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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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>Sports LSC Champs UCO baseball clinched the Lone Star Conference North Division title with an 11-0 route over East Central University. ✓ Page 6
>Features Patient finds help Troi Emde, a newly-diagnosed AIDS patient, finds relief in the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network program. ✓ Page 9
TODAY IN HISTORY
PHOTO BY MOLLY IvIATHIS
Students in the interior design program use computers in Evans Hall to learn drafting techniques. Some students fear that gradual cuts in faculty and funding will eventually lead to the program's end.
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including our part time employees, it is 51 to one." The retired professors left UCO earlier than expected due to the early retirement buy-out program instituted last year, according to Watson. Dr. Christopher Markwood, dean of the new College of Arts, Media and Design, responded to the complaint saying, "The positions have been filled. We did not replace the positions with Ph.D.s, but we have filled them with one full time employee and adjunct teachers. Not replacing them with Ph.D.s is a result of the university's lack of funding. We did not receive a significant amount [of money] last year." Markwood said he doesn't understand why this program feels threatened by elimination. "Nobody is targeting this program," he said. Another reason the interior design program feels threatened is due to the space being taken over by Markwood to create new offices for the College of Arts, Media and Design, according to Myers. "We've spent three years fixing up the basement of Evans Hall to accommodate our needs," Myers said. "Now the new dean has decided to take the space. [Markwood] currently has an office in the Liberal Arts
embers of the interior design program are concerned that their department may be on the chopping block, according to Gary Branscum, spokesperson for Central Students for Responsible Leadership and a senior interior design major. "The interior design program is facing somewhat of an administrative death penalty," said Branscum. Branscum explained that there are many ways a university can kill a program. "The way that UCO seems to be doing it is by taking away facilities and equipment and professors. You take it away little by little until there is nothing left to run," Branscum said. The university says the fears are baseless. "The only place we have heard that is from within the interior design program itself," said Dr. Jim Watson, chairman of the department of design. One of the reasons this program has a fear of being eliminated is the university's lack of replacements due to faculty retirement. "Just last year we had three Ph.D.s. Two of them retired and were never replaced," said Dr. Cheryl Myers, interior design department coordinator. "Our teacher to student ratio as of now is 101 to one; See CUTS, Page 13
Ford wins Liberal Arts Professor of the Year BY SARAH BLOUNT
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Gene Brown
DAVID OWENS AND LORALEA KNOX
Staff Writers
✓ Page 4
"Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools."
TUESDAY • APRIL 17, 2001
Students, faculty fear program's end
Teachers are now required to pay for their own federal criminal background checks before they can be licensed through the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
In 1970 the breakup of the most influential rock group in music history was official when Paul McCartney's solo LP, "McCartney" was released. Paul played all the instruments himself on this Apple album.
Student Writer
D
r. David Ford of the Sociology Department was named Professor of the Year at the College of Liberal Arts Faculty and Staff Awards Assembly held Wednesday, April 11. This is the first year for the assembly, which was hosted by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Dr. T.H. Baughman. Similar to student awards held annually, the College of Liberal Arts Faculty and Staff Awards gave professors and staff members a chance to credit their associates in performance and service. Chairpersons of the College of Liberal Arts created a list of activities in order to recognize
outstanding performance within the college. Honorees were nominated from the full-time faculty, adjunct faculty and staff. The award for Outstanding Creative Activity went to Dr. James Baker, the Outstanding Staff Member award went to Sherry Sump and the Outstanding Grant Recipient award went to Dr. Daniel Donaldson. Also awarded at the assembly was the Outstanding Scholarly Achievement award to Dr. Xiobing Li and the Outstanding Junior Faculty Member award to both Dr. Jeffrey Plaks and Dr. Gary Steward. Staff and faculty members also received service pins, recognizing 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service. •
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Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, T.H. Baughman (left), recently presented Professor of the Year honors to sociology professor Dr. David Ford.