University of Central Oklahoma
TUESDAY September 9, 1997
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The Student Voice Since 1903
Area residents express sorrow over Diana's death
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For the birds... Carl Moss displays some of his birds to a biology club meeting in Howell Hall. A member of the Central Oklahoma Bird Club, Moss identified types of birds that make good house pets. (Staff photo by Bryan Terry)
UCO students honor Mother Teresa A
small group of UCO students gathered Sunday at the Catholic Student Center to pay tribute to Mother Teresa, 87, who died Friday in Calcutta, India, of heart failure. Jason Simpson, director of the center, said 10 - 15 students met
to remember the nun who was known world-wide for her humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Simpson said he received a letter from Mother Teresa last year after a friend of his went to work with The Sisters of Mercy
in Calcutta. "I gave him a letter to give to her," said Simpson. "I didn't expect a respsonse." He said the fact that she took time to find him and reply was indicitive of the kind of person she was.
any Oklahomans, who wished to pay their respects after Princess Diana died in a car accident August 30, lined up Wednesday at the Borders Books, Music & Cafe in Oklahoma City to sign a book of condolence that was sent to the British Consulate in Houston, and will be forwarded to England soon. Stephanie Elix, community relations coordinator for the Oklahoma City Borders store, said the book idea came from the British Consulate, who called the Tulsa store. The community relations coordinator in Tulsa then called Elix. Carrie Payne, a psychology major at OCU and an employee at Borders, said, "I believe people are signing the book because Diana was a public figure, so she affected the public. People want to have some sort of closure. The book signing is a tangible kind of closure." Dr. Gerald Chandler, supervisor of UCO's Brief Counseling Center said, a written message is often a good way for grieving people to release their sorrow and gain a sense of closure after a loss. Elix said there was a steady line of people wanting to sign the book, and often the opening crew at Borders would be greeted by people waiting outside the door to come in and write a bit of poetry, a message, or to simply sign their name to acknowledge Britain's loss. "Princess Diana showed she cared for Oklahoma a few years ago when she met with Kathy Keating about breast cancer," said a woman who waited for her turn to sign the book. "I feel like this small thing is the least we can do to show we cared for her, too." The line of people waiting to sign the book continued until the close of business Sunday. Well over 1,000 people signed the book, Elix said.
—By Steven Wedel Staff Writer
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