University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY
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July 14, 1994
The Student Voice Since 1903
Athletes gather for wheelchair championships By Matt Williamson & Jeff Billington Staff Writers
been favorable. "We've gotten so many positive comments about UCO and the facility, with the pool, the gym and the stadium where the games are taking place," said Srnec. Whistles and cheers mix together with Debbie Luckert, from Baltimore, Md., the squeal of soft rubber wheels as the sits watching her 8-year- old daughter racer makes her way around the slalom Amber prepare for her table tennis match. obstacle course. "Nobody is standing out from the other Banking off a 45 degree incline, the and it's nice that they have programs chair teeters on one wheel. The racer where they can compete and socialize leans into the steep grade in order to with each other," said Luckert. keep balance and slingshot toward the Amber broke the world record for the finish line. 25-yard breast stroke, with a time of Multi-colored sportschairs, athletes 40.83 on July 12. The previous record of decked out in racing regalia, litter the 44.86 was set last year by Amber at gym floor in anticipation of their chance Rutgers University. to shine. Amber and her mother almost didn't As the gun sounds, the racer's arms make the games at all. strain against the wheels, propelling them "We missed three separate flights beinto the course, and the obstacles before fore getting to Dallas because of methem. chanical problems and the weather," Each racer patiently awaits his or her Luckert said. turn to best their competitors. The course "Amber almost started crying because is long and hard, but the rewards are she felt we would miss the games and truly heartwarming. she couldn't compete," said Luckert. Walking on his arms, 9-year-old Besides the obvious relief of reaching Nathan Phillips makes his way up and Edmond and UCO, the Luckerts and then back down the rows of wooden other competitors found Oklahoma to bleachers in order to get a better view of be a nice area with less traffic than his competition. Texas Rollers team member Sarah Pacholick pushes her wheelchair over an Baltimore. When asked if he thought he could incline during the slalom portion of the Junior National Wheelchair Championships "I like Oklahoma because it's wide win the slalom, Nathan, oozing with conThe competitions will continue until Saturday. (Photo by Christopher Smith) open," said a basketball clutching athlete fidence, smiled and quickly said, "I know from Long Island, N.Y. I can." Luckert said Amber loves it when Nathan is only one of 300 athletes Ohio, but through the efforts of a local bent over backwards to help us," said Bargathered at the University of Central Okla- committee, the games were awarded to bara Srnec, volunteer coordinator. people refer to her as an athlete. homa for the 11th Annual Wheelchair Edmond and UCO. "She glows when people tell her she's an Even with the ongoing construction on Championships. "We've had great cooperation from UCO the campus, Srnec said the response from athlete. We tell her 'You can do anything. Last year the games were in Columbus, and the President's Office. They've just the participants and their families has You may be different, but you can do it."'
Faculty discuss further exchanges with UCO 's sister university By Paul Eddy Staff Writer In a meeting held July 11, University of Central Oklahoma President George Nigh and several college deans began discussing the probabilities of further exchanges with the Universidad Popular Autonomal Del Estado De Puebla (The Autonomous University of Puebla). The discussion went around the table as
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the four UCO deans who visited Puebla explained what they had learned. "It was a very profitable trip from the standpoint of knowledge and information gained," said Dr. George Avellano, dean of the graduate college. Much of what was discussed was specifics on the transference of class credits. The programs at Puebla are highly structured and they do not have elective classes. The universities will have to work out the ability to transfer credits, said Avellano.
Spotlight
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General education major Hui Cha will return to UCO's Kaleidoscope' Dance Company for a second year.
Don Powers, director of safety and environmental management at the UCO powerplant, said G. Kay Powers, dean of math and science was considering becoming involved in the establishment of a biology program in Puebla. She was also asked to send someone to Puebla to teach calculus, said Don Powers. Don Powers visited with people in Puebla's civil engineering ,department and said, they (the civil engineering department at Puebla) have developed a strong archi-
Sporting News.
• See PUEBLA, page three
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Sports UCO's Flo Gonzales was named to the NCAA Division ll preseason All American football team by The
tectural design program. They are also the developers of one of the commonly used construction techniques in Mexico, he said. Don Powers was invited back to Puebla to teach a one-week safety seminar in October. The colleges expressed interest in furthering the establishment of an exchange program, said Dr. Kenneth Elsner, dean of the college of education.
The latest attractions at the Oklahoma City Zoo include the birth of a sea lion pup and six-foot giraffe.
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