Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
July 14, 1983
Vol. 81, No. 60
New contracts signed by campus personnel By Robin Rizzieri "The bad news is that you didn't get a raise, and I'm talking about me too," said Dr. Bill J. Lillard, president of CSU. "The good news is that we didn't get our salary cut--it wasn't decreased--and we still have a job. That's better than a lot of parts of the country." Lillard was referring to a motion passed by the Board of Regents for Oklahoma regional colleges that placed a freeze on teaching staff salaries. The salary freeze was a result of an Oklahoma higher education budget that included no new state revenues for the next academic year. "You have a state salary freeze that the governor announced and the state budget and such so that the salaries are the same as they were the previous year. However, CSU had made tremendous progress in the last four years and so we have the highest average annual faculty salary of any college or university in the state of Oklahoma now. "So we have made tremendous progress and the faculty members I've talked to seem to understand that we didn't get any more money from the state. Our state appropriations for CSU is the same for 83-84 as it was for 82-83, so we don't have any more money to put into salaries but in the last three or four years, we have made just remarkable gains. "It is my understanding that most faculty members seem to recognize that there is no money available and we have had good years, and hopefully, it will continue to improve in the future. "I'd say because our average annual salaries are No. 1 in the state of Oklahoma, that the lack of a raise does less of a hardship to a CSU faculty member than it might do to other university faculty members at various other universities. "But all of the salaries are frozen, so to speak, including the presidents, vice presidents, deans, professors and everybody who works for the university will receive the same salary in 83-84 as they did in 82-83, unless they were promoted and changed jobs. For example, if you became a dean or vice president and assumed additional responsibilities with the title, then you are allowed to receive a different salary or increased salary. "The faculty have known about the freeze since early spring, by reading the newspapers, and by at-
tending various staff meetings, but we started issuing our contracts for the general faculty last Thursday and Friday. But again, most of them had been in faculty meetings, staff meetings, they knew what the governor was saying, and the state budget office. It was not any shock or surprise, I don't think to any employee, that state salaries have been frozen for 83-84," said Lillard. Other instructors contacted regarding the new contracts had these comments to make. Dr. Reginald Hocker, associate professor of biology, said, "Well, I haven't checked mine out(contract), but I was happy to have a job for the next year. Still having a job is important." Dennie Hall, assistant professor of journalism and president-elect of the Faculty Senate said, "The contracts providing for no salary increase were expected. All of us had known for several months that the recession had finally reached Oklahoma and that probably that meant no pay raises. It's disappointing, of course, but it's only what we had expected. It was, of course, a disappointment that the state has fallen into such hard times financially, but it was no shock whatsoever. We had expected it." Dr. Clarence M. Parker, chairman of philosophy, replied, "I find it thoroughly unpleasant to be required to have no salary increase at all. I think it is an undesirable set of circumstances, but I just have to say in all fairness, I don't see given at least what we are told --nobody seems to know what the financial picture is in state funding and I'm not enough of a politican to know why that is the case, or even gripe about it. "But I do think that the state legislature seems to be unwilling to talk serious, and openly and honestly about finding new revenue in order to fund some of the state agencies better than they are funded now. "We pay a lot of lip service, for example, to higher education, a lot of high and impressive talk about how much we are concerned about educating our young people, but all up and down the rank and file of teachers and educators and faculty all across the state, salaries continue to be in most cases, pitiful. I'm not talking here about CSU salaries, I'm talking about salaries in general in education across the state. I sincerely hope that this is not repeated next year," said Parker.
Commencement change expected By Price Oswalt Should CSU recognize students individually at commencement? This question has plagued the administration, the student senate and others for years. The individual recognition of only the masters candidates versus the mass conferring of the baccalaureate degrees stems from a survey of the senior class eight years ago. At that time the class voted not to have individual recognition.
The Dean's Council, which includes the deans of all schools, the vice president of Academic Affairs and the assistant vice president of Academic Affairs, will make recommendations to President Lillard next week. According to the Dean of the School of Special Arts and Sciences, Dr. Lucille Patton, "We are recomending several changes." Among the changes will be individual recognition of all candidates.
In this issue. .
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CSU on AAUP Censure list...3 U.S. cracks down on loan defaulters...4 CSU student chosen as Diamond Girl...5 Patton watches shuttle blast-off...6 Biology students explore Alabaster Caverns...7 Kids meet snakes and spiders...8
Patton alluded to the changes as, "the speeches to be given, will be given by the class marshalls; the Executive Vice President; Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Clyde Jacob; Assistant to the President; Graduate Dean; Director of Libraries; Deans, faculty, and baccalaureate candidates of the Schools of Business and Education; and half of the masters of education candidates. "This is a trial basis and all the recommendations are subject to the descretion of the President," Patton commented. In speaking about the proposed changes, Lillard said, "Vice President Cassens has not yet presented the proposal to me. CSU is impressed with tradition...we will make improvements without changing such tradition. "We have made such refinements in the past, such as the elimination of a commencement rehearsal," Lillard commented.
Vista photo by Michael Keen
Not quite sure about the python that Ted Hamrick is showing him, Andy Gassaway, 3, keeps a watchful eye on both the snake and handler. Related pictures and story on page 8.
Fisher chosen outstanding faculty woman by A.W.S. By Clara Anderson Every spring the Association of Women Students (AWS) selects an outstanding freshman, upper classman, and faculty woman. Mary Alice Fisher was chosen as the outstanding faculty woman this year. She was presented a plaque in recognition of her outstanding qualities at the spring convocation. The AWS is an organization made up of all the women's organizations on campus. A representative from each of these organizations brings a recommendation, and the group as a whole votes. "Winning is quite an honor," said Deanna Land, AWS sponsor and assoc. dean of students. Fisher also feels that receiving the award is an honor. For her it is a double honor. She received the same award in 1973. Fisher, an instructor in the home economics department, will be beginning her 23rd year at CSU this fall. She has a bachelor of science degree and a master's degree in home economics. She taught high school vocational home economics in Noble for 15 years, and taught one year at Edmond High School before joining the teaching staff at CSU. She belongs to the organizations of Delta Kappa Gamma, POE, OHEA, AHEA, and the National Society of Nutrition Education. She sponsors the Home Economics Alumni Group and the local Home Economics Student Group. She serves on the Nursing Committee and Honors Committee. She has been past president of the organization of Southern Regional Nutrition for College and University Teachers. In her spare time, she still manages to find time to enjoy her family and to do church work. She is married to Bill Fisher, graduate dean at CSU. She has one daughter, Eda Beth Ware, who just presented her with a brand-new grandson. Fisher says her family has been very supportive of her work and many activities. "It helps to have a husband with the same interest and vocation," Fisher said. "It has been the delight of my life to work with college students. CSU students are just wonderful. Most of them work, and education is serious business to them. All in all, it has been a delightful experience," Fisher said.