The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2004
Betz makes final cut in run for presidency at Tulsa college
Game over for MLS UCO officials say the university did what it could to attract a franchise, but a lack of financial support proved inadequate. by Caroline Duke
■ The provost and vice president of UCO was named
Editor in Chief
Communication between Major League Soccer and university officials has ceased since the second MLS game at UCO in April. UCO and the professional soccer league had worked together for two years to bring an MLS franchise to Edmond. "We were very much in consideration by MLS for 2005 or 2006, but those chances have dimmed at this point," said Dr. W. Roger Webb, president of UCO. Charlie Johnson, UCO News Bureau director, said the deal did not pan out because an ownership group could not be established. "They're too far apart on money," Johnson said. Webb said securing an ownership group was a matter of the league itself and the potential owners. He said many major businesses looked into an Edmond franchise but did not have the financial backing that MLS requires. A franchise costs $10 million, he said. "The owners of other franchises are billionaire owners," Webb said. "Our groups have been people with millions, not billions." Webb said UCO did not lose money in its efforts to attract an MLS franchise. "We lose nothing," he said. "We'll still have a great facility." Webb said the university did what was within its control. "I think that we did find that there is a very enthusiastic and hardcore soccer base in this area," he said. The university also renovated
a finalist for president at Tulsa Community College. by Lauren Pulsinelli Senior Staff Writer
Photo by Gavin D. Elliott
A ball sits on the sidelines at Wantland Stadium during the last MLS exhibition game, held in April. UCO will not a receive a franchise anytime soon.
Wantland Stadium to meet FIFA standards, a requirement for an MLS franchise. "Those were two things we had control over," Webb said. Webb said no money was invested
in the two exhibition games held at Wantland Stadium in the last year. He said the university made a small profit from the games, which went to the
see GAME OVER, page 3
Dr. Don Betz, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, was named a finalist in the search for the new president of Tulsa Community College. The decision will be announced by the end of the month, and the presidency will be effective July 1. "By June 29, a decision should be announced," said Lauren F. Brookey, TCC vice president Dr. Don Betz of External Affairs. The TCC Board of Regents and the Association of Community College Trustees comprise the committee that will select the new president. "(The committee) has finished with their special meetings but still has to do some more background searching," she said. The committee finished public forums and the pre-arranged cycle of interviews with the four finalists, Brookey said. "Don Betz is extremely talented and potentially attractive for any university, in my mind," said Dr. W. Roger Webb, president of UCO. "Selfishly, I hope we have an opportunity to have him here at UCO."
ooks abound
...and unabridged
Just because you're stuck in Oklahoma this summer doesn't mean that you can't traverse the hills of Spain with Ernest Hemingway, brush up on your Quidditch with Harry Potter or travel across the universe. by Kelley Chambers Staff Writer
s you may have guessed, this is not the offering of a passport or an all-expense paid trip to exotic locales, but instead simply the idea of passing the long summer days by reading a good book. Many of us may remember those ubiquitous summer reading lists when we were kids that included books about Encyclopedia Brown the boy detective, or Clifford the big red dog. Those reading lists usually came with the promise of ice cream and hamburgers from Dairy Queen or Sonic for successfully reading a designated number of books. Or perhaps some may remember the highly ignored high school summer reading lists, which always included The Lord of the Flies and the mandatory Mark Twain inclusions. But now the rules have changed. Now we can read for fun, though taking into account time restraint and mountains of homework, many college students don't just pick up a book for fun. A look though the stalls of any local library or book store will surely offer something for any taste or interest from new works to classics to nonfiction or how-to books. Many such books are at the disposal of students at the UCO Max Chambers Library. While the Chambers library is admittedly not flush with contemporary fiction, its shelves do contain an impressive stock of great literature.
A browse through the aisles on the third floor will reveal nearly every major author of the twentieth century and in abundance. Unfortunately, the inside covers of many reveal that they have not been checked out in upwards of twenty years. One friendly face in the library is director of public service Carolyn Mahin. She pointed out that readers might enjoy the Ruby Canton collection housed on the first floor. The Canton collection, in front of the library café, contains an assortment of titles hand-picked by the librarians. "Librarians that want to participate go to local book stores and pick up popular or current event titles to provide choices for recreational reading," Mahin said. And while she said that the library does not post a summer reading list, it does create displays which direct visitors to learn and read more about various topics. Such current displays include World War II and gay pride month resources. Mahin said that one reason the library does not offer a suggested summer reading list is because they would have to have copies of the books in stock. However, for those interested in popular fiction, Mahin said, "We do have a lot of new books." Dr. Pamela Washington, dean of the College
see SUMMER READS, page 3
Betz started at UCO in 1999 as vice president for Academic Affairs and a professor of political science. He was named provost in 2002. He has also worked with the United Nations in creating and expanding an organization called NGO, a network pursuing peace in the Middle East. "An interim vice president will be announced if Betz chooses to resign,"
"Betz is extremely talented and potentially attractive for any university." — DR. W. ROGER WEBB President of UCO
said Dr. Kathryn Gage, UCO vice president for Student Services. "That's pretty much standard for a person in that high up of a position," Gage said. The three other finalists for TCC president are Martha Ellis, president of Lee College in Texas; Jack Oharah, president of Edmonds Community College in Washington state and Thomas McKeon, TCC's executive vice president and chief operating officer. TCC has four campuses and an enrollment of about 25,000 students, the third-highest enrollment in the state. Betz was not available for comment.