Volleyball team begins season, See sports Pg. 12 Hypnotized?, See photos Pg. 3
The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2005
Old photos give new feel to Central Plaza lobby
UCO updates home page with help of alumnus and company
Sculpture to reflect work of Liberal Arts
by Lauren Hyer Vista Staff Writer
by Nathan Winfrey Vista Staff Writer
A UCO business administration graduate recently collaborated with UCO to create a new home page, for the university's Web site. David Ahlgren, founder and president of Wave Media Technologies Inc., began his company as a UCO freshman in 2001 by taking out a small business administration loan. Ahlgren said the company is the largest Web media provider in Oklahoma. "I began this company after I realized that the market companies that were hiring consultants were getting ripped off left
This fall, a 16-foot metal sculpture will be placed on the east lawn of the Liberal Arts Building. The artwork is called "Flight," and depicts a stack of books breaking their steel bonds. It was designed by UCO professor Christopher Domanski to reflect the College of Liberal Arts motto, "Freedom Through Knowledge." Domanski said he got the idea by thinking of things that represent knowledge. He chose the flying books with the hope that it would convey the message, "You will fly farther with
Please see SITE, page 3
Please see FLIGHT, page 4
Pain in the glass?
by Vista photographer Justin Avera
Students at Central Plaza view historic photos that trace the history of the university. The photos were gathered by the chair and assistant chair of the Design Department and hung Aug. 15. The photos are from the Archives in the Max Chambers Library. by Courtney Bryce Vista Staff Writer
Dr. Larry Heftier, chair of the Department of Design, and Assistant Chair Melinda Lyons touched up old photographs taken from the library archives and hung them in the lobby of Central Plaza Aug. 15. Lyons said she was asked by Director of Housing Josh Overrocker to choose, touch up and mount a series of past photographs of the school in the new residence hall. Hefner said Lyons asked him to help because he has worked on prints taken from the archives before, including a
series of prints of Old North. It took the two a month to sort through and pick the photographs that they felt best suited the project. Hefner said three large photographs depict the first libraries, which were in Old North, Evans Hall and the Communications Building. "We tried to pick photographs that had more to do with student and campus life," Hefner said. "I think it's interesting to look at the use of the buildings then and the use of them now." Hefner said the objective was to describe the history of UCO. "I think one of the things we haven't explored as much
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Open Wide Pancakes aren't just for breakfast anymore. See Midnight Pancakes Pg. 4
New Education Dean Dr. James Machell was named dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies July 1, following the retirement of former dean Dr. Judith Coe. See story Pg. 4
HURRICANE KATRINA ,.. In the af, , termath of Katrina's ' direct hit on the gulf coast, INDEX Oklahoma Governor opin ion 2 Brad Henry offered News 3-5 i nment 6-7 assistance to the devEntertai nment 8 Crossword 10 astated areas. Classifieds 10 Sports ....9-12 See story Pg. 4 -sow.
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as we can at UCO is our history and heritage," Hefner said. "Everyone knows the history of OU and OSU. We've been around longer than they have." Lyons said there will also be a panoramic view of certain buildings, including Communications, Business and Liberal Arts, hung behind the lobby desk that were recently taken and designed by Hefner. "It's kind of a now and then thing," Lyons said. "We want to make a connection with the old and new. We hope it helps the students with a sense of belonging and understanding the history of UCO." David Kinney, psychol-
ogy sophomore and sixth floor Central Plaza RA, said he likes the photographs because they illustrate how much the campus has grown. _ "They really show how far we've come ," Kinney said. "I don't think they could have chosen any better." " I love them (the photographs)," said Molly Smith, art education senior and RA of West Hall. "I think it's combining the old UCO with a new building."
Courtney Bryce can be reached at cbryce@thevistaonline.com .
by Vista photographer Justin Avera
Workers at Central Plaza install glass panes embossed with the
UCO logo Aug. 26.
Women taught to 'fight back' by self-defense expert, advocate by Courtney Bryce Vista Staff Writer
Erin Weed, a speaker on women's selfdefense, taught about 60 women how to defend themselves at the "Girls Fight Back" seminar on Aug. 24 in Constitution Hall. Weed started "Erin Weed & Associates" after her friend Shannon McNamara, an Alpha Phi sorority sister, was murdered in 2001 after a man broke into her apartment. Weed said her way of dealing with the murder was to learn how to "kick butt." She trained with professionals from across the nation, including members of the Navy Seals and the New York Police Department. Weed said she now uses this training to teach self-defense to college women. Weed partners with Campuspeak Inc., a company that provides colleges with speakers on different issues. "Campuspeak is the number one speaker's bureau," Weed said. "They refer my name to colleges." Weed said describing her friend's murder over and over to college students is the most difficult part of her job. "I tell the story because the number one problem with violence is that we're not talking about it," Weed said. "I'm not standing up here because it's my job. I'm here because it's my mission." Weed said intuition is the best survival tool a woman has. She also said humans are the only creatures that dismiss intuition. "Animals live in the moment. They trust their intuition," Weed said. "A deer would never ignore a warning by its instincts."
Weed said if a woman is attacked she shouldn't continue to dwell on it. "Deer don't go home to their thicket and curl up after being chased by a mountain lion and say "I need to call my deer therapist in the morning"," Weed said. "They get over it and move on."
night and off-campus parties. "People always told me whatever you do, don't walk alone at night," Weed said. "This is impossible. My advice is be a bad victim." Weed said a woman should stand tall and continue to pan her surroundings with her eyes. She said a set of car keys can be used to scratch an attacker and possibly draw blood. This way, if an attacker gets away, they've left behind DNA. Weed said a woman should arrive at and leave a party with her girlfriends. If a woman feels drunk after only one beer, she's probably been slipped something and should immediately get her friends to take her home. Weed had the students stand up and learn simple selfdefense moves. She placed green dots on various parts of a male volunteer to show the vulnerable areas of his anatomy. Students were then taught specific techniques to use on different body parts. "Women don't fight with y • sta p otograp er us n vera strength, they fight with stratClint McCoy, English Junior, helps Erin Weed, a women's egy," Weed said. "Ninety perself-defense expert, demonstrate how to fend off an cent of all crimes committed attacker Aug. 22 as part of Weed's presentation "Girls on women are unarmed. It's ego. Men don't think they Fight Back." need them (weapons)." Weed demonstrated how a Weed went on to explain how a woman should protect herself in two common colPlease see FIGHT, page 3 lege settings: walking on campus alone at