Chamber Voice Articles

7 Rules to Live and Die By
By: Kirk P. Landry

1. Keep your mouth and eyes closed
Never open your eyes for you may see the truth and the truth is irrelevant and can only serve to sadden. Never open your mouth because a bug might fly in. And what goes in must come out. This could start an epidemic.

2. Don’t wear clothes
Don’t wear clothes, especially uniforms. This will only serve to alienate those who do not have the same clothes as you. You will be labeled a traitor, a narcissist, or just someone whom does not matter.

3. Create nothing
Create nothing. If you do, you will be fancied as the creator and many will oblige you to create more. Many will object to your creation citing all its deficiencies and inadequacies.

4. Never dance
If you dance in time to the music you will be accused of being a conformist. If you are out of step, people will stare and you will become known as someone who is out of step.

5. Watch what you eat
You may become fat and others will comment on your appearance. Many will question your self-esteem, while others question if you are receiving meals from under the table.

6. Live outside
Do not go inside for you will be considered an insider. This will only separate you from those outside. And if you return outside by choice, this will only make you yearn for the inside.

7. Do not reap
Many will question if you deserve what you have reaped. Your friends will slowly and surely distance themselves from you.

RPCC Celebrates a Decade of Service

River Parishes Community College kicked off its 10th anniversary yearlong celebrations with a community fair April 21 on the Sorrento campus.

“This event is a part of our celebratory anniversary year as a big ‘thank you’ to supporters for being a cherished part of our community,” said Angela Cutrer, director of public information for the school. “RPCC maintains its continued commitment to the River Parishes, and we’re proud to be a part of this community.”

The community fair featured more than 30 vendors and 300 participants to enjoy vendor booths; free jambalaya, popcorn, hot dogs, soft drinks, pizza, and homemade desserts; a health fair; and interesting presentations from instructors and students.

“Though this first event was to honor our partners,” Cutrer said, “we also plan to have at least two other celebrations especially focused just on faculty and staff, including a family day cookout and an evening event in the fall. We want these events to be days of relaxation and camaraderie for the very people who make this college run so smoothly and effectively. They definitely deserve it.”

River Parishes Community College is an open-admission, two-year, post-secondary public institution serving the river parishes. The college provides curricula up to and including associate of arts and associate of science degrees for students transferring to other colleges and universities. River Parishes Community College also partners with the communities it serves by providing programs for personal, professional, and academic growth.
RPCC opened 10 years ago with about 50 students. By 2009, the college enrolled 1,400 students and expects nearly 1,700 students for the coming year.