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Virginia Tech aftermath 2 Japanese Knight 3 . Did You Know That 9 Sports 12
April 19, 2007
UCO students and faculty create banner for Virginia Tech
bâ– Vista photographer Laehyung Lee
UCO students, staff members and professors express their concerns on a banner made by Division of Student Affairs for the Virginia Tech tragedy April 18 at Old North. The banner will be sent to Virginia Tech next week in honor of the victims and their families. Please see story on page 3.
Oklahoma City remembers federal building bombing
by Vista photographer Alex Gambill
Candidates for UCOSA vice president Cyndi Munson (left) and Nate Burke debate on April 16.
Candidates hold official debate by Abha Eli Phoboo Staff Writer
The candidates running for president and vice president of UCO Student Association had their official debate April 16 at the Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center. The debate gave the candidtes the opportunity to explain their platforms and show commitment toward UCO Student Body. The vice presidential candidates are Cyndi Munson and Nate Burke. Presidential candidates are Jason Hines, Daniel Durning, Teara Flagg and Dane Olson. The voting period is April 18 and April 19. As current speaker of the UCOSA House of Representatives, Munson's vision is "Building relationships to create change." "'Where there is no vision, the people will perish.' If you don't know where I'm going, how can I have a following," said Munson quoting Proverbs 29:18. She emphasized the need to build relationships with UCO students, the city of Edmond, and the state of Oklahoma. Her goal is to create a student lobbying task force that will visit the capitol regularly to fight for more funding and recognition from the state toward UCO. Burke's platform is "Growing from Within." It is important to recognize that if we want to grow and impact our community where we were accepted and have good relations as well as grow as a university with our vision and goals, we must begin within, said Burke. "I'm
here to listen, to help you," he added. His goal is to increase funding for student organizations, help the student voice be heard on campus and improve UCO/Edmond partnership. The candidates for UCOSA president then took the stage to debate. Jason Hines, current president pro tempore of the UCOSA senate, reinstated his commitment to have short term and long term goals. "My short-term goal is to have a 24 hour library by next year. My long-term goal is to build relationships with Edmond," said Hines. His plan to increase Edmond/UCO relationship is by getting UCO more involved in Edmond's activities through a monthly volunteer service program. "We need to be doing something for Edmond and not just expecting them to support us," he added. Hines stated his participation in the state legislature and direct involvement in lobbying for UCO. Daniel Durning of Envoys is running as candidate with the platform: money, safety and equality. Having been a part of the UCOSA Appropriations Committee, Danny said it is important to know that the money is spent wisely. "My motto is it takes someone different to make a difference. I would be representative of UCO student because I know how students feel and can translate that to the administration. The friendships I have with UCO students and relationships that I've established has helped me understand other
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people better," said Durning. Teara Flagg, current vice president of UCOSA, and the only female candidate in the elections this year emphasized her passion and commitment for UCO through the activities and offices she has held. "The minute I stepped on this campus, I knew this was the place for me," said Flagg, whose goals are to create tradition and have a presidential residential in order to get more faculty involved. Bridging the gap is something that can be done through monthly meetings in order for the university administration to understand what students really want, said Flagg. "I know what it takes to get things done and am a true leader," she added. Dane Olson, who has worked with Old Blue Crew, said he would work on campus pride, to encourage UCO students to be more excited about the campus and to support athletics. "I will work on creating separation with OU, OSU, and making UCO a leadership university for students of any major," he said. According to Olson, publicity is key in putting UCO in a tier by itself. It is important to work on a statewide level and to lobby for the university, to focus on what we have and to use them, said Olson. "Look at the great things we have. Take the people that really want to be involved. The biggest thing is to create the difference," he said. To vote, log on to UCONNECT.
Abha Eli Phoboo can be reached at aphoboo@thevistaonline.com.
AP Photo By David Longstreath
The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building following an explosion in this April 19, 1995 file photo, in downtown Oklahoma City. One hundred sixty-eight people died as a result of the explosion. Timothy McVeigh was convicted Monday June 2, 1997, of blowing up the building. by Aaron Wright Staff Writer
On April 19, 1995, a tragedy occurred in the heartland. Most of the students on this campus are too young to really remember the day of the attack, being in first through third grade when the tragedy occurred. Twelve years later, though, the impact is still felt across the state. Oklahomans and Americans, in general, responded with sympathy and support after homemade explosives, located in a van parked outside the Alfred P. Murrah Building, were detonated at 9:02 a.m. Five hundred people were injured and 168 died. Within the first hour of recovery, 139 people were transported to area hospitals, according to EMS reports.
Among the dead were 19 children. The photograph of firefighter Chris Fields holding baby Bailey Almon served as a symbol of the loss experienced by many that day. It also served as a symbol of the compassion that Oklahomans showed in response to hatred. "In fact, throughout the rescue effort, the large outpouring of citizen and agency volunteers astonished veteran rescue workers," a report from the U.S. Department of Justice stated. Memorials littered the area surrounding the bombing site within days of the event. President Clinton, within an hour and a half after the bombing, signed an emergency declaration. "The bombing in Oklahoma City was an attack on innocent children and defense-
less citizens," said the president. "It was an attack of cowardice, and it was evil." Timothy McVeigh, a 33year-old war veteran, was the man responsible for the bombings. McVeigh, born in 1968 in Pendleton, NY. He enlisted in the U.S. Army 20 years later, where he served as an active gunner in the Gulf War. After the war, he wanted to join Special Services, but was deemed unfit. He then returned to Pendleton to live with his father, according to a BBC news special. In spring of 1993, McVeigh was visiting Waco, Texas, when federal forces surrounded the compound ofthe Branch Davidian sect, a religious sect originating in 1955. In their 51-day
see OKC, page 5
"The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself" THU. 78/57 - Mark Twain
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