11-1E
The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2004
Democratic candidates attract nationwide attention to campus by Caroline Duke Associate Editor Two Democratic presidential candidates have confirmed that they will attend the sold-out health care forum and debate to be held here Jan. 28. Depending on the outcome of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, more candidates could confirm their attendance before the forum. "Lieberman and Kucinich are the only two to give us hard commitments to the event," said Sean Mossman, the local coordinator of the event, hosted by the National Health Policy Council. "We expect to hear from the
Clark, Dean and Kerry campaigns very shortly," Mossman
said Monday. He said that he expected three or four candidates to attend the debate. "We're confident that when Wednesday rolls around, we'll have a very exciting event in Oklahoma," Mossman said. Each candidate will be allotted 20 minutes to appear on stage and give his remarks on the issue of health care. Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa will moderate the debate, and four health policy experts will serve on'a discussion panel. Panelists include Dr. Richard Boxer, chair of the National Health Policy Council; Dr.
Charles Roadman II, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association; Dr. Robert Freeman, senior director of policy for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; and Sean Voskuhl, associate state director for the AARP Oklahoma. About 1,500 tickets to the event have been requested, Mossman said. Charles Johnson, UCO News Bureau director, said 900 seats are available in the Nigh University Center Ballroom for those who ordered tickets before Jan. 12. Overflow seating . will be available in Constitution Hall, where a live feed will be
see FUNDING page 2
Photo by Justin Avera
The candidates seeking the Democratic Party's nomination to run for President will speak Jan. 28 in the ballroom in the Nigh University Center.
Ballroom renovations finished in time for forum by Rick Russick
Staff Writer The Nigh University Center's renovated ballroom will be bustling with excitement as the Democratic presidential hopefuls arrive on campus Jan. 28. The renovated ballroom will have a refinished and painted ceiling, new curtains and crown molding. Marilyn Kreidler, director of the Nigh University Center, said that the ballroom had not been renovated since 1967 when the University Center was first built and that the insulation in the walls was bulging out and the curtain was ripped and torn. The renovation is only phase one of the project. "When guests saw the inside of our ballroom they would simply look up and around. The smile would leave their faces and with a somewhat disappointed look, they would just say, 'Oh,"' Kreidler said. "The room-was filthy, dirty and old...and quite frankly, einbar-rassing." She said the price for renting the ballroom is the cheapest in the Oklahoma City area. But, for Central to compete against places like
the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Weston and the Renaissance Center downtown renovations were necessary. Old curtains were replaced, parts of the ceiling repainted to match the curtains and new crown molding added to lift the eyes upward. "The ballroom will get new chandeliers in June and other renovations will be made as money permits," she said. The ballroom was supposed to be renovated two years ago, but structural problems and leaks in the roof caused delays. "The engineering department found a crack in one of the west walls. Rather than risking unsafe conditions, the crack had to be fixed and the roof replaced. In all, the repairs cost the university $340,000," she said. In the past, Kreidler said that the university would rent portable halogen lamps to properly light the room because the lighting was so bad. "How ridiculous is that?" she said. "I mean, to have to bring portable lanterns in to light the place is just plain pathetic." When asked about the cost of the renovation, Kreidler said that the money was already in the budget and that no additional money had
to be taken out. "The maintenance budget allows for $35,000 and this project so far is under that," she said. "Tuition fees and student tuition will not be affected in any way." Kreidler gave credit to her staff and the art department for the work done. "I've got such a wonderful staff. They've really worked hard and are dedicated to making sure Central shines," she said. "If it weren't for Glenn Hightower's carpentry skills and his assistant Darrin Blackwell, I don't know what we would have done." Kreidler said that she wants Central to be a place that students and faculty can be proud of. • "We have always had the best price for the space. The sad part is we have not always looked that good," she said. "Now we can look good and offer a good price as well" About 300,000-people visit the Nigh University Center and the building accommodates about 4,000 events a year. For information about the Nigh University Center or any of its upcoming events, contact Kreidler at 974-5263.
There she is...Miss UCO 2004
Photo by Gavin Elliott
The Testing Center located in Thatcher Hall gives students the opportunity to test out of classes for academic credit.
Testing Services gives students alternatives to traditional classes
Photo by Gavin Elliott
Jennifer Warren was crowned this year's Miss. UCO in the Jan. 24 pageant. For complete pageant coverage, see page 4.
by Lauren Pulsinelli
Analogy Test can be taken for
Staff Writer
free by anyone. This exam can be applied toward a masters or some kind of higher level degree, and taking the test does not show up on any records. Once a test is taken 'it cannot be retaken for six months. "Most students don't retake a
In one year, more than 5,3225 students took tests on national and local levels at Central. However, some students still claim to have no idea that testing options even exist. Barbara Mills; coordinator of Testing Services at Thatcher Hall, wants to make certain students are aware of the testing opportunities available to them at Central. "We try to work with students as best we can. Many non-traditional students never knew this service is available, and 1 am hoping to get the word out to those students who may live off campus," Mills said. For example, the Miller
test more than once, because they want to graduate on schedule," Mills said. The testing center is open to the public and also allows for special proctor exams. Those exams make it more convenient for Central students taking an online or correspondent course. Most schools charge $25 for a proctor (a person who supervises students at an examination) but at Central it is only $10 as long as it is just a basic test that does not take all day. '
The testing center helps recruit Advanced Placement students through score reports. Central offers rewards to those high scoring students to help persuade them to attend. Last summer, 330 AP students were
contacted. . Other tests include college entrance exams, program entrance exams, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and . the nursing entrance test. There are 150 departmental exams that can be taken at the center. They are like CLEP tests but prepared by the different departments at Central. "These tests help students achieve their academic goals," Mills said. For more information about testing, call 974-2388.