April 1, 2008 www. thevistaonline. corn The Student Voice of the University or Central Oklahoma Since 1903
NO APOLOGIES FROM KERN
Senate opposes gun bill
"If I knew someone had a tape recorder and was recording my comments, I would have still said what I said." -Sally Kern by Jordan Richison Staff Writer Controversial Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern spoke Thursday at the monthly UCO College Republicans meeting in front of a packed house in Heritage Room, located in the Nigh University Center. Kern's comments earlier this month about how the "homosexual agenda" is destroying the nation has made her a national figure and a lightning rod for criticism across the nation. "It seems like lately my name has become a household name. This is something that I wasn't looking for, it's something that has come my way and you have to deal with it when that time comes," Kern said. For the majority of her presentation, Kern avoided talking about the controversy surrounding her comments about gays and instead talked about how the nation was founded on the basis of religious freedom.
by Justin Langston " Senior Staff Writer
The UCO Faculty Senate passed a resolution March 25 containing language that condemned Oklahoma House Bill 2513, which would allow certain Oklahoma residents with a concealed fire arm license to carry a concealed fire arm on college campuses in Oklahoma. The resolution passed by the UCO Faculty Senate, called "The Continued Prohibition of Guns on Campus," was crafted by six former Faculty Senate presidents to protest the passing of House Bill 2513, which has not passed the State Senate, and was submitted to the Faculty Senate March 24 by Faculty Senate President James Mock. "I'm not pushing for this personally," Mock said in a telephone interview. "I'm acting as a representative of this by Vista photographer Chris Albers body. I'm not taking a stand Rep. Sally Kern answers questions from the crowd at Thursday Night's College Republican meeting. Kern made on this personally. I'm just trying to be the best represenit clear that she would not apologize for her recent controversial statements about the "homosexual agenda". tative I can be." The resolution passed by Kern-quoted John Adams, means_ a Government based- --she spoke briefly about her was wrong, she wasrnplying the Faculty Senate expresses one of the nation's Founding on a higher authority than controversial remarks regard- that their agenda of wanting reservations concerning the Fathers, on Republic, and man, which the Founding ing gays and tried to clarify everyone to accept it as being passage of House Bill 2513 how it is based on power not Fathers say is the Bible," Kern what she meant by them. She all right was wrong. and the resolution takes the of this earth. said. Toward the said when she mentioned that "The word Republic end of Kern's presentation the homosexuality agenda see KERN, page 3 see GUN, page 3
Mr. and Ms. UCO International crowned The Joys ot $priDg by Jana Davis Staff Writer Zeb *Khan, sophomore from Pakistan and Upasana Pathak, freshman from India, won the 8th annual Mr. and
Miss • UCO International title last Friday evening in Constitution Hall. "I was not expecting my name to be called, but I was very confident," Pathak said after the competition. "I
Photo by Chanel Henry
Zeb Khan, sophomore from Pakistan, and Upasana Pathak, freshman from India, are crowned Mr. and Ms. UCO International 2008 Friday March 28th in Constitution Hall.
Mon. through Thurs. at 5 p.m. NEWSCENTRAL
believed in myself." "It's been a very long time since Pakistan has won this contest," Khan said. Each contestant participated in casual and evening wear, a talent competition and an onstage interview question and answer. Pathak, a business major, plans to use her title to promote UCO in her own country. She is involved on campus in Quit Smoking, HIV/Aids Awareness, Indian Association and the International Council. She said she had been preparing mentally for the contest since August 2007. Khan, a management information systems major, hopes to promote the name of UCO by making speeches and telling people about the campus. He is involved in International Student Council and Rugby. He said he had been preparing for the Mr. and Miss UCO International for the past two to three weeks, four to six hours every day. For the talent competition, Pathak performed a native dance from her country and Khan danced to "Greased Lightning." Freeman, the international student adviser, said all of the proceeds from the eve-
ning will go to the Ronald L. Paddock scholarship fund that is given to students based strictly on a financial need. Paddock, former international director, was the interviewer for the evening. During the onstage interview, Pathak answered a question over the former New York governor, Eliot Spitzer. Her question asked if a governor's private life was any of the public's business. She said, in her opinion, that any public official should be held to a higher standard. Khan gave an answer to the question of what impact he wanted to have on this world. "After I die, I want to be remembered as a person who loved peace," Khan said during his onstage interview. "I am very pleased with it [the competition]," Freerrian said. "Talent was superb and students worked really hard." The first runners-up were Sushil Prajapati, a graduate MBA from Nepal and Dilshodai Sharifzoda, freshman finance major from Tajikistan. "I think they did great," Sharifzoda said about the winners.
by Vista photographer Brenda O'Brian
Students wait out the severe thunderstorms that rolled through the Edmond area late Sunday night and into Monday morning in the basement of Chambers Library.
see CONTEST, page 7
"Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me."
Dw il/ Sinzdi tli) 11
-Chinese Proverb
r 11711
Page 4
111