University of Central Oklahoma
The Student Voice Since 1903
TUESDAY September 17, 1991
Grid players suspects in credit card theft Journalists find public relations people annoying NEW YORK (AP)—Two thirds of journalists surveyed don't trust public relations people—most consider them downright annoying and seven in 10 liken them to weasels— but 81 percent admit they need them. Those are some of the fmdings of a mail survey of 2,432 journalist by a New York public relations firm relations firm that had long wondered whether journalists' relationship with PR people was longer on love or hate. Sixty-eight percent said they don't trust public relations people. And given a list of whom they'd least like to spend time with, journalists ranked PR people as more desirable than dentists and IRS agents, but less desirable than ex-lovers, in-law and former New York Mayor Ed Koch.
Cuba criticizes soviet pullout MEXICO CITY (AP) Cuba is angrily criticizing Mikhal Gorbachev's plan to withdraw thousands of Soviet troops from the hard-line nation, accusing him of "inapproapriate behavior" for failing to discuss it beforehand with Havana. Swiftly reacting just hours after the Soviet president's announcement Fidel Castro's government also disputed the number of Soviet troops Gorbachev said were in the Caribbean island nation. It is another blow to Castro's 31-year-old government, which has stepped up rationing of consumer goods this year after sticking to hardline Communist policies despite losing billions of dollars in Soviet support in recent years.
Golf cart thieves strike warehouse
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP)—Theives stole scores of motorized golf carts from a warehouse, then used them for a demolition derby on city streets, police said. Someone broke into a warehouse early Sunday and word spead quickly that it was filled with the carts, Sgt. John Carraro said. People "all went and got one," he said. "They were doing crashmobiles into cars going down the street." Police estimated 50 to 100 carts were stolen. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made. V See WORLD WRAP, back page.
By Sam Powell
Wire Editor
Greg Dinwiddie, Lupita Aguirre and John Miller were among 75 students who participated in "See You at the Pole" on Wednesday morning to pray for students and faculty. (Photo by Paul McEntire)
The football season may seem a lot longer at the University of Central Oklahoma this fall if charges are filed against six as yet unnamed members of the football team for using a stolen credit card. The UCO campus police reports show that on or around Sept. 1 a student's VISA card was stolen, and almost $7,000 was charged to it. Campus police allege there are presently seven suspects in the case, six of whom are members of the UCO football team. UCO Police Lt. Ed Forbes said the case broke last week. "This all culminated on Sept. 4," Forbes said. "We took the information and contacted the district attorney then." A suspect was attempting to use the card at a local store and it failed to clear, Forbes said. The store called the cardholder and determined the card had been stolen.
Forbes said no one had been taken into custody, but arrests may be forthcoming. "I definitely expect some prosecutions out of this," Forbes said. Police records show the suspects charged almost $7000 and only $2,700 in merchandise has been recovered. The card had a $10,000 limit. Forbes said the victim did not feel he was in any danger, but moved from his dorm room because his father expressed concern. "Nobody's made any threats," Forbes said. It may be some time before the paper trail can be traced and charges filed, Forbes said. "It will probably take two weeks, but it could take 30 days depending on the businesses involved," Forbes said. UCO Sports Information Director Mike Kirk said the players involved could be cut from the team. "No charges have been filed to this point," Kirk said. "If and when felony charges are filed that will be cause for immediate suspension."
Financial aid blames understaffing for delays on grants, loan money By Marcia Benedict and Larry Rogers Staff Writers
Enemies seem to be made every semester at the University of Central Oklahoma when financial-aid personnel and college students battle over deadlines and applications for federal grants and loans. Employee turnover and the lack of adequate staffing during June—the busiest time of the year for the department—are blamed for some of the delays, said financial-aid director Sheila Fugett. "There are a lot of students who are experiencing delays through no fault of their own," Fugett said. Assistant Director, Yvonne Maxwell left the department in late May, and counselor Marilyn Schwarz left in mid-June, said a spokesperson for the personnel office. Schwarz was responsible for the processing of the social security numbers from 0-441, or approximately one fourth of the 8,000 applications for aid the department receives each year. Four counselors handle all the applications received, and they're not enough, Fugett said. "I'd like to have six, but there isn't enough money or space," she said. The department has been notified that the area currently occupied by sectioning will be converted into more office space for financial aid. Sectioning will be moved to another part of the administration building, Fugett said. Plans are underway to update the computer system in the department, she said. "What we have now is primitive compared to what some schools have."
We have a huge stack of documents that we can't do anything with because we don't know who they're for. —Sheila Fugett Financial Aid Director
Another problem students have with financial aid is "a fear of letting go of their paperwork," Fugett said. "They're afraid to put anything in that drop-box for fear it will get lost." Students do have a legitimate concern, Fugett said. In past semesters paperwork was lost, but a tracking process has eliminated a lot of that type of problem. The box is emptied three or four times a day. The paperwork goes to a staff member who sorts and dates the materials, and is then given to a clerk for computer entry, Fugett said. She urges students to make sure their social security numbers and addresses are on every document they turn in. "We have a huge stack of documents that we can't do anything with because we don't know who they're for." Fugett said even though her department writes instructions for students to follow, most students don't seem to read the material. "We spend a lot of time writing procedures for students to read, and it's =fortunate when we hear, 'Why didn't you tell me?' and we did, they just didn't take the time to really read it," Fugett said. Students also need to be aware of financial aid deadlines and meet them, she said.
"Some of our students waited until the 17th of May to mail it, and even though they did mail it, funny things can happen at the post office," she said. Fugett said approximately 1100 students applied for federal grants and loans in January, and received award letters in May. "We started communicating with those students in April and they received their award letters as early as May, so if students could just finish the paperwork earlier, so could we," Fugett said. "Keep in mind, as we start processing a new year, we're still processing the current year which doesn't end until the summer session," Fugett said. Alice Strong, director of the Guaranteed Student Loan Program in Oklahoma, said when students fill out financial aid applications and estimate their income, inconsistencies can occur. Fugett said financial aid applications require concrete information, and a student should not leave any line blank. "The financial aid process is very complex and some components seem unnecessary, but it all must be done because of federal requirements. If a student doesn't provide us with the correct information, the process is stalled," Fugett said. Fugett said the financial aid office receives letters and complaints from students and realizes the need for some improvements. "I'll admit there are problems, but our job isn't to see how much money a student cannot get, it's finding out how much a student can get," Fugett said, "without the students, there would be no need for us." Fall disbursement of grants is scheduled for Oct. 2, Fugett said. V