THE March 7, 1989 Vol. 87, No. 39
VISTA
Tuesday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Edmondson salute on tap
Linda Cavanaugh of KTVY Channel 4 speaks at the "Take Aim Against Crime" program Feb. 28 in the University Center. (Photo by Stan Pollard, The Vista staff photographer)
Burns discusses political system By Laurel Anquoe Student Writer Dr. James MacGregor Burns, Pulitzer Prize-winning political theorist, made a whirlwind speaking tour of Central State University March 1-5 during his visit to present his play, "We the People of Liberty Tavern." Burns discussed the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the American political system in his addresses to students, faculty, legislators, and academic leaders. Burns, a past president of the American Political Science Association, described the Constitution as "the most brilliant piece of political planning in the history of the western world" and spoke of the Bill of Rights in historical terms in his lecture to a student group. In a press interview, Burns said the interpretations and modifications the Bill of Rights has sustained in the past 30 years, especially in it's application and development in social and economic areas, has been very desirable. He said the broadening of freedoms individually, socially, politically, and economically, makes the Bill of Rights more precious than ever. Burns also said he expects the U.S. Supreme Court will take a decided right direction in its future decisions, assuming that Bush makes conservative appointments and the Senate ratifies them. However, the objections to the Tower nomination as defense secretary may suggest that the Senate may not go along with extreme right nominations, he said. Burns said he finds the high court "generally conservative but not in any absolute sense and somewhat flexible."
When asked for his opinion of President Bush, Burns said to give the president more time to get his policies before the people because it's hard to judge in such an early stage of his presidency. He also said his good friend Gov. Michael Dukakis will not seek another term as governor of Massachusetts but may attempt another nomination for president. "One of the most crucial political battles will be fought in the Democratic Party in the next few years," he said.
James MacGregor Burns
The media exacerbated the failings of the electoral system in the last presidential race, Burns said, and exaggerated the role of personality. He added that the media has underplayed the importance of policy in its political coverage. He said public sponsorship of political programming would allow candidates to get away from a focus on personality and trivia. In his address to legislators and colleagues at a breakfast held in his honor, Burns called for revision of the Constitution but leaving the Bill of Rights intact. Please see Burns on page 8.
By Mary Wilcox Student Writer The Nigh Institute of State Government is sponsoring "A Salute to the Big Red 'E': The J. Howard Edmondson Era," on March 7. A reception will held at 6:30 p.m. at the Edmond Sheraton, with a banquet following at '7:30 p.m. at the University Center. This event is part of the "Salute to Oklahoma Series" and is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary year of the inauguration of former Oklahoma Gov. J. Howard Edmondson. Edmondson was inaugurated governor in 1959, after election to the office by the largest majority ever. He also served in the U.S. Senate before his death in 1971. Former Gov. George Nigh served as Lt. Gov. alongside Edmondson and was a part of the "prarie fire" movement and government reforms his administration was known for. Nigh said that Edmondson was an aggressive, dynamic force in Oklahoma politics, and the whole youth movement that rallied behind both their campaigns was amazing.
Although nominated separately for the Democratic ticket, they campaigned as a team during the election. _ Nigh said this was the first time this had happened. Edmondson, at 32 and Nigh, at 31, were the youngest men to govern a state at that time. This was considered so unusual that in 1959 Life Magazine ran a story under the heading "Boys State," reporting on the youth movement that was occurring in Oklahoma politics, Nigh said. "He (Edmondson) revolutionized campaigning. He was the first to campaign on television, was charismatic and was a dynamic force for the younger generation," Nigh said. "His dramatic influence and achievements, such as the state merit system, the repeal of prohibition and central purchasing laws, not only affected our contemporaries, but can be an example for this generation." Nigh said the March 7 event will perhaps bring back memories for those who were involved in Oklahoma politics during the era and help the young people of today to recognize the achievements of that era.
Special guests at the event will include Edmondson's widow Jeanette and his brother Ed Edmondson, a U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, Nigh said. There will be about fifty students representing many areas of campus life also at the event, Nigh said. According to Nigh, the "Salute to Oklahoma Series" has been very successful so far, and this event is proving to be the same. On May 2, "A Salute to the Armed Forces" will be the final event in the "Salute to Oklahoma Series."
J. Howard Edmondson
Faculty debates research This is the first of a two-part series regarding the Senate Faculty proposal requiring published research from graduate faculty By Larry Floyd Copy Editor Publish or perish. This axiom has often applied to teachers of higher education who have aspired to tenured, graduatefaculty positions. Some faculty at Central State University believe this standard should be applied at their school. A proposal presented to the CSU Faculty Senate in a January meeting would require published research by university teachers to maintain their graduate faculty status. But other faculty at CSU and in the state higher education system believe such an emphasis on research at the school would be a move in the wrong direction. Faculty Senate Proposal 88-7, as presented in January, proposes "research, validated by publication in refereed journals, will be expected in order to maintain graduate faculty status" at CSU. This emphasis on research is justified in the proposal as an enhancement to teaching effectiveness by using research "to stimulate the students to be inquirers" and to "avoid the transmission of outmoded knowledge." The proposal also states that more research would enhance the status of CSU and could increase funding from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Along with the research require-
ment, the proposal would limit graduate teaching loads to 18 hours per year to allow time for the research. The final version of the proposal will be submitted to the Faculty Senate for vote in March or April. Randall Jones, professor of political science and a member of the Faculty Senate Research Committee, said at the meeting, "One of the ways CSU can enhance its reputation is to become a more active research institution. That could result in a stronger university, a more advanced university, and a general improvement in the reputation of the university." Dr. Judith Coe, attending the meeting as faculty senate representative from the College of Education, expressed concern that teaching effectiveness may be decreased rather than increased by the research emphasis. Coe contended that universities with a higher emphasis on research tend to have more graduate assistants teaching classes normally taught by graduate faculty and that students suffer from this. Several weeks after making these remarks at the meeting, Coe said she still was doubtful that faculty research was helpful to teaching effectiveness. "I am not against reducing the teaching load for those doing research, but tying the two together and saying research invariably increases teachers' effectiveness is a false statement," she said. Coe also expressed doubts
about the university's ability to fund the additional staff that would be needed to cover the reduced teaching hours of graduate faculty doing research. The College of Education has 59 percent of the graduate students at CSU, and reducing the college's graduate faculty teaching load to 18 hours per year would necessitate the hiring of adjunct faculty. "You're talking about having to hire a tremendous amount of new staff. I don't see that as very feasible," she said. Coe said she believes most of the faculty opposition to the research proposal stems from the attachment of graduate faculty status to publication in refereed journals. Coe said other criteria, such as teaching ability and community service, should also be used to determine graduate faculty status. Dr. David Hart has been a chemistry professor at CSU since 1976 and is now chairman of the Faculty Senate Research Committee. Hart helped draft the research proposal presented in January. "Our feeling when we wrote the proposal was to expand the opportunity for research. Certainly our intent is not that classes would be lacking for teachers," Hart said several weeks after the meeting. Hart said research at CSU does not decrease teaching effectiveness and is "a considerable educational benefit to students. Please see Research on page 8.