THE VI
February 11, 1988 Vol. 86, No. 33
STA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
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Dorm closings not expected
Housing vacancies caused by fewer students By Krista Townsend Student Writer Central State University housing is 25 percent vacant, according to Dana Christman, manager of Resident Housing. "Every university is suffering from the decline of the Baby Boom. It peaked in the 1960s when universities built housing to accommodate the extra students," said Christman. In addition, Christman said CSU does not have many "traditional students." "Many of our students work full-time and go to school parttime. Our students are considerably older, and many have families," she said. Christman said other universities have had harder problems keeping their dorms filled. Christman said that since the boom has peaked, universities are being forced to close down dorms they can no longer keep filled. She said CSU is not planning to
shut down any dorms, but rather improve them. "Plans have been approved to add ice machines to each hall, and personal computers are available for residents to use," Christman said. She added that residents who have their own personal cornputers may purchase modems from Housing to hook up in their rooms. There are four residence halls at CSU; East and Thatcher are for men, West and Murdaugh are for women. Christman said all rooms contain a telephone, and are furnished. In addition, she said there is also housing available for married students. Each hall also contains recreation rooms offering cable TV, beverage and snack machines, study rooms, chairs and sofas. Laundry facilities are also provided. Christman said the average cost for students who rent rooms, have
telephones and eat at the campus cafeteria is $210 each month. Students who live in the dorms appear satisfied, Christman said,
because students typically live in the dorms an average of two to three semesters. "Living in the dorm,"
Christman said, "is a good transitional period for students between living at home and going out into the real world."
Parking plan approved by Senate By Laura Hughes Student Writer Expanded commuter parking hours and a move to sponsor a spring chess tournament on campus both passed the Student Association Senate Monday. Resolution 87-216, allowing commuting students with properly registered vehicles to park in any commuter parking lot beginning at 12:30 p.m. each day, passed 26-0 with three abstensions. Commuters could previously park in any commuter parking lot after 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The change would also allow commuting students to park in any commuting parking lot beginning at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday during the 1988 summer semester. Senator Tim Kalman, author of the bill, said he had talked with CSU Police Chief Bob Roberts, who agreed with the proposal and thought it would help with congestion. Resolution 87-116, calling for the Student Association to sponsor a chess tournament during the spring semester, passed by consent.
"Last year we had a very high level of competition," said Student Association Vice President Glen Kilgour. "The tournament was very successful." Kilgour will serve on the committee organizing the tournament. Resolution 87-202 was the only measure that failed. It called for weekly written reports from the Executive Council to be posted for the senators to read. Proponents of the bill argued the move would reduce the time of senate meetings. But opponents said that the senators would not read the reports.
CSU continues growth
Spring enrollment establishes record Central State University's enrollment for the Spring semester has reached an all-time high of 12,746, university officials said last week. This is an increase of 2.1 percent over a year ago when the university recorded a 2.5 percent increase over the previous year. Both freshman and senior enrollment were up significantly, said CSU President Bill Lillard when he released the figures. Freshman enrollment, which was the biggest in the fall, increased 7.5 percent over a year ago. Senior enrollment was up 4.7 percent. Sophomore and junior enrollment totals were up two and three percent respectively. Only graduate enrollment dropped, with a decrease of 4.4 percent. Women still outnumber men on campus with a total enrollment of 54 percent, the same as a year ago. "I think the convenience of our schedule, the wide variety of offereings in both day and evening classes and the quality of our programs have caused the continued rise," said Lillard. "Our freshman class this spring totaled 2,779, up 193 students over a year ago," he added. Lillard said he was sure one of
the reasons for the increase is that students can work full-time or part-time and still attend classes at CSU because of class availability. The average age of CSU students remained steady at 27, with 47 percent of the enrollment being over 25. The 21-25 age group comprises 31 percent of the enrollment, and those under 21 make up 22 percent. The metropolitan area of Oklahoma, Canadian, Cleveland, Pottawatomie and McClain counties accounts for 72.4 percent of the enrollment, with 67.9 percent coming from Oklahoma County alone. International students account for 7.3 percent of the enrollment, down slightly from a year ago. The largest single group of foreign students is from Malaysia, with a total of 184. The second largest group is Nigerian, with 91, followed by those from Taiwan with 83 and Pakistan with 78. Several departments showed marked increases in student credit hour production including Administrative Services and Business Education, up 13.1 percent; Creative Studies, 18.7 percent; Geography, 21.2 percent; Nursing, 7.9 percent and Physical Education, 10.7 percent.
UO. 'hotograp is ervices: Tom CAmert
Carlos Bitten prepares an area west of the CSU Police department for expansion. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of the 1988 Fall semester.
Two coeds assaulted after dance By Chris Sommer Associate Editor A man described as being in his early twenties with dark hair and dark complexion is being sought by campus police after reportedly assaulting two Central State University coeds at the East Meets West dance last Thursday night. According to Bob Roberts, chief of campus security, the two coeds were walking from the dance at East Hall about 10:30 p.m. when a man weighing approximately 155 to 160 pounds, standing about 5-foot-7-inches approached them between East Hall and Murdaugh Hall and took
one of the girls by the arm to talk. "We believe the man is either Indian or Pakistani. Apparently when the girl resisted, the man got angry and made some rude remarks," Roberts said. "I don't feel he had any violent intentions or he would have singled someone else out that was alone." Roberts said there were no injuries. "The girls were just scared," he said. "When the man wouldn't leave them alone they yelled at a group of students from the dance and the man walked away." "Right now we are unable to identify the man. We do have pic-
tures, but that is not enough to go by," Roberts said. "What we need is a name. "Once we are able to pick him up, simple assault charges will be filed as a misdemeanor," he added. "I can't emphasize enough that if you are going to be out at night, go with a friend, call someone or call campus security for an escort. We were fortunate this time that no one was hurt, but it could have easily turned the other way." "This was an isolated incident," said Roberts. "There is no reason for students to become alarmed."