provide a first aid kit large enough to heal the hurt our nation suffered on Tuesday, September 11. But, listening to a unified Congress on the steps of the Capitol building sing “God Bless America,” hearing patriotic songs on the radio, and singing hymns of faith in places of worship—these are the songs of survival. 

The citizens of the United States have joined together in support of their country—there is no talk of race, religion, or political affiliation—we are first and foremost Americans. The heart of this country is huge—the outpouring of love from citizens donating blood, feeding the volunteers, searching for the missing, and caring for the wounded exemplifies the character of a nation of caring people.

After one of many sleepless nights since the horrific attack on our country, I got up at 5 a.m., prepared for work, and went to Wal-Mart to buy red, white and blue ribbon to make lapel pins for my coworkers and me. I was looking for a way to contribute, to pay tribute, to help ease the need to just do something in a time where so many of us feel helpless.

But never hopeless. From the heroic passengers on United flight 93 from Newark who prevented hijackers from reaching their intended target, to the search for survivors at the World Trade Center—these acts of 
bravery and unity are what hold us together. The fact that we are going about our daily business as best we can demonstrates our determination to show the despicable faction of terrorists who did this to our country that we will not back down—that they cannot crush the heart and soul of a nation. 

We won’t let that happen.
 

As the saying goes, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” How well do you think you know your fellow faculty members? Here is your chance to find out—can you determine who read which book, based solely on the descriptions provided below?

Choose your answers from the list at the end of the reviews (Ha! Multiple choice coming back to haunt you!) and win a prize from the TLC. The first correct answer received wins, so call or e-mail me right away! 

1) I read Two Lucky People by Milton and Rose Friedman.
Perhaps they really are just a pair of lucky people, but Milton and Rose Friedman are so perfectly matched that destiny must have played some part in their coming together. Milton is a Nobel Prize-winning economist; Rose, an influential theorist who advised American presidents and world leaders on the formation of their economic policies. Together the two wrote books and were instrumental in influencing systems and ideas like negative income tax, charter schools, the balanced budget amendment, tax-withholding, and even drug legalization. At times their ideas seemed outrageous, but their strong belief that personal freedom is essential to a sound economy has helped shape many of the West's socioeconomic policies in the latter half of the 20th century. 

2) Along with 100 Ghastly Ghost Stories and 100 Malicious Murders, my “airplane” reading also included Phillip C. McGraw’s Life Strategies: Doing What Works/Doing What Matters. His book about the “Ten Laws of Life” reinforces the concept of the well-rounded life with balanced attention to the personal, professional, relational, familial, and spiritual aspects of life. Along with each “law,” he presents a corresponding strategy. For example Life Law #1 is “You either get it, or you don’t.” His strategy shows how someone can “become one of those who gets it.” Is his good advice or “pop” psychology? Well, anyone can give advice; taking that advice is an individual choice. 

What’s sitting on my reading table? A friend has recommended The Great Complication by Allen Kurzeil, a novel about librarians and books. Reviews are mixed, so I may check with Susan Bradshaw on this one!
And, of course, I’ll be brushing off my Shakespeare and re-read Two Gentlemen of Verona to get ready for our own CFCC production.

3)  I just finished reading Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson. It is very short, which is great for those who don't have lots of time, and it looks at something that affects all of us (change and how we deal with it). Very insightful.

4) My summer reading list included three books by the international sensation Orhan Pamuk, Turkey's foremost living novelist who has been compared to the likes of Borges, Nabokov, Rushdie, Eco, and Kafka. His novella The White Castle narrates the incredible odyssey of a 
Venetian scholar who ends up in Constantinople after having been taken captive by the Ottomans. A true Turkish delight, this period piece set in the 17th century is an imaginative account of the intellectual and scientific encounter between Islam and the West in the Early Modern period. In The New Life Pamuk weaves a delightfully intricate Kafkaesque tapestry about a contemporary Turkish university student caught up in an international conspiracy of Byzantine proportions that pits East against West. The Black Book centers around the lives of the residents of a present day Istanbul apartment complex as they struggle with the changing face of the world around them. Woven throughout all of Pamuk's works are his intellectual, artistic, and philosophical musings about a modern Turkey that finds itself in the midst of a culture clash between a scientific and technological West and a traditional Islamic Middle East.

5) I enjoyed a wonderful love story depicting the lives of "mountain folk" in the small town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Big Cherry Holler by Adrianna Trigiani is the sequel to her first fictional account of these mountain folks, aptly entitled Big Stone Gap. Both these fictional accounts of life in a small mountain town are enjoyable reading by an up and coming young author. Watch for the movie from the first book, Big Stone Gap!

Answers: 
a)  John Mathews
b)  Judith Wood
c)  Alan Danuff
d)  Chuck Hiatt
e)  Carole Bartholomew

Carole Bartholomew, new Manager of the Office of Professional Development (OPD), located in the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), was introduced during the “lesson.” As Manager of the OPD, Carole will coordinate all of the Staff and Program Development (SPD) activities for
career and professional employees.

Of course, our usual fare—workshops, “Lunch Bunch,” and help with your projects—is ongoing, so be sure to stop by the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) to take part in these programs or just to visit!

Thanks to the “Smith twins,” Carol W. Smith and Kimberley Smith,
faculty members now have a better understanding of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the functions of the EAS (Equal Access Services) Office at the LRC (Learning Resources Center). During their presentation on “Diverse Learning Needs,” Carol W. Smith explained some of the legal ramifications of the ADA. She spoke of our responsibilities as a college to the disabled student and our individual responsibilities as instructors in the classroom. Kimberley walked us through the process that she and a student with disabilities would go through to assess the needs of the student and determine the type of assistance that would be appropriate to aid that student’s learning. Both Carol and Kimberley answered many questions from faculty members concerning the ADA and the EAS. Any further questions that you might have can be directed to Kimberley at ext. 1580 or Carol W. Smith at ext. 1437.

Dr. Dassance reported on the progress of the Rank and Reward Focus Group. The group submitted a recommendation that Rank and Reward be linked and that promotion to a higher rank be based on an instructor’s PDP (Professional Development Plan), self-assessment, student evaluations, peer review, and sustained service to the department and college. Two teams, one composed entirely of faculty and another composed of supervisors, would ultimately join to make the final decision on promotions. Faculty promoted to a higher rank would receive a percentage increase in their base salary. However, many things still need to be worked out before this could be put in place, including the amount of the increase (budget considerations), how faculty will initially be assigned to ranks, the final determination of the criteria for promotion, and faculty acceptance and support.

Dr. Jones and Dr. Cooper reported on the new faculty evaluation process that was test piloted last year. This year the student evaluations and PDP’s will continue, but the peer evaluations will not.

At the end of our Friday faculty session welcoming you to the
beginning of a new academic year, we hope each one of you thought “TGIF” (No, not that TGIF—but, Thank Goodness I’m Faculty)!

The Faculty Colloquium on August 17th brought out the “Stars.” Lori Kielty and Dr. Ron Cooper, our “Stars” from spring semester, were there to “tap” this semester’s “Stars.”  The suspense mounted as Lori and Ron, with shirts in hand, (polo shirts with the “Stars” logo embroidered on them), roamed the faculty audience “looking” for our new “Stars.” Ron zeroed in on our first new “Star,” Jack Thursby, and presented him with his shirt. Unfortunately, the other new “Star,” Susan Cable, was really “out” having just had emergency surgery, so we did the next best thing and contacted her at the hospital by phone, with Lori Kielty delivering the good news via speaker phone so Susan could hear the cheers from fellow faculty members in the background.

The “Stars” Award goes each term to two outstanding faculty members who epitomize the best in teaching and learning at CFCC. In addition to their shirts, each “Star” received a Teaching/Learning paperweight and a check for $100. Their names, along with those of past recipients, also appear on a plaque located on the wall outside of the Teaching/Learning Center in Building 1.

Congratulations to our new “Stars!” You represent all that is great about CFCC! We have a terrific faculty here at CFCC and look forward to seeing more new “Stars” “shine” next semester.

Just when you thought it was safe to return to work—the Eyeball has you in his sight!
 

• Ah, the crisp days of fall, when the sweet stench of sewage once again wafts about the Fine Arts Auditorium Lobby. Come inhale with us.
• If it takes as long to build the University Center as it does to build a university, how long will it take to build the Century Center…?
• Welcome to Andy Douglas, who is our new auditorium manager. He is a former CFCC student who is being paid (at least that’s the rumor) to do what so many of our students do for free…hang around here for years.
• Is it true that it took Andy the first month on the job just to fill out the forms required by Human Resources, and to clear his phone mail of urgent Lanzillagrams? He will be in the DROP program before he runs out of the millions of nine-page NCR forms it takes to reserve the auditorium.
• I caught Irwin Brown, our distinguished poet and social sciences professor, in Publix the other day, and almost didn’t recognize him without his distinctive headgear. Standing amidst the screaming tabloids, he asked me not to tell anyone I saw him “topless,” –so I won’t.
• Ira Holmes would like people to know he is “still here,” and “here still,” but as we all know, he’s not “still,” at least not for long.
• Between the Appleton and Horse Fever, most of us are swelling up like some sort of culture-ticks. With that engorgement in mind, here are some Eyeball perspectives on Art and Culture in Ocala (better known as “Paris on the Ocklawaha”):
• Lest we become too artsy for our own good, don’t forget that here the Left Bank still refers to a building with drive-in ATMS.
• Next time we put livestock on campus, maintenance would like goats instead of horses. Maybe we can finally cut down on the everlasting mowing next to building 8.My understanding is that Ron Cooper and his minions have developed a whole new course called “Social Sciences and the Zen of Lawnmower Maintenance.”
• I’m sure by now you have seen many of the wonderful horse sculptures all over the Big O. The three on or near our campus are especially nice. The Eyeball understands that they are here as part of a CFCC Foundation program called the “Endowed Trough.” Even better, the horses have been “corralled” and counted as new students by enrollment wrangling, and are all taking “on-line” courses.

Here is a list of the Top Ten Horses That Didn’t Make the Fever:
10. Tripod - a three-legged version near Cameo Photo.
9. Wastrel - a tail-up version proudly greeting visitors to Ocala, located next to the famous “Rose Bowl” sewage treatment plant on 441.
8. Dodger - a mosaic of IRS tax-deductions. Located outside any of the horse farms in Marion County that lose money.
7. LL Cool Horse - complete with musical accompaniment.
6. Jim WarHorse - no mane, located outside Marion County School Board Offices.
5. Sprawl Biscuit - asphalt-covered, decorated with signs from strip malls. Located strategically to block the entrance to Marion County Commission.
4. The Old Gray Mare - just didn’t seem to be what she used to be.
3. Saturday Night Horse Fever - hooves in a “disco” stance; sponsored by one of Marion County’s newest residents.
2. Baby, Take A Bow – located backstage at the Fine Arts Auditorium; had to retire because she was a “little hoarse.”

...And the Number One “Horse That Almost Made it”:
1. Neigh-boor - beautifully painted with “NO” symbols, one hoof over its eyes. Located outside the public library.

Congratulations to all the artists, and our special thanks to the selection committee. (Of note: the selection committee rejected the suggestion for a huge, traveling fiberglass thermometer sculpture designed to measure “Horse Fever.”)

By the way, Terry Timney and John Evans are especially excited over the Horse Fever exhibit. There is a rumor that the college has volunteered them to repaint all 52 horses every two weeks.

Next time - the paintings Jeffrey Spaulding didn’t unpack…The Masterquirks Exhibit.

On September 27-28, I attended the Florida Conference on Communications for Community Colleges in Orlando (it is very difficult to say that quickly). I have attended this conference in the past—many in our department have, when several hundred people attended. This was a smaller gathering; only about 30 people showed up from about a dozen of the community colleges in Florida, but in truth this gave the atmosphere of the conference a degree of camaraderie one doesn’t experience at the very large conferences.

Overall, the sessions were very helpful. A few were on integrating films into communications classes; there were two sessions on learning-centered composition. Linda Black, from St. John’s River Community College, discussed the online research paper.

Talking informally with other Florida community college instructors was very rewarding. We complained about our workload; we bragged about our students; we scoffed at our administrators. And of course, we
exchanged notes on the Gordon Rule.

At the conference, I got to know Sandra Van Pelt, who used to teach as an adjunct here at CFCC. She has a full time job at Lake Sumter Community College in Clermont. She wanted me to say hello to everybody in Ocala. Note to self: spend more time talking to adjuncts while they are still teaching at CFCC.

The gentle, wise and funny poet Peter Meinke, an old friend of CFCC, was the keynote speaker. He talked about how individuals turn to poetry during important moments in their lives, and how the country as a whole is turning to poetry now. He read from his new book of poems Zinc Fingers, and talked about teaching poetry writing to students: “It is emotional truth, not factual truth that a poet should seek.” As he read his poems, he added bits about how he came to write them, stressing that the poem usually ends up in a different place from which it started. “It’s OK when that happens,” he said. “You have to let the piece take you where it wants to go.”

So, I will spontaneously add that during lunch of the first day I made two important decisions, which paid off immensely. The first was choosing the chicken and not the beef. The second was NOT to attend the session presented by the professor sitting across from me who wouldn’t stop talking about himself and how much smarter he was than his students. I probably should have told him he had a large dab of butter in his beard.

Anyhow, thanks to the TLC for the funds that allowed me to go to this conference.

When asked by Kathy Kilcrease to write for this month’s Adjunct Junction, I immediately felt the incredible onus of this small, yet important task. Ironically, simultaneous to this proposal, I was reading Immanuel Kant's essay “What is Enlightenment?” and I began to think of “enlightenment” in terms of CFCC as an institution and as a body of academics and students. And I smiled, for I have not only seen enlightenment occurring in almost every aspect of CFCC campus life, but I have taken part in and experienced this enlightenment for myself. The Teaching Learning Center has been and remains a bastion for the critical reflection of our profession. Whether one is partaking of a WebCT workshop, cogitating over Ron Cooper’s philosophy of teaching while eating ham and rye during a Lunch Bunch session, or refashioning the way one teaches in a Summer Fantasy Workshop, the opportunities to develop professionally for full and part-time faculty are numerous. I think there is really something to be said about CFCC’s support for its faculty. But what of enlightenment in regards to the students?  I believe it is true to say that we, as a community of scholars, encourage our students to interact on a local and global level. Canned food drives for the community’s poor, Study Abroad programs, an International Film Series, and Speaker Series on topics as diverse as financial planning to the death penalty are just a few of the opportunities available to our students. CFCC produces not only educated individuals who are capable of performing in the job market or at higher institutions of learning, but who are also well-rounded, connected, and sensitive to the larger world around them.

Reasoning is the most basic characteristic of the human species (although I have my doubts sometimes). As we make the difficult transition from “sage on the stage” to “facilitator of learning,” I feel it is important that we as faculty leave our students with more questions than answers at the end of the day. During these ominous times when war appears imminent, I pray that we as individuals, as local and national leaders, and as a nation will be seeking enlightenment and practicing our critical thinking skills. Somehow, through my own experience with the students and faculty here at CFCC, I feel confident we will.