University of Central Oklahoma
TBEVETA, The Student Voice Since 1903
TUESDAY April 23, 1996
UCO remembers, honors bomb victims By Leslie Wakulich Managing Editor The campus buzzed with students' chatter and the sound of jackhammers, like any usual Friday morning. That was, until the construction men sat in a row where they had been working, and the halls and classrooms of UCO fell silent. With every tick of the clock, they knew the inevitable time grew near. The sound of President Nigh's solemn voice came through the radio in each room. "One year ago, the worst terrorist act to take place in the boundaries of the United States shook the very heart of downtown Oklahoma City, taking the lives of 168 innocent people and injuring hundreds UCO student Brian Spence lights candles at the memorial service April 19, honoring the one year anniversary of the more. OKC bombing. (Staff photo by Leslie Wakulich) "...As we take these 168
seconds to honor each of the 168 innocent lives taken, we reflect upon the one year anniversary of that bombing. "UCO remembers the victims and honors their memory." The silence began at 9:02 a.m. and the buildings were as quiet as they are in the dead of night. Some closed their eyes, blocking out everything around them while others stared distantly toward the floor. Many stopped, their heads bowed and eyes shut, in doorways and in the middle of what were once busy rooms. The silence was broken by a slow, soothing squeal of a violin crooning Amazing Grace, sounding like that of an old fiddler paying his respects at a funeral in a cotton field somewhere in the deep South. The violinist, Mark O'Connor, performed the legendary song with the Oklahoma City
Philharmonic in 1995 for Oklahoma City Relief A Time of Healing. Outside, the wind died and the sun cast a warm glow across the campus. One man who is usually seen with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, was standing quietly in his usual spot, with only a cup, looking toward Old North. "I guess it's about that time," he said. The clock tower chimed Amazing Grace, followed by My Country 'Tis of Thee, and passersby who were unaware of the time stopped in their tracks. It seemed the sound of the world was muffled as time stood still for several minutes on the morning of April 19. The tears would come soon as mourners dressed in cut-offs and T-shirts as well as dresses and V See MEMORIAL, Page 10
Faculty push for increased pay during funding debate By Gayleen Langthorn Staff Writer The future of UCO's budget is on hold while state legislators debate funding for higher education. While faculty members hope for raises, President George Nigh said he hopes to maintain the
integrity of the reserve budget. Faculty members got a 4 percent salary increase in the 1995 budget, yet they received none in 1994, only 0.5 percent in 1993 and none in 1992. This totals a 4.5 percent increase over the past three years, according to figures obtained from the UCO Faculty Senate.
But the raises were not equal with the rise in inflation. Over the past three years, the cost of living has increased 11.2 percent. This means faculty salaries have declined 6.7 percent compared to inflation in the same time period. Faculty Senate President Dr. Stephen Law is worried that "stasis has set in at UCO
compared to other institutions" regarding salaries." He admits "UCO is better off than some institutions," but adds that "we are less better off than we used to be." "The president seems satisfied with an erosion of salaries," Law said. Nigh said faculty salary
increases are dependent on the allocation UCO will get from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. "It all depends on how much we get and what strings are attached," he said. Nigh mentioned several V'See BUDGET, Page 10
INSIDE TODAY INDEX Editorial 2 Campus Quotes 2 Sports 6,7 Around Campus ... 11 Word Game 11 Classifieds 12
MEMORIAL In memory of UCO's fallen caregiver, Kelly Maze receives the Rebecca Anderson Scholarship.
SPORTS The UCO baseball team split four conference games with Eastern New Mexico.
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SYMPOSIUM Students show how their efforts in artistic expression during Wednesday's symposium.