Celebrating 100 Years American Democracy ject
The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Campus Announcements ■ The annual "Greek Stampede Run" will start at 9 a.m. at the Nigh University Center.
THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2004
Political apathy led to Hitler's rise, son of Holocaust survivor cautions ■
Human rights activist Michael Korenblit spoke to UCO group about the plight of his parents during the Holocaust.
■ Sigma Nu Poker Tournament to benefit the Lance Armstrong Cancer Foundation. It will start at 11:30 a.m. April 17 in the Heritage Room of the Nigh University Center. $25 donation guarantees seating.
by Lauren Pulsinelli Staff Writer
■ The nomination form for the Herbert S. Dordick Award for Outstanding Mentor is available online at http://bronze.ucok.edu/campus_life/dordickapp.pdf. ■ The Greek Week Cookout will be at 7 p.m. in the Commons Courtyard April 19. ■ Sorority Spring Tea will be at 3 p.m. April 18 in the Cherokee Room of the Nigh University Center. ■ Cheer team, porn squad and Buddy Broncho tryouts are April 15. For applications, visit the Campus Life Office. Call 974-2363 for more information. ■ "May Day: Under the Big Top" will be from 12 to 5 p.m. April 23. The Residence Hall Association will sponsor the event. To participate, volunteer or reserve a booth, call 9744166, or e-mail srasmussen@ucok.edu . ■ "The Big Event," a day of service, will be April 17 in communities around the metro. To register, call 974-2621 or email vpena@ucok.edu . ■ The OKC Memorial Marathon is April 25, and volunteers for the event are still needed. Call Ross Lampert at 478-3180 or visit www.okcmarathon.com .
Coed cheer team takes nationals by Harry Gatewood III Student Writer The UCO Coed Cheer Team won their first ever National Competition in the beginning April. With a rating of 8.3 on a 10 point scale in the Chick-Ell-A Cheer and Dance Collegiate Championship, the squad trained three times a week for five to six months. "We worked our skills, and perfected those elements so we would be able to do it consecutively and flawlessly," said Coach Copeland, UCO Cheer Coach. Cheer does not get a lot of notoriety, Copeland said, and nationals is a chance for the squad to compete in a one on one situation to showcase their talents. Abbie Rinderknecht, coed cheer team member, said the team was excited about their performance. They were motivated because the team had to prove themselves, she said. "This was our first year and no one expected us to win," Rinderknecht said. This year their main cornpetitors were Hawaii Pacific, New York University of Dance,
see Cheer, page 3
Photo by Gavin Elliott
Michael Korenblit, the son of Holocaust survivors, speaks April 12 to students, faculty and others in the Nigh University Center's Constitution Hall.
The son of Holocaust survivors spoke April 12 to students, faculty and others in "Raise Your VOICE: Lessons from the Holocaust." Michael Korenblit said political apathy led to the rise of Hitler. "Hitler was elected wth only 37 percent of the vote," he said. "If more people had gotten involved and looked at what the Nazi Party and other parties stood for, Hitler might never have come to power." The event was sponsored by the Oklahoma Campus Compact's VOICE (Vocal Oklahomans in Civic Engagement) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City. "The lessons we hope are to never forget, and never again," said Holocaust Resource Director Cathy Pettijohn. Korenblit was the event's feature speaker. He is the cofounder of the Respect Diversity Foundation. "I, Witness...", a documen-
tary about Oklahoma them." Holocaust survivors, was When Korenblit was six, he shown before said he noticed the Korenblit letters KL and spoke. "If more people then A-237 tatThe Jews tooed on his had gotten were given "not mother's wrist. involved, Hitler enough to live, This began his not enough to might never have inquiries into his die," said parents' past. come to power." Holocaust surThey tried to vivor Leah explain their past — Michael Korenblit Henson. to him in the least The Jews horrifying way, he worked all day said. on only a slice "Remember — of bread and a cup of coffee. the literal translation of the The "lucky" Jewish slaves were Holocaust is death by fire," fed a cup of water with turnips Korenblit said. at the end of their work shift. Korenblit spoke about his The Holocaust survivors parents' miraculous survival recounted the Auschwitz con- through horrifying circumcentration camp by recalling stances. the smell. At first no one knew Korenblit's father Meyer what could possibly smell so and mother Manya met when awful, then they realized the they were teen-agers, he said. smell was burnt flesh. Meyer secretly followed sevHenson was eventually sent eral Nazis to see what they were to Auschwitz. going to do with the 20 Jews "There, everyday we lived they had as prisoners, and with the fear that today would Manya tagged along, Korenblit be the day they kill us," she said. "The Jews had nothing see Survivor, page 3 but the friendship between
Regents' plan makes courses transferrable
Hedberg hits hard by Chad Crow Contributing Writer Comedian. Mitch Hedberg asked the standing room-only audience, "Why do people associate long hair with drug use instead of an extreme longing for cake?" The comic veteran, regularly featured on late night talk shows and Comedy Central, kept the crowd roaring Tuesday evening in the Nigh University Center Ballroom. "I want to buy a shirt from the University of Central Oklahoma, Hedberg said. "So when I wear it and people ask me if I went there, I can say, 'Yeah, on Tuesday. But, I don't know what it's like on Wednesday.'" As this master of comedic one-liners wove his magic, he captivated the spectators, composed of students from UCO and many other colleges and high schools. The Student Programming Board sponsored the performance. "Of the over 1,000 students in attendance," said Lane Perry, president of the SPB, "500 of them were not from UCO. There simply wasn't room for everyone, there were 250 people left standing outside, staring "
through the cracks unable to be admitted because we were packed to capacity." When all the receipts were tallied it cost about $10,000 to bring Hedberg here, said Perry, but the SPB made over $3,500 to place into the cash fund. These monies can then be utilized to bring even bigger acts. Perry said that this show was even better than when the SPB brought Run DMC two years ago. In fact, it was the best event that he's seen in his time here. "It was just radical in scope and sheer profit." Journalism junior Matt Dinger, who attended, said despite the lack of advertising, the place was still packed. "His jokes aren't really funny," said Dinger. "Because he's such a funny guy, it doesn't really matter what he says. It's the delivery that makes him so humorous." Dinger said he wants to see the SPB bring more entertainers, as well as more serious speakers like political leaders.
For an interview with Hedberg, see page 3.
by Christin Woodhams Student Writer
Photo by Gavin Elliott
Comedian Mitch Hedberg performs April 12 in the Nigh University Center. The Student Programming Board brought Hedberg to UCO.
Goose in residence...
Photo by Justin Avera
The unofficial vista mascot, George W. Goose, takes up residence on the balcony of the Nigh University Center.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education announced April 6 that they have accepted the addition of nearly 1,100 new courses to those already transferable among state system institutions. The courses cover 36 disciplines including three new ones in American Indian Studies, Film Video Studies and Geosciences. Transferrable courses are similar in content and skill level at each institution where they are offered, and they are guaranteed to transfer to institutions that offer them. The addition of new courses brings the total number listed in the course matrix to 6,423, up from the 5,343 courses available last year. "The process of students transferring to other Oklahoma public colleges or universities continues to improve each year, and our goal is a smooth transition for students who transfer from one institution to another," said Paul G. Risser, chancellor for the Regents for Higher Education. "These additions make student access easier and may shorten the time it Visit: takes to www.okhighered.org obtain a degree." The Regents' plan to improve the student transfer program began in 1996 with a report to the state Legislature detailing a comprehensive action plan. The plan would alleviate some of the obstacles students face when transferring within the state system of higher education. The action plan lead to the Course Equivalency Project. The Course Equivalency Project runs on a yearly cycle. Faculty from across Oklahoma meet in the fall to update curricula and establish new course equivalencies. The Project gained national attention in 1997 when "Campus and University" featured it in an article. It also received the Governor's Commendation Award in 1999 for demonstrating innovation and efficiency. For information about the courses available for transfer, visit www.okhighered.org under "Student Center" or call the transfer hotline number 1-800-583-5883.