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The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2005
First black educator, student honored ■ The Black Student Association recognized the first black student and educator at UCO.
sts regional philosophy conference for students
by Ashley Romano Staff Writer
by Ashley Romano Staff Writer
The only surviving member of the first five black females to attend UCO in 1954 returned to campus for a banquet sponsored by the Black Student Association Feb. 9. Elizabeth Hilton-Threatt, 93, received her master's in teaching from then Central State College in 1959. During the banquet, HiltonThreatt and Dr. Paul Lehman, UCO's first black educator, were honored with plaques to commemorate their achievements. Hilton-Threatt spoke about African American achievements in observance of Black History Month and noted such individuals as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Hilton-Threatt gave two pieces of advice to the audience, "Your brain is a terrible thing to waste, (and) if you study and work hard enough, you will overcome any obstacle you face." She said the university's landscape has changed since she attended it in the1950s. "There was only Old North and one or two other buildings," Hilton-Threatt said. "The streets weren't even paved." "She (Hilton-Threatt) helped raise me after my moth-
The ninth annual Southwestern Conference for Undergraduate Philosophers was held from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in Pegasus Theater in the Liberal Arts Building. During the evening, professor Paul Woodruff from the University of Texas gave the keynote address dubbed "Virtue Ethics and Responsibility for Crimes of War." Dr. Eva Dadlez, co-sponsor of the event, said Woodruff gave the philosophy faculty a list of four to five topics that he could speak on, and philosophy students voted unanimously on one topic. After he finished discussing his topic, Woodruff engaged the audience in a question-andanswer session. Throughout the day, five students from the University of Missouri at Kansas City presented papers with such topics as "The Artificiality of Morality's Progress and the Rhetoric of President George W. Bush" and "Evolution and Language." Dadlez said this year was the first time all of the presenters came from one school. She said students from Wichita, Baylor and OSU have participated in past conferences. "We advertised broadly, sending a call for papers to 50 plus schools in a four-state region," Dadlez said.
Photo by Justin Avera
Mrs. Elizabeth Hilton-Threatt speaks Feb. 9 at the Nigh University Center's Ballroom. Hilton-Threatt was one of the first black students at Central State College in 1954. For an additional photo, see page 3. er died," said Maeola ThreattHiggins, sister-in-law and fourth-grade student of HiltonThreatt. "I've learned (from her) that nothing is impossible, andregardless of what you face, trust in the Lord."
Special guests of the day included the Rev. W.R. Pitre of the First Baptist Church in Luther, Okla., Dr. Don Betz, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs and UCO's Ebony Gospel Choir.
For more information about the achievements of HiltonThreatt, visit the Max Chambers Library during February, where accolades from former Gov. Frank Keating, and President George W. Bush are
displayed in recognition of her life and work.
Ashley Romano can be reached at aromano@thevistaonline.com.
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Alumni group sponsors invitation-only formal event
UCO provost to take post as chancellor at Wisconsin university
by Ashley Romano Staff Writer
by UCO News Bureau "Bella Notte," a beautiful night, was the theme of the black-tie, Italian masquerade event that was held in Ballrooms A and B of the Nigh University Center Feb. 12. The banquet, sponsored by the Alumni Association, was an invitation-only event open to faculty, alumni and members of the community. Charlie Johnson, UCO news bureau director, said the event was more of a "friend-raiser than a fund-raiser." "It was an opportunity to celebrate the great successes happening at UCO," he said.
see BELLA NOTTE, page 3
Photo by Justin Avera
The UCO Kaleidoscope dancers perform "Tarantella" for UCO alumni and the Edmond community during Bella Notte Feb. 12 at the Nigh University Center.
UCO's Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Don Betz was named chancellor of the University of WisconsinRiver Falls Feb. 11. Chancellor is the equivalent of university president in the Wisconsin system. Betz's expected start date is July 1. Betz will remain at UCO until June 30. "Don has given the University of Central Oklahoma his best for six years," UCO President W. Roger Webb said. "I have never worked with anyone more gifted. He has been a great academic leader, and the
see BETZ, page 3
Caire to step down as dean of Math & Science ■
Dr. William Caire has been at UCO for 29 years and will resign as dean in July. by Ashlie Campbell Staff Writer William Caire, dean of the College of Mathematics and Science, announced he will step down effective July 31, 2005. Caire, who has been at UCO for 29 years, held the position as dean for five years.
"Dr. Caire has been an exemplary leader of the College of Mathematics and Science," said Dr. Don Betz, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. "He has worked diligently to create a collegial climate among faculty, staff and students alike." "I hope I have helped make UCO a better place for students to learn," said Caire. "We've started a good fundraising drive to start the completion of the science labs, and I'm going to work hard to complete the second phase before leaving." Despite being sad to leave
the camaraderie of the department, Caire said he is excited about his future. "I promised Dr. Betz I would be dean for five years, and those five years are up," Caire said. "I want to leave UCO just like I came in, as a teacher." Caire was granted his request to teach general biology for non-majors, which he taught for 24 years before becoming dean. "The incoming freshmen present the neat challenge of making biology interesting and applicable to real life," Caire said.
Caire also plans to continue writing his weekly article, Nature at the Selman Living Laboratory, in Woodward's newspaper, The Woodward News. The articles, of which Caire has completed 42, give a biological presentation of a plant or animal common to that area. Once Caire completes 52 articles, he plans to convert them into a book. Caire first became interested in biology while attending Howard County Junior College in Texas. He went on to earn his bachelor's in zoology at Texas
Tech University, his master's in zoology at Northern Texas State University and his doctorate at the University of New Mexico. Prior to his time at UCO, Caire was also a training pilot in the Navy and a research associate at the University of Missouri. "I'm truly sorry to lose his affirming leadership but also applaud his life-long involvement in teaching and research," Betz said. "He will be dearly missed."
Ashlie Campbell can be reached at acampbell@thevistaonline.com .
see CONFERENCE, page 3 CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
■ The
Vista will show "All the Presidents Men" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in Rm. 120 of the Communications Building. All students are welcome, free of charge. This film is the first in a series to be shown throughout the spring semester. ■ Career Services will hold 20-minute mock interviews for students from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 22. To reserve a spot, call 974-3346 or visit Career Services, Rm. 338 of the Nigh University Center. Feb. 10 is the last day to sign up. ■ UCO's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance will help taxpayers will their federal and state tax returns from Feb. 1 through April 12 in Rm. 347 of Thatcher Hall. For information, contact Dr. Mary Sheets at msheets@ucok.edu or at 974-2834. ■ Donations for the Lt. Col. Terry May Memorial Park are being accepted at the ROTC office. For more information, contact Lt. Col. Stuart Jolly or Capt. Mike Lewczak at 9475167, or Anne Holberlein at 974-2770.
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