The Student Voice Since 1903 University of Central Oklahoma
Thursday, september, 28, 2006
Student Three views: The war in the Middle East to face charges by Ivo Lupov Staff Writer
UCO student Sturling Steele by Andrew Knittle Staff Writer A UCO student was arrested just after 11 p.m. Sept. 22 following a short tussle with an Edmond police officer in front of a house party on Kelly Park Road. Sturling Steele, 20, will face charges of resisting an officer. Arresting officer Jason Kushmaul said Steele was talking on his cell phone in front of a house he had been dispatched to on a loud noise complaint As the officer approached, Kushmaul said Steele turned away and began walking briskly toward the front door of the residence. Kushmaul said he told Steele to stop two or three times before he physically tried to halt the student. After grabbing Steele’s right arm, Kushmaul stated the encounter turned violent. “I struggled to control Steele’s movements and he then turned toward me in an aggressive manner,” Kushmaul stated in his report. “Steele [then] grabbed me with both
The war in Iraq has been an ongoing hot topic since U.S. Congress authorized an attack in Oct. 11, 2002. For the past four years, many problematic sides of the war have been depicted including weapons of mass destruction, terrorist threats and Sadam Hussein’s war crimes trial, approval of the war and so on. Reason for the invasion have been questioned so many times that even the media got tired of using them as a main feature of talk shows. Observers’ opinions and suggestions on how to fight are always given when someone else is making the decisions. The sides of the war apparently are not limited to two and the soldiers are not facing only insurgents, but also public opinions and altered news. Some UCO ROTC members fought in Iraq, have different opinions from the ones who write regular political columns on the back porch in weekly magazines. Cadet Jeff Nantze, from Oklahoma, spent most of 2004 in Northern Iraq-Mosul. “I think they are capable of taking control, but they need to learn to have their own voice, which will take some time. They are like children when it comes to understanding their freedom,” he said. “The environment was semi friendly, but it got progressively worse the longer we were there,” Nantze said. He worked with the civil rebuilding of water resources, electricity, making it a better place for the people who live there for the long term, he said. “The reason I went there was to perform that job - the civil rebuilding,” Nantze said. “We knew that security is your first priority, but that was not the only goal over there.” Cadet Nantze also worked with civilians. “We were very welcome, but as the insurgence when started some of the people that were working with us
see STEELE, page 6
by Vista photographer Alex Gambill
Sergeant First-Class Jerry Fallin stands outside Thatcher Hall Sept. 27. Fallin performed security and humanitarian operations in Iraq from January 2004 through February 2005. become more reluctant to work back with us,” Nantze said. According to him, the people gradually felt more scared, which worsened the cooperation between Iraqi people and the U.S. soldiers. He said that one of them still says that regardless of the media, there is an overwhelming majority of people glad U.S. troops are there. “I believe we were unprepared for the current situation, in other words we did not plan ahead,” Nantze said. “We were unaware of how
the insurgences were willing to stand up for their cause.” Many people are trying to predict or speculate with the timeperiod that US troops will spend in Iraq. Cadet Nantze said, after World War II and Japan, U.S. military presence remains in there. “When we went in Bosnia it was supposed to be a one year operation. Ten years later we still have troops performing civil rebuilding in Bosnia.” There is not an absolute answer on how long U.S. troops will be in Iraq, Nantze said. The stability in the region
depends on how the new Iraqi forces will handle their enemies. “I just got an email from locals and they are saying that their situation in Mosul is getting better for the past year in a half,” Nantze said. There are three different stories that are trying to describe the situation in Iraq, he said. “The soldiers are absolute targets no matter what they do, locals are only sometimes and the media only reports what’s bad news. Nantze believes that whenever something good happens in Iraq it is not newsworthy and
only tragic incidents are reported with fast communication." The Iraqis need to step forward and take matter into their hands, said Cadet Nantze, this would help some US troops to withdraw. “The local Iraqis need to step forward and take over the control of their situation, which will allow U.S. troops to leave,” Nantze said.
They are not willing to take the initiative because of the 25 years of tyran-
see IRAQ, page 6
Dr. Palmer wins 'Art Educator of theYear' award by Steven Reckinger Copy Editor UCO Professor Dr. Bob Palmer received the “Art Educator of the Year 2007” award from the Oklahoma Art Education Association for his contribution to the Fine Arts program. The OAEA fall conference was held in Weatherford, Okla., Sept. 23. The art association distinguishes the awards by category based on academic level, from elementary school to university. Palmer received the award for overall in the state, which consists of a plaque, flowers, and a banner. He also received an airbrush from a personal acquaintance. He will also be contending for the National Art Education Association awards scheduled for March in New York City. He has several mural paintings around the metro and roughly 700 in the state of Oklahoma. Some locations include the water canal in Bricktown, EK
Gaylord Blvd., the State Capital, and Will Rogers Airport. The timeline of Oklahoma, measuring two and a half blocks on the Santa Fe Railroad wall, is one of the biggest murals he has painted. It’s located between Main St. and Sheridan. “It’s nice to have your colleagues recognize a job well done,” he said. Palmer came to UCO as an assistant professor in the fall of 1988, then he taught a series of oil painting classes and photography. He started teaching mural painting 10 years ago when it was implemented. He now teaches Senior Exhibition (a senior capstone course), two undergraduate and two graduate level mural painting classes. He also teamteaches a photo course with Dr. Terry Clark. Palmer is looking to revamp the photo program in the near future. “I consider any talent I have as a gift from God and I like to give back,” he said. Palmer has always enjoyed painting, starting in residential homes and small busi-
A piece of UCO History
nesses before working his way up to bigger assignments. Palmer mostly specializes in mural painting, receiving several awards for his projects scattered throughout the world. He also completed a few international projects in Mexico, Canada, and Macedonia. He hopes to return to Mexico in the future to create another mural project. Palmer said he uses old photographs to vision his designs. He said he learns a lot about the community and the culture whenever he prepares for his next project. His projects and efforts don’t just involve him however. “What I do is a group effort,” Palmer said. “It’s not just me. I’ve been given the award, but it’s really a group award.” On almost every mural he designs, he works with a group of students. The murals on campus always involve his beginning students. His advanced students get paid for their work, while assisting him on bigger projects designed by his business, Palmer Studios, Inc. “We’re [UCO] a good training ground for a lot of these
by Vista photographer Alex Gambill
"Art educator of the year" Dr. Bob Palmer stands in front of his mural painting during open night of "The Big Picture." students,” he said. “The students have done really well. They stay busy every other weekend.” He believes art students don’t need to leave Oklahoma to find work. He said there are a lot of opportunities for students like working on theatre sets and large-scale paintings.
Norman history, detailing street scenes, early football and the first business established in Norman. He is also writing a painting textbook.
Steve Reckinger can be reached at sreckinger@thevistaonline.com.
UCO Hockey
'The Last Kiss'
See pg. 3
“The Big Picture,” Palmer and his students’ art exhibit, is displayed on the third floor of the Nigh University Center through October. His next projects consist of three murals in downtown Norman. The painting will cover 100 years of
See pg. 4
See Sports pg. 10