The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Martin Luther King III rescheduled to speak at UCO by Alex Gambill \ Staff Writer
Martin Luther King III will give a speech titled, "The Dream Lives On," at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Nigh University Center's ballroom. King was scheduled to speak Feb. 2 but was rescheduled
due to the death of his mother, Coretta Scott King Jan. 30. Liz Cook, Multicultural Student Services coordinator, said King will speak about a plan for intercultural and interracial peace. She said a candlelight remembrance march around
Sen. Coburn to attend town hall meeting
campus will take place after the speech. The march will start on the east side of the Nigh University Center and continue down to Second Street and end at University Drive in front of the Max Chambers Library. Also, the UCO Ebony Choir will perform during the event.
Cook said she expects 700 people to attend the event. Student, faculty and staff tickets are free with a UCO ID and available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Campus Life Office in the Nigh University Center. Previously distributed tickets
for the original event will be honored. Cook said 200 tickets will be available before the event at the door of the ballroom. The cost for the general public is $5. The UCO Black Student Association, the Diversity Round Table and the Student
Programming Board are sponsoring the event. For more information, contact Brooke Wilson or Liz Cook in the Campus Life Office at 974-2363. Alex Gambill can be reached at agambill@thevistaonline.com .
Urban Snowboarding
by Matt Cauthron Editor in Chief
Sen. Tom Coburn will visit UCO Friday, Feb. 24 to speak at a town hall meeting in Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center. The meeting is hosted by the UCO College Republicans, and is free to all students, faculty and staff. Coburn will speak at noon and then open the floor for an informal question-and-answer period. Dustin Gabus, public relations director for the College Republicans, said the meeting is intended to get more students involved in the political process. "I think the town hall meeting is an excellent way for people of all political stripes to get together and hear what one of our top elected officials is doing in Washington," Gabus said. After the speech, Coburn will attend a reception at 1 p.m. in the Carl Albert Room of the Nigh University Center. The reception is open to all students, faculty and staff and will cost $5. Gabus said the reception will allow people to visit with Coburn individually. College Republicans Chairman Toni Kennard said the $5 entry fee at the reception will help raise funds for the upcoming election cycle. "The College Republicans are an amazing force within the Republican Party," Kennard said. "We're some of the greatest grass-roots volunteers the party has." But Gabus said the event is more than just a fundraiser. It's also a way to repair
by Vista photographer Midori Sasaki
Brian Gilliland, broadcasting freshman, left, and Zach Stolle, interpersonal communications senior, slide down a snow-covered slope on skateboards without wheels next to the Music Building Feb. 21.
see COBURN, page 3
New York Times editor to attend Democracy Day Conference to celebrate American Democracy Project by Desiree Treeby Staff Writer
New York Times editor, Adam Cohen, will be speaking at UCO Feb. 24 for Democracy Day, the American Democracy project's spring conference. The conference is celebrating the American Democracy Project, which encourages students and community to become more civically engaged. The conference registration, free to everyone, begins 8:30 a.m. in the Nigh University Center ballrooms. Cohen, Dr. Mark Hanebutt, UCO professor of Mass Communication and Dr. David
see DEMOCRACY, page 7
U.S. reduces processing time for visas by Alex Gambill Staff Writer
The U.S. State Department reduced the processing time for F-1 visas Dec. 29, allowing more foreign students easier access to higher education in the United States. The processing time for visas was increased after 9/11 because of increased background checks. International student enrollment at universities declined as a result, said Jalal Daneshfar, immigration and activities director of the UCO International Office. Daneshfar said most of the students that found it harder to get visas were from the Middle East. He said universities and university towns were beginning to see the financial problems associated with the decline. "The State Department is trying to reverse the trend," Daneshfar said. To do so, Daneshfar said, the
A Rocky Start The UCO baseball team suffers an 11-1 loss, slipping to 1-4 on the season.
See Sports pg. 12
State Department is streamlining some of its processes to better identify qualified candidates for student visas. "The general trend is that the U.S. government is doing everything to make it easier for qualified international students to get visas," Daneshfar said. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are also simplifying the process of background checks for those applying for visas and citizenship, Daneshfar said. Stephen Lanier, an immigration adviser in the UCO International Office, said the State Department runs a background check mostly on males 18-55 years old from a list of countries that pose a threat to national security. The list includes countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Western Africa. For students who come from countries such as Japan and South Korea, the processing time has never been an issue,
Students, lawmakers meet at Capitol
H VI" r
/4.),n) 0.1
TOKYO .
S,Vet.Z ,V∎ 1 NI .1,
K
1
by Heather Warlick
1983 jPN -
Staff Writer
2007 1010
Psychology senior from Japan. Goto said she applied before 9/11 and it took only a month to get her student visa. Goto said students applying for visas have to get interviewed at the American embassy in their country. Doori Lim, fashion market-
Gov. Brad Henry spoke at Higher Education Day, a meeting between students and lawmakers about university funding and scholarships, Feb. 15, in the House chamber at the state Capitol. About 300 people attended the general session, half of which were students representing Oklahoma universities, said Kathryn E. Jones, executive director of the Higher Education Alumni Council of Oklahoma. Alicia Raymond, UCO freshman, spoke on behalf of UCO students about how the Oklahoma Higher Learning
see VISA, page 3
see CAPITOL, page 3
STATE UNIVERSITY
4a
VNJPN1111104.117T:i4111<<<««««««<«««<<< M V, Fri J P N 0 2 0
An example of a foreign student's F-1 visa card
Lanier said. "Recently they've (the State Department) announced they've been able to get it under 30 days," Lanier said. He said some students would wait two to three months to get their background checks processed. "I heard after 9/11 it took a longer time," said Izumi Goto,
A Healthy Dose Vista health columnist Callie A. Collins examines the dangers of turning up your MP3 player too loud.
See Opinion pg. 2
Photo Illustration
Vista movie review Vista Senior Staff Writer Nathan Winfrey found out that sometimes 'action movie' and 'character development' can coexist on the big screen.
See Entertainment pg. 9