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February 2, 1989 Vol. 87, No. 30
VISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Illegal votes void senate election
Dan K. Morrison(right),partner in the Oklahoma City office of Arthur Andersen & Co. accounting firm, presents a check for $3,810 to Dr. Joe Kinzer(left), dean of Central State University's College of Business Administration, and to Dr. Lorren Beavers(center), chairman of the CSU department of accounting.(Photo by Daniel Smith)
Says thanks for grads
Firm donates to CSU Arthur Andersen & Co., an Oklahoma City accounting firm, has donated $3,810 to Central State University's department of accounting for accounting major scholarships and development needs. Dan Morrison, partner in the firm, and his wife Mary, presented the donation to Dr. Joe Kinzer, dean of the College of Business Administration and to Dr. Lorren Beavers, chairman of the accounting department. The gift consists of contributions from Arthur Andersen employees and friends of the university as well as a matching contribution from the Arthur Andersen Foundation. Arthur Andersen has consistently hired CSU accounting graduates, and Morrison said he is
obligated to do something for the university. "We feel a responsibility to donate money to universities and colleges that furnish us with graduates," he said. "The graduates we get from Central State are very good. We find them well-qualified for public accounting." The Big Eight accounting firm has made a contribution annually to the accounting department, but it's not something the department takes for granted, Beavers said. The money would be used for scholarships, faculty development and other department needs, he said. Arthur Andersen currently employs about 30 CSU graduates in its offices in Oklahoma, Morrison said.
In addition to making the contribution to the accounting department, Morrison met Kinzer and Beavers Jan. 24 to discuss how CSU could better prepare its accounting students for professional employment with firms like Arthur Andersen.
children ages 0-19 made up 60-70 percent of the cases. The average age of a CSU student is 27. The health center last week treated 86 persons with flu-like symptoms, said Ann Stewart, CSU student health center director. She feels primary and secondary school closings have no bearing on university cases. "Although we're seeing alot of it, we're seeing about as much flu as we normally do this time of year," Stewart said. Immune system development may be a factor, but Stewart said CSU would see fewer flu cases if more students received flu shots between October and December. The shots take effect after two weeks and should prevent flu in-
Aynes's status Jan. 24 or Jan. 25. "I withdrew from school that Monday, but it didn't even cross my mind what I was doing," Aynes said of his illegal vote. Discussion on the floor Monday dealt with whether any of the Jan. 23 meeting was valid due to the illegal election, since the presiding officer was Speaker of the Senate Randal Terrill. "Just the election has to be invalidated," said Ferguson. "There was a presiding officer." The senate voted 15-1 favoring the re-vote with four abstentions. Victor Dewan, Jamie Keen and Howard Pelphrey were dropped from the senate roll Monday because of too many absences. The senate voted to retain Allan Polhill and reinstated Joe Stehr following his resignation at the Jan. 23 meeting. Polhill was retained because of incomplete attendance records, Coen said. Polhill had been excused, but records were missing of those excused absences. Stehr was reinstated by a 15-2 vote. "He withdrew and we reinstated him. We have allowed people to do that before," Shilling said of Stehr. Shilling also pointed out that Stehr failed to give an effective date when he resigned, making his resignation invalid.
No scandal, senators say By Jerry Pierce Managing Editor The controversy surrounding the election of Randal Terrill as Student Association speaker of the senate has been blown out of proportion, according to several Student Association senators, including Terrill. Terrill was accused last week of promising committee appoint-
Most students spared flu Influenza is forcing public schools throughout the state to close in effort to speed student recovery, but age saves most at Central State University from becoming a statistic, said Laura Koger, Oklahoma State Health Department influenza program coordinator. "We have not had this 'Type B' influenza in circulation since 1984. Because adult immune systems have previously fought this strain and young children's systems have never been exposed, we're seeing more cases in ages 0-19," said Koger. The State Health Department estimates 53,000 Oklahomans suffered from flu last week. Koger said 90 percent were diagnosed with influenza 'Type B,' and
By Jerry Pierce Managing Editor The Student Association Senate on Monday opted for a re-vote next week due to illegal votes cast in the Jan. 23 senate speaker election. Senators Kurt Killion, Jeff Aynes and Howard Pelphrey cast illegal votes, Parliamentarian Darrel Ferguson determined during Monday's meeting. Killion and Pelphrey weren't elgible to vote as members of the senate body because of too many unexcused absences, Ferguson said. Killion resigned immmediately after the election and Pelphrey was dropped from the senate roll Monday. "I wasn't for sure what the ruling was going to be on the absences," Killion said. "I went ahead and voted anyway." Upon a senator's second absence, the senate historian must notify both the senate body and the senator of his status, said Student Association President Lisa Coen. A senator must have an excuse pending prior to his third absence or be dropped from the roll, she said. Senator Jeff Shilling brought to the attention of the senate body Monday that Aynes withdrew from school the morning prior to the election; yet he participated. Shilling said he learned of
fection for one year. The health center offers them for $3.50. However, Stewart said, "Because we are right in the thick of flu season, a flu shot would not really be appropriate now." Instead, she said prevention is the key to staying healthy, and she recommends frequent hand washing. "Coughing and sneezing simply do not pass on as many germs as dirty hands." Stewart cites those with poor hygiene are often reinfected because they don't realize "doorknobs are one of the dirtiest things in a building." Both Koger and Stewart said flu cases peaked last week and should decrease until next fall.
ments for votes and criticized for using CSU letterhead for campaign use. "The use of the letterhead probably didn't amount to more than a couple of dollars," said Senator Jeff Melrose. "It's pretty insignificant." "As far as promises, while I was with him, there was no asking of votes in return for positions," Melrose said. "I think the letter that Howard got was misinterpreted by Howard," said student senator David Slane, referring to the letter sent to Senator Howard Pelphrey from Terrill. "I don't see anything wrong with what he did. We had an election and the man won. That's the bottom line." Terrill said he sent out several handwritten letters, including the one sent to Pelphrey, asking for suggestions on key positions. But Terrill claims he made it clear he wasn't asking for votes. "The letter said: 'Dear Howard, I would like to keep you as chairman of the student activity fee awareness committee, a special task committee formed by former speaker Timothy Kalman, if elected. If you are interested in this position, please give me a call. I want you to understand this is not a patronage of any sort. I
want you to vote your conscience. If you are interested in any other position, like I know you are Howard, then give me a call, I'm sure we can work something out.' But that was clearly excluding any legislative council (appointments)," Terrill said. "You have to understand Howard. He ran against me and he lost," Terrill said. "Second, even if the accusations were true that I had promised people appointments, there's no way, since the vote was taken by secret ballot, that I could verify who they voted for. It would just be speculation." Terrill said the use of university supplies and equipment is governed by "internal procedure" and the use of CSU letterhead was justified because the election was an "internal election." The use of state materials for personal business is illegal, said Lisa Coen, CSU Student Association president. " 'Improper use' would be a better term," said Deanna Land, faculty sponsor of the Student Association Senate. Use of the letterhead is probably being overemphasized, she said. "It's a matter of ethics," said Coen. "Furthermore, he never asked anyone of authority if he could do it."