THE March 14, 1989 Vol. 87, No. 41
ITISPIIA
Tuesday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Edmondson era noted for reform
Jeanette Edmondson (center), widow of former Oklahoma Governor J. Howard Edmondson, visits with Dr. Mark Johnson of Oklahoma City (left) and Jake Pullen of Hugo, Okla. (right) at Tuesday night's "Salute to the Big Red 'E': The J. Howard Edmondson Era" reception at the Edmond Sheraton. (Photo by Daniel Smith)
Students may be affected
Standards cause dilemma
By Keith Purtell there is a financial problem at Student Writer home, so they have to work more One of the changes taking place and couldn't concentrate on their in education is the issue of admis- studies. sion standards. Central State "With the new academic stanUniversity has been caught in the dards which have been put into middle; wanting to enhance the place by the state board of regents quality of education offered yet requiring high school students to trying to maintain its traditional take math, science, history and role as a university open to a wide English classes, the students variety of students. should be more prepared over the The idea that raising admission next several years. I wouldn't standards might result in a more want to see students deprived of dedicated student body causes the opportuniy to attend a major strong reactions among different university if they want to. The people. idea of going back and improving "I think that it would not be at the high school level is more atgood for our university," said tractive," Thompson said. Susan Thompson, coordinator for But others feel there are a variehigh school/college relations at ty of important reasons for a high CSU. "There are a lot of students "gate" at the university level. who do not test well, but they can "The problem is that we've had prove themselves at the university. a tremendous amount of grade inThere may be extenuating cir- flation in the last 20 years. All cumstances (for difficulty meeting over the country in the 60s and 70s admissions standards): maybe there was a great deal of people their homelife is not good, or who just started giving higher
grades for the same work," said Anne Lynch, an assistant professor of geography and history. "So even though it looked like we had entrance requirements that brought us students out of the upper two-thirds, we were really running virtually open admissions." Lynch said CSU gives nearly 25 percent A's and B's, and about 18 percent C's. She pointed outh that if C is the average grade, there should be more C's given out, and fewer A's than anything else. "Very often in a classroom we have a lot of students who can't read a textbook. So you choose a simpler text for the next year. And then you're cheating your better student's," Lynch said. "From the faculty's point of view, if we could get the students bunched a little closer together, so their preparation was closer, then we could teach all of them at the
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Henthorn said. However, students are not required to pass the test to graduate. Nursing students in all states take the test during the last semester of their senior year, Henthorn said. The Assess Test, which is put out by a nursing book publisher, will be used as a study guide for the board exam, Henthorn said. The test will serve as a refresher of past courses and as an indicator of problem areas for the student, she said. The results of the test are expected three to four weeks after
Edmondson made history with his "Prairie Fire" campaign that included live, unrehearsed television commercials during which he always seemed relaxed, forceful and in control. The revolutionary campaign resulted in the Muskogee Democrat being elected governor by the largest margin in state history while being the youngest governor in state history at age 33.
"I first thought he didn't have a chance," said Nigh, who was the state's youngest lieutenant governor at age 31. "But I soon learned the real meaning of a prairie fire, of a grass-root effort. "The things that came out of that campaign, I'll never forget. J. Howard Edmondson was the state's first T.V. governor, the state's first charismatic governor and the state's first reform governor. "While Edmondson was an impressive campaigner, he served conscientiously as governor," Nigh said. "He realized winning is only the beginning of service. It's on the first rung in the ladder." Edmondson was successful because he had a vision, which Nigh defined as "that uncanny ability to see something not here, something in the future." Former 2nd District Congressman Ed Edmondson said his brother exhibited a determination not matched by many politicians. "My brother was a guy who was a rarity in politics," he said. "He must have meant everything he said and tried his darndest to Please see Edmondson on page 5.
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Please see Admissions on page 8.
Nursing test administered By Bretta Barritt Student Writer Approximately 60 senior nursing students took the Assess Test last week, a test similar to the required Oklahoma State Nursing Board Exam, said Dr. Barbara S. Henthorn, chairwoman of the nursing department. The Nursing Board Exam lasts two days and is given twice a year, in Febuary and July, Henthorn said. The test result is a good predictor of how well a student will do on the Oklahoma State Nursing Board Licensing Examination,
J. Howard Edmondson's vision as governor of Oklahoma left a mark on state government that has yet to be equaled by any other governor, former Gov. George Nigh said Tuesday night during a "Salute to the Big Red 'E': The J. Howard Edmondson Era" at University Center. A sell-out crowd of more than 400 people rekindled memories of Edmondson's era as governor and U.S. senator during the salute hosted by the Nigh Institute of State Government at CSU. The Edmondson era is noted for its reform in state government, including repeal of prohibition, creation of the state highway commission and implementation of a state merit system and a state purchasing system.
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testing, Henthorn said. This years' exam will be given July 11 and 12. The exams are given on the same days nationwide to prevent possible cheating, Henthorn said. Approximately 900 to 1000 graduates across the state will be taking the exam in July, Henthorn said. She said 57 will be from CSU if all seniors graduate. Students must graduate from an approved school of nursing before they can take the exam, Henthorn said.
Anthony Warrior of Cushing (Okla.) Middle School is shown
with his exhibit, "Effects of Temperature on the Movement of Chromoplasts," during the Central Oklahoma Regional Science Fair Thursday in University Center. (Photo by Stan Pollard, The Vista staff photographer.)