University of Central Oklahoma
TUESDAY October 8, 1991
The Student Voice Since 1903
RHA on hold; funds frozen Court rules poster not obscene OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—An attorney for a doctor found innocent of an obscenity charge filed because of an explicit poster in the window of an AIDS clinic says the posters may not go back up immediately. "I would say that prudence says we not put those posters back up until we get some input from the city," said Micheal Salem, the attorney for Dr. Larry Prater. Prater was accused of a misdemeanor obscenity charge because of two controversial safe-sex posters that were displayed at the clinic in northwest Oklahoma City.
Tinker in running for new Air Force computer center OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—The U.S. Air Force may select Tinker Air Force Base to be home to a new regional computer center that would create about 100 jobs, officials say. Sens. David Boren and Don Nickles jointly announced Thursday that Tinker has a "very good chance" of being selected by the Air Force as one of five new regional computer centers for the nation. While no official announcement has been made, the senators said conversations with Gen. Merrell McPeak, Air Force chief of staff, convinced them that Tinker will be chosen as the new Midwest Regional Computer Center.
By Shene Murphy
Student Writer
Resident Hall Association was informed during an emergency meeting that it was operating under an invalid constitution, said Kay Zoellner, president of RHA." Because RHA needs a quorum to make any decisions, the group has been currently put on hold as a campus organzation. Hall residents have paid activity fees for RHA activities. "We are not allowed to sponsor any of our planned events scheduled for this semester, and we are totally cut off from using any funds, students may be asking for a refund," Zoellner said. The RHA was formed to improve residence halls, initiate programing, uphold and recommend hall policies, promote retention, and instill pride, said Zoellner. Because Murdaugh Hall did not hold a general election for hall representatives and Thatcher Hall is without a constitution, both halls are in violation of RHA's constitution. Article IV, section 4C of the RHA constitution reads: "There shall be four representatives chosen at large for each residence hall ... Each Residence Hall shall then choose its representatives in a general election for that respective Residence Hall by a simple majority vote." There was a lack of communication with the faculty and dorm concerning last years constitution, because of that we have confiscated the constitution, Austin Avery, Thatcher Hall resident said. "The reason we (Thatcher) are involved in RHA's problem is because of our advisors making final decisions for the hall," Avery said. We are making changes in our constitution at Thatcher, said Richard Bellotti, Assistant Head Resident. "It is going to take us two weeks to post our proposed constitution, one week for it to be approved by Dr. Ryan, one week to elect new representatives, and one week for organization," said Bellotti. V See RHA, page 12.
BSA plans Black Culture series
Study shows sex training needed WASHINGTON (AP)—A new study shows that teaching girls about sexuality and helping them be more assertive can reduce teen pregnancy. A report by Girls Inc., a leading youth organization, based its conclusions on a three-year study involving 750 girls ages 12-17 who participated in the educational programs. The study was conducted at Girls Inc. affiliates in Dallas, Memphis, Omaha and Wilmington, Del., where girls are at a higher than average risk of becoming pregnant. Girls 12-14 who participated in a program promoting parent-daughter communication aimed at delaying sexual activity, were half as likely to have sexual intercourse as girls who did not participate. See WORLD WRAP back page Pir7TPITRIKM.
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Shawnda Cloer (right), early childhood education major, comforts Savannah Owen at the UCO Child Study Center. Shannon fell and bumped her nose while playing. (Photo by Mike Simons)
Afrocentricity' to be discussed By Pam Thurman
Student Writer
In order to inform African-American students about themselves, the Black Student Association is sponsoring a Black Culture Night every Wednesday this semester. Bruce McGill, owner of Positive Images bookstore, will speak on the book "Afrocentricity" by Dr. Molefi K. Asante. BSA Vice President Kenneth Haynes read an article McGill had published in Ebony Tribune magazine concerning afrocentricity and decided to invite him to UCO. Haynes and BSA President Jeanette Smith located him through his bookstore. "We want to get away from the stereotype of one day in Africa, one or two days on the boat, and the rest of the time slaves in America," Haynes said. McGill, whose father was part of a nationalist organization that began in the
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We want to get away from the stereotype of one day in Africa, one or two days on the boat, and the rest of the time slaves in America. —Kenneth Haynes Black Student Association
1960's, was brought up with an awareness of his heritage. "I was shocked at the number of AfricanAmericans who had little information on who were the African-Americans who made history in this country," McGill said. "The service that I am offering to the students is knowledge concerning their cultural perspective. I don't pretend to be an expert. I'm here to do what I can," McGill said. "What I am doing is a foundation laying exercise. This reading ("Afrocentricity")
will begin to give us some historical perspective from an African centered perspective," McGill said. The public education and university systems teach history from a European point of view and it is held as the only reality that exists, for example Columbus' discovery of America. This is an insult to the millions of people who were indigenous to this part of the world. There is also evidence that the Africans traded with the Natives (American Indians) in 300 B.C., McGill said. "This is about the resurrection of a culture that the western civilization system of education/history has totally ignored," McGill said. Everyone is welcome to attend. "BSA is here for everyone, we don't discriminate," Haynes said. The discussion of "Afrocentricity" will be held in the Comanche Room, 414, of the University Center at 7:00 p.m. For further information contact the BSA at Ext. 2580. V