Student publishes poetry...page 4
Grapplers flattened Atheletic director by SIU...page 6 to resign...page 7
THE February 11, 1986 Vol. 84, No. 33
VISTA
Tuesday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Retirement perk lures employees; Lillard: No plans
Snow can be troublesome for motorists By Susan Garrett Snow on the CSU campus is not a winter wonderland for all. For Junior Elizabeth White the cold, snowy weather left her with a dead battery. When she tried to find assistance, she soon found out that campus police are restricted from helping stranded motorists with jump starts. In the campus police office, White wrestled with a tangled set of jumper cables. "They gave me battery cables but said they couldn't help me," said White. "It's against their policy — something to do with insurance." Bob Roberts, campus police chief, said the policy was inacted after several police car's alternators were damaged during the jumping process. Roberts also said the university was taking a liability risk. • "If one of our people would be injured while jumping that vehicle — of course the university would be liable for it." While snowfall usually means an increase in accidents, Roberts said none have been reported on campus. "I'm sure you noticed on campus a lot of students didn't come today," said Roberts. "The less people here, the less problems you're going to have. We've had a pretty easy day."
Photographic services: Dan Hoke
Maintenance workers worked double time Monday to keep campus stairs and sidewalks clear of snow.
By Curtis Killman Editor A new retirement plan is luring many senior Central State employees into retirement this year, but despite speculation the University's chief administrator said he has no plans to step down. "I'm knowledgeable concerning the benefits, but I have no timetable at this time for retirement," Lillard said Friday. The retirement plan is a onetime offer that offers a 6 percent boost in retirement pay to CSU employees. Athletic Director Charles Murdock, who announced his retirement last week, said the benefit increase was one of the chief factors leading him to make the decision to step down. But, one thing is certain, CSU employees pondering retirement will make their decision soon. To qualify for the 6 percent increase, an employee must notify administrators by June 10. Administrators usually ask retiring employees to submit their notice 60 to 90 days before their contracts expire in June. Employees who choose to pass up the retirement offer would give up a sizeable income. Lillard said the retirement perk is so good that a CSU employee would have to stay with the university for two more years
before he would qualify for the same benefits that are being offered now. But Lillard, the university's seventeenth president, wouldn't really say yes or no when asked about retirement. "You don't announce you're not retiring," Lillard said, "you announce when you're going to retire. "It's just like the weather as we say on classes. We don't announce at Central State we're having classes, we announce if we're not going to have classes. One of the reasons for the increased speculation of Lillard's retirement is due to the "decade of excellence" public relations campaign that has been launched this year. The theme of the campaign revolves around Lillard's ten-year reign as president of Central State University. From homecoming themes to banquets to new stationary — the "decade of excellence" theme has left its imprint on almost every corner of the campus. One faculty member said it is rare for a leader to mark one's accomplishments and then remain in office. Usually the purpose of memorial campaigns is to go out with a bang, the faculty member said. In Lillard's case, time will tell.
Cheerleader sues after fall
By Kim Voynar A CSU student has filed a $250,000 lawsuit against Central State University and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for damages she said she suffered during a cheerleading practice in the fall 1985 semester. In the lawsuit, Rhonda Terry alleges she was injured when she fell from the top of a "human pyramid" Sept. 17, 1985 in front of the Health/Physical Education Building. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 28, charges that no faculty member was present at the practice and that spotters were not provided to insure the safety of the cheerleaders.
Terry was taken to Edmond Memorial Hospital after her fall. As a result of the accident, Terry was hospitalized overnight and had to wear a back brace for seven weeks following the accident, said Carol Terry, the cheerleader's mother. According to her attorney, Chris Eulberg, she was forced to drop out of school for the remainder of the semester because of the accident. The lawsuit, filed in Oklahoma County District Court, seeks recovery of damages due to alleged negligence of the university and the board of regents. Eulberg said Terry, who also sat out the spring 1986 semester,
plans to return to school as soon as possible. Eulberg said that Terry is not seeking punitive damages in her suit, only the cost of her medical bills. He said that she doesn't know yet if she will need surgery. Eulberg also emphasized that they don't expect to receive $250,000. "When you file a lawsuit, you set a top figure, not a bottom figure," Eulberg said. "Rhonda isn't saying 'let's get rich off of this', she just wants her medical bills paid for." Terry's medical bills are $1,500, according to Eulberg, but he said that if she requires surgery, the bills will be much higher.
Emily Ozbirn, another member of the cheerleading squad, said the squad was aware that the building of pyramids would be a part of the routines. She also said that she didn't remember signing a release form. She refused comment on whether a faculty sponsor was present or if spotters were present when the accident occurred. Another cheerleader, Winston Banta, said he didn't think he should comment on the incident. At press time, Bob Rudkin, CSU's attorney in the lawsuit, declined comment. Rudkin said he had not received any information regarding the case. Dr. Bill Lillard, president, also declined to comment.
Rhonda Terry poses with Paul Collier Oct. 31 at a Halloween party here on campus.