University of Central Oklahoma
WORLO WRAP Japan surplus jumps TOKYO (AP) — Japan's trade surplus with the world jumped 24 percent in June, the 18th straight month the gap was bigger than a year earlier, the government reported today. The surplus with the United States was up 18 percent from a year earlier, to $3.14 billion, the Finance Ministry said. For the first half of 1992, Japan's total trade surplus was a record $49.03 billion, up 52,4 percent from the same period of 1991. Japan has been under increasing pressure from its trading partners to increase domestic consumption as a way to boost imports.
Gulfstream plans jettison of 225 jobs OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gulfstream Aerospace Technologies says it will layoff about 225 positions at its Oklahoma City plant over the next six to nine months because of the recession and downturn in the industry. The company, which has a current payroll of 750, announced the cuts this week. They will be phased in as subcontracts end. "We've spent five or six years now developing work from other subcontractors, and what has happened is, in the last 12 months or so, the climate has changed so drastically that it is no longer possible to do that," said John Podger, company president.
PikePass fares well OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)Oklahoma's electronic tollcollection system is one of 25 finalists in the 1992 Innovations in State and Local Government awards program, sponsored by the Ford Foundation and administered by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Ten finalists will be named in September, each getting a $100,000 grant. The PikePass provides electronic, non-stop collection of tolls at reduced fares to turnpike users.
♦ See World Wrap, back page
THURSDAY July 16, 1992
The Student Voice Since 1903
Coalition creates goals By Angela Mitchell Staff Writer Aluminum can laws and the Earth Summit were among the topics discussed at the University of Central Oklahoma Environmental Coalition meeting held July 14. The coalition's agenda consisted of a number of items that will hopefully better UCO, said Dr. Ed Cunliff, director of Institutional Research and Planning. The meeting began with a recap of events such as the annual Earth Day celebrations, Biology Club recycling efforts and the educational activities which have taken place
on campus for the past two years. The agenda of the meeting dealt with forming an environmental newsletter, a follow-up to the Earth Summit to be held this fall, participating in the "Festival of the Child" in cooperation with "Keep Edmond Beautiful," and working toward the formation of a "can law" in the state of Oklahoma. "The newsletter will help to keep everyone better informed on our progress here on campus," said A.K. Rahman, director of
Auxiliary Services. "A follow-up to the Earth Summit is something we hope to put together. But, it will all depend on the resources," said Cunliff. The group is planning on helping "Keep Edmond Beautiful" with recycling activities during the "Festival of the Child," Oct. 10 and 11. Volunteers are needed from all
♦ See Coalition, page 7
`Jungle' trek new adventure for students By Traci McKnight Staff Writer Students new to the University of Central Oklahoma will be led through the "jungle" of university life, Aug. 22, when they participate in this year's freshman orientation, "Trekking Thru the Jungle." The program will allow each individual to choose which programs and sessions they want to attend, said Susan Thompson, director of student activities. Thompson said a new section has been added for parents of students new to UCO. This section will be from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and will include lunch and information from administrators about key issues on the campus. The program for parents will also include helpful hints on "Letting go," and will give parents time to ask questions. Thirty UCO students will act as guides for the new students. Along with answering questions about the university the program will also provide new students with packets containing information about facilities. services and opporV See Trek, page 7
Jefry Chandra sketches outside the Library: (Photo by Mark Zimmerman).
Headless horseman or Casper? The haunting of Mitchell Hall continues By Allen Norbury Staff Writer An unexpected clang above the stage in the catwalk is startling, a quick glance to see what it is reveals nothing. Odd, because there is no other person present in the theater. Sounds like a ghost story. It is. It comes and goes like a wisp of wind. No one has ever seen the face of this rumored ghost, but strange things are happening in Mitchell Hall. Drama students, the Mitchell Hall manager and others claim ropes fall from the ceiling, props disappear and reappear and lights flicker for no reason. Pea size gravel drops
45 feet to the stage when someone walks underneath the catwalk, they say. Several years ago, the rumor goes, a maintenance worker fell to his death from the grid above the stage, said Jim Poe, Mitchell Hall manager. People say he is now the ghost in Mitchell Hall. His name is Thornton and he's been described as an apparition clothed in a dark trenchcoat sporting a fedora hat. Thornton goes back to pre-1970s, Poe said. "He was here when I was a student." "He's not supposed to be a bad ghost," University of Central Oklahoma student Jennifer Morgan said. "He's friendly," said Laura Hartpence, UCO drama student. Thornton unfortunately gets a bad rap,
but he can be mischievous though. "The deal is when anything goes wrong we blame it on him," Hartpence said. Things have gone wrong, and Thornton did it. "During a dress rehearsal of Pirates of Penzance, the fly system that holds the back drops came off of the balcony structure. The drops flew into the rafters so the person holding them went with it," Hartpence said. Lights did strange things as well. "We would put the lights up, and they would flicker and there wouldn't be anyone around," she added. During Biloxi Blues, props must have grown legs and wandered around, or ThornV See Casper, page 7