Environmen A wa -o ife Pg 5 (7r
HE June 7, 1990
Vol. 88, No. 55
VISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
`91 budget jumps $2.5 million By Kamal Mazlan
Staff Writer Central State University will receive $26.1 million for the 1990-91 academic year, an increase of $2.5 million from last year. However, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recommended Friday that college and university budgets should focus on academics, target strong existing academic programs, and award salary increases on the basis of performance. The Guidelines for Budget Development
stitutions," Brisch said. "Because resources are scarce, higher education must make hard choices that focus and target those resources as one way of bringing about improvements." State regents said higher education schools must eliminate marginal courses, consider program consolidation, and terminate any financial assistance to athletic or community service programs. "We must show taxpayers that we have done everything in our power to make the system as efficient as possible. We have to weed out deadwood," the Regents Chairman James E. Barnes said.
will be distributed to the state's 15 governing boards of regents and 25 college presidents, including Dr. Bill Lillard, to assist them in drawing up budgets for fiscal year 1991 which begins July 1. Administrators from each institution will present their budgets for state regents' approval June 25. "The purpose of these guidelines is to enable higher education to better focus scarce resources by using the budget process," Chancellor Hans Brisch said in a written statement. "Oklahoma higher education is funded at 64 cents on the dollar compared to peer in-
Also, Brisch said state regents will push for a tuition hike for the 1991-92 academic year, even after the State Legislature slapped its proposed tuition increases for fall. "We may not see the big numbers we desired, but we are not giving up," Brisch said at a press conference prior to the state regents' meeting. "It's patently obvious we needed a tuition increase. Are the people of Oklahoma willing to wait eight to 10 years to get to the average (of peer states)?" Brisch said. Please see BUDGETon page 5.
Campus handicap facilities might need improvements By Mark Schlachtenhaufen
Managing Editor
First of two parts Central State University could do more to meet guidelines for handicap facilities two students and Rehabilitative Services officials said. A university official said a lack of funding is a reason many improvements have not been made on campus handicap facilities. Several ramps are not properly protected from the elements, and two students who requested to remain anonymous have had difficulties with university classroom accessibility policy.
According to information from Personnel Services, eight buildings have no handicap facilities and improvements should be made to specific campus areas, Rehabilitative Services officials said. The Art Building, Broncho Fieldhouse, the Y-Chapel, Health and Physical Education, Murdaugh Hall, Industrial Arts, Mathematics and Wantland Hall lack basic alterations for handicap student accessibility. In 1973, the Rehabilitation Act required CSU make "reasonable accommodations in affording disabled students access to equal educational opportunity." CSU began to renovate buildings, sidewalks
and increase handicap parking. Blanche Washington, Personnel Services director, said CSU handicap facilities are adequate and she has not received complaints to the contrary. Stretches of time-worn sidewalks, highly traveled areas with curbs impassible to wheelchairbound students and buildings without elevators require correcting, said Joe Lanham, Rehabilitative Services. Additional "curb cuts"—slopes from street to curb—and elevators could be forthcoming, but no construction timetable is scheduled, Washington said. Sidewalk repair Please see FACILITIES on
page 4.
Rainy commencement packed By Keith Purtell
Staff Writer
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Although overflow crowds attended indoor commencement ceremonies this spring, Central State University has no immediate plans to use a larger, off-campus facility. Both Mitchell Hall Theater and the University Center Ballroom were reported filled to standing room only. Scheduling and cost factors have prevented CSU from seeking an alternate inclement weather lo-
cation, said Dean of Student Services Dudley Ryan. "We have found that the Myriad, for example, requires a committrnent a year in advance," Ryan said, "and even then, it's 'iffy.' Some high schools make those kinds of arrangements, but that's the only option they have. I'm not sure some people would approve of our renting a facility and then not using it." Ryan said some calender dates need to be booked with civic centers as much as five years in advance, and that only three of
CSU's last 10 commencements have been moved indoors. Edmond Fire Marshall Ron Williamson said his office has not received any reports of overcrowding presenting a hazard. "Normally we require 15 square feet per person," Williamson said, "But we can go to seven square feet if the exits are adequate. I haven't heard anything about a problem on the campus, and we didn't send any of our personnel out there."
Please see PACKED on page 4.
A ramp on the north side of Thatcher Hall is exposed to the elements, disregarding guidelines for handicapped access which suggests that all exterior ramps be protected by some type of overhead structure. (Photo by Ken Freeman)