The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2006
Snowed Out
ACACIA service time cut short by Nathan Winfrey Senior Staff Writer
by Vista photographer Travis Marak
A UCO student walks west in the Liberal Arts parking lot Dec. 1. Campus was shut down for Thursday and Friday due to a severe snowstorm.
New UCO record set for fund raising by Andrew Knittle Staff Writer UCO has raised nearly $50,000 for United Way in 2005-2006, setting a new highwater mark for financial pledges to the charitable organization on behalf of the university. According to a Nov. 21 university press release, this year's fundraising surpassed 2004-2005's numbers by 25 percent — or about $10,000. The record-setting donations came from UCO students, faculty and staff. In the greater Oklahoma City area, United Way raised a little more than $15 million in 20052006. Nationally, the charitable organization raised about $4 billion in the same time span. UCO Director for Special
Projects Mike Sanders said the 2005-2006 campaign was successful due in large part to April Atkinson of Student Affairs. In the Nov. 21 press release, Sanders said Atkinson "worked as our `cheerleader,' getting department ambassadors and their faculty and staff excited and motivated for the campaign." Sanders also participated ----• n
"For three months I reported to United Way's offices in downtown Oklahoma City office and did whatever they asked," Sanders said. Sanders said he couldn't say whether or not UCO would be participating in the loaned executive program next year, but added that plans are underway to make 2006- 2007's campaign a success a s w e 1 1 . "We would like to broaden the base of support for United
United Way
United Way's loaned executive program, an experience he said was fulfilling.
Way at UCO and explore getting the student body involved to a greater degree," Sanders said. The United Way is nonprofit organization that works with an array of groups and individuals to solve cornmunity-related problems. Making neighborhoods safer, helping children succeed, providing disaster relief (hurricanes, tornadoes) and supporting families in crisis are all hallmarks of United Way and the organization's ongoing efforts. To become involved in United Way at UCO, call Student Life at 974-2363 oarvisit the organization's website at www.unitedway.org . Andrew Knittle can be reached at aknittle@thevistaonline.com.
ACACIA fraternity began its annual Seven Days of Service Nov. 27, but had to cut the series of service projects short because of last week's snow. "Some of the events we got to do this week, others we had to cancel," said Nathan Woolard, creative studies senior and new ACACIA president. "We will reorganize and try it again in the spring." The fraternity plans to help non-profit organizations like the Crown and Cross Mission, Ronald McDonald House, Women's Abuse Shelter and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. "We also do service projects on campus, such as Adopt a Street/Adopt a Campus and we always try to do some kind of service for each one of the sororities," he said. "It is pretty much our huge service event of the year." Reg Aldrich, a business management junior in charge of the project said Seven Days of Service has been going on for about eight years. "By combining events from within UCO campus and within the community and working with the young and old, I believe that we are able to provide a service not only to them but to ourselves," he said. The fraternity has formed bonds with many non-profit organizations since it started the tradition years ago, and the --members can see the impact of their work when they return each year, Woolard said. "We don't pester anyone for money; we just do different acts of service that may be of help to non-prof-
it organizations," he said. ACACIA members were able to do street and campus cleanup before the snow hit Nov. 30. The fraternity "adopted" 2nd Street between Bryant Avenue and University Drive. "We walked the street from one end to the other, picking up trash...and then cleaned the campus," Woolard said. The fraternity was also able to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House and attend the ucOcu joint-campus baby shower for battered and abused pregnant women Nov. 29. "We listened to the seminar in the ballroom and each brought a baby item to be donated to the shelter," he said. The gifts included diapers, baby bottles and bibs. Aldrich said ACACIA members watched a taped football game and played cards with elderly men at a nursing home, and raked leaves at all of the sorority houses. "From there we pretty much got snowed out and had everything cancelled, or cancelled it ourselves," Woolard said. "I feel that we still have much more to offer, because we are such a large house with many guys with big hearts. I think we have much good left to do." Aldrich said the fraternity will volunteer to help with children at WinterGlow, a holiday celebration for UCO and the Edmond community Dec. 7. The fraternity will reschedule all of the events that were missed, and will add several new events since it will start over with another seven days in March. The project will start on a Sunday and end on a Saturday, with a date party on the last night to celebrate. Nathan Winfrey can be reached at nwinfrey@thevistaonline.com.
Iranian president sends letter to American people Message of H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad President of the Islamic Republic of Iran To the American People In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful 0, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers Noble Americans, Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries; Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration
actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities; And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity; Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you. While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together. Both our nations are Godfearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection. Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compas-
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sion, empathy, respect for the rights ofhuman beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies. We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need. We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings. We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty. The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity ofthese statements. Noble Americans, Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world. Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities. As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world. We, like you, are aggrieved
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by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad daylight, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief. No day goes by without a new crime. Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn't? For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland. You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it. Who can deny such bro-
AP Vahid Salemi
Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent a letter to Americans regarding issues facing Iran and the United States. ken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration? Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But
regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Broncho Basketball
see IRAN page 5