The Vista October 3, 1991

Page 1

University of Central Oklahoma

THURSDAY October 3, 1991

The Student Voice Since 1903

Grid player suspended Bomb destroys anti-tax office

By Penny Owen

Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—An explosive device that authorities speculated could have been a pipe bomb went off early Monday in the offices of the Oklahoma Taxpayers Union, a group active in efforts to repeal H.B. 1017. No one was in the office at the time of the 2:40 a.m. explosion and no one was injured. "They've done everything they can to keep us off the ballot—now they've bombed us," said Marie Gafford, a volunteer. "We might as well be in Russia. We'd get better protection."

Trump examines Miss America NEW YORK (AP)—Marla Maples told People magazine that her engagement to Donald Trump fissled not long after he ogled America's reigning beauty queen Carolyn Sapp. Trump, 45, and Maples, 27, were watching the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, NJ., on Sept 14 when he demanded, "I want to see the bodies that won the swimsuit contest," People reported in its Oct.7 issue. Trump and his buddies "were sitting around saying, 'She's got a great body! ' and 'It's about time they got a good-looking one!'" Maples told People.

"He still thinks it's cool to act like a ladies' man, but I don't think it's very respectful," Maples said. "I deserve better than that."

Academic skills falling behind WASHINGTON (AP)—American children are about 20 years behind in their knowledge of math, reading, writing and science, educatiors said this week in a series of reports. The Education Department said that, regardless of age, pupils lost ground in achievement levels in math, reading, writing and science between the early 1970s and 1980s. By 1990, they were back at the same level as in the 1970s, it said. A report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress said just over 60 percent of children in grades four, eight and 12 can perform simple math problems using basic skills.

See WORLD WRAP back page

Sophomore Jan Spivey, student in Larry Hefner's Drawing I class, sketches the the campus buildings as one of her assignments. (Photo by Mark Zimmerman)

Nobel Prize winner to address students at Cherokee Room By Marcia Benedict

Staff Writer

Students will have an opportunity to hear a Nobel Prize recipient speak at the University of Central Oklahoma Oct. 6. James M. Buchanan received the Alfred Nobel Memorial Prize in 1986 for his work in the field of economic sciences. Buchanan also has developed the idea of public choice economics, a mixture of economics and political science. "We will benefit from hearing a nobel laureate speak, especially since he is the father of public choice theory," said Dr. Frank Wert, acting dean of the college of business. Public choice theory refers to how governments make decisions after reviewing the circumstances, Wert said. "His work bridges the gap between how private and public decisions are made," Wert said. "It is significant that Buchanan's work is influential enough to filter down into the basic Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics courses," he said. "The Calculus of Consent," "The Limits of Liberty" and "Freedom in Constitutional Contract: Perspectives of a Political Eco-

James M. Buchanan

nomist" are among the books Buchanan has written. Buchanan now serves as the advisory general director for the study of public choice at George Mason University. The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 6, in the Cherokee Room of the University Center. V

A 17-year-old University of Central Oklahoma football player has been suspended from the team and faces felony charges for his part in the Labor Day theft of a UCO student's VISA and the two-day, $6,900 shopping spree that followed. The case against the player, whose name is beng witheld due to his age, was taken to the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office Tuesday by UCO campus police. Charges recommended are one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, which carries up to a 10-year sentence and three counts of unlawful use of a credit card, with up to a two-year sentence for each count. Campus police expect to press charges against four other UCO football players later this week. Police said they now have confessions by at least three football players, plus enough supporting evidence to prosecute on accessory charges. However, they will hold out for more proof in order to cinch felony charges against them. Any other football player charged with a felony will also face immediate suspension, said Sports Information Director Mike Kirk. "I've got enough to charge people and put them in jail," said Campus Police U. Ed Forbes. "I just need reports from The Gap, Champs and Wal-Mart." The delay in turning the remaining suspects over to the District Attorney exists because three retail stores have not filed a report with police; not because of a wait for football season to be over, Forbes said. Police want the store reports in order to make the forgery charges to stick. "I don't give a crap about football," Forbes said. "The issue here is somebody stole a credit card and charged $6,000. It don't matter to me if they play football or not, or how many games they win. It's being held off because of three stores." Nearly $2,000 was spent at the Wal-Mart in Edmond, but because the card cleared authorization at the time of purchase, the store did not lose money and therefore has not filed a report. A report from Wal-Mart is forthcoming, however, which will be added to the 315-page evidence report and taken to the District Attorney, Forbes said. Credit card owner William Moulton said he intends to press theft charges against the suspects. His VISA had a $10,000 credit limit, which was wide open when the card was taken from his son's dormitory room over Labor Day. If necessary, campus police will solicit the help of the U.S. Secret Service to secure the retail store reports needed, Forbes said. The Secret Service assisted in compiling case evidence, and is available if needed further. "I'm about two inches short of getting this thing over with," Forbes said. "People are wanting to see this filed, but I'm in a snag." V


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