University of . Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY September 15, 1994
The Student Voice Since 1903
Claims of censorship at college papers investigated
by Regents By Julie Dye and Roy Howe Staff Writers
BLIND FAITH
Pontiac and GMC managers and dealers lead each other to a bandanna which hangs in a tree. The effort to reach the bandanna as a group, which represents a "shared vision," was part of a workshop promoting better employee/ custorrer relations. The workshop was held Monday afternoon at the University Center. (Staff Photo by Christopher Smith)
SGA budget ignites arguments, diverts dollars to 'start-up fund' By David L. Hanigar
Staff Writer
The new budget for the Student Government Association (SGA) created an "organization start-up fund" and raised an argument in a meeting Monday, an argument which, according to SGA President, is one of many to come. Ben Harris, SGA president, said he has made some radical changes in this year's budget and expects some disagreements. "In the past we've let that budget go to the cost of our government. "Basically I've cut down all the crap and tried to put as much money back to the students or make it available to the students as I could," Harris said. This year's budget cuts expenses in several areas to allow $1,500 for a new "organization start-up fund." The fund will promote the development of new organizations on campus by funding their start-up expenses. This would encourage and help student organizations to
Editorial 2 Letters 2 World Wrap 6 Sports 8-9 Campus Crime 14 Around Campus 15 Comics 15
NATURE HIKE
7
Bubo, a local "resident"
at Martin Park Nature Center invites visitors to take an educational hike on the wild side.
become active, Harris said. Of the two arguments that fed the meeting, however, the creation of the fund was not one of them. "I'm really surprised there were not any questions on that," Harris said. The cuts raised the most attention. The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (OIL), an organization dependent on funding from the SGA, lost $500 with the new budget. That money, plus $100, was divided between the Young Democrats and Collegiate Republicans. "I felt we were being partisan by giving all that money to one organization," Harris said. Even though the two additions are politically sided, by dividing evenly the amount given to each, it is fair, Harris said. By cutting the funding, it encourages OIL to form their own constitution, separating themselves from SGA dependency, and to begin their own fund-raisers, Harris said. V See BUDGET, Page 6
SPORTS
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Lady Broncho's vol-
leyball extends their record to 9-0, their best start since the 1990 athletic year.
After allegations that some Oklahoma student publications are being censored, investigations to assure the First Amendment rights of three Oklahoma college newspapers are underway by their governing boards. The probes are in response to an Aug. 15 letter from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ,) who claim the administrators at Southeastern Oklahoma State, East Central and Panhandle State universities are refusing pupils the freedom to control the content in their student publications. After first reading an article about SPJ's allegations in The Vista, Brent Wilcox, former editor of the Journal at Redlands Community College in El Reno recounted similar events happening at his school. SPJ's First Amendment Committee chair Mick Hinton claims that through administrative interference, students at these schools are not being "afforded the freedom the Constitution guarantees." "We're trying to help the students figure out what their current policies are and what they should be," Hinton said. "To see who's in charge." ✓ The SPJ's concerns about the universities' policies include threats of termination to student publication advisors, pressures to tone down and stop publishing "bad news" and refusal by administrators to publish studentwritten stories. In response to the allegations, the advisor to one of the publications has taken Hinton to task for not getting both sides of the story or being objective in his presentation of information. VSee MUFFLED, Page 10
MUST SEE Writer Sheila Nunnelee dives fearlessly into homecomings of the past from the turn of the century to today.