„1:,988HE February
Vol. 86, No. 37
VISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Intercollegiate legislature held
CSU delegation returns victorious from session By J. Money A Central State University delegation to the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (OIL), held Feb. 17-21, returned Monday with 10 awards, two honorable mentions for introduced legislation, and several delegation members guarenteed offices during the 1989 session. According to Jeff Aynes, leader of the 1988 CSU delegation, OIL is a mock session of state government, in which there is a house of representatives, a senate and an executive branch. Aynes said students are named by each college student association to participate in a House of Representatives and a Senate. Executive officers are elected during the previous year's OIL session. Aynes said bills dealing with "Right-to-Life," euthanasia, a state constitutional convention and a state lottery were introduced by CSU's delegation to committee meetings in the House and Senate. CSU's delegation placed second only to the University of Oklahoma's for the best over-all delegation award. The committees, he said, consider legislation brought by OIL delegations to choose which
would be presented to a jointsession of OIL. Aynes said once the OIL legislature passes bills, they are given to the OIL governor for approval or veto. "All the legislation OIL passes is given to state legislators who in turn evaluate possible applications in actual state government," Aynes said. "In some cases," he continued, "legislation passed by OIL is eventually passed into state law. Pictures on driver licenses is a good example." Awards the CSU delegation won in the OIL House include: Honorable mention for the best freshman delegate, awarded to Delores Berkey; two honorable mentions for legislation presented, euthanasia and "Right-to-Life"; honorable mention for the best delegate, awarded to Kim Voynar; best over-all delegate, awarded to Stephen Hines, and honorable mention for the best delegation. Awards the CSU delegation won in the OIL Senate are: Oustanding service to OIL, awarded to Roger Acebo; best delegate senator, awarded to Robert Murphy and best delegation.
Senate passes AIDS guidelines By Laura Hughes
Student Writer An AIDS policy which mandates that "anyone who tests positive for the virus should have the same rights as any other person, free of discrimination on the basis of their infection," passed the Student Association Senate Monday. The senate also passed bylaw establishing a senate grievance committee and a resolution concerning the selection of individuals for senate awards. The AIDS resolution, which called for education and communication to deal with the disease, passed by a vote of 17-7-7. Resolution 87-206 called for the formation of a grievance committee to handle complaints that may arise between senate members. It was written by Sen. Ronald Roper and passed by consent. Resolution 87-207 ammended the way in which a student senator could be nominated for the Outstanding Student Senator Award. According to Kirk Killion, speaker of the senate, the award is given once a year. Written by Sen. Bill Smith, 87-207 states "chairpersons of all senate standing committees may nominate any member of their committee for the award." Killion said the resolution was passed by consent. In other action, Sen. Lee Allen turned in a letter of resignation. He joined the senate seven years ago. Allen said he was resigning because too much time was being wasted by people spending all their time opposing his views. "More time is spent dealing with Lee Allen than dealing with issues," Allen told the senate. "Let's deal with the issues and move on."
Aynes said a CSU delegate, Jeff Codner, also won second place in a moot court competition regarding the constitutionality of allowing a child with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) to remain in school. Delegates involved in the competition argued both for and against allowing the child to stay in school, he said. The OIL has been conducting mock meetings for 20 years. Aynes said it has considered thousands of pieces of legislation, and added that probably onetenth is passed into law.
Photographic Services: Tom Gilbert
Dr. Roger W. Strong conducts CSU's symphony orchestra in a concert held last week. The group's next concert on campus is April 26.
Students speak against tuition increase By Margaret Maher
Student Writer The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education discussed tuition increases Monday during a hearing about a four-year plan to raise tuition and fees to the regional average of the Big 8 and Big 10 schools. The plan, which asks for $55 million in state appropriated funds and for authorization to assess up to $20 million in student tuition and fee charges for the 1988-89 school year, drew mixed comments from speakers who approached the board. The regents said a total of $360 million over the four year period is what is needed to raise Oklahoma up to the tuition average of the Big 8 and Big 10 schools. "Oklahoma students deserve to be treated equally with the other Big 8 and Big 10 schools," said Dr. Edward Coyle, chancellor of fiscal affairs for the state regents. The thrust of the four year plan, he said, is to get enough revenue into the system to retain high quality faculty members and provide services comporable to what students get at other schools in the region. If the full amount the regents are requesting is approved by the legislature, it will mean a 22-23 percent increase in tuition and fees for each student attending school in Oklahoma during the 1988-89 year. University of Oklahoma Student Association President Terry Carr said OU's student association had some concerns when faced with a sixth proposed tuition increase in seven years. She indicated that even though tuition has increased, budgets
have remained the same. Carr said each year there are less course selections, fewer faculty members, and less student services despite the increases. But, Tulsa Junior College President James Fappis said he fully supported the proposal. Fappis said that having a scaled increase of student fees proportionate to the investment made by the state is needed. Richard Hill, student council president at the technical branch of Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City said there are better ways for the higher education system to raise money. "Students on various campuses, including the one that I attend, see on a regular basis ways
that expenses can be cut other than by cutting student services," Hill said. But Hill was not specific about possible ways costs could be cut. In addition to the general tuition increase, requests from 12 institutions and one education center for changes in special fees were also discussed by the regents. Although no representative from Central State University spoke, there is a request from CSU for $30 per semester hour for correspondence courses. The present rate for correspondence courses is $20 per semester hour. Dr. Clyde Jacob, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, was unavailable for comment about the increase.
Friday deadline set for voter registration By Mary Martin
Student Writer February 26 is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the March 8 Super Tuesday presidential primary. "The overall importance of Super Tuesday is that it increases the importance or roll of the South in presidential politics," said Sharon Carney, instructor of political science at Central State University. "Also, after the tallys are made on the evening of March 8, 40 percent of the convention delegates are then selected. Oklahoma will have 51 people in the state democratic convention and 36 people in the state republican covention. "Roughly combined," she continued, "34 of these people will be
selected as delegates. So, you can see the importance of voting on Super Tuesday," said Carney. Applications for absentee ballots may also be obtained through the Oklahoma County Election Board office at 320 Robert S. Kerr, Oklahoma City. Carney said all ballots must be into the County Election Board by 7 p.m. on the day of the primary to be counted. To be eligible to register, you must be 18 or older, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Oklahoma. CSU students who are not registerd or students who are registerd in another county and can not return to their original place of registration may register to vote at the Edmond Municipal Building, 101 E. Main St.