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Oct. 14, 2008 The Student Voice col s the ersitv or ('enti -al 01.hhoma Since 1903
Enrollment down, but only by a handful of students Percentage of Total Headcount - Fall 2008
F
rom 2007, student enrollment has decreased, but only by a handful of people. In 2007, enrollment was 15,753. This year, enrollment is 15,724. Over the past five years, enrollment has increased by 0.9 percent. -page 3
Help for stress With midterms and quizzes in full swing, it's not hard to believe some students are feeling overwhelmed. UCO's Student Counseling Center will sponsor a free "Kick Test Anxiety Workshop" from noon until 1 p.m. today in Room 419 of the Nigh University Center. Students will learn how to cope with stress, fear and anxiety in the new Stress Reduction Clinic. Page 3
UCOSA meets to discuss plans The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association responded to concerns of the student body by creating a set of goals for the 08 — 09 academic year. During the Oct. 8 UCOSA meeting, cabinet members announced the goals they plan to accomplish on campus and how they intend to implement them. Page 3
Features Appreciating what we have This past week you may have noticed a great number of shacks around Broncho Lake. These shacks consisted of 26 teams of students who spent the week living as if they were homeless. Page 5
Bronchos win 41-7 UCO football stole the wind from The Storm in a 41-7 blowout Saturday night, putting the Bronchos at 3-4 for the season.
-Page 10
Arrests Gold-medalist continues training made in student's murder By Andrew Knittle Senior Reporter
Although the case has taken a few twists and turns in the eight-plus weeks since the murder of 20-year-old UCO student Anthony Parks in Del City, police seem to be close to rounding up a trio of suspects in the July 31 slaying. Over t h e Quashay Waters weekend, Del City police arrested Anthony Hopkins, 30, and Quashay Waters, 21, booking the pair on first-degree murder and robbery charges. The pair was transported to the Oklahoma County jail to await trial, police said. Another man, 21-year-old Hardy Robinson, is believed to have driven the getaway vehicle and police are currently searching for him. According to police, Robinson will also face murder and robbery charges. According to police reports, Parks and his girlfriend were robbed as they sat in an SUV outside of the girlfriend's residence. At some point after the robbery Parks was shot and later died from his wounds, police said. Just days earlier, authorities believed Nicco Barnett, an 18-year-old Oklahoma City man and the suspected killer of exotic dancer Vanessa Swaissi, had killed Parks on the same night that Swaissi was murdered. Barnett was later cleared in the Parks murder after further investigation, but he still faces murder and robbery charges in the death of Swaissi, police said. Parks, who grew up in Del City, was a performance major and dreamed of a career as a jazz musician, David Hanan, associate director of bands at UCO, said Monday. "He was a good player," Hanan said. "For me, he was a hard worker. Always prepared, always ready to go to work."
see Arrests, page 5
by vista photographerChris Albers
Two-time Paralympian gold-medalist Roderick Green trains Tuesday in front of Hamilton Field house. UCO is an official training ground for the Paralympics.
UCOSA Tobacco Forum What? UCOSA and Student Body President John BobbSemple are offering students, facultyand staffthe opportunity to voice their opinion on a proposed tobacco ban for the campus at a town hall forum. When? Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. Where? Heritage Room, Nigh University Center Following the forum students will be able to vote on the proposed ban via UConnect from Oct. 20-22.
by Vista photographer Chris Albers
Student Body President John Bobb-Semple held an executive meeting Wednesday with his executive cabinet to talk about initiatives through the remainder of the school year.
Wellness Center given $500 By Laura Hoffert Senior Reporter
The Southwest College Health Association awarded a $500 grant to UCO in recognition for leadership in promoting campus health during the association's annual meeting, which was held Oct. 5 through Oct. 7 in Austin, Texas. The $500 grant, which was awarded for Best Practice or Program for a Student Group, will be used for tobacco programs including prevention, termination and policies for its usage on campus grounds. UCO Student Robin Chipman nominated the Community Health Club; she serves as the Community Health Club Senator for the UCO Student Association. At the meeting, individuals who promote and provide their university or college with health
care programs met to discuss their successes and present programs to illustrate how their programs help students. The Wellness . Center staff officially launched UCO Healthy - Campus in March 2008. The Assistant Director of Fitness and Health Promotion Danielle Dill was elected to the office of SWCHA Secretary/ Treasurer. "Jo McGuffin, Director of University Health Services nominated [me] for the Secretary/Treasure position," Dill said. "There was an online voting opportunity for SWCHA members as well has a traditional paper pencil vote during the SWCHA annual meeting," she said. Dill won against a contestant from the University of TexasTyler and will now be in charge of preparing SWCHA
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budget reports and delivering an annual financial report to the membership at the annual meeting. Dill traveled with other Wellness Center employees Tim Woods, the Health Education coordinator, James Allen, the assistant director of Health Promotion and Programs, Jo McGuffin, the director of University Health Services and Renee Francis, a registered nurse to present a program entitled "Leveraging Resources for Early and Sustainable Campus Impact." The presentation described how UCO's Healthy Campus 2010 could be used as a model for both large universities and small colleges. The members described how creating partnerships inside the campus and throughout the community are beneficial to everyone involved.