The Vista Nov. 16, 2010

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Campus Quotes

Oklahoma turns 103

ROTC

Two holes, one game

How do you feel about the enrollment process at UCO?

Oklahoma celebrates 103 years of statehood today.

There are 20 female cadets in UCO’s ROTC program, all of which are working toward officer positions in the Army

Bensch sisters, golfers for UCO, each score a hole in one at Kickingbird on the same day.

NOV. 16, 2010 uco360.com twitter.com/uco360

THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.

State law showdown

STATE QUESTION RESULTS STALLED At least one result of the Oklahoma midterm elections has yet to be certified because it is held up in court by a lawsuit. Muneer Awad, the executive director for the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, filed the lawsuit independently of CAIR, on the grounds that the approved question would create an amendment to the state constitution that is in violation of the “Establishment Clause” in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. “There’s a big problem with translating this. Sharia, even though it’s categorized as Sharia law in this amendment and by the authors of this amendment, Sharia itself in Islam is more of a guidance,” Awad said. Awad said that there is no such thing as a set book of Sharia laws. “If a judge asked me for Sharia laws, I actually would not be able to give them a documented set of books or codes,” he said. “Sharia is a set of interpretations. It’s about a guidance of how to apply your faith in the circumstances in which you live.” Awad also said that Sharia is interpreted differently in different places of the world, but one of the tenants of Sharia is to abide by the law of the land. “So obviously Sharia in America is different than Sharia in another country,” Awad said. Leading up to the election, Awad said that both he and CAIR were aware of what the passage of SQ 755 might mean and he started the process of filing the lawsuit on election night. Awad said that he has been in touch with the national CAIR offices, but for the most part, he is acting alone financially and legally. “It’s a really loose relationship with respect to the lawsuit,” Awad

Gadeir Abbas, Legal Advisor - Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), answers a question during a news conference concerning a recently passed Oklahoma ballot measure prohibiting state courts from considering international law or Islamic law when deciding cases, in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. Below, a Muslim pilgrim is praying the noon prayer in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010.

said. “I don’t have a law firm, I have legal books. I’m trying to make the most out of my old law school books and the Internet. But the only costs associated with it so far have been the filing fees.” An article about the temporary injunction posted on the website for the Christian Broadcasting Network reads that “70 percent of Oklahomans approved the amendment.” The number is in reference to the election results that have yet to be certified, but to say that the 70 percent is a representation of all Oklahomans is something Awad disagrees with. He said that while he understands this sounds like a crazy mathematical scheme, he thinks that it would be unfair that say that Oklahomans have overwhelmingly voted for the passage of the state question based

on the numbers. While 56 percent of Oklahomans are registered to vote, only 47 percent of that number showed up to vote in the state question election. Of the number that did show up to vote, 70 percent of them voted for the ban. The math puts the final number at 18.8 percent of Oklahoma residents who voted for the state question. Before this lawsuit started, before the state question was even on the ballot, the decision to include this on the ballot was put to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. One of the ten Democrats who voted against the measure was narrowly re-elected, but not before facing heavy attacks from his opponent. The Democratic state representative, Cory Williams of Stillwater, was depicted in mailers wearing an Arab-style headdress. The caption

PHOTO BY HASSAM AMMAR

By Cody Bromley / Staff Writer

PHOTO BY SUE OGROCKI

A lawsuit filed by the executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has temporarily stopped the Oklahoma State Election Board from certifying the elections results for SQ 755.

on the mailer said that Mr. Williams wanted for “extreme Muslim militants” to be tried in Oklahoma courts under Sharia law. Williams told “The New York Times” in an article published Monday, that this was just fear mongering. Awad told the Times that “Islamaphobia is really popular.” He also

said that using fear and hate were ways to rally large numbers of supporters. Last Wednesday, Awad appeared on MSNBC as a guest of “The Rachel Maddow Show.” Just before his appearance, host Rachel Maddow read some of the mail that Awad and his office had been receiving. “Most of them, I cannot get anywhere near reading to you on television,” Maddow said Wednesday. Some of the “milder ones,” as Maddow put it, said things such as, “This is America and the voters spoke, get the message, we want you all to go home.” Awad made his case to viewers on the show, saying that this law not only infringes upon his First Amendment rights, but is also an unnecessary step towards “safeguarding” Oklahomans from Islamic law. “We already have an amendment that makes sure Sharia law will never take over our courts. It also makes sure that no law will take over, no religious law will take over our courts and it’s called the First Amendment,” Awad said Wednesday. Maddow also pointed out on her show that the title of the proposed amendment is the “Save Our State” amendment. “I kid you not,” Maddow said on the show, “the ‘Save Our State’ amendment. As in, save our state, save Oklahoma from the Muslims.” Awad’s case will move further through the court system on Nov. 22 when U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange hears further arguments. “I’m confident in the court system. I see the federal courts as more neutral. It’s not going to make a decision based on what voters thought, or based on what anyone else thinks, it’s going to make the most legal decision possible, and I think legally this amendment is just unconstitutional,” Awad said.

Fundraiser

WEATHER

UCO HOCKEY FACES OFF AGAINST CANCER

H 59° L 41° PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

TODAY

TOMORROW H 61° L 32°

More weather at www.uco360.com

DID YOU KNOW? The Guiness Book of World Records was created to help settle disputes made in pubs throughout Ireland and Britain.

The UCO hockey team, pictured above playing against Lindenwood, will host “Pink in the Rink,” during the their game against Liberty University on Nov. 19. The Bronchos lost this match against Lindenwood earlier in the season. Mel Rogers, the community manager for the American Cancer Society, said that it is not known if a representative for the organization will attend the fundraiser on Friday.

By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor The University of Central Oklahoma ice hockey team will host a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society at 7:30 p.m. on Friday Nov. 19, at the Arctic Edge Arena in Edmond. The event is called “Pink in the Rink” and will take place during the bronchos’ game against Liberty University. “We’re thrilled to have people who are going to help us out,” Mel Rogers, community manager for the American Cancer Society in Oklahoma City, said. T-shirts and bracelets will be on sale through Wednesday, Nov. 17, in the Nigh University Center on the campus of UCO. One-hundred percent of all Pink in the Rink merchandise sales and two dollars of every paid admission on Friday night will go to the American Cancer Society. The UCO hockey team website encourages fans to wear their Pink in the Rink shirts to the game on Friday night. “It’s for a good cause and almost everyone in their life has been touched by someone with cancer,” UCO senior and hockey player Jonathan Cannizzo said. “We decided to do it to raise cancer awareness and [raise money] for the American Cancer Society.” UCO team captain Nick Novak says the fundraiser means a lot to him personally. “I think it is a great fundraiser to have to support cancer awareness,” Novak said. “My grandma passed away from breast cancer so she will definitely be running through my head and I’m going to do everything I can to get a (win) for her.” Donations to the American Cancer Society may be made online at cancer.org or at a local American Cancer Society office. The Oklahoma City offices are located at 6525 N. Meridian, Suite 110.


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