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'Tis the season to 'Glow
The Student Voice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since 1903
A 24 HOUR LIBRARY?
November 29, 2007
UCO receives Vanguard Award
by Nelson Solomon
by Hannah Jackson
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
UCO will again welcome in the holidays with the annual WinterGlow festival today at 7 p.m., immediately following the City of Edmond's Festival of Lights in downtown Edmond. The festival will start with the Presidential Tree Lighting Ceremony near Broncho Lake, followed by WinterGlow events in the Nigh University Center, according to the official Web site. Following the lighting ceremony, seasonal games and activities will be offered in the Nigh University Center, including karaoke caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, craft making at Santa's workshop, marshmallow roasting and caricature portraits, among many others, according to the press release. There will also be a coloring contest, gingerbread contest, house decoration contest and office decoration contest, according to the official Web site. Events in the University Center will run from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. "There is also a special dance this year afterwards, starting at 9:00 p.m., called AfterGlow," said Courtney Campbell, WinterGlow committee chair. "The dance will be mainly for the college students." The dance will be held on the second floor of the University Center, according to Campbell. Free pictures with Santa will be available through Taylor Made photography with the donation of a new and unwrapped toy, which will be donated to the Edmond Hope Center, according to the press release. WinterGlow events and activities are all free and open
see GLOW, page 4
estimates these costs to be around $10,000. For this upcoming trial run, McNeely explained that the library is using a line item in their budget to pay for the extra hours the employees put in. During his research, Hines also looked to other Oklahoma schools as models. He primarily focused on the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. "They're a little bit larger than us, but that is the direction that UCO is moving," said Hines. McNeely also did her research and found that OU's library is open 119 hours per week whereas OSU's library is open 117 hours per week. She noted that just by extending library hours to 2 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday evenings, UCQ's open library house would increase from
UCO received the Vanguard Award Nov. 19, at the 17th annual Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Awards Recognition Banquet at the Oklahoma City Marriott Hotel. The award is new to Keep Oklahoma Beautiful acknowledgments. It recognizes an individual, business or organization that embraces innovative environmental technologies in support of a sustainable planet. "There has been a combination of staff, faculty and student efforts on various projects," said Lane G. Perry III, Assistant to the executive vice president of UCO. UCO received the award because it has become 100 percent green energy dependent through wind power, producing and using bio-diesel fuel, making energy efficiency improvements to the physical plant. "Along with the staff of the physical plant, student representation has been instrumental in the development of the on-campus recycling program launched in fall 2007," Perry said. Along with recycling, the campus is beginning to incorporate paperless processes, such as online syllabi, to become more efficient. The process to be completely green energy efficient began in early 2002. UCO and Johnson Controls partnered under a "Performance Contract" which provided the school with the opportunity to replace many outdated components on campus and save money over the period of the contract, Perry said In early 2006 the campus invested in 100 percent wind/ green energy with Edmond Electric and the Municipal Power Authority, Perry
see LIBRARY, page 3
see VANGUARD, page 3
by Vista photographer Chris Albers
Student use the internet Wednesday at the Max Chambers Library. The library will be open 24 hours from Dec. 3 to Dec. 15, for a trial period. by Aaron Wright Managing Editor
"It all started with a campaign promise," said UCOSA President Jason Hines. The promise he referenced was his plan to have the Max Chambers Library on campus be open 24 hours. "It was a big, bold statement back then," said Hines. He now sees these extended hours as a reality with the upcoming trial run. From Dec. 3 at 7:30 a.m. to Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., the library will not shut its doors. Staff members have volunteered to work the late nights for either rescheduled time or time and a half pay during those two weeks. No student workers have been asked to work, extra hours, given the timing of the trial run. "We talked to our benefits office and they recommended that we not use students over their 20 hours," said Dr.
Bonnie McNeely, executive director of Max Chambers Library. "It's a stressful time for them." The number of students in the library will be counted every hour. This will help the library staff, UCOSA and administrators see if a 24 hour library is actually needed. Hines said that the detectors located at each main door have counters in them to keep numbers accurate. Many prior meetings led to the implementation of the test run. Hines explained that the summer following his election, he traveled to UCO from his hometown in Marlow, Okla. every Wednesday to meet with people regarding the extended hours in the library. He met with administrators such as Dr. Cynthia Rolfe, Dr. Kathryn Gage, Mr. Josh Overocker and McNeely. Hines stressed that he didn't want the administrators to feel that he was trying to
force them to put his idea into action. His goal was to work with them. The tough questions started when the majority of students returned in the fall, Hines said. Many people began approaching him and asking questions. In turn, he had to begin asking the more difficult questions such as costs and suppliers of the funding. He needed to evaluate the costs of security and extra staffing. The costs are the largest concern for McNeely. She said she believes that a change is ahead, but that change needs funding. For a 24-hour library, a third shift staff would be required. A new security system may also need to be put in on all library doors if they choose to leave only certain floors open. These doors would have alarms that would sound if opened. They would also receive new locks. McNeely
International Student Council elects new officers by Chris Albers Photo Editor
Fourteen representatives were in attendance as The International Student Council (ISC) held elections Monday night at their last pizza-supplied meeting of the 2007 school year. The 1SC, a council comprised of representatives from organizations that make up the International Student Association, said farewell to some of their student leadership and welcomed the newly elected officials that will help lead the council into the 2008 school year. Among the newly elected officials was Khusroo Igbal, representative from the Pakistan Student Association who ran unopposed for President of the ISC and
replaced Jonathan Nazari. "I'm very happy", Igbal said, shortly after receiving the ceremonial gavel from the now former president. One of his main focuses as president of the 1SC, he said, will be encouraging international students to apply for the scholarships available to them. "If possible I'd like to make more scholarships available to international students", Igbal said. According to Igbal less than two percent of all scholarships available to UCO students are geared towards the universities international students, who pay almost three times the amount for tuition that Oklahoma residents pay. Among other newly elected officials was John FloresHidones, from Peru, who
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defeated Victoria Adigan, from the Nigeria Student Association, for vice-president. Kaori Sakamoto, from Japan, ran unopposed for secretary. Albana Gjata, from Albania, ran unopposed and kept the position of treasurer. Andi Kabichi, also from Albania, ran unopposed and remained senator. And finally Stafano Tarantini, from Italy, ran unopposed and moved from the parliamentarian to the public relations position. In a short speech before the elections, former president Nazari talked about his experiences as president of the ISC and commented on his pride for the organization declaring, "ISC is the best organization on campus!"
by Vista photographer Chris Albers
From left: Stafano Tarantini, Jonathan Nazari and Kaori Sakamoto count ballots for see ISC, page 3 ISC Vice-President outside the council meeting Monday night.
"God is a comic, playing to an audience that's afraid to laugh."
More columns to sink your teeth in Page 9
—Voltaire
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