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www.thevistaonline.corn
., The Student Voice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since
October 30, 2007
UCO EXPECTS TO MEET NCAA DEADLINE by Johnna Ray Contributing Writer
The internal investigation into NCAA allegations against the UCO football department is almost complete, UCO spokesman Charlie Johnson said last week. "[The investigation] is nearing its end and we will meet the deadline [for response] on Nov. 2," Johnson said. The university received notice of the allegations on Aug. 3, 2007 from the NCAA and initially responded with a two-week suspension of head coach Chuck Langston and an additional one-year ban from off-campus recruiting by the coach. Johnson said there is not a standard protocol to follow in a situation such as this, as it is "new territory" for the university. He added that the university has not been subject to an NCAA investigation prior to this one but that UCO President Roger Webb responded in a way that he felt was best, given the information he had at the time. The university received a letter around Oct. 26, 2006, prior to the Notice of Allegations from David Price, NCAA Enforcement vice president. The Oct. 26 letter indicated that "the Committee on Infractions reviews information concerning possible major violations either through the summary disposition process or an inperson hearing," according to Price's Aug. 2, 2007 letter. However, the letter said the summary disposition process currently was not appropriate and that the Committee expects Webb to attend the hearing in person and present his views on UCO's commitment to compliance. The notification letter also requested that a minimum number of other individuals attend the hearing. These names were not released by the university and were blotted out on a copy of the letter and Notice of Allegations available at newsok.com . Additionally, the letter said "it is anticipated that the
by Vista photographer Chris Albers
UCO football coach Chuck Langston walks along the sidelines Sept. 22 at his first game back since his two-week suspension. Langston, along with the football department, is still under investigation for allegations of providing unauthorized services to potential recruits. Committee on Infractions will consider [the university's] response during its December 7-9, 2007, meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana." Brad Morelli, the university's legal counsel, and others held a meeting on Oct. 24 to discuss the investigation and anyprogress made atthatpoint. Johnson said more information regarding the findings of the investigation will be released once the NCAA has the oppor-
tunity to review the results. Regents have provided counsel in addition to Morelli. A third attorney has also assisted the university during the internal investigation, Johnson said. Langston has private counsel not provided by the university, he added. The athletes the NCAA said received benefits that are in opposition of bylaws are not targets of the investigation, but a few have been interviewed regarding the
allegations, Johnson said. "The allegations are toward the football department, not the athletes," he said. The NCAA alleged that the infractions began as early as Jan. 1, 2003 and continued through May 31, 2007, as individually listed in the 17-page notice accompanying the Aug. 2 letter. Among the list of infractions, which included more than $4,500 in institutional payments for a prospective
athlete's surgery prior to UCO enrollment, was an allegation that cash payments were made to Rose State College in Midwest City for remedial classes for UCO athletes by a source not recorded by RSC. "[RSC] handles payments the same way as [UCO] does, the same way as any college does," Keith Ogans, vice president for Business Affairs at RSC, said. Ogans further noted that RSC is not a target of the
allegations and that he feels there is no need for changes in the institution's policies regarding records of cash payments for courses, as cash payments are not unusual. Mike Kirk, a UCO Athletic Department spokesman, said he did not have any further information regarding the allegations or investigation than what was previously reported by other officials.
see NCAA, page 3
University of South Carolina loses 6 in house fire by AP Writer COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Students at the University of South Carolina returned to class Monday morning, many still waiting to learn the names of the classmates who were among seven people killed in a weekend beach house blaze. The home erupted into a storm of fire and smoke Sunday morning in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Six of the seven students killed attended the University of South Carolina; the other attended Clemson University. Six other South Carolina students in the house survived. Investigators believe the fire was accidental and that it started on a
deck, Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith said. Though students heard through word of mouth which students survived, the names of the victims had not been officially announced. At the university's Greek village Monday morning, a garnet and black banner with the school's mascot, a Gamecock, flew at half-staff alongside an American flag outside a fraternity house. Two black ribbons were wrapped around the columns of another house. Kaitlynn Forsyth, 20, a junior marketing major, said she learned about the fire while studying in the library Sunday night, and quickly went to the Internet to find out more. "1 seriously just sat there. It took everything not to cry," she said. "The
News Central Channel 6 Mon. through Thurs. at 5 p.m.
more we looked at stuff, my heart just sank. I had to go back to studying to fight off my tears. I just imagine it could have been anybody." The students had gathered at the home for the weekend to enjoy the fleeting beach weather. All that was left of the home Monday was a charred shell, and a burnedout car sat in the driveway, cordoned off with police tape. The fire struck sometime before 7 a.m. and burned completely through the first and second floors, leaving only part of the frame standing. The waterfront home — named "Changing Channels" — was built on stilts, forcing firefighters to climb a ladder onto the house's deck to
AP Photo
An early morning fire Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 ravaged the house occupied by more than a dozen college students on Sunday, killing seven and sending several more see FIRE, page 3 to a hospital.
"Fear is that little
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darkroom where negatives are developed." •
-Michael Pritchard
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