University of Central Oklahoma
THEVIsTA
THURSDAY June 15, 1995
The Student Voice Since 1903
High-tech education building Censure lifted after construction 'ahead of schedule' 26 years By Joy McNutt Staff Writer
By Paisley Krout Staff Writer
Work on the new education building including a high-tech, multi-media classroom, is progressing ahead of schedule, and should be completed in late November or early December, said Nick Widener, executive assistant to the vice president for administration/special projects. "The metal decking is in place, some framing of the outside walls is done, and some of the mechanical equipment is on site," Widener said. Dr. Kenneth E. Elsner, dean of College of Education, said the new building will be equipped with a long-disThe steel frame for UCO's new education building is a sign of the continuing construction on camtance interactive video/con- pus. The building represents a new age of high technology (Staff Photo by Jaconna Aguirre) ference classroom with broadcast capability. classes taught from OU and OSU. They will toward the sound of the student's voice. The room, which will seat 92 students on see the instructor on two projection screens, All classrooms will be able to receive tiered levels, will allow an instructor to teach and talk to the instructor through micro- both video and audio communication from students in receiving classrooms at the phones located in the ceiling. OU, OSU, or satellite, Elsner said. University of Oklahoma (OU) and Also, the long distance instructor will be Oklahoma State University (OSU). able to see the student as he talks, because V See EDUCATION, Page 6 Students in the room will be able to attend video cameras will automatically turn
A 26-year censure imposed on UCO by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) ended June 12 by a unanimous vote of delegates at the National AAUP Assembly. The censure began when George Benz, a tenured professor, was fired in 1967 without notice, which was a violation of University policy. Benz appealed the firing in 1969 resulting in the censure. "UCO had the fifth longest censure of any college in the nation," said Guild. "The negative impact of a censure could mean a quality professor might choose not to take a job at a censured college." Guild said the AAUP does not tell members not to take a job at a censured college, but to investigate for abuse of policies. "Neither of the previous two presidents wanted to do anything about the censure," said
VSee CENSURE, Page 6
UCO administrators Burpee, Speegle take on new duties By Joy McNutt Staff Writer UCO Vice President of Development and Community Relations Richard A. Burpee will replace Joyce Mounce as UCO's acting vice president of administration when she steps down June 30. "This is a temporary assignment to get us through the next three critical months in our Master Plan," said UCO
Editorial 2 Campus Quotes 2 Sports 5 Around Town 6 Around Campus 7 Comics 7
President George Nigh." Because Burpee will be holding two jobs at no change in salary, Edmond's former city manager, M a x Speegle Speegle will serve half-days as Burpee's senior
WATER WORKS
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The Vista's Heather Canann investigates the safety of high-tech ozone filtering systems and their use in purifying Edmond's tap water.
executive assistant. Speegle is also UCO's attorney and will continue in that position. Burpee said the regents had strongly recommended that UCO hire its own attorney because of the construction activity. Speegle said he served Edmond nine years as municipal judge before he was city manager. Then, after serving seven years as city manager, he
FAREWELL
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Wert and Mounce leave UCO after years of dedicated service; one retires while the other makes a career move to Tennnessee.
resigned.Former Edmond Mayor Randel Shadid said he has known Speegle for 20 years. "He is a competent, capable lawyer," Shadid Burpee said. "He has a way of putting out fires
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before they get out of control. It was good for the city, and it will be good for the university." Besides being UCO's attorney for a year, Speegle has served UCO as an adjunct instructor in political science graduate studies for seven years. This fall he will teach an urban economic development course. "I'm pleased to be around the university in whatever role I can," he said.
SPORTS
Jason Freeman is one of three UCO golfers to earn All-American honors at the NCAA Division II Golf Championship in Aiken, S.C.