THE April 12, 1988 Vol. 86, No. 47
VISTA
Tuesday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Committee ignores complaints
Coen declared winner in troubled election By J. Money Editor Despite a senate candidate's complaint about rules violations during the campaign, Lisa Coen
has been declared the new president by the Student Association Election Committee. Coen captured approximately 41 percent of the vote. She was
spared a run-off election when the second place finisher, Mark Heffernan, bowed out of the race. Glenn Kilgour, chairman of the committee, said meanwhile that
High school censorship discussed
Scholar agrees with court By Monica Kremeier Associate Editor Jack Walter Peltason, chancellor of the University of California in Irvine, addressed the recent Supreme Court ruling that allows high school principals to censor school publications while speaking to a group of students Tuesday. Peltason addressed the students during the Colloquium of Distinguished Statesman and Scholars at Central State University. "There seems to be a need for it (the ruling)," he said. "The line was drawn between high school and college, and I don't think it will affect college publications. "The ruling said that high school students are impressionable, but college students are adults." Peltason also talked about a wide range of other topics related to the constitution during the colloquium. "You are citizens of democracy and therefore have the responsiblity to understand the system," he said. "There is a heightened awareness of the constitution because we just celebrated its bicentennial," he added. Peltason, who is a constitutional specialist, said the constitution was established and ratified mostly through compromises made between the politicians. "The appointment of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy shows how the constitution works," said Peltason.
Jack Walter Peltason (Photo by Dan Smith)
He added that Kennedy more actively represents the concensus than the other two nominees. problem was that he made his views too well he known. He wrote extensively about them," he said. "Kennedy was more cautious of his opinion so people didn't have enough information to know if they were against him or not." He also said that Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is making her mark. "We take for granted that we have been self-governing for over 200 years," said Peltason. "We also take for granted that our military is not a factor in who our next leader
will be." "The United States does not have a coherent, practical foreign policy because our country is run by amateurs," said Peltason. "Anyone can be president." Peltason said the informal setting of the classroom appeals to him. He said he doesn't teach full time anymore because of his administrative duties as chancellor, but he does lecture several times a semester. The colloquium was sponsored by CSU President Bill Lillard, the department of political science and the Bureau of Governmental Services.
Finals schedule to mirror courses By Mike Chin Student Writer Beginning the fall semester students at Central State University will take their final examinations as close to the semester's class schedule as possible. That changes the policy in effect this semester. The policy now schedules final examinations during final week differently than the normal class schedule.
"Instead of a different final examination schedule, students will take their finals on the same day and time as their normal classes, or on any Closest possible date and time during final week," said Darrell E. Gilliland, CSU registrar. "If a student's normal class is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:40 a.m. every week," Gilliland said, "then his or her
final will be scheduled at 9:40 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday of finals week." Gilliland said he hopes the new final examination will facilitate final examination planning and avoid confusion on the students' part. The new final examination schedule will appear in the 1988 Fall Schedule.
the election complaint could not be considered because the senator who filed it, Francisco Alvarez, was not a candidate in the race. The complaint charged that two of the presidential candidates had campaign signs posted on the outside of the Liberal Arts Building. But Alvarez said he was a candidate in the senate, and therefore justified in filing the complaint even though he was not running for president. Alvarez won his seat, as did the other senators who filed as candidates, by acclaimation because there were not enough candidates to fill the 22 vacant seats. Alvarez alleged that the posted signs were a direct violation of the Dean of Students' posting policy and of campaign guidelines. Alvarez said he decided to file the complaint because Steve Heffernan, another presidential candidate, did not wish to file a complaint. Alvarez added that Kilgour's ruling that he was not a candidate was inconsistent with a ruling handed down at the beginning of the election campaign period by the board, which denied Alvarez the chance to take part in election planning. Alvarez said the board denied him a chance because "they said I was a candidate for office." The complaint is the latest in a series of controversies that have surrounded the election. Before the election was held, former Sen. Lee Allen had tried to stop the election on the grounds that the administrative candidates did not
have enough signatures on their petitions. Allen had also charged that a senate candidate had campaigned prior to the campaign period. But despite the controversies, President Elect Lisa Coen said she is looking forward to the fall semester. "I would like to have a really strong Welcome Back Week," she said. Coen, a junior and an accounting major, was declared the winner by the election committee Thursday. Kilgour said 372 valid ballots had been cast in the election. Coen needed 186 to capture the majority of the vote, but came up with 153. Heffernan pulled in 119 votes, and Steve Hines, the third place finisher, received 100 votes. Coen had said during an interview before the election that she wanted to continue to improve the Student Association Senate, give more control of the budget to students, improve the commuter parking situation and to make it possible for students to see professor evaluations before enrolling in classes. Coen added that she wanted to work closely with leaders of other campus organizations to coordinate events as well. A total of 409 ballots were cast in the election, but 37 were disqualified because students voted for write-in candidates which is not allowed by the election rules committee.
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rarKing lot restrictions change in summer, fall By J. Money Editor Beginning the fall 1988 semester, Central State University students will be able to park in any commuter lot they desire on Tuesdays and Thursdays. CSU President Bill Lillard's approval of the senate resolution requesting that commuter parking regulations be changed was announced at the Student Association forum held March 16. The policy actually starts this summer. It will allow commuter students during summer semesters to park in any commuter lot Monday-Friday. In an interview after announcing the approval, Student Association President Jeff Shilling said the real benefit of the resolution would be seen during the busier fall and spring semesters. Students will be allowed to choose the parking area they
desire for Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes. In addition, they will be allowed to park in whatever commuter lot they wish on Tuesday and Thursday. Shilling said that will solve the problem for students who have classes on one side of the campus three days a week and the other side of campus the other two days. "For example," Shilling said, "that would be great for nursing students who also had to take liberal arts classes." The system in effect this semester requires students to park in their designated lot from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, but they can park in any cornmuter lot they desire after 12:30 p.m. each day. When the policy goes into effect during the fall semester, students may still park in any commuter lot they wish after 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.