The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2005
Four-day class schedule debuts IN University tries out 4-day week to cut costs and offer schedule flexibility by Latasha Ellis-Cobb Staff Writer
A UCO executive committee implemented a new fourday schedule effective for 2005
Guardsman, former UCO student drowns at Tenkiller
The schedule will condense classes from the original schedule of Monday through Friday to Monday through Thursday. Steven Kreidler, vice president of Finance and Administration, said the plan originated with a dual agenda. He said the four-day week will give students schedule flexibility while allowing more availability for short classes that usually run on Fridays and
Saturdays. "The four-day schedule will also free Fridays for administrative paperwork," Kreidler said. Dr. William Radke, associate vice president of Academic Affairs, said the plan started when Dr. Don Betz, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, noted that other institutions were going to four-day summer schedules. Radke said there will be a
slight savings on electricity costs because most buildings will close at noon on Fridays. The lights will be turned off in these buildings and the air conditioners will be turned to higher temperatures. "A few buildings will remain cool for various reasons," Radke said. These will include Howell Hall, which houses animals. He said many Saturday classes will be moved there.
"I think it is great that the administration is giving us the flexibility to try it out," said Dr. Donna Kearns, special education professor. "Gas prices are high right now and it will give students one less day of travel to the campus." Kearns also said the new schedule allows professors the capability to give students more breaks throughout lectures. Kearns said many faculty
Shakespeare stage 'to be' at UCO
by Latasha Ellis-Cobb Staff Writer
Pvt. Shelby Hudson, a former University of Central Oklahoma student, drowned at about 3 p.m. May 24 at Eagle Point on Lake Tenkiller. Hudson, a member of Detachment 1, Company A, 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry attended the University of Central Oklahoma in the spring of 2003. In a statement to the press, the Oklahoma Army National Guard said Hudson and members of his unit were swimming at Eagle Point during a unit morale activity when Hudson dived into the water and did not resurface. The statement said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lake Patrol divers recovered Hudson's body and he was transported to Sallisaw Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Hudson was completing his Photo by Naomi Takebuchi first training period with the Oklahoma Army National Guard at the time of his death. Hudson Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park set builder and actor Doug Brown helps constuct the group's new stage June 2 at its temporary was scheduled to return home home on the UCO campus. The performances were moved to UCO after a fire destroyed the stage at Edmond's Hafer Park April 30. May 27. temporary stage for the comThe cause of the April 30, stage will be available for use pany. 2005 fire is still undetermined, by other departments. by Trisha Evans "Everyone has stepped up said Major Gary Dill, City of "Campus Life has approached Staff Writer Latasha Ellis-Cobb can be reached to the plate and just made it Edmond fire investigator. us about using the stage for conat lelllscobb ©thevistaonline.com . happen," said Dr. Bob McGill, "When these things hap- certs," Markwood said. chair of the UCO Theatre pen you think it is just awful," "The idea was to make the The show will go on for Department. said Kathyrn McGill, 21-year stage a truly multi-use facility," Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Dr. Christopher Markwood, Director of OSP. "It's a nega- said designer Doug Getzoff. Park. It has found a new home dean of the College of Arts, tive, but you find out who your "It's big enough that the symfor the summer season at UCO's Media & Design, said he has friends are." phonic band can play on it." Plunkett Park, formerly Evans allocated $10,000 to build the UCO has had a long relationGetzoff said they plan to Field. stage. Markwood said the costs ship with OSP, and for the past expand the stage after each show The decision to build a new of building the stage are being eight years they have had an with plans to add a balcony stage at UCO came weeks after held down by volunteer labor. official alliance. OSP utilizes for the August and September an April 30 fire at OSP's stage This is not the first time OSP UCO's costume shop, costume performances of "Romeo and at Edmond's Hafer Park. has been without a stage. Its designers, technical director Juliet " Faculty, staff and actors are original stage was burned in and many actors. pitching in to help build the 2001 by an arsonist. Markwood said the new
Student by Day, Robot by Night
members are on campus longer than required anyway, doing paperwork. Belinda Dean-Waldrop, Financial Aid representative, said the schedule will help working students because their office hours will be extended to 6 p.m.
see SCHOOL WEEK,
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ANNOUNCEMENTS ■ Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park will perform "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at 8 p.m. Thursday's through Sunday's June 16 through July 10 at UCO's Plunkett Park (formerly Evans Field). Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens. Children under 12 are admitted free. Tickets go on sale at 7 p.m. the night of the performance. For more information call 340-1222 or e-mail okshakespr@aol.com ■ UCO Ja77 Lab schedule: 8 p.m. Thursday June 9, The Matt Stansberry Band 8 p.m. Friday June 10, Smilin' Vic 8 p.m. Saturday June 11, The Mike Hosty Trio. For more information call 3597989 or visit www.ucoja77Iab. com ■ Acousticadia, an acoustic 'music festival, will run Friday June 10 through Saturday June 11 at Lake Arcadia's Spring Creek Park in Edmond. For more information call 359-4683 or online at www.acousticadia.corb ■ UCO Family Fun Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9 on the North side of Broncho Lake. The UCO community and family members are welcome for a cookout, music, rides and games. This event is free to everyone. For more information call Campus Life at 405-974-2363 ■ The 5th annual deadCENTER film festival will kick off June 9 in downtown Oklahoma City, featuring an array of films, through June 12. Films made by Oklahomans will be shown along with short films from around the nation and the world. The festival is in downtown for the third year at Stage Center, Untitled ArtSpace, Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery, The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Harkins Bricktown Theatre, the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library and Kerr Park.
see Shakespeare, page 3
Disabled athletes to compete in Edmond at Endeavor Games by Ashley Romano Senior Staff Writer
Photo by Justin Avera
UCO Student Matt Nicolin, Music performance sophomore, gears up for the premier of "Star Wars": Episode Revenge of the Sith" in his C-3P0 attire. The movie took in $50 million in it's first 24 hours, shattering the previous single day record of $44.8 million set by "Shrek 2."
Nearly 300 physically disabled athletes from 24 states and three countries will compete in the 6th Annual Endeavor Games June 9-12 at UCO and Edmond North High School. "This is the largest multisport, multi-event for disabled athletes in the nation," said Katrina Shaklee, assistant director for UCO's Disabled Sports and Events. The games are a result of The Sports Group a non-profit organization that provides sports programs to physically disabled athletes in Oklahoma, which Shaklee said she helped create in 2000. She said UCO absorbed the group in December 2004. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in August 1998, Shaklee said she saw
the potential for the Endeavor Games. "It (the disease) enabled me to know more people with physical disabilities," she said. Shaklee, who has been in remission since 1999, said it's important for athletes to participate in the games because "it's a chance for them to get out and compete, because they don't really have that many opportunities." Conducted by UCO's Disabled Sports and Events, this year's Endeavor Games will feature events like archery, bocci, power lifting, shooting, table tennis, tennis, junior and adult 3-on-3-wheelchair basketball and wheelchair softball, all of which will be in or around the Wellness Center. The swimming competition will be in Hamilton Field House while track and field will be at Edmond North
High School. Athletes ranging in age from six to 70 will participate in the games, Shaklee said. Jason Vick, an occupational therapy sophomore, will be a first-time competitor this year. He said the games will provide "morale" and "spirit" to athletes, especially if they've been laid up in the hospital for a while. "It will give them some exercise," he said. Vick, who is paralyzed from the chest down, will compete in tennis. Shaklee said this year the Endeavor Games has partnered with Disabled Sports USA and the Wounded Warrior Project to fly in 16 physically disabled U.S. soldiers who served in Iraq. One of those soldiers, John Jones, an Edmond Memorial High School alumnus and an
injured Marine Corps staff sergeant, is also a first-time competitor. He said he's looking forward to being active and competing again. "It should give good support for other amputees in the hospital so they can say, 'see, look, here's a guy who was hurt five months ago and he's doing something,"' said Jones, who will compete in archery and shooting. Shaklee said a "Wounded Warrior" fund has been created with a fund-raising goal of $25,000 to go toward the soldier's housing, travel expenses, meals and passes to all of the events. Holly Murphy, director of major gifts and grants for the UCO Foundation, said about $7,500 has been raised so far.
Also, Shaklee said an extra
see ENDEAVOR,
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For show times, directions and ticket prices call 405-808-4575 or online at www.deadcenter.org
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