9EIELJE YISTg November 15, 1983
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Vol. 82, No. 21
Call for special session 'first step' says Lillard
Vista photo by Daniel Smith
End of the line— Bruce Vann crosses the goal-line after his 85-yard touchdown run in the first
quarter of Saturday's game with Langston at Wantland Stadium. (Story on page 8.)
By Matthew Driskill and Mike Sherman CSU President Bill Lillard said Gov. George Nigh's call for a special session of the state legislature "looked like the first step toward solving the state's money problems." Nigh called for the special session attempt to solve the state's budget woes Monday at a press conference at the State Capitol. Lillard speculated that a sales tax and perhaps a gasoline tax will be implemented to battle the low state accounts. "I think they'll probably increase the sales tax and the gasoline tax," Lillard said. "Then I think they might look into a tax on loophole items, like beer and cigerattes." "Hopefully we can stop the decline in revenue with the passage of some of these measures," Lillard said. "Then we would hope that once the decline is stopped, the money raised by the new taxes would help to increase state funds " Lillard took the lead among educators in calling for help from the governor and the legislature. He led a group of presidents of the regional universities in asking
for a special session last week at a press conference at CSU. State officials had earlier estimated that the short-fall of revenues would mean a 16 percent loss of funds for state agencies and instituitions. Lillard said CSU would lose $5 million. This would threaten evening classes, summer school and as many as 75 full-time faculty members. Lillard has refuted the notion that universities should "tighten their belts." The president has said that CSU is budgeted for the same money in '83-'84 that was earmarked in '82-'83.
McCourry stresses communication
Candidates united on tax issue
By MaryGaye Franklin Staff Reporter Candidates for the student senate officer elections were unamimous in their support for a tax increase to preserve the programs and classes at CSU, but differed in their opinions of what should be done with the funds. With elections being held Wednesday, the candidates had a chance to air their views at a forum on Monday. They later spoke to the student senate giving their opinions on some of the major issues facing them if they are elected. On the issue of budget cuts presidential candidate, Simon Okonjo said if there is a cut in the university budget, he would favor other measures being taken to prevent programs from being cut. "The university says that there will have to be a tax increase in
order to fund education," Okonjo said. "I am in favor of that increase, but if they do not pass a tax increase I would not be opposed to paying more in fees and tuition to keep the current programs such as summer school and evening classes from being cut out." Incumbent president Joe McCourry said that he would like to see a tax increase if it was to be allocated specifically for education. "The legislature has done this in the past they say the money is for one thing and it ends up going for another," McCourry said. "It is very important that we keep that money going directly to public education." "I think cutting out night classes and summer school would be a disaster. They may eliminate programs down the line but I am against them cutting out one
In this issue. . . Regent supports take increase...page 3 Zeno: Bronchos man in the clutch...page 7 Bronchos gridders win 15th straight...page 8
whole part of the curriculum. I can see them possibly cutting out summer school but not summer school and night classes both." Vice presidential candidates Doug Heaney and John Buttry both echoed the views of the presidential candidates in saying that they would be in favor of a tax increase. "We are an educational institution and if we cut summer and night school we would be cutting our own throats, it would be detrimental all around." Buttry said. "I think if cuts have to be made we should look for some extraneous programs that are not really accomplishing a lot." "I think that one way we could save money would be to drop personal health as a requirement," Heaney said. "The last time I took a health course was in junior high. I don't think it is fitting that a university should tell people how to brush their teeth." Each of the candidates agrees that something needs to be done about the parking lots on campus. They were all opposed to a parking fee being charged students unless the money could be earmarked specifically for parking. "I think that if the university is not going to pave the parking lots then they should at least make an
effort to maintain them better," Heaney said. Okonjo proposes that the senate publish a newsletter in order to bridge the communication gap between the senate and the student body. The newsletter would explain what was happening in the senate and how it affected the students. McCourry said he would like to make an arrangement with The Vista to have a permanent senate section in the paper one day per week in an effort to increase communication between the senate and students. Heaney followed along with McCourry's views, "The only way we are going to be able to reach the students is through The Vista," Heaney said. "I would like to see The Vista run spotlight stories about the senators so that the students would know who the senators are," Buttry said. "I would also be in favor of setting up a senate booth in the University Center with a member of the senate there throughout the day. We would make ourselves visible so that people could come up to us and discuss things with us and find out what we are doing. We could establish a rapport along those lines with the students.
Dr. Bill Lillard
Student elections Wednesday By MaryGaye Franklin Staff Reporter Student Senate elections will be held Wednesday in the University Center and the Liberal Arts building for the offices of president, vice president and secretary-treasurer. Joe McCourry and Simon Okonjo are running for the office of president. McCourry is the current student senate president. Doug Heaney and John Buttry are the candiates for vice-president. Helen McNulty is running uncontested for the office of secretary-treasurer. Polling booths will be located in the foyer of the liberal arts auditorium and on the first floor of the university center in the activities corner. The hours will be 8:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m.. This will mark the first year that there has been more than one polling place. "In the past the voter turnout has been about 600 but with the addition of a voting place in the LA building we hope to have a turn-out of over 1,000," McCourry said.