University of Central Oklahoma
The Student Voice Since 1903
Caller threatens newsroom
Dust storm blamed in California pileup COALINGA, Calif. (AP) — Motorists said California's major northsouth highway should have been closed hours before a fiery pileup in a dust storm killed 17 people and injured 150. The motorists said the dust had reduced visibility long before the 93vehicle, chain-reaction collision Friday on Interstate 5. However, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said the storm couldn't have been predicted and many drivers were speeding.
By Penny Owen Staff Writer
Legislator proposes rape shield law OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Lawmakers in the upcoming session will consider a bill that would give people who say they are the victims of sex crimes the option of adopting an alias to protect their privacy. Rep. Terry Matlock introduced the legislation, House Bill 1784.
Government issues AIDS guidelines WASHINGTON (AP) — Government guidelines issued Monday for protecting health care workers from AIDS and other blood-borne diseases would force hospitals and other businesses to provide protective clothing and offer free hepatitis vaccinations. Many hospitals and health care clinics already require their employees to wear protective, clothing but the new guidelines establish penalties for those that don't.
Tax cheat commits sucide to save wife ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A woman whose husband killed himself after they were convicted of not paying their state taxes has been sentenced to a year of probation, William Schuh!, 49, shot himself Oct. 17 and left a note clearing his wife of responsibility. They Schuhls were convicted earlier in October of failing to file tax returns for three years beginning in 1987. See WORLD WRAP page 10
THURSDAY December 5, 1991
Ginny Rhoads and Lance Sellon were crowned freshmen King and Queen at the freshman dance sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Association of Women Students. (Photo by Paul McEntire)
Miss Black UCO charged in discount store theft By Penny Owen
Staff Writer
Charges have been filed against Miss Black University of Central Oklahoma 1991 and a Target employee for their part in an attempt to embezzle over $1,000 in merchandise from an Oklahoma City Target store last month, Oklahoma City Police reports show. Leonie Calhoun, a 23-year-old junior majoring in business administration and the reigning Miss Black UCO, was charged on Nov. 21 with embezzlement by an employee or in the alternative grand larceny. Also arrested was 19-year-old Aanji Wilkerson, a Target cashier, said Assistant District Attorney Peter Haddock. Both Wilkerson and Calhoun were booked in city jail and each posted a $2,000 bond and was released the following day. Police reports show that about 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 Calhoun was seen putting items in her basket at the Target store located at 2201 West Memorial Road. After gathering $1,074.84 in merchandise, she allegedly proceeded to a checkout lane where Wilkerson, as the cashier, scanned only $2.13 in merchandise. Several items were left unscanned in the shopping cart, while others were scanned and then voided out by Wilkerson. According to police reports, Calhoun paid the $2.13, then tried to leave the store
with the basket of unpurchased merchandise. She was stopped outside by Target security officials and escorted back into the store. Merchandise recovered included a Sharp VCR; Nintendo video game; Kraco car stereo and speakers; Olympus 35mm camera; Ricoh 35mm camera; a Goldstar telephone answering machine; two pair of slacks; Black and Decker iron; Remington iron; Vidal Sassoon curling iron; cutlery and candy. During questioning, Calhoun said that Wilkerson had given her a list of merchandise and instructed her to get the merchandise from the shelves and bring it to her checkout lane so that she could pass it through, police reports show. Calhoun has since alleged that a third person was involved in the theft, and that her part in the incident is not as it appears. "Yes, I was arrested and yes, there was another person involved, but it's not what it seems," Calhoun said, referring to another person whom she said walked out of the store with her, but was not apprehended. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Although the women face only one charge, both embezzlement and grand larceny are reflected in the wording because at this point prosecutors are unsure whether the cashier was helping the shopper to steal, or if the shopper was helping the cashier to embezzle, Haddock said. • See THEFT, back page.
Both Miss Black University of Central Oklahoma 1991 and The Vista have fallen prey to the manipulative attempts of an anonymous caller who has threatened harm if a story about the recent arrest of Miss Black UCO, Leonie Calhoun, is not printed. The Vista editor, Judy LeBlanc, first came in contact with the caller, whom she identified as a black female, last week when the caller alerted LeBlanc to Calhoun's arrest. Calhoun was arrested on Nov. 18 at a Northwest Oklahoma City Target store for her part in an attempted theft of merchandise. She was charged with grand larceny or in the alternative embezzlement on Nov. 21 and awaits a Dec. 10 court appearance. The Vista was still in the process of verifying facts and circumstances pertaining to the arrest, and therefore delayed including the story in last Tuesday's issue. After last Tuesday's issue of The Vista ran without a story on the arrest, a call came into the newsroom that evening by a hollering black female who, according to Managing Editor Marie Bigger who took the call, screamed that she didn't leak the story for it to just sit around and that she wanted Leonie Calhoun dead. A second call was made the following aftemoon by the same caller who told Advertising Sales Representative, Eric D'Arriba, that if the editor doesn't print the story soon, she was going to kill her. Finally, a third call was made Monday afternoon by the same female who delivered the statement: "You better tell that Judy bitch that she better print the story if she knows what's good for her," said Advertising Sales Representative Peter Roberts. LeBlanc said the decision to print the story had been made prior to the threats, but now a bigger issue about manipulation of the press has evolved. "It's news when a student leader is charged with a felony," LeBlanc said. "But manipulation of the press is front page news." Calhoun said that before and after the arrest she received late-night telephone threats and cruel notes sent to her UCO dormitory room. "I don't know why this person is out to get me," Calhoun said. "Whoever is doing this to me, I wish they would stop. I've been through enough hell this week." Dean of Student Services Dudley Ryan said his office takes threats such as this very seriously. Ryan said that making threats is in violation of the UCO Campus Regulations. Punishment is determined by his office and can be as light as a reprimand or as severe as expulsion from the university. "Someone is trying to hold the newspaper hostage at this point," Ryan said. V