Campaign '92 pages 2 and 3
University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY October 15, 1992
The Student Voice Since 1903
America vote NASA looks for alien life GOLDSTONE, Calif. (AP) — Just what are the odds NASA's 10-year search for alien civilizations will find intelligent life on other planets? "Some believe our chances are good. Others are skeptical. But no one really knows," said Edward C. Stone, director of the space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. NASA marked Columbus Day on Monday by switching on radio telescopes in California's Mojave Desert and at the Arecibo Obser vatory in Puerto Rico.
Earthquake rocks Egypt CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Aftershocks kept the people of Cairo on edge today while workers dug into scores of ruined buildings looking for more victims from an earthquake that killed at least 398 and injured thousands. Monday's quake caused casualties in half of Egypt's 26 provinces, but most were in the Cairo region, authorities said. The quake, which measured 5.9 on the Richter scale, was centered about 20 miles southwest of the capital.
Flag ruled WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court today refused to strip away the free-speech protections of those who bum or deface the American flag as a political protest. Rejecting without comment an invitation to overturn its previous rulings, the court turned down a bid to revive a Texas ban on flagburning.
Fair, rally to encourage students to register, vote By Lisa Craddock Student Writer
Vote America, a rally sponsored to encourage University of Central Oklahoma students to vote in the upcoming election, will be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 21, in UCO's Centennial Square. "The fair is to increase the number of voters in the upcoming Nov. 3 election and to help UCO students to become more aware of the power of one vote," said Joacquin Stevens, president of the UCO Student Government Association. Information and registrars will be available to help students either register to vote or switch their party affiliation in time for the presidential election, said Stevens. To register a person must be
at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Oklahoma. Registration must be completed in person. Students can also participate in a mock presidential election by either voting for President George Bush, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton or Independent Ross Perot. Students can vote between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the fair and should bring UCO identification to vote. SGA will tabulate and then announce the results. Free refreshments will be served to the students at noon. Stevens will then present a speech, "One Vote Can Make a Difference." The fair is sponsored by the UCO SGA, the Black Student Association and the UCO Multicultural Center. For more information, contact Stevens at ext. 3337.
Cellist George Johnson performs at President George Nigh's Inaugural Symphony Concert Tuesday night. (Photo by Mike Simons)
A clear winner? who won the debate? By Roy Howe Staff Writer
Do the presidential debates really matter as to the outcome Nov. 3? Only in the event that a candidate makes a mistake and damages himself, three University of Central Oklahoma professors agreed. "Watching the debates is like watching the bullfights," said John Drew Mason, assistant professor of political science. "People go to see the bull get killed, just as they go to car races to see crashes," he said. "No one crashed," Mason said concerning Sunday's presidential debates, "but by Bush announcing his appointment of Jim Baker, former secretary of state, as his economic czar, that's an indication that his campaign is in disarray," he said.
Political Science professors Louis Furmanski and John George both agree that no damaging mistakes were made in the first debate and that style is dominating the debates rather than substance. "Sometimes the debates are judged on mistakes and nobody made any bad mistakes," George said. "They represented their parties well," said Furmanski. Concerning character, Furmanski and George both declared Perot the more enthusiastic.
"Although at one point he did say some things directed at the issues. I expected Perot to throw in earthy, clever sayings," George said. "That's his style.
Declaring any candidate the victor in Sunday's debate depends on whether you judge them on style or substance Furmanski said. "If you had to pin me down, Perot scored more points," he said. "He came across as the Texas good-ol'-boy. He threw a few jokes in there and made the debate good entertainment," Furmanski said. "Perot came across as the "Perot swayed the most more personal of the three," people," George said, explaining Furmanski said. "He has a that people surveyed before and down-home, folksy style. He after the debate showed an made it clear that he wasn't a increased interest in the politician and that is to his independent candidate. benefit — he isn't one of 'them' "According to those polled, and that seems to explain his Clinton lost one percentage popularity," he said. point, Bush lost four percentage
points and Perot gained nine percentage points. "He (Perot) was the one who gained the most from the debate," George said. In the past, judging the presidential candidates by debate has possibly cost more than one politician his chance for election — both by their knowledge and by mistakes "It probably propelled (John F.) Kennedy into the presidency," Mason said. "Kennedy revealed himself as (Richard) Nixon's equal in knowledge and preparation." "In order for these debates to sway many votes, someone is going to have to screw-up like (Gerald) Ford did in the '76 debates," George said. "Ford made the statement that the Soviet Union wasn't controlling Poland and (Jimmy) Carter jumped on it like a duck on a junebug," he said.