Rettig against death row...page 5
Life after Bronchos...page 6
THE April 23, 1987 Vol. 85, No. 51
Nigh to hold panel talks...page 8
VISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Regents not to face lawsuit
Leone resigns as chancellor due to 'health' By Shannon Blockcolski Editor
Joe Leone resigned as chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Wednesday, after he told The Daily Oklahoman Tuesday he had no intention of resigning.
The Regents met for 13 hours, with eight and a half hours of discussion to reach a compromise agreement with Leone. He said he will bring no legal action against the Regents. Leone said in a prepared statement the two reasons he was resigning were the impact
of continued service on his personal health and the health and welfare of his family, and the impact of continued service on his professional reputation. Leone's attorney, Jim Howell, said Tuesday attempts to oust Leone were to be expected during the meeting, but
Museum contains study skins By Sabrina Stanley
On the fourth floor of the science building, there is a museum not containing art, history or books, but approximately 2500 mammals and birds. It is called the Museum of Study Skins. A guide will take students through the museum to study the bone structure and characteristics of dead mammals and birds that have been preserved. Because of the time and work involved in processing the skins, it takes a large university with many students to make a large collec-
tion, according to Dr. William Caire, professor of biology. Many animals are needed from the east, west, north and south regions of the state in order to characterize the species, Caire said, calling for much bookkeeping to keep the various skins in order. The hides are systematically organized into taxinomic levels and geographic location, Caire said. Major universities have these records computerized, and although CSU has a portion of its files computerized at Oklahoma University, he said, the rest are
kept on written file. Caire said the department doesn't kill animals for the sake of killing, but only for the students use in furthering their education. In order to study these animals over a period of time, Caire said, the preservation of them has to last. Moth balls and borax soup help keep the skin-eating bugs away from the collection. Professors can exhibit a variety of animals and birds to their classes by checking out a skin and feather box from the museum, he said
Photographic Services: Darrin Presley
Julie Byer (the Easter Bunny) and Leonard Brakebill entertain a child at Children's Memorial Hospital for Easter. The members of DECA distributed Easter baskets to the children.
no laws have been broken by the chancellor. According to a spokesperson for the Regents, Leone will continue to serve in a paid advisory capacity until June 30. The Regents could not provide any further information to The Vista at press time. According to WKY radio, Dan Hobbs, assistant chancellor, was appointed acting chancellor during the meeting. Leone is under investigation by an Oklahoma County grand jury for claims that he submitted travel claims to
both the Regents and the Rose State College technical account for several of the same travel expenses, including airline tickets and registration fees. Leone said in a press conference Tuesday that Regent J.D. Helms of Oklahoma City was "one of the disruptive insider forces seeking to damage him." "Statements made by public officials violate my due process rights and civil rights protection," Leone told The Daily Oklahoman. "I was a victim of unwarranted, unsubstantiated and vicious attacks."
Residence halls locked to stop rape, lawsuits By Shannon Blockcolski Editor
All doors to Murdaugh Hall and West Hall women's residences are locked from 2-7 a.m. every day. The residents will be locked out of the halls if they do not check out an overnight key. Dana Christman, manager of resident housing, said the doors are locked for security reasons. "We want to keep intruders out," Christman said. "We do it for the protection of the residents." Christman said there have been several lawsuits filed against universities because women were raped due to the lack of protection in the dorms. According to a 1986 handbook on campus rape prevention, a rape victim could chose to bring civil charges against a third party who might be liable for a higher degree of protection than previously offered, particularly in the case of rape by strangers. Christman said due to recent court decisions, CSU could be sued if a woman was raped in the dorm, if the doors were unlocked. "We do live in a metropolitan area, and we have an open campus," she said. "Anyone could wander into the dorms if we didn't lock the doors." In Duarte vs. State, a university was found guilty for fraud. A female student was sexually assaulted and murdered in her university-owned and operated dorm room. Her mother filed the fraud suit, and said she relied on the appearance of safety and security when deciding to allow her daughter to live there. Samantha Spencer, a former Murdaugh Hall resident, said she thought locking the doors was childish. "It was kind of ridiculous, considering the fire escapes were left propped open anyway," Spencer said. Another disadvantage to the doors being locked, Spencer said, was the nights when residents would bang on the fire escape doors to be let inside the hall. "You could hear them pounding on the door throughout the whole wing," Spencer said. "That is part of the reason I moved out of the dorm and into an apartment." Christman said she felt the slight inconveniences were worth the safety and security she knew she was guaranteeing the residents. "As long as the residents have access out, I think it is a good idea," Christman said. "Three-fourths of all rapes occur between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., and the average university has six to 12 rapes per year."