Celebrating 100 Years
11-1EVISTA The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2003
Thrift announces UCOSA agenda by Audrey Dodgen Editor in chief Kate Thrift, UCO Student Association president, announced plans for her yearlong term Monday. Thrift, a senior political science major, previewed her agenda before a joint session of the House and the Senate. Thrift said that while she knows what she would like to accomplish, her primary goal is to represent the student body fairly. "Students keep giving me suggestions as to what they think needs to be addressed. I will try to Fix those things before I try to change things that don't matter as much," she said.
Thrift said increasing the involvement of international students on campus was a primary concern. "Sometimes the students who are from this area don't always know what to say to the international students. The language barrier tends to be a big problem, and it can get really awkward," she said. "We'd like to see the international student organizations hosting more events where people can come together to learn about other cultures. That's what helps us learn about each other," Thrift said. Thrift said she would also like to address the issue of Dead Week. "We hope to pass legislation that will encourage facul-
"People keep calling UCO Oklahoma's 'best kept secret.' There is no reason for it to be a secret any longer."
— Kate Thrift UCOSA President
ty to keep from holding exams the week before finals. Students could use that time to prepare for final exams," she said. Move-in and move-out times also need to be more flexible, Thrift said.
"If a student doesn't sign up to move out and have their room checked on Friday or Saturday [of finals week], they are automatically put down for Thursday. For students who have a Friday final, getting out of the dorm on
Thursday can be a huge burden," she said. Thrift is also the student representative on the committee overseeing renovations to Wantland Stadium. The committee has narrowed the field of bidders to Five and will begin conducting interviews in early September. Thrift said the renovations to the university's sports cornplex are a sign that UCO will meet President Webb's goal of being the state's school of choice by the end of the decade. "People keep calling UCO Oklahoma's 'best kept secret.' There is no reason for it to be a secret any longer," she said. "There is no reason that you can't look at all of the
schools in Oklahoma the same size as UCO and know that we are the best. We have the best professors, the best support staff and definitely the best student body," Thrift said. Thrift also said that everyone who graduates from UCO will take that name with them every time they look for a job. "This is the education and experience we will take with us. When we leave here, we will be graduates of the University of Central Oklahoma. That should motivate us to help make is even better," she said. "I can't imagine going to school anywhere else. UCO is a great place to be."
New smoking policy takes effect Monday by Rick Russick Staff Writer
Photo by Heather Harkins
Freshman Megan Guyer takes a smoke break outside the Nigh University Center Wednesday.
Smoking will be prohibited within 25 feet of all doors on campus after Sept. 1, said Dr. Don Powers, UCO director for Quality Assurance and Safety Management. According to a new state law, those caught breaking the rule will be subject to a $100 fine. "We aren't going to be head hunting. Those breaking the law will be warned first," Powers said. "There will be fines, but we will be giving people time to adapt to the new law," said Sergeant M. Sherrick McCray of UCO's Department of Public Safety. "I have never heard of any schools ever giving out citations specifically for smoking except maybe in places like New York," he said. The new policy is part of a joint resolution passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate. The resolution will ban smoking in front of all doors to buildings and public transportation. Mike Griffin, a finance senior, said he likes the new law, but thinks the administration should designate smoking areas.
Griffin said no one should have to stand out in the freezing cold. Matt Gray, a biology sophomore, said the law is no big deal. He said if someone doesn't like the new law they should quit smoking. "If they want a cigarette bad enough, they can go out in the cold and smoke it," Gray said. Dennis Tapp, a marketing junior, said he doesn't mind smoking 25 feet away from the door. "Hell, smoking is bad for you and if [the new law] is to keep other people's health up, it's good," he said. Angela Bratcher, a public relations senior, said the law is a step in the right direction, but doesn't think smokers should be separated from everyone else. "I think the new law is great. There are students who like to congregate, but don't like the smoke. If we smokers want to harm ourselves that's okay, but we shouldn't have to hide," she said. McCray said both UCO department officials and campus police will enforce the new law. "This is a courtesy issue. We are all adults, and we simply have to respect state law," he said.
Campus civic engagement priority for Betz by Jim Epperson HI Senior Writer In association with 151 other public colleges and universities nationwide, UCO is participating in a new civic engagement program, the American Democracy Project. Dr. Don Betz, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, spoke to faculty and staff members Aug. 27 about how the project will begin at UCO. "This is about change, campus culture and the things we value," Betz said. National statistics show that younger people distrust the government and that their voter turnout is low, he said. Betz said, during the first year of the three-year project, a "conversation" with faculty and staff will take place to determine the best action for civic engagement. Betz said he will conduct a campus audit to look in every "crack and cranny" to determine the best
course of action for the university. Also, administrators will meet with faculty members to see what civic engagement activities are already being done on campus. The new project will be able to reach 1.5 million students in the participating schools and help them become more active citizens, Betz said. "Students need to become effective and engaged members of society." Betz said he will be meeting with student organizations soon to discuss their role in the project. Dr. Sue Sasser, assistant professor of economics, attended the meeting. After the meeting, Sasser said she thinks the project is needed. In her own class, she has noticed students not knowing of or showing civic engagement. Sasser recently gave a survey to her students in which she had students rank economic issues in order of importance. She said student ranked economic freedom as one of
the least important issues. "This is really disheartening," Sasser said. Dr. Brett Sharp, assistant professor of political science, said the civic engagement Betz is speaking about is a lot more than just voting. "It even involves just having dinner with a friend, writing letters to newspapers and joining organizations," Sharp said. Campus Life Director Blake Fry said his office has done a lot of work with Campus Compact, a national coalition between 900 college and university presidents promoting volunteerism. Fry said Campus Compact will work with the American Democracy Project. Fry said he anticipates working on the project. Betz said that someone asked Benjermin Franklin what kind of government the forefathers created. Franklin's response was, "A republic, if you can keep it." `We might lose it our own way ourselves," Betz said.
Photo by Juli Barker
Dr. Don Betz speaks Aug 27 to faculty at the introductory meeting of the American Democracy Project in the Troy Smith Lecture Hall.