The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Senate meets to approve increase of student fees by Michael Robertson Staff Writer
The UCO Student Association Senate Policy SubCommittee met Feb. 14 in the Nigh University Center to approve a bill that would add an 18 cent fee per credit hour to fund undergraduate research projects. The bill, which passed through the UCOSA house of representatives last semester, was debated in the UCOSA senate at its last fall meeting. It was put on hold at the time until the beginning of the spring semester. However, the author of the bill, former UCO student David McWhorter, graduated in December, which further delayed the bill. Dallas Strimple, UCOSA senate president pro tempore, said at a UCOSA senate Rules Committee meeting Feb. 2, that he couldn't find any similar sit:uation in the UCOSA senate's history or in the state legislature :for him to go by. He said at the :time that he thought technically, :the bill should die, but he wasn't sure. "This puts us in a precedent-
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2005
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making position," Strimple said. "I don't want to set a bad precedent." In the Feb. 2 Rules Committee meeting, the group decided to attach another author to the bill, Ty Reidenbaugh, UCOSA senator for the Tri Beta biology student association. The Rules Committee also added amendments to the bill, and refined some of the language. Reidenbaugh's name was attached to the bill along with McWhorter's, but Reidenbaugh will serve as the bill's primary advocate. During the senate Policy Cominittee meeting, Reidenbaugh answered the group's questions about the bill. Reidenbaugh said the new bill is essentially the same, and discussed the changes. "We've just put some safeties in place on how we're going to spend the money," he said. The first, he said, relates to how students will establish a mentoring relationship with a
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ROTC ranks in top 15 percent in nation
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Staff Writer
The ROTC was ranked in the top 15 percent of ROTC programs nationwide in January. The award was based on eight senior cadets' performance at the Leadership Development and Assessment Course, the program's over-all growth and the number of cadets commissioned as Second Lieutenants upon graduation. The course, located in Ft. Lewis, Wash., assesses the cadets' leadership skills. The program also received the award of most improved battalion. Last year the program was ranked 253 out of 272, which placed it in the bottom 10 percent nationwide. Lt. Col. Stuart Jolly, professor of military science, contributes the change to a new attitude, positive leadership, help from the university and a great faculty. "We've planted a lot of seeds, and now they are starting
to grow," Jolly said. This past summer was the first time for Jolly, who has been at UCO for less than two years, to take cadets to the course. "It was a personal goal to rank in the top 25 percent within three years of being here," Jolly said. "I guess we just reached that goal faster than expected." Some of the benefits from this recognition include prestige for UCO, imitation by other schools, a $2,500 check and individual awards said Jolly. Next summer, the program expects to send 17 cadets to the leadership assessment, and Jolly intends to reach the top 10 percent within the next two years. "In the future I want to make sure what we have in place is quality — quality cadets, quality training, and quality work," Jolly said.
Ashlie Campbell can be reached at acampbell@thevistaonline.com .
Photo by Naomi Takebuchi
Natalie Weaver, pre-med and chemistry freshman, tries out during the "Freshman Follies" audition Feb. 8. The acting, singing and dancing show is composed of freshman and will be held March 26 and 29 in Constitution Hall.
State senate passes capital bond issue for higher ed by Michael Robertson Staff Writer
The $500 million capital bond issue proposed by Gov. Brad Henry in his State of the State address passed out of a senate subcommittee Feb. 9. State Sen. Clark Jolley said the bill will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee. He said if it passes there, it will go to the Senate, then to the House. Jolley said he expects the bill to pass through the House within the next few weeks.
However, state Rep. Ken Miller said the House is drafting its own bill, which may or may not be heard by the Senate. Conversely, the bill being drafted may or may not be heard in the House. "We're under no obligation to hear their bill," Miller said. Miller said if either the House or Senate disagrees with the other's version of the bill, the issue will be taken to a conference committee made of both House and Senate members, where they will "hammer out" a common bill, which
would then be heard on both floors. Jolley said one of the issues he has with the way the Senate version of the bill is written now, is that it doesn't establish a secondary funding source if the lottery doesn't generate the income it's expected to. He said in a recent committee meeting, a proposal was voted down that would have designated money from a recent Indian gaming compact as a secondary source of funding.
see BOND ISSUE, page 3
Deputy U.S. Marshal recruits UCO students ■
Mark Crawford fielded questions from students about the U.S. Marshal coop program. by Ashlie Campbell Staff Writer
Photo by Justin Avera
Deputy U.S. Marshal Mark Crawford speaks to students about the co-op program for qualifiying students Feb. 14.
The Sociology, Criminal Justice and Substance Abuse Studies Department held an informational meeting regarding recruitment for the U.S. Marshal Co-op program on Feb. 14. Kathryn Williams, advisor for the program, and Deputy
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• Eight cadets skills were assessed at a course in Ft. Lewis, Wash. in January. by Ashlie Campbell
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U.S. Marshal Mark Crawford, a UCO graduate, were present to answer students' questions about the program. The co-op program, a 16week long, paid internship with U.S. Marshal Services, is available for Criminal Justice or Sociology second semester juniors or first semester seniors. Students are required to be at least 20 years old, a U.S. citizen, to hold a 3.0 GPA in their major field of study and to have an overall 3.25 GPA. Applicants must also pass an interview, background investigation, medical examination, psychological examination and fitness test.
"We currently have three students who are in the final stages of background checks prior to program acceptance," Williams said. UCO has held the recruitment two times previously and is one of five universities and colleges in the state to offer the opportunity. Crawford said that interns will learn basic law enforcement functions, work with the federal courts system and be involved with sensitive information sharing. Successful completion of the program can also result in students being hired as deputy U.S. Marshals.
"This unique opportunity offers students the chance to be paid for a required practicum and, if successful, to jump over, 36,000 applicants on file for a job as a U.S. Marshal," Williams said. "This is an awesome opportunity for people looking to make a career in federal law enforcement," Crawford said. This semester's recruitment period closes on Feb. 18. Interested students can contact Kathryn Williams at 9745546, or at kwilliams@ucok.edu . Ashlie Campbell be reached at acampbell@theyistaonline.com .
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Vista will show "Shattered Glass" at 7:30 p.m. March 1 in Rm. 120 of the Communications Building. Al students are welcome, free of charge. ■
■ 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. ■ 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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