14T ,1988HE July
Vol. 86, No. 60
VISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Wantland Stadium too small, officials say
Fireworks move pondered By Valli Covert
Student Writer No more fireworks at Central State University? The annual Edmond Fourth of July Festival may be moved to a new location due to size constraints, according to David Van Nostrand, president of Edmond Fourth of July Festivals. "We are taking a look at it (Wantland Stadium), to see if we're going to have to do something different because of traffic and fire problems," said Van Nostrand. Taking part in Operation KID, six-year-old Lee Warner of Edmond is fingerprinted by Officer Chris Woolridge of the Edmond Police Department at the CSU Special Education Preschool. (Photo by Daniel Smith)
Child center accredited
I
By Linda Day Student Writer The Child Study Center in the Home Economics Department at Central State University has received accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, according to Dr. Kaye D. Sears, professor of child and family development. "The goal of the academy is to evaluate the quality of the pro-
gram for the purpose of accrediting those early childhood programs that are of high quality," said Sears. "The process involved a self study sent to the academy as a written program description. After their evaluation of the written report, an on-site visit was made in May, and the approval for accreditation came the middle of June," said Sears.
"We have just outgrown the location. We have talked about moving for years," he said. "Proposals to hold the festivities at Arcadia Lake have not been acted on because Arcadia Lake has only three entrances and is bordered by major highways. Both of these problems could attribute to a high accident rate," said Van Nostrand, who added that there has also been a proposal to hold the fireworks at remote locations. "We would like more people to be able to see the fireworks display, but Wantland Stadium was filled to capacity and people were standing outside in order to
view the festivities. According to Joyce Mounce, vice president of administration, CSU has supplied security and maintenance at no cost to the city in the past. "It is an extensive enterprise and we can not continue to do it without charging some money," said Mounce, who did not have a definite estimate available at the time. "CSU offers the largest facility," said academic advisor Bob Austin who acts as liaison bet-
ween the citizens committee and CSU. "Over the past couple of
years, alternate places have been mentioned, but there are no other facilities available." "CSU spends many hours getting ready for the festivities and expends thousands of dollars for security, maintenance, traffic control and setting up for the festivities," Austin said. Van Nostrand said the planning committee has not started work on next years' festivities, but are searching for a different site.
Regents to set tuition rates The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will set fees and tuition rates for Oklahoma colleges at a July 18 meeting at the State Capitol Complex. The rates will go into effect fall semester. There has been some forewarning of rate increases as far back as January, said Ruth Ann Dryer, administative assistant to the chancellor. We had a hearing then and only about six or seven students showed up to voice opinion on the increase. It is not yet officially known if
tuition will increase at Oklahoma colleges. Allocation of funds to institutions will be decided at a July 27 meeting of the regents, she said. "We are not at the point to make any public announcements," Sharon Martin, Central State University director of budget, said when asked if professors will be getting a pay raise this fall. "We have to wait to see how much money we will be allocated." Budgets of higher education institutions will be approved by the regents August 29, Dryer said.
Feds cry foul over death of protected birds Federal charges may yet be filed against Central State University and a contractor who felled a tree that housed a family of federally- protected King birds, wildlife officials said this week. An investigation is being conducted by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service into possible violations of federal law by CSU and Big Tree Transplanting, Inc. of Oklahoma City by removing the tree before checking to see if protected wildlife lived there, said senior resident wildlife agent Tom McKay. "We will do a complete investigation into the matter and present the findings to the U.S. attorney general," said McKay. "He will decide whether to prosecute. We will talk to the people involved." "It is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to disturb or take feathers, dead birds, nests, or bird parts," McKay said. If a feather is picked up off the ground, that is a violation of federal law. The dying tree, which was located by the Business Building, was removed June 30 to make way for a sidewalk, said Nimrod Chapel, director of the university's physical plant.
As the tree was being removed, three baby birds fell about 20 feet to the pavement. One died about 15 minutes later; another died during the night. According to McKay, a special permit is required to relocate birds and nests. That permit is available from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.
who is registered with the service to care for migratory birds that have been injured, is caring for the single surviving bird. Black was contacted by CSU students who witnessed the incident.
"The bird is approximately 10 days old," Black said. "He should be fine once he gets some food in him. He will eat softened dog food until he gets older, then will eat a special ground beef."
Only English sparrows, starlings, pigeons, quail, pheasant, parrots and parakeets are not protected by federal law, although state law does protect some of these types of birds, McKay said.
"Most people have more to worry about than a bird or two falling out of a nest," said Mike Rosser of Big Tree Transplanting, Inc., which was contracted by the university to remove the tree. "If it was a whole species, that would be different." Rosser said he was not aware of the federal law and that he did not have time to look in trees to see if wildlife lived there. Chapel said he was contacted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service but had not yet talked to them about the incident. "Once I see the law, I will know what it is. It is impossible to stay abreast of the law; there are so many of them." "No one took it into consideration," Chapel said when asked about the birds. "Since we are aware of it, we will take it into consideration." Liz Black, of Oklahoma City,
A tree transplant firm, contracted by CSU, removes a tree by the Business Building to make way for a sidewalk. (Photo by Steven Akins)