University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY November 30, 1995
The Student Voice Since 1903
Drilling sites to provide revenue source for UCO By Leslie Wakulich Staff Writer
New ground... UCO President George Nigh adresses students and faculty at the University Center groundbreaking Nov. 29. (Photo by Daniel Smith)
The newest addition to UCO's construction-ridden campus —a mammoth crane-like machine at the far north end of the parking lot near Wantland Stadium— would put some cash in the university's pocketbook. Lance Russel Oil and Gas Corp. has leased the space with hopes of reaching black gold and gas. The lot is the "best in this particular area," said Nick Widener, executive assistant to the vice president of Administration/Special Projects. The corporation has already paid UCO $35,000 for the drilling of one well and would pay the university an additional $15,000 if they hit oil or gas. The contract allows Lance Russel to drill up to three more wells at a flat fee of $35,000
each, regardless of whether they hit oil or not, said Widener. The oil or gas, however, would not be siphoned from campus soil but from the surrounding areas. This project was approved by President George Nigh and Richard Burpee, interim vice president of Administration, both of whom would supervise the spending of the revenues. "We don't have anything earmarked for spending at this point," said Burpee. The money would go into general revenue funds. "I guess we could cover the cost of faculty and adjunct professors," he said, referring to the cuts in faculty raises and adjunct positions. • That possibility, however, is unlikely because "the deans have had their budget for the adjuncts and their faculty all year, so they know what those monies were and what they could do with
their budget," said Burpee. Other possibilities for the revenue include buying new furniture, repairing campus buildings and changing a parking lot drain, he said. Although the money may be used in numerous ways, Burpee's recommendation to Nigh would probably be for repairs to the Music Building. A French drain and an air handling system to filter several rooms are long-needed, he said. While decision makers await the net profits, the Lance Russel Corp. might continue drilling for up to four months, depending on the number of wells. One well would take about 30 days to drill, said Widener. After the initial drilling is completed, the corporation would be permitted by contract to maintain valves, piping and tanks at the site for up to 20 years.
Nigh moves to stop summer pay raise By Mary Reinauer Staff Writer The latest budget surprise for the faculty senate is President George Nigh's appeal to the Board of Regents to repeal the five percent salary increase slated for faculty for next summer.
An old ruling that sliced the pay of UCO summer-term teachers to 80 percent of regular income is still in effect, said Dr. Tom Guild, associate professor of general business and state president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The emergency measure was
implemented during the term of former UCO President Bill Lillard. Guild said he thought the move was intended to be a temporary solution to a funding crisis. "Overnight, it went from 100 percent (of full salary) to 80 percent. He (Lillard) thought that would be the way to solve the
crisis," said Guild. But once the ruling was in effect, Lillard saw how much money it saved and the measure was never lifted, said Guild. Two years ago, in response to a faculty senate resolution, Nigh appealed to the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges (BOROC) 'See CUTS, Page 9
INSIDE TODAY INDEX Editorial 2 Letters 2 Campus Crime 7 Sports 10,11 Around Campus .. 15 Comics 15 Classifieds 16
FEATURE UCO student Greg Kirkyakakis shares his battle with leukemia, near-death experience.
MUSIC
The Vista's John Clanton gives his two cents on Too Slim and the Taildraggers.
SPORTS
The UCO lady Bronchos knocked of Friends University and well travel to Lawton to take on Cameron.
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