Contestants named for pageant...page 4
Tracksters run up Senate overrides records...page 6 veto...page 8
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VISTA
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January
Vol. 84, No. 28
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Tuition hikes supported
Regents urged to look into fee spending By Kim Voynar Although CSU student leaders were absent at the tuition hike hearing Wednesday, their call for support of the tuition increases and criticism of fee spending was heard. For the third time in four years, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have asked that students pay more tuition. This year Regents have recommended that general fees and nonresident tuition be systematically increased. Oklahoma residents would pay 25 percent and nonresidents would
But, the Senate asked the Regents to consider re-allocation of monies, namely the student activity fee, for which students are charged $3 a credit hour.
pay 75 percent of their instructional cost under the Regent's plan. The increases would bring Oklahoma's higher education in line with the national average, Regents say. CSU students now pay approximately 17 percent of the cost of their education. The CSU Student Senate sent a letter of both support and condemnation to the hearing. In the letter, senators expressed support from the CSU Student Association regarding the proposed tuition hike.
Over 70 percent of the fee is spent on CSU athletics. Senators say the majority of students would like part of that money to go to educational activities. The Regent's recommendation includes the provision that general enrollment fees be increased approximately 10 percent for Oklahoma resident students.
New law to require disclosure statements By Curtis Killman Editor To comply with a new Oklahoma law, at least two CSU administrators will be required to file financial disclosure statements to determine if conflicts of interest exist in the expenditure of public funds. The revised Oklahoma Financial Disclosure Act, which took effect Jan. 1, requires any public employee who "is responsible for taking or recommending official action of a nonministerial nature with regard to contracting or procurement," to file a financial disclosure statement with the State Election Board. The filing period expires April 30. Those effected by the law must refile their statements every even numbered year. According to Assistant Attorney General Richard Mildren, the new law now applies to anyone who recommends or contracts services by the expenditure of public funds. "At least the president, first assistant and other people who do contracting should file their statements," Mildren said. CSU President Dr. Bill Lillard said he and Dr. Larry Williams, vice president of administration, would file disclosure statements. Lillard said there was still some questions if the director of purchasing and director of personnel will be required to file statements, too.
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Nonresident tuition would be increased approximately 15 percent for the fiscal year 1986-87. With a 10 percent increase, an Oklahoma resident attending CSU would see the cost of 15 credit hours of lower division classes rise from $229.50 a semester to $252.45. With a 15 percent increase in tuition, nonresidents enrolled in the same 15 credit hours would see tuition rise from $720 to $816.60. University of Oklahoma Student President Blaine Wesner said in a statement to the Regents that
the 25:75 percentage policy is unfair to students attending comprehensive universities (OU and OSU). Wesner said OU students may be forced to pay as much as 35 percent of their instructional cost in order for the state system to average out. Regent J.D. Helms said that equalization of the 25:75 percentage policy and re-allocaton of student activity funds should be looked into. Regents are expected to make a formal decision on tuition and fee increases in February.
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"As a public servant I think it's a good law," Lillard said. "I think it's good because since I deal with public monies, then they have a right to know." The administration would comply fully with the law, Lillard said. Williams agreed with Lillard that the public has a right to know who is spending public funds. Mildren said the new law will be "very difficult" to enforce. "It could require all of us to investigate every state agency and see just how far down it goes (the interpretation of the law)," Mildren said. "We don't have the personnel to do that for sure," Mildren said. "So, it's going to be very difficult to enforce in that sense." Mildren said the grey areas of the law would probably have to be worked out in the court system. Lillard said one example of a conflict of interest would be if someone recommended a service be performed by a company that the administrator owns stocks or bonds or perhaps is a consultant. "Unfortunately, I don't have to worry about owning any stocks or bonds," Lillard joked. The Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges are not required to file disclosure statements according to an opinion issued by the Attorney General's office.
Photographic services: Torn Gilbert
Police hope their new radar gun will help to slow down drivers who disobey campus speed limits.
Police armed with new weapon
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By Curtis Killman Editor Anyone who hasn't seen them by now is probably driving too fast or just not paying attention. The problem of speedy and unattentive drivers on the campus streets is going to change though if CSU police have anything to do with it. Now they have radar. With 11 speed limit signs warning of radar control on campus, police here now have a new weapon to shoot down speed violators.
The new radar gun was purchased during the fall 1985 semester after Campus Police Chief Bob Roberts said too many pedestrians came in complaining of brushes with traffic. Roberts said his staff then took a survey of the traffic around campus and the complaints proved to be true. People were not obeying the speed limits. The portable radar gun, which plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter, may be used in any of
the patrol cars, Roberts said. In fact, the new Cushman police vehicle, which has been seen putt-putting on campus streets, could be used as a radar outpost. Roberts said four officers are trained to use the radar gun. Right now, he said they are just writing a lot of warning tickets; letting people know they do have radar. But, he said flagrant speeders are being issued citations. Roberts said campus police receive none of the money generated through the citations.