April 19, 1983
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Vol. 81, No. 49
Controversy started over VP search By Tim Ray The advisory committee in charge of selecting possible candidates for the new academic vicepresident has fallen under scrutiny and criticism from the faculty. The position became open for applications following the approval of Dr. Patrick Cassens' resignation by the Board of Regents for Oklahoma Colleges on March 17. Cassens will return to the classroom as a non-tenured professor in the math and computer sciences department. The committee, appointed by Dr. Bill Lillard, CSU president, is comprised of John E. Wagnon, chairman of the committee and executive director of the alumni association; Alvin Alcorn, executive vice-president; Dr. Frank Finney, dean of the school of liberal arts; Dr. Terry Horton, chairman of curriculum and instruction in the school of education; Ann Lynch, Faculty Senate president and professor of biology; Dr. James Abrams, health professions coordinator from the school of math and sciences and Joe McCourry, Student Senate president. Two petitions are currently being circulated on the campus in favor of and in opposition to the way Dr. Lillard handled the appointments for the members of the committee. The Faculty Senate decided at its last meeting to circulate a petition opposing the lack of elected faculty members on the committee. According to Lynch, many members of the faculty wanted a representative of each of the academic schools and the library on the committee. "The president seems to feel that as long as he selects faculty, then the faculty is represented. We think we should be able to elect the people that represent us," said Lynch. Lynch said members of the faculty are also opposed to the lack of communication between the president and the faculty following Cassens' resignation. "We could have avoided this turmoil if, when the opening came, he had communicated with us, or if we had an up-to-date faculty handbook providing for this, as North Central (Association) has suggested. "Apparently he did not even approach the dean's counsel and ask them who they wanted to represent them. This goes for the minority faculty members who
were not asked to get together and ask who they wanted to get to represent them. It seems to me that they are not making a real effort to communicate with the faculty. This is exactly the same thing that North Central has been suggesting that we need to clean up," said Lynch. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools reported
Anne Lynch that communication was a problem at CSU, but did not specifically point to issues of hiring or appointing. Rather the report pointed to a lack of communication in policy-making decisions and administration, saying, "Communication links between administration and governance bodies, as well as among the governance groups themselves, need improvement." The team also believed that the most important ingredient in working out some of the confusion that exists is to rework the faculty handbook and make it more precise. "The team believes that if CSU can redo the present handbook and make it into an excellent and up-to-date document, then a major portion of the confusion and negative perception about governance wil be solved," said the report. However, Lillard said that he chose the members of the committee based on what he called "horizontal" representation instead of "vertical" representation. "What I have attempted to do here was get a representative that would go across the line of all the constituencies. Not necessarily one from each. For example, if you're selecting a minority, like Dr. James Abram, he actually is
In this issue... Fashion show reviewed...page 3 Jurist scheduled to lecture...page 4 Ad students win outdoor contest...page 5 Debate team named champions...page 6 Ludwick given 'the hook'...page 7 Softballers beat MWSU, SWSU...page 8
in the school of math and sciences. But he's a representative of minorities, and he represents minorities across all the schools. So you don't have a minority from each of the schools. "We have a vice-president representing the vice-presidents. A dean represents deans. The minority person represents minorities. Dr. Terry Horton, in the school of education, is a department chairperson. He represents department chairpersons." Lillard said the same went for the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate and the alumni. "We didn't select alumni representatives by schools. We didn't say, 'Let's get an alumni representative from the school of business, and an alumni representative from the school of liberal arts.' We said, 'Let's get an alumni representative,' because these people can funnel their requests through their representative, or any other representative on the board. "That is what we call horizontal representation. The position goes clear across the campus. It is not delimited to one school," Lillard said. Lillard said he was also concerned with affirmative action,
saying that if the members of the advisory committee were elected, it would be possible for minorities not to be represented. "If you'll notice among my appointees, we would have women and blacks serving. Now, if you go purely to an election, it's conceivable you might not have any minorities represented. Then what do you get involved in? A lawsuit
John E. Wagnon probably. Then you'd be in federal court saying those groups were not represented. "When I appoint university-
wide committees, I think most of the time I do try to make certain women and blacks and any other type of minority we have would be represented," he said. Lillard said the time frame forced him to make his decisions without very much communication with the faculty. "When Dr. Cassens submitted his resignation, and then I took it to the board of Regents on March 17, which was a Thursday, we had one working day before we got into our spring break. So you don't want to waste nine or 10 days. You want to move ahead as fast as is reasonable and plausible," he said. Lynch said that she felt there was no need to rush the appointments because the committee did not have anything that needed to be done right away. "I feel that the deadlines we're setting are too abrupt to do a good job and they are discouraging faculty input because the end of the semester will interfere with input and vacations." Lynch said she favors an openended date with an interim vicepresident selected to fill the position, allowing for more applications to come in from out of state. "It takes time to go through Continued to page 6
Special Olympics needs help Mentally retarded children and adults from across Oklahoma will converge on the campus for the Oklahoma Special Olympics State Track and Field Games during May 11 thru 13. "We need people to help with timing races, with swimming events, the dance and over 25 clinics," said Terry Kerr, the state executive director. "Our athletes' coaches need help with the opening ceremonies parade and we need huggers at the end of each race in addition to a host of other things." The Special Olympics is an international program of physical fitness, sports training and athletic competition for mentally retarded children and adults. Almost 15,000 participants in Oklahoma compete at some level. "Every person has a certain skill in something," said Kerr, "whether it be with his hands to help throw a ball, his arms to hug an athlete with, or his face to smile with and we need them all." The Special Olympics is unique in that it accommodates competitors at all ability levels by assigning them to "competition divisions" based on both age and actual performance. Even athletes in the lowest divisions may advance all the way to the International Games. It contributes to the physical, social and psychological development of mentally retarded participants. Through successful experiences in sports, they gain confidence and build a positive self-image assoiated with success rather than failure. Success on the playing field often carries over into the classroom, the home and the job. The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation created National Special Olympics and sponsors the program internationally. The program is operated by Special Olympics, Inc., a non-profit, charitable organization located in Washington, D.C. Oklahoma Special Olympics (050) came into being in 1969. Southeast Tulsa Jaycees organized and conducted the program for the first three years of their existence. In 1972 OSO became an incorporation and since that time has been guided by a Board of Directors. They have been established since 1972
as a non-profit, corporation by the State of Oklahoma. OSO Inc., develops and administers the year-round Special Olympic program within the entire state of Oklahoma. OSO Inc., also generates its own funds to meet its budget through individual and business contributions. Oklahoma is divided by counties into 17 areas for the Area Track & Field Meets. Any participant who attends an Area Track & Field automatically qualifies for the State Track & Field . Everyone is a winner each time he or she competes. There are many groups who help organize and conduct these meets. OSO would like to acknowledge some of these groups: CSU, Civitans, East Central University, Ada, Elks Association, Elks Major Projects, Enid State School, Fort Sill, Getty Refining & Marketing, Hilti, Kiwanis, Metropolitan Life, Northeastern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Christian College, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oklahoma City Slickers, Oklahoma State University, Jaycees, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, St. Gregory's College in Shawnee, Southwestern Bell Community Relations Team and Southwestern State University. There are volunteers needed for the relay races, softball throw, dashes, swimming and pentathalon which are all part of the state track and field games. The sports clinics offered range from clown make-up and aerobic dancing all the way to equestrian, golf, puppets and balloon animals. Over 2,000 voluteers are needed in order to make this event a success according to Kerr. Because Special Olympics is a volunteer program it needs help in serving as coaches , chaperones, guides, huggers, organizers,publicists, fund raiser, entertainers, celebrities, sports officials andother workers. Also to provide sports facilities, sports equipment, transportation, lodging, meals , prizes and other in-kind assistance. To volunteer contact Terry Kerr, executive director, Oklahoma Special Olympics, Inc., 6320 S. Peoria, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74136. or call (918) 747-9'15, or Toll Free 1-800-722-9004.