The Vista April 1, 1982

Page 1

F"

JrA!LaTI

Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma

April 1, 1982

Vol. 80, No. 48

Student Senate resolves bills By Donna Bennett All bills up before the Student Senate were resolved in Monday's weekly meetings. Senators Price Oswalt and Bo Summers' resolution, calling for the reorganization of the Miss CSU pageant qualifications and the updating/amending of the student handbook, passed with no apparent problems. The resolution (82-114) called for the qualifications for the pageant to follow the Miss Oklahoma and Miss America standards. Resolutions 82-112 by Senator Tonya Lee, concerning the provision of food for students staying in the dorms during holiday breaks, was withdrawn before the senate could make any decisions. Resolution 82-113, calling for the Student Health Center staff to remain on duty during the holidays passed with one amendment. While the publicity gave a due pass to the bill authored by

Senators Aloysius Ibe and Simon Okonjo, a division vote was called for and the bill clearly passed. Resolution 82-115, concerning dorm residents who stay in the dorms during holidays and the possibility of paying extra to have food provided by the cafeteria, was placed on the April 14th ballot. Parliamentarian Mike Anderson, chairman of the Terry Pierce fund raising effort, stated that the fund was close to the halfway margin, thanks to an anonimous benefactor. He also informed the senate about the effort being put out by the Edmond West Oaks restaurants in behalf of Pierce. Student Senate elections are scheduled for April 14. Thirty senate seats are open and the filing period ends April 12. Anyone interested in running for senate may pick up a petition in the senate office located on the fourth floor of University Center.

Vista photos by Mkhael Keen

Topsy-turvy weather changed for the better again Wednesday, allowing students to get out and enjoy the sun. Laura Beck, left and Susan Rowden seized the opportunity to lay in the sun and got a early start on their summer tans.

Tensions add to depression By Kris Miller Depression is still a number one factor causing emotional problems but the number of people who do go into periods of depression does not seem to be growing among college students. But the number of people who are willing to seek professional help for depression is growing. "Approximately twenty percent of all college studets suffer serious enough problems to seek professional help," said Dr. Stewart Beasley, Edmond counseling psychologist and CSU psychology associate professor. What is depression and what seems to cause the "blues?" Depression is triggered by a real or imagined loss, or even an anticipated loss. It can be caused by the loss of a loved one, a blow to one's self esteem or a feeling that one has not lived up to his own standards. Dr. Edith King, director of the Oklahoma City North Center, feels there is no reason for depression to increase because it is a common emotional problem. However, Dr. Darrell Gilliland, director of the Counseling and Testing Center at CSU, feels there is more confusion in today's

world with more decisions and choices to make and an increase in the responsibilities. "Students of today are more subjective to things that might cause depression," said Dr. A.G. McCormick, psychology professor. The psychologists interviewed agreed that college students go through a stressful period and are subject to more stressful situations when attending college. Some students enter an identity crisis when they leave their families and start an independent existence. "The biggest problem stems from students trying to handle a family, a job and school work at the same time and then falling into a boring day-to-day routine," explained McCormick. Many students under the stress of classes and work tend to run instead of trying to handle classes that are difficult and stressful because of the fear of failure in college classes. More than 4,000 courses were dropped last semester. With depression there must be some means of coping or working out the problems that accompany feelings of depression.

In this issue. . . Peterson's enthusiam catchy. VA provides counceling program. Social Security ends in '85. Photo lab bugs beginner. Softballers have knowhow. Doubleheaders split with OU.

. .page 3 . .page 4 . .page 5 . .page 6 . .page 7 . .page 8

"It is normal to feel blue or blah but it is not normal to stick with feeling blue more than a week or two weeks," said McCormick. He explained that with depression there are two behaviors: approaching someone who has taken something away or avoiding someone or something. "The compromist is that you don't do anything. When you're depressed, you don't try and when you don't do anything the probability of success at anything is low," said McCormick. Since most normal depressions are relatively short, people need to find a support system such as a friend or family member who will listen to them with objectivity. Some type of physical activity will also help because this metabolizes

some of the chemicals that help a person down. The psychologists interviewed expressed the same urgency that if a person can't get over feelings of depression, he should seek professional help. Beasley finds that depressed patients are not difficult to treat. He stressed that a person can't always help himself, but many people do try to try to handle the depressions themselves. However, the people that do seek psychiatric help feel freer to do so because today's society is more educated and sophisticated about mental health. With depression comes suicides. Suicides are extremely high among college students. Peo-

ple who carry a suicide threat out, may feel they are not meeting their own or someone else's expectations. With college students, suicides appear to be the highest in April, which has been called the suicide month. Students or people in general who felt "if they could just hold out through the winter until spring arrives" find that nothing has changed and give up on life. Also, when college students fail midterms or final grades, suicide often results. Depression still ranks high with many fatal results that often follow. However, many students are feeling that freedom to seek help, professionally or nonprofessionally

Building laws protect handicapped By Melissa Vierheller Every effort is being made to provide adequate facilities for the handicapped, State Senator Phil Watson, Edmond, told a class here Monday evening. Watson, a ten year veteran of the state legislature, spoke to an Industrial Education class, "Buildings Designed for the Handicapped." He told class members that federal laws provide for an Architectural Barriers Compliance Board that serves in an investigative as well as advisory capacity. "The board's regulations are incorporated into state statutes. According to state law, all plans and specificiations for state buildings or any building constructed with public funds must

meet certain standards, he said. Problems arise with old con-. struction and renovation and many times not much can be done short of tearing down the building and starting over again, Watson explained. "However, if we give consideration to eliminating barriers from day one, problems wouldn't arise," Watson added. According to Watson, last year Gov. George Nigh sent a memo to all state agencies stating that all public meetings and conferences be held in barrier-free environments. "I think this reflects the attitude of the legislature," said the senator. Watson stressed that the key to eliminating barriers is awareness. The legislature is more aware of

the problems of the handicapped today than they were ten years ago, but most of this awareness is the result of the federal government, Watson said. "People must express their awareness and concern and tell their legislators," he said. When asked about the barriers handicapped college students face, Watson said that all facilities can be provided but it still depends on how much help students get from those around them. Watson serves on the state board of the Special Olympics and recently authored an antidiscrimination bill that should make it illegal for any person hired by the state to be discriminated against because they are handicapped.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.