THE
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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Wildfires in Choctaw claim home of student's family
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2006
Wildfires sweep Edmond
by Christina Purdom Staff Writer
From the Ashes A hollowed out tree was one of the few things left behind in a yard blackened with ashes. "Me and my cousin Sarah would carve things out of the tree, like our names," said Holly Franks, UCO photojournalism junior. "When the fire came, it burned the tree from the inside out," Franks said. Her parents' Choctaw home was destroyed Dec. 27 by a grass fire. Debbie Franks, Holly's mom, said the grass fire destroyed a total of eight homes in its twomile rampage across Choctaw. "The fire got so hot, it melted my mom's engine block," Holly said. In a photo Holly took, molten metal rests under a gutted white car, like a puddle of mercury. Holly's brother, Wesley Franks, lost a greenhouse of exotic plants and more than 200
Please see FIRE, page 6
Charges dropped for 'Video Vigilante' by Trisha Evans Copy Editor
UCO journalism senior Brian Bates was scheduled to go to trial Jan. 9, but a judge dismissed his case on a technicality. Bates, known as the 'Video Vigilante' for videotaping prostitutes in Oklahoma City, faced five counts of pandering when District Judge Ray Elliott dismissed his case Jan. 5. Debra Forshee, spokeswoman for Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane, said the prosecution failed to respond in writing to a motion made by Bates' attorney, Scott Adams. The motion was to quash evi-
Please see BATES, page 5
by Vista photographer Brett Deering
Luther resident Bill Logue uses his front-end loader to battle a grass fire east of Cross Timbers Elementary School in north Edmond Jan. 7.
Parking Services offers free parking for car poolers by Ashley Romano Staff Writer
Beginning this semester, commuting students will be able to use a parking lot designated for car-pooling. The High Occupancy Vehicle, or H.O.V. lot, connected to the visitor pay lot east of the Nigh University Center, is open only to UCO students who have a valid commuter parking permit. "It's designed to address the high commuter population (and) to reduce traffic and congestion [on campus]," said Karen Ocker, director of UCO Transportation and Parking Services. She said 87 percent of UCO students are commuters. "It's not out of character for a suburban college," Ocker said. As an incentive to those who use the lot, Ocker said the university will reimburse car-poolers $80, the cost of an annual parking permit, if they follow the parking lot guidelines.
To be allowed into the lot, Ocker said a vehicle must contain at least two people and show a valid commuter parking permit. She said students should enter the lot from the visitor pay lot side and ask the parking attendant for an H.O.V. ticket. Richard McCallum, a university parking attendant, said the main problem he has seen since the opening of the lot on Jan. 9 was "getting [the students] to realize they have to stop to get the ticket." Ocker said students need to fill out the back of the ticket and show it to the attendant to exit the lot. She said students can collect as many tickets as they want throughout the day, but only one will count toward reimbursement. Ocker said the tickets are coded and cannot be re-used. She said if a student has collected at least 50 tickets by May 8, he can request the $80 reimbursement by filling out a refund form and returning it with the valid tickets to Transportation and Parking
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Services on the third floor of the Nigh University Center. The money will be automatically posted to the student's bursar's account. Ocker said if a large conference is held on campus during regular school hours, the university could decide to shut down the lot, which holds a minimum of 100 vehicles. She said if more space is needed for H.O.V. parking, the visitor pay lot will be opened to students. Steve Kreidler, executive vice president for administration, said he heard about university H.O.V. lanes when he attended a conference last summer. He said that the idea of designating an existing campus lot for car-pooling would be a better idea then building a new parking lot because students would have to provide the funds through fees. "People don't like to pay for more parking," Kreidler said. He said UCO students pay half the average of what other universities charge for parking. Ocker said 70 percent of the $80 that pays for an annual parking permit goes to bond
Slate of activities postponed until MLK III visits next month by Ariel Grant
Puzzles Have you caught Sudoku fever? The puzzle craze sweeping the nation hits the Vista. See Puzzles Pg. 14
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A tic ING LOT debt on existing campus parking lots. The other 30 percent UCOParkingStats pays for lot improvements. Spring 2006 If the university gets a positive response from the use of the H.O.V. lot, then it will begin to target other conges14,189 students enrolled tion-prone areas on campus, Ocker said. 6,252 total parking spaces For more information on the H.O.V. lot, parking permits and 276 spaces designated for regulations call 974-2780 or handicapped, maintenance, visit http ://adm istration.ucok. reserved, metered, administraedu/parking/index.htm. tion, day-care and motorcycle Ashley Romano can be reached at aromano@thevistaonline.com .
5,976 student spaces available
Students, faculty encouraged to volunteer, make day off a 'day on' to honor MLK
Campus Safety Vista Managing Editor Courtney Bryce offers tips on how to stay safe, avoid crime on campus. Pg. 3 Entertainment The Vista's Nathan Winfrey reviews a full slate of new movies. See Entertainiment Pg. 9
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Campus activities to celebrate Martin Luther King Day are postponed to February because Martin Luther King III will be on campus as a part of Black History Month. Liz Cook, multicultural student services coordinator, said students, faculty and staff have participated in the symbolic march for more than ten years. The march and other related events will be held Feb. 2. While MLK Day will be a day off for most, it will be a "day on" for some UCO students who will attend service projects in Oklahoma
City, said Liz Kiser, volunteer coordinator. At 1 p.m., students can visit patients at Preferred Hospice at 1015 N. Shartel. Pizza will be provided for those who attend. An annual silent march, held by the Martin Luther King Coalition, will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Ralph Ellison Library, 2000 NE 23rd St. "To give back— that above all else is what Martin Luther King would have wanted," Kiser said. Chelsey Stiggers, corporate communications senior, said it was an honor to participate in the march last year and it is important for UCO to continue to commemorate MLK day by doing service projects. "That's what he stood for; he served the people, and what better way to celebrate than by being of service to others," Stiggers said. Kiser said MLK Day is a chance to embrace diversity. She also
offers a message to international students who may not know much about King. "Dr. Martin Luther King is a representative for what America is and what we stand for," Kiser said. "There is no better representative of what we are." "They should read the 'I Have a Dream Speech'," Stiggers said. "It tells who he is and what he stood for." For more information on the Martin Luther King service projects, contact Liz Kiser at 974-2621, or go by the Nigh University Center, Rm. 414.
Ariel Grant can be reached at agrant@thevistaonline.com.