Campus Quotes
Controversial Film
Dr. Jerel Cowan
Black History Month
Students answer: Do you think global warming is real? Why or why not?
A movie,shown on campus, supposedly debunks climate change.
A feature on Cowan, his conservation efforts and his lime green bike.
A preview of February events sponsored by several student organizations and Multicultural Student Services.
student voice since 1903.
From Tulsa, Okla. (AP)
uco360.com twitter.com/uco360
THE VISTA
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JAN 26, 2010
Crime
BANK ROBBERY HITS CLOSE TO UCO
An analysis of Department of Education data shows that Oklahoma’s 532 school districts are spending almost $51.3 million in salary and benefits for school superintendents. The analysis by the Tulsa World shows the average superintendent in Oklahoma earns nearly $97,000 per year. Records show Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard receives $256,000 in total compensation, the highest in the state. He is followed by Kirby Lehman at Jenks, whose package is worth about $240,000. Ponca City Superintendent David Pennington ranks third at $227,000, followed by Cathy Burden at Union with $207,000 and Karl Springer at Oklahoma City with $200,000.
From Jones, Okla. (AP) New equipment has been installed by the U.S. Geological Survey to measure earthquakes in Jones, where several quakes have been reported recently. The most recent temblor was a 3.7-magnitude quake reported early Sunday near the town in eastern Oklahoma county. Its epicenter was about six miles below the surface. Hundreds of people from Arcadia to south Oklahoma City reported feeling quakes that measured 4.2 and 3.8 on Jan. 15. The NetQuake accelerometer, which is on loan from the U.S. Geological Survey, was installed last week in a science classroom at Jones High School. More devices are being placed in Oklahoma as scientists try to figure out why the number of earthquakes is increasing in eastern Oklahoma County.
WEATHER TODAY
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A member of the Edmond Police department’s Bomb Squad prepares A police officer puts the police department’s bomb robot back into the to search the Oklahoma Fidelity Bank in response to a probability of Bomb Squad van after determining there were not any explosives left explosives in the bank. by the suspect.
By Elizabeth Hillin / Contributor Around 10 a.m. on Friday Jan. 22, the Edmond Police dispatched a call to UCO about attempted bank robbery at Oklahoma Fidelity Bank. The suspect fled toward the UCO campus and Edmond Police dis-
patched to UCO Police he was headed their way. As he fled the scene a security ink pack exploded, and the money was discarded in a field. The suspect was apprehended by Edmond Police in the northwest corner of a parking lot south of the Liberal Arts building.
The suspect is Mark Eugene Johnson, a 52-year-old transient from Texas. He was fleeing from Oklahoma Fidelity Bank near Second Street and Bryant Avenue, Assistant Chief Ted Jones said. Johnson used what he said was a “detonator” to rob the bank.
Shortly after the suspect was in custody, Edmond Police evacuated the bank and sent in the police department’s bomb robot to secure the area. There were no bombs found in the building.
Student News
SIXTEEN MONTHS IN THE MAKING: STUDENT COMPLAINT ACTION TEAM Started in Sept. 2008, the team is still ironing out ways to receive feedback from students, faculty, parents and campus visitors. After researching other universities, those in charge of the student complaint action team found other institutions did not have a system in place. By Amy Stinnett / Staff Writer In Sept. 2008, UCO commissioned a team of faculty and administrative members to address student complaints. Although the system they developed is not ready for implementation, it has undergone many changes since its conception. “They asked us to look at what other universities were doing in terms of tracking and following up on complaints at the university level,” Dr. Cheryl
Frech, professor and chair of the chemistry department said. What she and the team found was that no other university had a consistent procedure for handling student complaints. “We looked … and nobody was really doing anything. We didn’t find anything that was a systematic way to look at complaints,” Frech said. In response, the Student Complaints Action Team created a Web site as UCO’s system for managing complaints, not only by students, but faculty
members, parents, visitors and community members too. The mastermind behind the original Web site is Cari Roberts, the systems librarian at the Chambers Library. “We made a Web site with a database behind it, just as an idea so that we could actually see the things we were talking about,” Roberts said. The team began by brainstorming all the possible areas on campus that people might wish to ... continues on page 5
International Student News TOMORROW
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WHY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CHOOSE UCO An international student pays approximately $4,550.60 for 12 undergraduate credit hours. In-State students pay approximately $1,929, according to the UCO Tuition and Fee Estimate Calculator.
DID YOU KNOW? “Halibut” comes from the Middle English ‘haly’ and ‘bute’, meaning “holy flatfish”. The term came from halibut consumption on holy days.
Chantal Robatteux/ Staff Writer There are many faces and many nations at UCO, and there is lots of cultural diversity. Jay Shacklett, an international admissions adviser who has been working here for four years, said there are approximately 1,000 people attending UCO from about 70-80 different countries. These international students are attending UCO for the opportunities that come with an education outside of their home countries. Corinna Feidt, a German student who has been in Oklahoma for 2.5 years, said there are advantages to studying abroad. “Advantages are learning a foreign language fluently, and becoming more competitive and flexible
in a globalized world, which I hope will give me an advantage when I get a job.” There are also disadvantages, though. “Disadvantages are the cost, uncertainty of what it’s going to be like, and having to be away from my family and friends from home,” she said. It may be more expensive to attend a college or a university here in America, especially since an international student pays approximately $4,550.60 for 12 undergraduate credit hours instead of $1,929, according to the UCO Tuition and Fee Estimate Calculator. Shacklett said the reason for this is the value of the student’s education, and that Oklahomans get “discounts” since their parents are paying taxes.
Anuj Karmacharya from Nepal has been here for 4.5 years. “It is lot cheaper back home, but the form of education is different,” he said. “As the education over here is practical while (it’s a) more theoretical education. (I’m also here) because of the political situation back home.” International students are not allowed to work off campus in America because they have student visas, not work visas. Shacklett said this is a federal law and doesn’t just concern UCO. In order to be able to afford studying here, international students are allowed to work on campus, baby-sit, mow lawns, etc. ... continues on page 5