University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY March 12, 1992
The Student Voice Since 1903
Students hit dead ends By Penny Owen Staff Writer
Oklahoma 37 on list of most livable states LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A formula that weighs 4 3 factors , fr°11I crime mid inarriage rates to "deficient bridges," has revealed Utah as the nation's Most Livable State," a Kansas publisher:said. Utah edged out 1991 winner New Hampshire,`' which slipped to second place in the second annual rankings compiled by Morgan Quitno corp., the ccdnpany said Sunday. Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas rounded out the top five. ranked No. 37 on the Oklahoma list.
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Many international students seeking offcampus jobs are hitting dead ends because of the complicated process their potential employers must go through to hire them. Before last October, international students could only work on-campus. But a bill recently passed by Congress opened up the regular job market to them — with a slew of restrictions attached. First, employers wanting to hire an international student must post their job opening with the state employment office and display a sign on the premises. The job must be available for 60 days before an international student can apply for it, said International Student Representative Jalal Daneshfar. If the job is still open after 60 days, the employer must then complete and mail a form to the Department of Labor (DOL) and the University of Central Oklahoma. UCO then issues a temporary work per-
mit for the employer to use until the DOL sends its approval. Only then can the student be hired. Although many international students have tried to get jobs off-campus, Daneshfar said only a handful have met success. "A lot of them are frustrated because employers don't know the procedure," Daneshfar said. "And employers don't want to go to the trouble of using the employment office because they don't want all kinds of people to apply."
66 Before I told them they'd have to do all the paperwork, they were really interested in hiring me. When I took the paperwork back to them, they did not seem very happy about it. They said they'd call me back, but they never did. —Masako Omoto
UCO international student Masako Omoto said she hoped to get a job at a local restaurant this semester. "Before I told them they'd have to do all
the paperwork, they were really interested in hiring me," said Omoto. "When I took the paperwork back to them, they did not seem very happy about it. They said they'd call me back, but they never did." The problem is partly due to employers being unfamiliar with the new law, Daneshfar said. When confronted with four pages of hiring instructions, some become intimidated. Educating employers should open some doors, said Daneshfar, who plans to contact the Chamber of Commerce and Edmond Employment Office for help in getting the word out. For now, the best way for international students to find off-campus jobs is through the employment office, Daneshfar said. But less than 5 percent of the Edmond Employment Office jobs last more than 60 days, said Edmond Job Service Manager Terry Watson. "We do have internationals coming in,' he said. "But the U.S. citizen should have some preference in getting a job." However, some fast food businesses keen openings listed all the time, Watson said. And minimum wage jobs often last 60 days McDonald's is one employer who is will. ing to make the effort to hire internationals "It's more complicated than hiring a U.S citizen," said McDonald's Personnel Direc. for Robin Golightly. "But it makes sense because it opens up another good pool 6 workers." V
Senate studies policy, health fees, condoms By Sam Powell Staff Writer
Susan Smith casts her ballot in the Super Tuesday primary. Bill Clinton and George Bush won the support of Oklahoma voters in the election. (Photo by Mike Simons)
The student senate at the University of Central Oklahoma debated proposals Monday to establish a "bad weather" policy, redirect health center fees and install condom machines in university restrooms. A resolution calling for the establishment of a bad weather policy for commuter students was hotly debated after some senators said they felt it would be discriminatory. According to the proposal, any commuter student unable to attend classes because of road conditions could be excused if the situation warrants. One senator said she thought it would work against students who live on campus. But Sharma Williams, one of the resolution's authors, disagreed saying the bill was designed to benefit students who live in outlying areas. "If they can prove that it would be dangerous for them to walk to class, they could be excused," she said. "The reason we wrote this is because it takes something short of a miracle to get this place to close because of weather," Williams said. "People have to take their lives in their hands trying to get here."
The senate voted a lopsided 20-1 to hold the proposal in committee. Of the proposals considered, the one that fueled the most humorous response was a resolution calling for condom machines in university restrooms. The proposal states that the administration should contact an independent company for the purpose of installing condom vending machines m a minimum or one male and one female restroom on each floor in each building. The machines would remain the property of the company and costs of installation could be paid by the company, according to the resolution. A committee to study the proposal was appointed. Also considered by the senate was a proposal for a redirecting of fees paid to the Student Health Center. The bill said the health center is low on funds because the fees students and faculty pay for medications and tests do not go back into the health center budget. The fees go to the general fund and are not directly reallocated to the center. The proposition requests that all fees received by the health center be reallocated into its budget, and the excess sent into the general fund. The bill passed by 23-3. V