The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2004
International organization elects officers by Michael Robertson Staff Writer
The members of the International Student Council met Nov. 29 in the Nigh University Center to elect officers for 2005. The new officers are: Khalid Elhassani, representative of Morocco, webmaster; Ryan Korn, representative of Vietnam, public relations; Benjamin John, representative of India, senator; Eriko Miyazaki, representative of Japan, treasurer; Mariya Dochkova, representative of Bulgaria, secretary; Josephine Mangoli, representative of Kenya, vice president; and Olanrewaju Daniels, representative of Nigeria, was elected president. John Nazari, representative of Iran, was retained as parliamentarian. Jalal Daneshfar, the ISC advisor, said the council functions as an umbrella organization to provide support for each individual country's student group. He said ISC is also responsible for budgeting member groups and campus events, like the annual International Festival, the International Pageant, orientation for new international students and receptions for international graduates. Daniels, the new ISC president, said he wants to expand the council's role in helping international students on campus. In his final speech before the council voted, Daniels described his plans to provide international students who don't have access to a car with rides to job interviews and other appointments and help getting a driver's license. "If they (students) can call the ISC office ahead of time, we can give them a ride," Daniels said. Daniels said he is also concerned with the fact that the international student population at UCO has been declining. "We have gone from 1,800 to 1,200 in the last two years," Daniels said. Despite the decline in numbers, Daniels said he is optimistic about the level of activity international students have engaged in.
see ELECTION, page 3
Photo by Robert Crauthers
"Santa Claus" waves during the UCO `WinterGlow,' Dec. 2 at Old North. Organizers of the event said it drew record crowds this year. To see more from WinterGlow, see page 5.
WinterGlow' draws record numbers by Joseph Wertz Staff Writer
This years "WinterGlow" festival had a record attendance, according to representatives from Student Services. WinterGlow is a celebration on campus that combines various events with the holiday lighting of Old North. "We try to use WinterGlow as an invitation to the greater community to attend the campus," said Elizabeth Waner, assistant to the vice president of Student Services. "The program is really geared towards families and students." Prior to the WinterGlow celebra-
tion was the "Parade of Lights" put aware of WinterGlow." on by the Downtown Edmond Katie Rountree, a freshman nursing student riding the Eddy, said that Business Association. her favorite part of "We really hope the parade were the that people who come for the "We try to use "big horses."
"The parade was Parade of Lights stay for WinterGlow as an just awesome," WinterGlow," said invitation to the Rountree said. The winners of Waner. The Eddy trol- greater community to several campus conley system gave attend the campus." tests were announced at the Old rides from the cereroute to Old - ELIZABETH WANER North lighting cere mony. North. T h e "This was the first year the Eddy was used," said Interfraternity Council won first Waner. "We realized that many peo- place in the parade float competition. ple attending the parade weren't The Kappa Sigma fraternity won first
prize for house decorations. The Financial Aid office won first prize in the office decoration contest, and the Department of Military Science won the tree decoration contest -Witfilifeit military-themed tree. "The idea just came together while we were building," said Cadet Captain Matthew Bryson, who helped design their tree. Cadet Private First Class Megan Pfeiffer said that she and other cadets were sending care packages to troops serving overseas. "We have been sending care packages to our troops who can't be here for the holidays," Pfeiffer said. This was the seventh year for the WinterGlow celebration. CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Campus group observes World AIDS Day ■ Members of UCO's GATE distributed red ribbons and condoms Dec. 1 to raise AIDS awareness. by Ashley Romano Student Writer
UCO's Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality members distributed red ribbons and sponsored two films and a candlelight vigil in observance of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. "AIDS has the ability to affect each and every one of us, from contracting the disease to
knowing someone that has it Although the theme for the already," said World AIDS Campaign sophomore "We all need to think 2 0 0 4 Nathan focused on Huseman, about how we can best women and GATE presigirls with dent. "It is a support the struggle the virus, global prob- against AIDS." Dr. David lem. And by - DR. DAVID MACEY JR. Macey Jr., helping to GATE adviser GATE educate those adviser, said around us, we the group chose to be inclusive might be able to save a life."
about the universal impact of AIDS. "We all need to think about
how we can best support the struggle against AIDS and support the more than 37 million people worldwide, who are living with and dying from HIV and AIDS," Macey said. During the day, GATE distributed "condom pops" (a lollipop stick with a condom attached). The condoms were
provided by Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma and included facts about AIDS. Macey said the group also screened the movies "Kids" and "It's My Party," which examined the impact AIDS has on young adults and invited audiences to reflect on how they would respond if they were diagnosed with the virus.
Professor demystifies urban legends at philosophy talk
■ The Student Perception of Instructional Effectiveness survey is online through Dec. 12 at: broncho.ucok.edu/iquest ■ Fall commencement ceremonies will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 18 for the Colleges of Arts, Media & Design, Mathematics & Science,. and Education. Ceremonies for the Colleges of Business Administration and Liberal Arts will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 18. ■ Donations are still needed for the "Orphans in the Ukraine" collection drive. Timber Massey, Ukraine Peace Corp volunteer and UCO graduate, will distribute the clothing and toys to children 3 to 8 years of age. The drop-off location is the Vista office, Rm. 107 of the Communications Building. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 17.
INDEX
by Kelley Chambers Staff Writer Have you heard the one about the couple that stops for a bucket of chicken at a carry-out, only to find that they're eating fried rat, and the wife goes into shock and dies? Dr. Mark Webb has, along with just about every other urban legPhoto by Justin Avera end. He has likewise written papers that debunk such myths as Dr. Mark Webb spoke to a full crowd about urban legends purely fictional. Dec. 3 at Pegasus Theater.
Webb, a philosophy professor at Texas Tech University, spoke to a capacity crowd in Pegasus Theater Dec. 3, about urban legends and the ways in which people should approach questionable tales. The lecture was based on Webb's paper, "Can Epistemology Help? The Problem of the Kentucky-fried Rat." Webb began the lecture with the question, "When should I believe the story I've been told?" He went on to describe urban
legends as a story told as having really happened to a friend of a friend, with elements of humor and horror with precise information about irrelevant details. "A lot of these, especially the most horrible ones occur on college campuses," Webb said. He attributed that to the fact that often people at college are away from home for the first time, and are more susceptible to believing stories about past ill-fated under-
see LEGENDS, page 3
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For more information about the ADP at UCO, visit www.thevistaonline.com