THE October 13, 1987 Vol. 86, No. 13
,
ITISTA
Tuesday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Peters survives murder attempt
Photographic Services: Dan Smith
Clay Southard talks to reporters at a press conference held at the Wantland Hall Annex after helping to capture a gunman who tried to kill Dr. Virgina Peters, professor of Health and Physical Education.
By Mary Butler Dr. Virginia Peters, professor of Health and Physical Education escaped injury Friday afternoon after a former CSU student entered her office in Wantland Hall, aimed a gun at her head and pulled the trigger. The weapon, described by CSU police chief Bobby Roberts as a .22 caliber revolver with a 6 to 8 inch barrel, misfired. The gunman was identified as Gary Bartholomew Foster, 41, 1139 NW 36th, Oklahoma City, by Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Ray Elliot. Foster walked into Peter's office at approximately 12:30 p.m. carrying a paper sack and wearing a gold motorcycle helmet that had been covered with a collage of newspaper clippings. He asked Peters repeatedly if her name was "Peterson." After she insisted that her name was not Peterson, Foster pointed the gun at her head and pulled the trigger. When the gun misfired, Peters pushed Foster aside and fled her office. She pulled the office door closed behind her and called for help.
Senate retreat discarded, final AIDS bill approved By Elaine Coleman The Student Association Senate voted down a budget proposal during its Oct. 12 meeting to appropriate $1000 for the funding of a Student Senate retreat. By a vote of 19 opposed, five in favor and four abstentions, the senators voted down the proposal presented by Student Senate President Jeff Shilling. The purpose of the retreat, planned to be held at Lake Texoma, was to have a workshop to instruct senators on legislative procedures in an informal atmosphere. "The purpose of the retreat is to bring us together and unite us," said Sen. Lisa Coen. "I feel it's important."
Sen. Colleen Kavanaugh, however, didn't feel the money would be well spent for this purpose. "If we had a very large budget, I could see how this would be beneficial," said Kavanaugh. "We don't need to spend $1000 to get to know each other. We could just get pizza." The Student Senate also voted to support a resolution calling for the dedication of an AIDS Awareness Week. The resolution encourages participation by all persons associatied with CSU. Sen. T. Lee Allen, author of the resolution, presented the bill to the senate. "The purpose of this bill is to get out the newest and most ac-
curate information available," said Allen. Allen also pointed out that the resolution was somewhat vague, on purpose, to allow every campus organization to determine what AIDS information they felt was appropriate for their area.
Clay Southard, a CSU physical education major, arrived late for class in Wantland Hall and saw Foster climbing out of Peter's office window. "I thought he was stealing something so I grabbed him. He got away but I chased him for about a quarter mile. Another student knocked him down and took the gun away," said Southard.
Steve Thomas, a CSU student from Midwest City, tackled Foster on the lawn of Mitchell Hall. During the struggle a shot was fired. "The gun discharged while he was tryng to get it out of his clothing. It was an old blue .22 caliber revolver," said Thomas. University police arrived on the scene two minutes after receiving a call that there was a disturbance in Wantland Hall. The officers saw the struggle and had the suspect in custody five minutes after the intial complaint. Foster was transported to the Oklahoma county jail where he is being held on two counts of assault with intent to kill and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, according to Elliot. The CSU police department is
conducting the follow-up investigation. "We're tying up some lose ends. The investigation has been difficult because Foster is not willing to speak to us. He's standing behind his constitutional rights," said Roberts. Formal charges will be filed against Foster on Tuesday by Oklahoma County District Attorney Robert Macy. Foster, a 1971 graduate of CSU, was arrested in March 1986 on a first degree manslaughter charge in connection with the shooting death of James Peterson, an Oklahoma City man who lived near Foster's home. Peterson died on March 12 from a gunshot wound inflicted by a .38 caliber revolver Foster was carrying. Foster alleges that he fired the gun in self defense after Peterson attacked and beat him outside the Peterson family home in Oklahoma City. Charges against Foster were dropped in April of 1986 due to insufficient evidence. There were no witnesses. Don Deason, assistant district attorney said in a 1986 The Daily Oklahoman story that it was "a really weird case." Although a motive for Foster's actions at CSU last Friday have not been determined, Roberts said that the newspaper clippings found attached to the motorcycle helmet are significant. "They will definitely help establish a motive," said Roberts. Roberts declined to comment on the content of the clippings, but a search of newspaper articles in The Daily Oklahoman from March 1986 to June 1986 revealed at least a dozen articles concerning the Peterson killing.
Twenty one voted in favor of the resolution, two opposed and two took abstentions. It will now go to Student Association President Jeff Shilling and, if approved, will go on to CSU president Bill Lillard for his approval. In other business, Shilling announced his approval of the AIDS nondiscrimination policy. The resolution will now go to Lillard for approval.
Court takes up quorum issue By Barbara Jaramillo Student writer
The CSU Supreme Court met Friday to hear Allen vs. Shilling, Killion and Aynes. The case brought before the court challenged the conducting of senate business during the first three meetings of the semester. Specifically, the case asks for a ruling concerning how many senators must be present to officially conduct business. Shilling stated at the hearing
that the Student Association followed precedents in regard to its interpretation of Robert's Rule of Order. Robert's Rule of Order says that unless there is a special rule on the subject, the quorum of every assembly is a majority of all the members of the assembly. The senate in the past has interpreted the rule to mean a majority of official members must be present at the time of the meeting, not the majority of the total
number of alloted seats that the body can sit. Allen said during the hearing, however, that just because the senate done it one way in the past does not make it right. The court is expected to release a decision on the case after the Fall Break. If the case is decided in favor of Allen, legislation passed by the body during the first three meetings could be declared null and void.
Photographic Services: Dan Smith
Five CSU coeds have entered the race for Homecoming Queen. The five candidates are: (front, left to right) Kristi Saul, senior Sociology major and Jannie Treleven, junior Management major; (Back, left to right) Melissa Parker, senior Oral Communications major; Lynn Gravitt, senior Public Relations major and April Eck, senior History major.