The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2005
UCO student victim of highway shooting by Michael Robertson Staff Writer A UCO student was shot by an unknown attacker while driving early Sunday morning in Oklahoma City. Boyke Suryo Buono, 25, was shot in the neck while driving north at about 3 a.m. on Lake Hefner Parkway, just
south of 122nd street, according to a report from the Oklahoma City police. Also in the car were the victim's brother, Boya Sudibjoi, 26, and Irene Margaretha, 26, both UCO students. According to the police report, Margaretha said she, Buono and Sudibjoi spent most of the night at a bar in the Paseo Arts District. After they left,
and were driving on Lake Hefner Parkway, she said a white, older model, four-door car passed them on the right. She said that as the car passed, she heard several loud noises, and Buono began to lose control of the car. Margaretha said they hit the barrier at the side•of the highway and then came to rest in the median. Sudibjoi called 911, and
EMSA arrived to take Buono to University Medical Center, according to the pOlice report. Buono's condition could not be confirmed at press time. In her statement, Margaretha said that the students hadn't had trouble with anyone, and she didn't know who the shooters were. Sudibjoi said he didn't know who the shooters were, either.
"We were just driving on Lake Hefner Parkway, and someone shot at us," he said. The police report said that the officers at the scene saw several bullet holes in the passenger side of the car. The public information officer for the Oklahoma City Police Department said the police have made no arrests at this time.
Henry voices economic need for education bond issue Bond Issue Facts • The $500 million bond issue would include more than 100 projects in 36 different communities. • The bond program would create 4,000 new construction jobs and result in an overall economic impact of $737 million statewide. • Oklahoma last authorized a higher education bond issue in 1992. • Oklahoma's public colleges and universities are at record enrollment levels, serving 228,000 students in communities around the state. Classroom space and research facilities are in high demand. • SQ 705 authorized the use of lottery funds for capital improvements in higher education. • Other states use lottery funds to finance capital improvement projects. • Bond issue debt service will total $30 million annually. The education lottery will raise an estimated $150 million annually.
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Gov. Brad Henry lays groundwork for capital bond issue. by Joseph Wertz Senior Staff Writer Governor Brad Henry announced plans for. a $500 million higher education bond issue to a crowd of 90 on Jan 13. in the Blue Room at the State Capitol. Henry outlined the economic need for the bond issue that would provide more classrooms and project improvements at state colleges and universities. "Experts feel our economic future will be a knowledgebased economy," Henry said. "One of the first things economic prospects inquire about is the state of our higher education system and its ability to support business needs." The education lottery voters passed in November would fund the bond issue. "We won't be raising any taxes," Henry said. "The perfect source [of funding] is the edu-
cation lottery." Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Paul G. Risser said at the press conference that funds would be allocated based on "square footage, enrollment, research and growth." "Each institution gets priorities," Risser said. The states primary research universities, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, will receive half of the bond money. OU president David Boren addressed the need to keep college graduates in Oklahoma. "Talented Oklahomans leave the state when they graduate," Boren said. "We need to keep that'talent in our state." Henry will present the bond issue to the state legislature when the new legislative session begins on Feb. 7. "This should be a top priority of this session," Henry said. "We need to fund this early on." UCO president W. Roger Webb attended the press conference with 18 other college and university presidents from around the state. If passed, UCO would receive more than
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Gov. Brad Henry speaks alongside wife Kim Henry on the $500 million bond issue for Oklahoma universities Jan. 13 at the State Capitol. $19 million in funding. The bond issue would impact more than 230,000 state college and university students.
by Trisha Evans Staff Writer
An Edmond firefighter sweeps the water from a Commons apartment after the sprinkler system extinguished a grease fire Jan. 14.
Joseph Wertz can be reached at jwertz©thevistaonline.com.
More than 50 UCO students and faculty marched around campus Jan. 19 in remembrance of the life and efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The march began at 2 p.m., in front of Nigh University Center, preceded by a reception at 1 p.m. The setting is different than it was 40 years ago. UCO's campus is not the streets of Selma or Birmingham, and 2005 isn't exactly the '60s. However, the reasons they marched are still relevant
today. "I march because I have more opportunities now than I would have a long time ago," said forensic science junior Sheila McPherson who carried a sign reading "Martin Luther King Jr. An American Hero." The day's events began at 9 a.m. on the second floor of Nigh University Center where a video about King's life was shown. `UCO 4 ME,' a mentoring program for incoming minority freshmen, handed out yellow memorial buttons bearing an image of King, to remind students about the march. During the reception it was
standing-room-only in the Heritage Room of the university center. The event was hosted by UCOSA President Lane Perry, and included a performance by the UCO Gospel Choir and a poem. Queena Ezeala, vice president of Women of Many Ethnic. Nationalities read a poem by an unknown author entitled "Martin." She said the poem is about a generation of blacks who grow up not fully understanding or appreciating the sacrifices made by so many. "We tend to forget that it
see MLK, page 3
Kitchen fire leaves little damage, no injuries by Joseph Wertz Senior Staff Writer
There were no injuries in a grease fire that took place Jan. 14 in apartment No. 3311 of the University Commons. Nine units from the Edmond Fire Department responded to the fire said Maj. Tim Wheeler, a public information officer for the fire department. "Three out of four of the roommates were home, and one of them was cooking bacon. She believed she had shut the skillet off when she heard the smoke alarms and smelled fire. In a matter of seconds the fire was extinguished by the sprinklers," Wheeler said. "The rescue unit arrived to find the fire extinguished, and made sure people had been removed.
Students, faculty join in for MLK day of service A group of 36 UCO volunteers turned out Jan. 17 for a service project dubbed "a day on not a day off," in celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Students and faculty helped renovate the Food for Friends Pantry in Oklahoma City. "We had the exact same number of people who signed up come to the event," said Derek Burks, the coordinator of the event. "We also had a tremendous amount of faculty help." From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. volunteers repainted several rooms inside the pantry and organized the food donations room, Burks said. "They (the volunteers) did some major reconstruction," Burks said. "They re-patched a hole in the fire wall and replaced a sink." "I like to help people," said sophomore Tasha Strickland. "I didn't have anything else to do, so I said 'why not do something productive?'" The pantry, which opened in 1998 provides free food and other materials to more than 950 people living with HIV, AIDS and other disabilities in . Oklahoma. This was the fourth year of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. day service project by UCO faculty and staff. Ashley Romano can be reached at aromano©thevistaonline.com. CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS ■ There are no longer any restrictions on who is eligible to receive flu shots, and they are available for any UCO student, faculty or staff member. The cost is $15 by cash or check. Contact the Student Health Center at 974-2319 for more information.
■ Donations for the Lt. Col. Terry May Memorial Park are being accepted at the ROTC office. For more information, contact Lt. Col. Stuart Jolly or Capt. Mike Lewczak at 9475167, or Anne Holberlein at 974-2770. ■ The International Student Council will sponsor a tsunami relief fund from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 13 through 27 near the food court of the Nigh University Center.
"The response team arrived very fast," said Ann Barnes, the interim director of Housing. Sprinkler valves are located near the oven units in the commons, Wheeler said. "UCO does a fantastic job of maintaining its fire arms and fire suppression systems," Wheeler said. "The sprinklers did what they were supposed to. Water damage is much easier to clean up than fire damage." The sprinkler valves in the University Commons are mechanical devices that spray water when they reach a certain temperature. Staff writer Ashlie Campbell also contributed to this story. Joseph Wertz can be reached at jwertz@theyistaonline.com .
Michael Robertson can be reached at mrobertson@thevistaonline.com.
by Ashley Romano Staff Writer
UCO community marches to celebrate King's life
Photo by Justin Avera
The car driven by the suspects is described in the police report as an older, white, fourdoor model, possibly a Honda or a Grand Am. Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to call the OCPD at 2971000.
INDEX 2 Opinion News 3 Campus Events 5 Out & About 5 6 Sports Classifieds 8 American Democracy ject
Photo by Justin Avera
Members of the Ebony Gospel Choir sing in celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 19 in the Heritage Room of the Nigh University Center.
For more information about the ADP at UCO, visit www.thevistaonline.com