1:98 HE
14 April
Vol. 86, No. 48
VISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
News reports called 'out of context'
Israeli consul blames media for criticism By J. Money Editor The Israeli Consul for Academic Affairs said Monday at Central State University that a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about Israel's involvement in the West Bank and Gaza strip has been caused by the United States' reliance on television to report the occupation. "Television has to squeeze everything into a 30 second spot," said Tzion Evrony. "So Americans only see a partial picture of what is happening—they see pictures of an Israeli soldier running after a demonstrator—not the demonstrator throwing stones, molotov cocktails and other things." Evrony made those remarks during an interview while he was on campus to present Israel's quest for peace to CSU's students. Evrony said the discussions in the United States of Israel's situation are representative of the news reports Americans see—simplistic and outside of historical context. "The song of history must be sung as a whole," he explained. Evrony said Arabs regarded the creation of an Israeli state in 1947
a catastrophe , and added since then, only Egypt has recognized Israel. "Israel has gone to war five times in its 40 years of existence to maintain its democracy," he said. But he added Israel is ready for peace. "Israel is ready to meet any Arab head-of-state to negotiate peace without any precondition," Evrony said. But he added the offer to negotiate with any Arab head-ofstate did not apply to Yasser Arafat, who heads the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). "The PLO is a loosely negotiated group of organizations set on Israel's destruction," Evrony said. "Israel faces the agonizing problem of persuing a peace policy and maintaining security in the face of Arab refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist," he said. The PLO, Evrony said, had no intentions of doing so, despite the fact Arafat had been quoted in 1978 as saying the PLO would accept an independent Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza, with a connecting corridor. Arafat, in fact, was even willing
to give Israel defacto recognition. But Evrony said some of the areas Arafat wanted to include in the Palestinian state were Israeli cities, and added that indications of Palestinian moderation were "sophisticated doubletalk." He added that in a recent interview, Arafat said he wants to achieve a unified Palestine in stages, starting first with the Gaza strip and West Bank. Evrony said a united Palestine would put most of Israel in range of Arab artillery and missiles, something Israel could not allow. As for the Israeli media, Evrony said that reports of censorship in Israel about events in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are not as bad as they seem. "Television cameras were banned from the areas for a few days," Evrony said, "but that was just until the army could reinstate calm. "Our country only did what two other great powers did," he continued. "The United States did it in Grenada and England did it in the Faulklands." He also said Israel is a free democracy like the United States, and said freedom of the press exists and the public is aware of
what is happening in the region. Many pro-Israeli groups in the United States have taken the view, like Evrony, that the U.S. media has not presented the story fairly because of a lack of historical context. Some of the groups are also involved in lobbying Congress for funds and equipment for Israel. Evrony said he didn't generally think the groups use anti-Semitic charges as a weapon to ensure support from the Congress, even though many former congressman
have been quoted to say that to oppose the sales was a sure ticket to being accused by these groups of being anti-Semitic. He added a reduction in aid to Israel would be a disaster for the United States. "Israel is the only valuable ally the United States has between Japan and Europe," Evrony said. "Israel is a stable democracy, a fortress against soviet expansion in the Middle East. "It's not just Isreal who benefits from the relationship."
Profs say smaller class sizes better By Krista Townsend
Student Writer Two Central State University professors have disagreed with the results of a U.S. Department of Education survey which indicate reducing class sizes in public educational institutions would
result in a waste of money and effort. The study, called "Class Size and Public Policy: Politics and Panaceas," promoted the reverse of what many scholars have believed—that smaller class sizes mean better instruction for students.
Periodic courses, labs not a student problem By Mary Martin
Student Writer In response to a survey conducted by students for course credit, Darrell Gilliland, Central State University registrar, said only offering certain classes and labs periodically is not a problem. The survey indicated of those CSU students polled, 83 percent had a problem with required courses being offered only periodically. Gilliland said, "although there is a problem with students and their courses being offered periodically, there are ways that have been designed to help students program their academic schedule, like worksheets." Gilliland added that he felt this was not a major problem within the CSU institution. "If a real problem should exist
with a student, an advisor will help that student in any way possible. Substitute courses are available for those required courses that may not be available that semester," he said. "The course must be approved from that department chairman," he added. Gilliland said if a student was in a serious situation, like not being able to graduate as planned because of a non-available course, the student would have the oppurtunity to take the required course at another higher education institution and transfer that credit back to CSU for graduation. "Students and faculty should be more aware that we need advance planning to help foresee and avoid any such problems with student academic schedules," said Gilliland.
"Smaller classes are nicer because you can develop better rapport with your students," said Roger Sadler, CSU oral communications instructor. "But," he added, "it depends on the subject of the class. If it is a lecture class, it really doesn't matter." Paul Kirby, CSU assistant professor of physics, also said he preferred to teach classes of 25 students or less. "A small class allows instructors to get to know students better, it allows more open communication," Kirby said. Kirby said he has seen a large difference in class sizes during his 26 years at CSU. Kirby also said besides getting less personal attention, students also experience a decreased quality of learning. "Instructors are reluctant to issue essay or problem-type tests to large classes," Kirby said, "because there is not enough time to grade them." Judy Leach, associate superintendent for instruction in the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, said she also did not agree with the results of the study. "Research has been done which disagrees with the report. Smaller classes benefit students as well as parents, enabling them to become more involved," Leach said.
Tzion Evrony (Photo by Dan Smith)
Pizza delivery suspension possible ifi thefts continue By Tom Gilbert
Student Writer Three assaults against pizza deliverers occurred Saturday and early Sunday at Central State University's East Hall, according to CSU police. According to the manager Dale Wishon of Mazzio's Pizza Restaurant of Edmond, CSU student Mark Walling was attacked his first day on the job when he tried to deliver a pizza to East Hall. Police said Walling was assaulted by three unidentified black males Sunday morning at about 1 a.m. The assailants allegedly grabbed Walling from behind and threw him to the ground, then fled with the pizza. Two other incidents involving Domino's Pizza delivery personnel alsooccurred,The first incident involved the robbery of a delivery vehicle at 11:50 p.m. Saturday outside of East Hall. A member of Domino's management said that while a delivery was being attempted to a
fictious room, the robbers entered the delivery vehicle and removed one pizza, a small amount of money and a watch. The second incident occurred at about 1 a.m. Sunday, when a different delivery person attempted to deliver a pizza to a room in East Hall and was told the person was not there. The employee then returned to his car and was approached by an individual saying it was his pizza. The assailant then had the delivery person follow him to an East Hall room to be paid for the pizza. But when the person came out of the room, he attempted to take the pizza from the delivery person. Domino's spokesperson said the assailant was unable to get the pizza. "The privilege of having pizzas delivered with all probabilty will be discontinued if any more incidents occur. This might not seem serious to some, but in reality it is a felony offense, robbery by force," said CSU Police Chief Bob Roberts.