The Vista June 07, 2007

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The Student Voice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since 1903

June 7, 2007

UCO and MIPT hosts the National Campus Security Summit by Andrew Knittle Staff Writer

In response to the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech, UCO and the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) teamed up to host the National Campus Security Summit May 30 in the Nigh University Center. The all-day summit was attended by around 550 university administrators and law enforcement officials from 24 states, including Texas and California. President Roger Webb, who has a background in law enforcerrient, said the timing of the summit was crucial as parents around the country added one more thing to worry about before sending their kids off to college. "After the Virginia Tech shootings, the spotlight is shining squarely on every college president and senior campus administrator in this country," Webb said. Webb flew to Washington, D.C. days after the VT shootings m April to testify before the Senate regarding security on the nation's college campuses. The April 23 hearing, titled "Security on America's College Campuses,- was chaired by Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman and included several experts in the field of law enforcement, campus administration and disaster readiness. David Cid, deputy director

at MIPT, said it took about a month for all the pieces to come together once the idea for the summit was dreamed up. The summit featured several guest presenters, including keynote speakers Clinton Mm Zandt, a former FBI profiler and R. David Paulison, a FEMA administrator. In between keynote addresses, attendees participated ingroup discussions with topics ranging from the psychology of rage to crisis communication. Van Zandt, who works as a crime analyst for NBC, talked about the history of mass murders and also dwelt on the psyches oldie men (and women, too) who commit such acts. "Many young people today are like littl.e ships," Van Zandt said. "They're thrown into the sea without a compass, without a rudder and we expect them to know where to Q0. — According to Van Zandt, individuals like Cho SeungHui, the VT gunman who killed 32 students and teachers before shooting himself, can be hard to weed out and identify as potential threats despite some early warning signs. "He (Seung-Hui) said the right things to the shrinks," Van Zandt said. "He knew what to say and how to say it." While gun control debates have raged on since the VT shootings, Van Zandt said he believed such arguments don't do much to prevent future shootings like the one in Blacksburg,

Va. "We could stop selling guns in the U.S.," Van Zandt said, "But if we stop selling guns today, those guns would be here 500 years from now." Van Zandt said there is no way to prevent attacks like Seung-Hui's shooting rampage, and added that all citizens can do is learn from the past because it will more than likely happen again. "We will see more attacks on college campuses," Van Zandt said. "Whether it's a student or some crazy outsider, it's going to happen again." Two recent VT graduates, one of who was on his way to class when he heard about the shootings, attended the summit and shared their experiences with the administrators and media at a news conference at the summit. Scott Cheatham and Sumeet Bagai, both members of VT's 2007 graduating class, talked mostly about the healing process following the shootings and didn't dwell much at all on the attack itself. "This happened at Virginia Tech. It could have happened anywhere," Bagai said. "What Virginia Tech is, however, is how we respond after the fact. We have a responsibility to our students, our community, to bring them together."

by Vista photographer Chris Albers

Former FBI profiler Clinton Van Zandt delivers his keynote address at the National Campus Security Summit on May 30, 2007.

Andrew Knittle can be reached at aknittle@thevistaonline.com.

'Idol' winner's former voice coach is UCO grad New online classes 'Students come to my studio -becciiis e I welcome all types of singers. Always up beat and positive, I ensure that each and every lesson is a wonderful experience. - Melissa Black by Lyndsay Gillum Copy Editor

With her vivacious personality and stunning vocals, Jordin Sparks won the hearts of the American public and walked away with the 2007 American Idol title May 23. And it can be assumed that one UCO graduate and vocal teacher didn't miss her former student being crowned winner. Melissa Black earned her bachelor's degree in voice from Oklahoma City University and her master's in vocal music education at UCO. She also attended the AIMS Institute of Musical Studies in Graz,Austria. Sparks was a student of Black in 2004, read Music By Melissa website. "We all knew she would make it to the top," read Black's personal website. "It was an honor and privilege to have had her in my studio." Black opened her all female vocal studio, Music by Melissa, in Arizona in 1996. As a voice teacher, she teaches a wide array of styles, including Broadway, pop, rock, R&B and country. "Female students are provided with a loving, friendly environment and their musical, vocal and artistic abilities are developed carefully and professionally, with attention to your individuality," Black's website said. Black uses the 'classical' method of teaching with many of her students.

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AP Photo

Jordin Sparks performs after she was announced the winner of American Idol during the finale of 'American Idol' at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles May 23, 2007.

Cher to name a couple, as backup singers and dancers. "It is very important when choosing a Voice TeacherNocal Coach," Black said. "That teacher needs to serve all of a vocalists' musical needs. Students come to my studio because I welcome all types of singers. Always up beat and positive, I ensure that each and every lesson is a wonderful experience." It shows in Jordin Sparks' vocals and her ability to win the title ofAmerican Idol, that training atMusic by Melissa was a step in the right direction. Black's studio is a citylicensed school and as a certified substitute teacher of the Peoria Unified School District in Arizona, she has been through an extensive background check, according to her website. "Lessons are individual as well as group," Black said. "Again - I welcome all of tomorrow's 'stars'!" Black is dedicated to serve the entire singing profession and she believes it is her job to serve today's singers' in all areas of music and vocal performance. Sparks solidified her spot as the youngest American Idol winner in the show's history. In an interview with Fox Channel 5 studios, Sparks said, "she is blessed to have come so far and credits her spirituality for her strength and success." Lyndsay Gillum can be reached at Igillum@thevistaonline.com.

However, with her coaching, each student will sound like they were meant to sound. "In other words, opera students won't turn into 'rockers', 'rockers' won't turn 'classical,'" Black said. Students at Music by Melissa

have appeared on American Idol, Arizona Star, Nashville Star, Star Search, Broadway National Tours and Regional Theater. Several of her stu dents have toured with major singing stars, Amy Grant and

Watch News Central on Channel 6 @ 5 p.m.

"To find out what one is fitted to do, and secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness."

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-John Dewey

offer more flexibility by Justin Langston Staff Writer

UCO is partnering with the Oklahoma Technology Institute to create a flexible education program that allows students to access information and learn at their own pace. "It's a program where if someone wants to take a class online, they can do that," Paul Shuler, OTI Director said. "If they want to go to class, they can do that. What this allows is for them to do either or both at their own pace." This program allows students to take a combination of traditional classroom setting courses, as well as online courses. By using the resources already available at both UCO and OTI, this new program has streamlined access to be more easy to use. The use of the online courses is the biggest change. This allows anyone in the country to sign up for a class. Once signed up, the student will be shipped books and a sign in key. Students will then access the courses, which include tests, assignments and reports that are all tracked by OTI. Students will be able to work

at their own pace. At the end of the course, the student can take a national certification test to gain credit for the course. The idea is that the course prepares the student for the test. Since the results of the course are ultimately left up to the test, those who complete the course using illegitimate means could be left at a disadvantage. Currently, the courses offered are Computer Support Basics, Web Development, Database and Systems Administration, Systems Engineering, IT Security, Accounting, A+, Network +, Insurance Billing and Coding and Microsoft Office Specialist. Already, the program has been operating for almosttwo months, with the first students being military personnel working out of Tinker Air Force Base. Shuler says that many see this as part of the future of education. He says that even traditional classrooms will be easier for users and focus more on the students pace rather than the pace of the teachers or administrators. "The world is moving towards a place where the user gets information when they want it," Shuler said. "And that's what we're moving to." Justin Langston can be reached at jlangston@thevistaonline.com.


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