Washington Dysfunction Explored in Film at Oakton

“Patriocracy,” a documentary film, will be screened at Oakton Community College on Sept. 18.

The following information was submitted by Oakton Community College. As the 2012 presidential campaign heats up, poisonous rhetoric and negative ads are at an all-time high. Can we move beyond polarization and restore civility and functionality to American democracy? Find out by attending the screening and discussion of Patriocracy, a documentary by Denver-based director-producer Brian Malone, on Tuesday, Sept. 18. Patriocracy illustrates the forces that drive a wedge into the middle ground of America and the solutions required to move forward. This insightful film features top Washington personalities including Senator Kent Conrad, Senator Mark Warner, Ken Rudin, of National Public Radio, and Bob Schieffer, of CBS News. Sponsored by the …

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Oakton’s ‘Handicap This!’ Questions Attitudes

First, standing ovations around the country; now Mike Berkson and Tim Wambach return for an encore performance in Des Plaines.

The following information was submitted by Oakton Community College. Challenge your perception of what it means to live with a disability when the Performing Arts Department at Oakton presents Handicap This!, an Oakton original that will stir your senses and shake up your attitude. Back for an encore performance after earning standing ovations around the country, Mike Berkson and Tim Wambach light up the stage with humor, music and their true story, encouraging everyone to achieve their goals and dreams. Earlier: Free day of dance classes for kids at the Des Plaines Park District. Handicap This! provides a provocative look at valuing friendship, breaking down barriers, living with disabilities, and – most of all – meeting your potential. …

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Oakton Pitcher Drafted by Oakland A’s

Derek De Young helped lead the Raiders to a record 43 wins last season.

The following information was submitted by Oakton Community College. The Oakland A’s drafted Oakton right-handed pitcher Derek De Young in the 18th round of the First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday, June 6.     De Young, a graduate of Plainfield Central High School, made the most of his sophomore season, leading the Raiders pitching staff in wins (eight), earned run average (2.85) and strikeouts (104). Earlier: New faces coming to school District 63. The Plainfield native, also named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II All-North Central Region First Team and the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference All-Conference First Team, was the 559th pick in the Major League Baseball draft. His 1.37 strikeouts per …

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Former Oakton Student Wins Pulitzer Prize

John Sullivan currently teaches investigative reporting at Northwestern University.

The following information was submitted by Oakton Community College. Former Oakton student John Sullivan co-led the team of Philadelphia Inquirer reporters that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service journalism on April 16. Sullivan and his team won the Pulitzer for the seven-part series “Assault on Learning” revealed that violence in the city’s schools was widespread and underreported, with 30,000 serious incidents over the last five school years. Earlier: Maine West students recognized by organization that seeks to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Prior to Oakton, Sullivan worked at an upholstery store for four years and he credits Oakton for putting him on his …

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Glenn Posner

9:30 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012

Kudos John...nice job. This recognition absolutely must be satisfying in many ways. Quite frankly, I'm taken back however with even the suggestion that violence in inner city schools (south and west sides in other words) is "underreported." That's all you hear. That's all you read about. There are only so many prime time spots to report these actions. There is only so much journalistc space …   more ›

Welded Sculpture Exhibit to Open at Oakton’s Museum

The work of Steven Jay Urry will be featured from May 10 to July 19.

The following information was submitted by Oakton Community College. In the first show that covers Chicago artist Steven Jay Urry’s entire career, Steven Jay Urry: A Retrospective, his sculptures, drawings, paintings, and experimental pieces will be presented in the context of his time. View his life’s work at an exhibition that runs May 10 to July 19, at Oakton’s Koehnline Museum of Art. Steven Urry (1939-1993), born in Chicago, had a brilliant career as an artist constructing abstract welded steel and aluminum sculptures of biomorphic forms. Earlier: Opening day at Arlington Park is on Friday. Urry also lived and worked in San Francisco, New York, Miami, and Arizona. He first drew serious attention in 1966 during his first solo show of …

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News From Oakton Community College

There's a lot going on at the OCC. Check out these upcoming landmark events.

Register Now for Fall Classes at Oakton  While it’s too early to think about raking leaves, it’s not too early to think about registering for fall classes at Oakton. Fall semester registration is now underway. Classes start Monday, August 20.  Fall semester class listings may be found online at www.oakton.edu, or in the Fall 2012 Credit and Noncredit Schedule, available at the Des Plaines and Skokie campuses, 1600 East Golf Road, and 7701 North Lincoln Avenue. Register in person at either campus Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Students with a current application on file may register online at my.oakton.edu.  For more information about classes, call 847-635-1741 (Des …

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Oakton Community College Briefs

Summer school registration, upcoming information sessions and Broadway tunes.

Oakton College Students Go Homeless

Students and faculty at Oakton Community College set up shanties to try and simulate what being homeless is all about.

With his nose running, Nick Frankel was setting up a shanty last week at Oakton Community College trying to get an idea as to what it would be like to be homeless for a night. Thursday’s cold temperatures and biting winds brought a bitter sense of realism to the estimated 730,000 people who are homeless each night across America. “The whole purpose is to simulate the experience of being homeless. In our own small way we are relating to them and that is the purpose of this,” Frankel said. “We want to take a mile in their shoes and understand what they go through on a day to day basis and step outside our own comfort zone. “ Frankel, the founding student of the Oakton chapter of Habitat for Humanity, was part of a group of 40 students and …

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Remembrance at OCC Marks 9/11 Anniversary

Commemorative flag created to remember victims.

A special American Flag was created at Oakton Community College in remembrance of 9/11 Wednesday. The flag was created out of red, white and blue ribbon by students of the Performing Arts Center. Attendees were invited to attach yellow ribbons to the flag representing the nearly 3,000 victims killed in the attacks. The American flag project was part of the “9/11: Ten Years Remembrance Ceremony” at the college. A U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard presented the American flag, the national anthem was sung and, after a moment of silence, in remembrance of the victims of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001, Mayor Martin Moylan, Margaret Lee, OCC president, and Shane Maxton, Student Veterans Club president, presented a wreath to honor the lives …

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Your College Corner

Backdoors Into Criminal Justice Careers

Accounting, computer and language majors can find their calling as modern-day sleuths.

Since the terrorist attacks in September 2001, the demand for individuals to work within law enforcement, intelligence and security agencies has increased exponentially. To meet that demand, colleges and universities across the U.S. have added criminal justice-related majors to their curricula. In recent years, the FBI announced plans to go on a massive hiring spree to fill 2,100 professional staff vacancies and bring 850 special agents on board. The Department of Homeland Security intended to hire more than 4,300 new staff members, mainly for border protection duties. If the your college does not offer a criminal justice major, you can still find a rewarding career in the field through these alternative doorways. Business Majors - …

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