The Vista Feb. 25, 2003

The Student Voice Since 1903

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003

Spring meeting mirrors budget woes ■ Budget talk

Unless the state economy makes a dramatic improvement, which hasn't been forecasted, UCO officials expect more cuts this fiscal year, an additional one to three percent, said Steven

by Mark Schlachtenhaufen Kreidler, vice president of ms@thevistaonline. corn finance. More are being predictTalk of the state budget crisis ed for the coming fiscal year.

"There will be a day when and its continuing' impact on UCO preempted the usual rem- we'll be on the upswing, but iniscing about the past year's today is not that day," said Roger accomplishments and future Webb, UCO president.

War jitters, lower than proobjectives during the spring facjected state tax revenue colleculty-staff meeting Feb. 20.

preempts usual review of year's accomplishments

tions and mandatory cost increases, including an $800,000 rise in healthcare benefits, are among the factors responsible for the budget shortfall, Kreidler said.

Collections from state income tax and sales tax, the two biggest slices of the revenue pie,

Students gather at the State Capitol for the annual meeting of Vocal Oklahomans in Civic Engagement (VOICE) Feb. 17.

Students, Gov. Henry meet at State Capitol

by Thad Donner td@thevistaonline.com Governor Brad Henry addressed students from Oklahoma's universities Monday, Feb. 17 during a luncheon at the State Capitol.

The luncheon was organized

by Collegiate VOICE (Vocal Oklahomans in Civic Engagement). The goals of the meeting were to present the group's mission statement, to get student leaders talking to legislators and to kick off Civic Engagement Week.

Henry handed the proclamation, officially making Feb. 1721 Civic Engagement Week in Oklahoma, to Marilyn McDow, UCO Collegiate VOICE representative and public relations senior.

Gov. Henry addressed the crowd, reiterating his notion that public service is, ''the rent you pay for the space you occupy."

"If you went to public school, if you total it up, the state probably spent $75,000 on you. There may be governors in this crowd. There may be a future president," Henry said.

The students presented the "Oklahoma Students' Civic Engagement Resolution," a document listing Collegiate VOICE's grievances and responsibilities.

The document outlined the factors contributing to the lack of student political engagement.

It identified the following causes for lack of student politi-

see VOICE page 3

House bill will encourage emergency plan upgrades ■

Law would affect state public entities; UCO revision process already underway.

by Mark Schlachtenhaufen ms@thevistaonline.corn Legislation that has cleared a House committee seeks to prepare the state's public entities for the possibility of a natural or manmade disaster, including a terrorist attack.

House Bill 1512, authored by Rep. Bill Paulk, D-Oklahoma City, mandates that all state public entities, taxpayer-funded agencies such as the Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education, develop or update emergency preparedness plans for either natural or manmade disasters.

In light of the increased threat of terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001, more emphasis is being placed on preparedness both nationally and locally.

"We need to be prepared, be organized," Paullc said.

The measure describes manmade disasters as an act of war, terrorism, a chemical spill or release, or a severe power disruption. Other events listed include hazardous material releases, struc-

tural fires, natural disasters, utility disruptions, technological incidents and terrorist and civil disturbances.

UCO is already revising its plan.

UCO's Emergency Response Performance Management Team, chaired by Dr. Don Powers, director of Quality Assurance and Safety

see Paulk's Plan page 8

tions of tax revenue.

Through the first seven months of the current fiscal year, which began July 1, state tax revenue collections have been $196 million below last year's collections. Of those months,

see Spring Meeting page 5

Officials outline cost-cutting steps

by Jim Epperson je@thevistaonline.com As the state budget weakens, UCO is tightening the belt on spending in an effort to prevent furloughs.

Steve Kreidler, vice-president for administration and finance, said UCO will reduce mandatory costs and will make additional budget cuts to balance the state's economic shortfalls.

The government is not making as much money in taxes this fiscal year as was predicted last December. So far, it is $360.6 million under the estimates, which has a direct effect on UCO, Kriedler said.

The Legislature appropriates tax revenue to The State Board of Regents for Higher Education, which allocates that money to the 32 institutions in Oklahoma. Anytime the government has less money to appropriate to the Regents, the Regents have less money to give to UCO and other institutions, said Kreidler.

To save money, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission is allowing UCO to buy natural gas on the open ,

Photo by Justin Avera

have dropped the most out of the state funding sources, Kreidler said.

Each December, the Legislature learns how much money it has to fund state government. The estimate is provided by the State Equalization Board and is based on projec-

market. Currently, UCO must go through Oklahoma Gas and Electric. Kreidler said once a competitor is sought, UCO will be able to save money.

UCO has also received two utility reduction rates on electricity in the past several months from the city of Edmond, which is another way the university is reducing mandatory spending, said UCO spokesman Charlie Johnson.

Kreidler said administrators are developing a process called "Lean University."

The new program will be used "to cut out all unnecessary wait, time, effort and a whole course of other things that will provide some savings," he said.

So far this year, UCO has had to cut $2 million from its budget in the first couple of months.

Kreidler said cuts were primarily made from administrative areas.

He said administrative positions have been eliminated or left unfilled.

"There are some administrative positions that have not been filled, but no one has been laid off. You cannot improve the state economy by cutting people," he said.

UCO also reduced overtime pay by 75 percent, which comes at a difficult time with extra security personnel needed in response to the high terrorism alerts.

"Its a huge hardship this time of year when we have overtime needs for police and DPS here," he said.

Administration got a reduction of $180,000 on workers comp insurance. Several years ago, along with other universities in the area, UCO went selfinsured on workers comp to get a reduction on insurance rates.

Kreidler predicts that in addition to the 1 to 3 percent budget cuts UCO will most likely see this year, it will also see an additional 1 to 3 percent budget cut at the beginning of fiscal year 2004, which starts July 2003.

Next year, UCO will continue to squeeze savings in all the things dealing with insurance and workers comp, Kreidler said.

Students can also expect tuition to increase next year.

Administrators are unsure how high tuition will rise because the health of Oklahoma's economy will determine the increase.

Imagine a future when you don't have to drive on 'E' for as long as you can because you dread filling up your tank with gas prices at $1.85 a gallon.

— Page 4

Softball ended a 0-6 drought with the first win of the season against Oklahoma Baptist University Saturday.

— Page 7

Old North project near completion

by Jim Epperson je@thevistaonline.com The roof of Old North Tower is 99.99 percent finished and will be completed in the next month, said David Stapelton, director of UCO architectural and engineer services.

The 110-year-old building was on the verge of collapse. The center core of the building was structurally unstable, he said.

"We, literally had to take the whole roof off and replace steel structure supports within the center of the building," Stapelton said.

The 2x4 wood beams supporting the roof were deteriorating from years of water leaking through the building's red stone. Stapelton said he worries that an Oklahoma ice or windstorm would demolish Old North because of its structural problems.

"I can't begin to tell you why the building has not fallen."

UCO spokesman Charlie Johnson said the exterior of the building is finished, but an interior renovation is needed for safety reasons. The interior work is estimated to cost $7 million, he said.

With the current budget problems, Old North will remain closed until money is available through private donations or federal grants.

Stapleton said parts of the first and second floors could be opened at a cost of $1.5 million, instead of renovating the entire interior.

Stapelton said he doubts this money will be

Photo by Justin Avera

Exterior renovations to Old North's roof completed; interior works waiting on funds. received from a grant or donations anytime soon.

Old North is the first building to be founded for higher education in the state of Oklahoma.

Stapelton said the act creating the Territorial Normal School was passed December 23, 1890 and signed into law by Governor George W. Steele on December 24, 1890.

Since then, Stapelton said, only sections of the building, not all of it, have been renovated approximately five times, which is the reason for the current interior problems.

After dropping a 76-73 decision in the final seconds against East Central, women's basketball fell to second in the North Division — Page 7

Design department offers new Masters degree

by Summer Pratt sp@thevistaonline.com UCO will introduce the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design Program in the fall of 2003.

Dr. Jim Watson, chair of the design department and graduate advisor for the MFA in Design Program, said this is the first terminal degree offered at UCO. The program is considered a terminal degree, which means it is equivalent to earning a PhD. Most master's programs require 30 - 36 hours, but the MFA requires 60 hours.

Watson said the faculty and curriculum are assembled for the fall semester and that quite a few prospective students have already expressed an interest in the program.

He said this could be because there are very few MFA programs in design.

Each candidate must meet all admission requirements and be accepted by the Joe C. Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research.

Candidates must complete the MFA Design Application Packet, which requires an essay detailing why they wish to pursue the degree and their profes-

sional career plan and objectives.

Applicants must also submit a transcript of undergraduate courses, a current resume and three letters of recommendation, with at least one of these from a design professional.

The College of Graduate Studies and the design graduate advisor will review each candidate's application packet.

If a candidate meets the requirements, he or she will be interviewed by faculty from the department of design.

This interview will include a review of the applicant's design work, the desired focus of grad-

uate study and reasons for pursuing graduate studies in design.

If a candidate doesn't have an undergraduate degree in graphic design or interior design, he or she will need to take up to 45 hours of undergraduate courses before beginning the MFA-Design program.

Larry Hefner, MFA, associate professor of design and director of the graphic design program said he felt it would be almost impossible for a student to be accepted into the program who didn't have either an

see Masters page 6

No. 8 baseball split a doubleheader with a 2-1 loss and then rallied for a 4-3 win — Page 7

OPINION

FEBRUARY 25, 2003

WWW.THEVISTAONELINE.COM

Quote of the day

T

Everyone you know someday will die. So instead saying all of your goodbyes—let them know you realize that life goes fast, it's hard to make the good things last, you realize the sun doesn t go down. It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round.

1751

oday in History

New York City's Edward Willet displayed the United States' first trained monkey act. For one shilling, the audience watched the monkey walk a tightrope, dance and 'exercise a gun.

- Wayne Coyne The Flaming Lips "You see students, we need to borrow a few dollars - about twenty - eight million dollars..."

Cartoon by Chris Maupin

OU raises $514 million, but can't cover $28 million shortfall Unless you have been living in a cave you know that the states current budget situation is grim. Across the board, from common education to the Department of Corrections, state agencies are cutting budgets, cutting employees and cutting costs trying to survive this economic slump.

The University of Oklahoma is no different from other institutions. It also has budget problems, including a projected $28 million shortfall for fiscal year 2004, which starts in July.

OU's president David Boren thinks passage of HB 1748 will be the solution to his university's budget woes.

One of the main contentions has been that OU and OSU are at the bottom of the Big 12 in tuition and mandatory fee levels.

The peer group that Boren and other supporters of HB 1748 compare OU and OSU to are the schools in the Big 12. They include

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Colorado, Missouri, Iowa State, Texas A & M, Nebraska, Kansas State, Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma University, Kansas University, Baylor and the University of Texas.

In fact, the Big Twelve contains a peer group within a peer group and OU and OSU belong to it.

The American Association of Universities accredits universities on the grounds of the breadth and quality of their research and graduate education. OU and OSU, along with Texas Tech and Kansas, are the only public institutions in the Big 12 not accredited by the AAU. All have tuition and fees that are comparable.

In a recent letter addressed to the OU family, President David Boren said unless the $28 million shortfall is resolved, faculty and staff could be furloughed up to thirty days.

Fifty percent in periodical subscriptions will

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EDITORIALS Opinion columns, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the department of journalism,/ UCO, or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges.

Editorial cartoons do not necessarily represent the views of the artist.

The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO.

LETTERS The Vista encourages letters to the editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters must be typed, double-spaced, with a maximum of 150 words, and must include the author's printed name, tide, major, classification and phone number. Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of questionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters and does not publish anonymous letters.

Address letters to: Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, OK 73034-5209 or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 107. Letters can be sent via e-mail to ucovista@hotmail.com .

pasteurization and homogenization. Almost all milk available at the grocery store have undergone these two processes.

Howstuffworks.com said pasteurization the practice of heating milk to 145 F for 30 minutes or 163 F for 15 minutes in order to eliminate specific pathogens and disable certain enzymes. In the process of killing these unhealthy agents, some of the milk's flavor is sacrificed.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) documented at least two outbreaks of salmonella in pasteurized milk in Kentucky and Illinois in the 1980s. They resulted in mass recalls.

If dairies want to completely sterilize milk, they must conduct ultra-high temperature (UHT) pasteurization, in which milk is heated to 285 F for several sec-

itampus Quotes Do you feel UCO manages their money well?

With such a long fund raising apparatus already in place why doesn't the University of Oklahoma launch another campaign to raise the $28 million itself?

House Bill 1748 switches the burden from the universities to the students. To prevent this from becoming a reality contact your state representative and tell them to vote no on HB 1748.

Michael Larson:

Editor in Chief Zach E. Nash Associate Editor Jera Stone Managing Editor Kristen Armstrong Like anyone else who eats Copy Editor Michael Larson Web Editor Danny Peters breakfast cereal, chugs protein Assistant Editor Fawn Porter shakes or drinks hot chocolate, I Senior Writer Summer Pratt wonder what those strange aniSenior Writer Mark Schlachtenhaufen mals grazing on the side of the Writer Thad Danner Writer Caroline Duke road are subjected to while they Jim Epperson Writer serve as factories for the world's Sports Editor Dara Lawless most commonly consumed white Sports Writer Brad Frizell beverage - milk. Thus, this generSports Writer Ryan Jameson Photo Editor Rebecca Martin al specialist decided to get the Photgrapher Justin Avera dirt on homogenization, the pasPhotgrapher Juli Barker teurization process and an indusPhotographer Tina Fowbie try barraging American conPhotgrapher Heather Harkins Cartoonist Chris Maupin sumers with strange billboards of Ad Manager .Andrew Bowman celebrities with white strips on Ad Saks Taylor Cleveland their upper-lips.

Ad Sales Kendra Loughridge Two industry-standard Promotions Lisette Galindez Silva Circulation Kevin Pargeter processes have fallen under fire Director Rhonda K Rodgers from authors and organizations:

The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, semi-weekly during the academic year except exam and holiday periods, and on Thursdays only during the summer term, at the University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, OK 73034-5209.

Telephone: (405) 974-5549. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy.

be cut from the library hampering research ability. At least 800 to 900 courses and class sections will be canceled. Large numbers of staff will be laid off.

In the last five years OU's ''Reach for Excellence Campaign," raised $514 million for the school — one of the largest fund—raising events at a public university. Over the past 6 years OU's donor base has expanded 56,000—from 17,000 to 73 1000 donors.

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onds. By this point the milk would be pretty bland. This is why UHT pasteurization is not standard practice and is only reserved for certain kinds of milk.

But with protein shakes, breakfast cereal, and hot chocolate, milk's flavor is usually skirted in sugars anyway. Most of the dairy industry is accommodating those who opt to drink milk straight, or those mixing white Russians, which would kill the germs anyway. UHT pasteurized milks should be easily accessible for everyone else.

Another health concern surrounds the homogenization process, in which milk is exposed to extreme pressure and strained to break fat globules down into tiny little bubbles. These fat bubbles mix better in the milk and climb to the surface slower, so the milk takes longer to separate, and doesn't form a potato soup-like skin. Think of vinagirettes, in which oil climbs to the top of other ingredients. Fat: it helps you float in the swimming pool.

Robert Cohen, executive director for the Dairy Education Board (notmilk.com), believes protein hormones in these tiny fat bubbles can survive digestion and can be absorbed into the bloodstream intact. He reasons that, like a time-release gel cap, these small bubbles take longer to break down than the larger natural ones, which have a greater volume-surface area ratio.

The National Dairy Council

"I guess so, yea, I don't know that much about it."

Adam Howell senior public relations

has attempted to ease such fears through its frequently asked questions file (nationaldairycouncil.org/faq.htm) by telling consumers to rely on medical and nutritional information from health professionals and organizations, not animal rights groups or self-proclaimed nutrition experts.

A major banking point of the dairy industry is that milk is a crucial source of calciUrnowhich is needed to build and maintain strong bones. The Food and Drug Administration recommends adults consume about 1,000 mg of calcium every day.

One cup of milk contains about 250 mg of calcium, orange juice fortified with calcium has about 300 mg, and a typical megavitamin has about 150 mg.

There are also two other kinds of milk that are vegan-friendly: soy milk and rice milk. As anyone who's ever taken a mouthful of soy milk can tell you, its caustic bitterness and strange foamy quality is nothing like the gentle flow of cow milk, which coats the throat and, if warmed, helps old ladies go to sleep. Other than having more protein than cow milk, the nutrient and fat content is about the same as the typical 2% milk sold at local grocery stores. Rice milk is sweeter, but very thin, like sugary water. Both come in boxes and are available at most grocery stores. Both products can sit in a cool, dry cabinet for about a year before going bad, so after having tasted them, you'll have ample time to pass the extra boxes off to a friend or relative.

CHARIAH YOUNG sophomore radiology

sophomore

"No. I think that there's things on campus that should take precedence of things off campus.

biology

Hilary Parent

"I think it's pretty cool."

KERRON LEACHE

sophomore social studies ed

"I think they're doing a good job, but they could do better."

"As long as with tuition it doesn't go up."

NATE RUDEK

nursing

Jaci Bounds Junior

sophomore biology

"I would say, yea, they're doing pretty well. " PAUL TANKERSLEY freshman public relations/broadcast

A CARTOON FROM STEIN

"No. I don't think so.

They could try to remodel West Hall."

"I don't know enough about it to give you an intelligent answer."

Angi Nelson senior photography

www.maususa.com

CALM DOWN! LOOK AT ME, I'M COOL AND IT'S MY FIRST TIME TOO! "Yea, because they stopped the heat in the winter break."

UNO KENJIRO senior biology

(c) 2002 Ull Stein; In the U.S, licensed to Mice & More Marketing, 110, distributed by Maus USA, inc.

"Putting their money in the gym was a good idea because there's a lot of athletes here."

MARDI SAXON Junior advertising

NEWS

FEBRUARY 25, 2003

WWW.THEVISTAONLINE.COM

Governor, representative take on lottery issue during debate

by Mark Schlachtenhaufen ms@thevistaonline. corn

With the lottery bill on life support, Gov. Brad Henry and Rep. Forrest Claunch debated the issue, the governor urging the Legislature to let the voters determine its fate, the representative saying a lottery is the wrong way to fund education in Oklahoma.

Both Gov. Henry and Claunch, each a man of faith, tried to take the moral high ground on the volatile lottery issue. Demonstrators holding religion-oriented signs stood outside Oklahoma City University's Starkeys Law Center, the venue for the 60-minute debate Feb. 20.

Despite polls showing Oklahomans overwhelmingly want the Legislature to let them vote on the lottery issue, on Feb. 20, the House ended the day

without taking action on HB 1278, leaving the governor attempting to resuscitate it.

That 's really, I think, maybe one of the distinguishing differences between what I'm saying and what Rep. Claunch is saying — the people want this right," Henry said. "I believe that the people are smart enough to make the right decisions. trust the people."

Claunch said Gov. Henry's position that the Legislature has had a history of letting the people vote on legislation is misleading.

Since 1992, the Legislature has sent 42 items to a vote of the people. Of those, 38 were amendments to the Constitution, which require a vote of the people.

Ideally every legislator would meticulously study each piece of legislation and make their decision based on the desires of their

80 1410 .1 4110 SY 441.1110 1.1/11

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Photo by Heather Harkins

Rodney Loper and Stephen Bacon protest outside a lottery debate Thursday.

constituents, Claunch said.

Oklahomans do vote, said Claunch, who has been reelected four times, along the way crusading against the lottery and casino gambling.

"They know who I am, they know what I stand for," Claunch said.

Henry said, "I certainly hope that the people of Oklahoma understand that I too have a moral compass."

Claunch said he doesn't have a moral compass attached to polls and neither do Oklahomans.

Polls aren't always accurate, he said. Claunch used 1994, when David Walters was governor, as an example. Then, polls showed the public favored a lottery, which ended up losing on election day.

It happened again in 1995 with the casino initiative, Claunch said.

Polls are an inexact science, Claunch said. People have a right to vote, he agreed. But no existing lottery came about as a result of intense public pressure.

Compared to other states, Oklahoma has an "easy" initiative petition system, Claunch said.

"You ought to elect people, and I think generally you do, that have a moral compass, that have principles, that stand on those principles, that's what you oughtta have and that's what I think you've got for the most part," Claunch said.

Henry said proceeds from an Oklahoma lottery would be dedicated solely to education. HB 1278 is the only existing legislation that would produce "significant" revenue for education.

Education fuels the economy, he said.

The governor estimates a lottery would produce $300 million a year, ivvith about half going 'to public edudation and the other half going to higher education, mostly in the form of scholar-

VOICE, from page 1 cal participation as: a cynical view of politics held by students, a lack of communication between political leaders and campuses, a higher education curriculum which focuses on developing professionals rather than citizens and a society reluctant to take college students seriously.

The document states that only through attention from administrators, legislators and students will these trends be reversed.

McDow saw the luncheon as

a success, saying, "students got to network with state leaders."

She emphasized that this was only the kickoff to Civic Engagement Week and that on Feb. 23, Rep. Joe Dorman, DRush Springs and UCO graduate, would be speaking to UCO students.

Jennifer Geren, assistant director of Oklahoma Campus Compact and student liaison for Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, explained the origins of Collegiate VOICE. It is part of a two-year grant

Photo by Heather Harkins

Junior Derek England and sophomore Lane Perry sign a banner to present to Governor Henry on Higher Education Day Feb 25th.

from National Campus Compact, funded by the Pew Charitable Trust.

According to Geren the program was started in response to statistics about declining political participation among college students, despite high rates of volunteerism.

Oklahoma is one of seven sites given the $100,000 grant aimed at enabling dialogue and raising awareness.

McDow said the group is "trying not to support an agenda, just to support civic engagement all around."

Though • groups typically develop political consciousness on the back of an issue-position, Geren doesn't see this as an obstacle to the project's suxess.

"I think it's a help. It allows both sides to talk. I don't think it's a hindrance at all," she said.

Photo by Heather Harkins

Gov. Henry and Rep. Claunch debate the lottery issue at OCU Feb. 20. ships.

"We don't have any other alternatives on the table," Henry said.

Lottery revenue can be maximized by creating innovative games, allowing online access and having multi-state games like Powerball, Henry said. States with smaller populations than Oklahoma have generated more than $300 million a year.

Similar sized states have made more than $500 million annually, Henry said.

"It would be significant money for education at a time when we're having to potentially face closing our classrooms and if it's only 50 million, it's worth it to me," he said.

Claunch saidOklahoma has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. The Legislature has not been able to fund education "first and fully" before funding other agencies. If the Legislature had not spent this session being preoccupied with the lottery issue, it could have funded education, he said.

Henry said safeguards built into the bill would prevent the Legislature 'from taking lottery proceeds for use in the general , 'bUdget'.'Clal'nCh said there are no guarantees in the Constitution to prevent future Legislatures from

undoing current lottery legislation.

"You can't risk education in Oklahoma on the uncertainty of the lottery; don't do that," Claunch said.

HB 1278 would amend the state Constitution and the amendment, which specifically earmarks lottery proceeds for education, could only be revised by the people, Henry said.

Lottery money would be like "icing on the cake," new money.

Under the measure, legislatures cannot supplant general revenue money with lottery money, Henry said.

"This proposal is iron-clad," the governor said. "This proposal calls for the people to amend the Constitution to ensure that that does not happen."

Claunch said using lottery money to fund education would send impressionable children the wrong message. Lotteries have a negative affect on families. Under the bill, anyone, including children, can possess a lottery ticket, he said.

"That is wrong, it should never happen," Claunch said. "I don't think, the people of Oklahoma want to rept the children and their future on an uncertain revenue stream like a lottery."

Vista staff wins jjournalism awards

by Jim Epperson je@thevistaonline.corn

Four Vista staff members won Society of Professional Journalism (SPJ) awards Feb. 15 for best feature story, general reporting, entertainment reviews and best headline.

Copy Editor Michael Q. Larson won first place for best feature article and Editor in Chief Zach E. Nash won second place.

Jera Stone, associate editor, won second place in two categories: general reporting and entertainment reviews. Former Editor in Chief Beth Hull won first place for headline writing.

Larson said," My parents were very proud. I felt I'd vindicated their investment in my education."

Rhonda Rogers, Vista Advisor,

said that the awards show the quality of writing in the UCO journalism department. The Vista competes in the Class •C division with other newspapers having comparable circulations.

Dr. Terry Clark, chair of the

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journalism department, said he is pleased with the high quality of journlaism skills the Vista writers share.

The annual event was held at the Oklahoma City Embassy Suites Hotel.

Affordable Living Heart

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college.

Henry said in the majority of states, lottery revenue has not only been stable, it has outpaced inflation. Using lottery money to produce more college graduates per capita income will rise and crime rates and welfare roles will fall, he said. Economic development will improve.

Claunch contended a lottery would import gambling-related social problems. Henry said many of them already exist.

Education should be held accountable, Henry said. But Oklahoma spends less per pupil on education than nearly every other state. It's time to change that statistic in order to improve education and keep teachers from leaving the state, he said.

Opponents to the lottery bill should produce their own ideas about how to fund state government before attacking it, the governor said.

"It's fine to sit back and take pot shots and criticize somebody else's proposal, but it doesn't count for much unless you write an alternative proposal on the table," Henry said. "And simply to say, 'We should fund education 'first and let everything .else fall by the wayside,' is not the answer."

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FEBRUARY 25, 2003

Alternative Resources

Its.ouerwhelming what we're doing in the world by not P aying attention to all of the energies that are available to vs.

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- Dr. Whit Marks professor emeritus of physics and engineering

By Caroline Duke magine a future when you don't have to drive on 'E' for as long as you can because you dread filling up your tank with gas prices at $1.85 a gallon. Imagine a future when you don't lose the last ten pages of your term paper because of an electricity outage. Imagine not having to pay unreasonably high electric bills in August because your home is cooled by the sun.

Imagine considering a windy day in Oklahoma a good day because the wind is completely powering your home.

Alternative energy could make these dreams a reality.

Alternative energy sources are those that are renewable. And unlike the fossil fuels that are used to produce gasoline, renewable energy sources cannot be depleted and release remarkably fewer pollutants, if any. They can be derived from sources that are readily available worldwide, such as water, biomass, geothermal energy, solar energy, and wind energy.

WWW.THEVISTAONLINE.COM

"It's overwhelming what we're doing in the world by not paying attention to all of the energies that are available to us," said Dr. Whit Marks, professor emeritus of physics and engineering.

He said pollution is the result of the burning of fossil fuels, and this can be drastically reduced with an increased use in renewable sources. A lot of these volatile elements contribute to smog and acid rain, he said.

"These phenomena have been verified over and over and over in the last 25 and 30 years," Marks said.

The most widely used alternative energy source is hydropower. The hydropower facilities in the United States have the ability generate enough energy to supply 28 million households with electricity. That is the equivalent of nearly 500 million barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The most common types of turbines used to generate hydropower are Pelton, Francis, and propeller turbines, according to DOE. Each operates depending on the head, or the depth of standing. A Pelton turbine is used for high-head sites, which are between 50 and 6,000 feet deep, and can be up to 200 megawatts. The second type of turbine is made to operate between 10 and 2,000 feet of head and can be up to 800 megawatts. The propeller turbine is operat i o n a l between 10

and 300 feet of head and can be up to 400 megawatts.

Although hydropower technology is virtually emission-free, it does have some detrimental effects on the quality of downstream water and aquatic life.

Environmentally friendly turbines are in the process of being developed, according to DOE. Bioenergy, which uses plants and other organic materials, composes three percent of primary energy production and ranks second in renewable energy production, after hydropower. It is capable of providing heat, making fuels, and generating electricity.

Wood, which has been used for energy purposes for centuries, is currently the largest source of bioenergy, although plants, agricultural and forestry residue, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes are also used.

Bioenergy sources are replenished through cultivation of energy crops with fast-growing trees and grasses and bioenergy feedstocks, according to DOE. Biofuels are also derived from bioenergy sources. The energy can be directly converted into liquid fuels, like ethanol and biodiesel, for transportation needs.

A third source of renewable energy is wind energy, which is actually a form of solar power, said Marks. Wind power is mostly taken advantage of in areas that generally have wind speeds of 13 mph or more. Wind turbines are especially prevalent on the East Coast, the Appalacian Mountain range, the Great Plains and the Pacific Northwest. North Dakota alone, according to DOE, has the capability of providing 36 percent of needed energy to the lower 48 states, although it would be impractical to disburse that energy across the continent.

Wind is caused by the sun's uneven heating of the atmosphere, irregularities in the earth's surface, or the rotation of the earth. Turbines can be used either for specific tasks or to generate electricity.

Wind power is free and releases no

pollutants into the air, like carbon dioxide or other harmful elements that contribute to global warming.

The main problem is this - wind isn't guaranteed to blow all of the time, which would not guarantee constant electricity.

Timothy Hughes, research associate for Environmental. Verification and Analysis Center at OU, said no largescale wind farms have been installed in Oklahoma, although 164 megawatts will be installed around this time next year.

The first 64-megawatt farm will be built north of Lawton, and another 50megawatt farm will be built north of Woodward. Hughes said he did not know where the third 50-megawatt farm will be built.

The power from these farms will go into a grid, which Hughes said is a sea of electrons, and will be distributed among rural electric cooperatives (RECs) around the state. He said the wind farms will generate enough electricity to supply about 55,000 homes.

Another form of renewable energy is geothermal energy, which emits little or no greenhouse pollutants, according to DOE. Geothermal energy has the capability of providing electricity to 3.5 million homes.

It is derived from the heat in shallow ground, hot water and rock found several miles below the earth's surface, geopressured brines and magma, the molten rock found deep inside the earth.

Currently, however,

hydrothermal fluids are the only sources used for commercial power generation.

Geothermal reservoirs are most commonly found in the western United States, and Alaska and Hawaii, DOE reports.

Solar energy is transmitted from the sun in the form of solar radiation. It is capable of generating electricity, providing hot water, and heating, cooling, and lighting buildings. It is also the source of energy used to power hand-held calculators, wrist watches, portable lights, and battery chargers.

Photovoltaic (PV) systems use semiconducting solar panels to convert sunlight into energy, providing more than 200,000 homes worldwide with enough electricity to be powered completely.

Air. Water. Wind. Biomass. These sources have been at our fingertips since time began. They only need to be used.

Perhaps the future is not as far off as it seems.

PUBLIC TRUK March 6, 2003, 1-2 p.m.

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is sponsoring a public forum with a panel of UCO professionals to give YOU the opportunity to ask questions and speak your mind about the potential war in Iraq.

Members of the panel will include: Dr. Louis Furmanski Dr. Don Betz

Dr, Terry Clark Dr. Husam Mohamad Dr. Fakhrildeen Albahadily Dr. Riaz Ahmad The forum will be moderated by News 9 anchors Kelly Ogle and Amy McRee.

NEWS

FEBRUARY 25, 2003

WWW.THEVISTAONLINE.COM

Growing pains of globalization: How an American dream became a disaster â–

Workers drawn to the U.S. by the idea of easy living and short hours

By SHARON COHEN AP National Writer TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) - They borrowed thousands of dollars, gave up steady jobs, some even pawned their wives' jewelry, but they still considered themselves lucky: They were leaving India to work in America.

There was Joseph Chakkungal, an oil refinery worker who emptied his savings and sold his beloved motorcycle, thrilled to be moving to the United States, a place he considered "the greatest country in the world."

He had worked hard for 25 years, chasing a dream of security for his wife and a good education for their two children. At age 46,

it finally seemed within reach.

"This," he says, "was my last chance."

Then there was Balaraju Salapu, a 31-year-old newlywed who bid farewell to his pregnant wife, convinced he could build a better life for his family here.

"Good job. Good wages.

Good opportunity," he says.

"That's what I had heard about America."

These two men were among 52 skilled Indian workers welders, fitters, electricians and others - chosen for coveted jobs at the John Pickle Co., a $15 million manufacturer of specialized oil industry equipment.

Their new boss had come to India and had asked about their families, made approving remarks about their calloused hands andassured them all workers are treated equally in the United States. They were impressed.

They were looking forward to

American wages, nice apartments, the hope of raising their families in this country.

It seemed so promising, the beginning of a great relationship.

It unraveled so quickly, amid allegations of slave wages, squalid housing, intimidation - and trafficking of workers for cheap labor.

Each side portrays this as a case of deception.

John Pickle says it destroyed his business.

The Indian men say it destroyed their dreams.

Today their lives are in limbo, their futures in America uncertain What began as a clash over wages and living conditions between workers and a boss at one small company has grown

into a complex federal case involving lawyers, inspectors and investigators from many U.S. government agencies.

Lawyers for the men claim it is more: a case study in a growing problem of globalization - labor trafficking.

Trafficking is most often associated with migrants smuggled across dusty borders to work in fields, or women forced into prostitution or hunched over sewing tables in garment factories for long hours.

But these men's lawyers argue this is a more sophisticated form of indentured labor: that the men were tricked into coming to America, and then, in effect, trapped once they got here.

"There's no doubt in my mind they're victims of trafficking," declares Kent Felty, one of the lawyers. "They were lied to and lured to our country with false promises."

Yes, this case is about lies, John Pickle agrees: lies told by the Indian workers. He says he was an honorable businessman victimized by men desperate to find a way to the United States.

Around the world, he says, there's a perception the United States "is a rich place where you don't work and have ... easy living and short hours," he said in a deposition. "That's the American way."

It was the fall of 2001 and Joseph Chakkungal was excited.

"We were going to America," he recalls. "I had high hopes."

He had made three 36-hour trips from his hometown to Bombay, had completed interviews with Al-Samit International, an Indian recruitment agency, and had met with John Pickle himself.

see Dream page 6

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Spring Meeting, from page 1 January's numbers were the worst, Kreidler said.

When tax revenue collections fall below the allocation level, 95 percent of the original budget estimate, the Oklahoma Constitution mandates acrossthe-board cuts for all state agencies, Kreidler said.

State agencies have been cut 6.3 percent across the board.

Thus far, the overall budget shortfall is $677 million.

Higher education's share of cuts has been about $50 million.

UCO began this fiscal year with $45,369,597. The final allocation of funds was $42,520,447, a $2,849,150 reduction. Each year, the Legislature makes a single allocation to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Next year, there could be

more cuts. Kreidler predicted from one to three percent.

UCO administration is doing everything it can to prevent the loss of faculty or staff, Kreidler said. A planned two percent campus-wide raise has been postponed until the budget crisis abates, he said.

Webb said UCO would still be competitive price-wise after a tuition and mandatory fee increase of about seven percent.

The average student at UCO pays $2,200 in tuition and mandatory fees, he said. The Oklahoma average is $2,324 and the average in surrounding states is $3,336.

Webb said 2002 was perhaps the most important year in UCO history in terms of success and progress. As examples, he cited

gains in academic performance, the coming opening of the Wellness Center, the SBC grant for the College of Education and numerous student achievements.

The most pivotal event this year was the prestigious Higher Learning Commission bestowing upon UCO its highest-possible rating, a 10-year accreditation, Webb said. Previously, it received five-year or three-year accreditadons.

UCO Provost Dr. Don Betz said that when the commission decision-makers first arrived at UCO, they were all business. By the time they left, they had a different air about them. They were impressed by what they had seen.

Webb said UCO is making an increased effort to help foster leadership in students, something

on Wednesday, April 2, 2003 Register now to place your resume in front of several companies that are coming to campus to interview and hire YOU! If you are graduating in May, NOW is the time to interview with these companies.

Federal Reserve Bank - February 26 Aggreko - March 4 MidFirst Bank - March 4 Edward Jones Information Session - March 6 • (CB 103N 5:30-6:30 p.m.)

EdWard Jones - March 7 Sherwin Williams - March 7 EFG Companies - M4rch 11 *frio Walgreens Information Session - March 1Ft (NUC6-8 p.m. for management positions, dinner included) 'al:givens - March 12 AFB Jump Start Program ,osit `(for internships Appil 8 FarmerMinsuranle March Itct Air Force Audit Agency Api ill Wal Disney World - April 10-11 (for internsh .ps

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Mary Sue Robbins paints a mural under the staircase in the Communications Building Feb. 20 for mural class.

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they have requested. UCO students want to know how to be a leader, how to be an ethical citizen and they want to have leadership experiences while they're in college, Webb said.

"Students should leave here with a wonderful education and leave with the confidence that comes from leadership - I believe leadership can be taught," Webb said.

Betz said UCO is one of the first 12 universities to participate in a four-year nationwide project designed to encourage civic engagement among the student population. Eventually, 100 universities will join.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2003

-Out

& About

Special Events A peace rally for stopping the war in Iraq will be held at 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday at NW 23rd and Classen and at noon Saturdays at the northwest corner of Northwest Expressway and Pennsylvania Ave.

The 2002-2003 Stage Center season features "Othello the Moor of Venice" Mar. 5-9.

Performances are at Stage Center, 400 W. Sheridan. For more information call 270-4801.

Theater The Oklahoma City Theatre Company Civic Center Music Hall Mainstage series presents, "Romeo and Juliet," through March 2. Call 879-2191 for more information.

Dance Belly dancing by the Jewels of the Nile will be presented at 7 p.m. Fridays at Gopuram Taste of India at 121 E. California and at 8:30 p.m. Fridays at Gopuram Taste of India, 4559 N.W. 23rd.

For more information call 2301323 or 948-7373.

Dinner and Murder Mystery Theater offers a "solve your own murder mystery" production and five-course meal at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. every day at 1841 NW 15th. Tickets are $39.95 per person for groups of eight or more.

For tickets and more information call 524-7676 or e-mail dinnerandmystery@aol.com .

Dream, from page 5 When he learned he had made the cut, he quit his $300-a-

month job as a vessel fitter at an oil refinery and packed his bags.

He and the others say they were told they'd receive at least two years work' with American wages, have nice apartments with a pool and gym, free food, medical care, a car for every four of them - and if they did well, a chance to bring their families here.

Most of the men had borrowed money, some from families, others from money lenders to pay an Indian recruiter, on average about $2,500 to get the jobs. For many, that amounted to about a year's salary.

Then came the first hint of trouble.

Before heading to America, the men say they were asked to sign offer agreements which did not include the verbal promises.

The documents classified them as trainees" and listed salaries that ranged up to $550 a month, plus overtime. Many were expecting far more.

Many also say they were hand-

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undergraduate degree in design or professional design experience.

Watson said the department plans to make it very difficult to get in to the program and will probably only accept five to ten people.

"If you get a Master in Fine Arts from UCO it will mean something," he said. "It will be a very prestigious degree."

Upon acceptance into the program, the design graduate advisor will meet with the student to develop a plan of study.

Students will be able to specialize with in the degree from options like, design education, interior design and graphic design.

Hefner said the UCO MFA program will differ from The University of Oklahoma MFA

ed the papers at the last minute heard, everything they have said is totally wrong," he said in an and rushed into signing them.

They protested. With 10, 15, interview. He declined to elabo25 years' experience, they were rate.

But in a deposition and a lethardly trainees.

It was just a technicality, they ter to customers and workers, he say Al Samit or Pickle assured said the men were aware of their them, the only way to secure a wages - which ranged from $2.31 to $3.17 an hour - and that they visa in the heightened post-Sept.

11 tensions, and their trainee sta- were being trained to work at a plant he jointly tus would change owned in Kuwait. after they arrived. `Everything was The men felt it "I feel like it was a was too late to turn warehouse for the systematic and by the back to India, storage of material book," he said in the letter. where they no and I feel like I was Wasib Peshimam, longer had jobs. the material being director of Al-Samit, They had big debts based in a crowded and families stored," Bombay suburb, on -Baburajan Pillai depending declined to discuss them. any details, citing the So they signed. lawsuits, but "I paid the expressed sympathy money to the agency," Salapu says. "I had no for the workers' bad luck."

After an 8,500-mile journey to choice. I couldn't get it back."

'It's a classic bait-and- Tulsa, there were more surprises.

Pickle escorted the first group switch," says Joe McDoulett, a of men from the airport on a speCatholic Charities lawyer also representing the men. "You can cial bus he had arranged to their either go or you can lose every- new home, in a desolate corner of town. thing you put on the line."

Many were stunned.

Pickle tells a different story: Expecting apartments, they "Every statement you have saw a barbed-wire fence surrounding an industrial yard with pickup trucks and metal scraps and an old single-family style brick house. Next to it, was the sprawling factory. It reminded one man of a rural hospital in India.

Some 30 men, the first arrivals, moved into that house, sharing two toilets. One says the top bunk of his bed was two feet

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Program in that it will be more accessible to working professionals.

He said they intend to encourage professionals to come to UCO to get their MFA by providing flexible class schedules.

Watson and Hefner both said they are very excited about the new program.

"We're pumped. It'll be a huge boost to the department of design," Watson said.

Applications for the fall semester 0 are due by April 1, For more information contact the Dr. Watson at 9745212.

Log on to www.thevistaonline.com

24 hours a day for campus news or to sound off on current issues.

(60 centimeters) from the ceiling so he couldn't sit up.

A cinderblock warehouse was quickly renovated as housing with the men doing much of the work themselves. But they say the bunk beds were about a foot (30 centimeters) apart, there were constant grinding noises, only one unlocked safety exit door and no place for their belongings.

They also worried about exposure from X-ray tests on welds conducted next door.

"I feel like it was a warehouse for the storage of material and I feel like I was the material being stored," says Baburajan Pillai, a worker.

Chakkungal offers another description.

"It was like the 18th century,'' he says, running a thick hand through gray-flecked hair.

Again, Pickle disagrees.

The housing was "probably better than the first two homes I lived in," he said in his deposition. "I wouldn't mind living there right now."

He said he jumped through hoops to please the men, buying new appliances and furniture, a TV, a microwave, even a bus to take them shopping and on outings.

But the men say when they tried to leave the grounds to do errands, they were told to wait for a company escort. To avoid detection, they began sneaking out, crawling under a gate along a drainage ditch.

"I wondered why it would be necessary for a grown man to be required to ask permission to go

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Jon Smith of Tom Flora Photography takes senior Ashanti Mitchell's picture for the yearbook. Yearbook costs only $12 with your picture taken, but after Friday the price will be $20.

outside," Roy Justus, one former worker said in a deposition. "I felt like a child."

Pickle's lawyer, Philip McGowan, says his client was responsible for the men and concerned about their safety.

Tensions grew.

The men say the food got worse and made them sick. An Indian cook says he was told by Pickle to ration milk (a small glass every three days) and claims dust and welding debris fell onto the food because the kitchen was in the factory.

Pickle says the food was ' top of the line" and cooked in a clean kitchen.

Many men say they felt trapped because the company held their passports. Their American experience had become a disaster.

"I tortured myself," says Vivek Savant, a former worker.

I said, 'Why did I do this? Why did I come here?'

Some men walked off their jobs within weeks; all were gone within four months.

Pickle says he was forced to close his doors last fall because negative publicity scared away business and turned his company into "sitting ducks for every government agency to take their shot."

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for workplace violations, and accepted a settlement of nearly $10,000.

The Labor Department has sued on behalf of a different group of Indian workers who had previously worked for Pickle,

claiming their salaries of between $2 and $3 an hour violated minimum-wage laws.

And the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently accused the company of discrimination based on national origin. That suit has been joined with a civil case filed by the 52 men that will be heard this fall.

Pickle's response: His accusers, he said in his letter, have not produced "a single piece of evidence of slavery, or deceit, or mistreatment ... or discrimination."

Many of the men are now working in shipyards, power plants and factories in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

The federal government has certified all 52 as trafficking victims - fewer than 400 people in the nation have that status - and they received temporary work permits last fall.

They are seeking special visas under a trafficking victims law, the first step toward becoming permanent residents.

Pickle says this was all part of the ploy: to deceive him so they could maneuver their way into the country.

Balajaru Salapu doesn't agree.

"I don't like to create problems for people," he says.

"That's bad. But I don't have a job. I haven't seen my family. I have lost so much in one year."

But Chakkungal's optimism has returned. A few weeks ago, he found work at an oil equipment company in Louisiana.

"I want to become a citizen of America," he says. - My family's future will be good."

He pauses for a moment.

"That's what I'm thinking now."

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SPORTS

FEBRUARY 25, 2003

WWW.THEVISTAONLINE.COM

Men win shoot-out 100-86

Photo by Tina Fowble

Demario Jones totaled 34 points against East Central.

by Ryan Jameson rj@thevistaonline.com It was raining three pointers as the UCO men's basketball team defeated Lone Star Conference North Division rival East Central 100-86 Feb. 20 at Hamilton Field House.

Both teams lit it up behind

the three-point line with UCO going 13 out of 27 (48 percent) and East Central shooting an unbelievable 18 out of 35 (51 percent), which was just shy of an LSC record.

UCO forward Demario Jones had a career night with 34 points and an array of spectacular plays. He was 13-

of-16 from the field, 6-of-8 from the free throw line, and 2-of-3 from three.

Other stat stars for the Bronchos were Shaun McCleary racking up a season-high 15 points and going 5-of-6 from behind the three-point arc.

Jason Pritchett dropped in 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Charles Smith contributed with 15 points and seven rebounds, while knocking down three three-point field goals.

The true star of the game was ECU's Jason Wilkerson, the LSC's scoring leader.

He played an unbelievable game shooting 9-of-13 from the three, scoring 29 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

A 24-12 run in the second half sealed the win as the Bronchos managed to answer every three from Wilkerson.

"Our defensive plan for Wilkerson didn't work like we had planned," UCO head coach Terry Evans said. "But our shooting got us the lead in the second half. Both teams shot the ball really well from outside."

The win brought the Bronchos to 18-6 overall and 72 in the LSC North.

Photo by Tina Fowble

Barrett Whitney swings away; he had two of UCO's 10 hits in the second game.

Three-game slump ends

by Ryan Jameson rj@thevistaonline.com The UCO baseball team split a doubleheader with Central Missouri State losing the first game 2-1 and rallying in the second game to win 4-3.

The Bronchos managed only five hits in the opening game making it their third straight loss.

The second half of the doubleheader was a slump buster thanks to designated hitter Mike Hill.

Hill blasted two home runs and drove in three runs, with his second homer breaking the 3-3 giving them the 4-3 win.

Josh Banks went 3-4 and Barrett Whitney added

two hits in UCO's 10-hit effort.

Jeremy Leeper gave up seven hits and two runs in five and one-third innings. Skip Weast picked up the pitching win in relief of Leeper.

The doubleheader was a makeup for a single game cancellation due to wet field conditions from a winter storm.

"We've been really struggling at the plate, but came out of it in the second game and hopefully that will get us going," UCO coach Wendell Simmons said.

The second game win improved the Bronchos to 6-3 on the year and maintainedtheir number eight ranking.

Wrestling scales back to top Softball gets first wins of season

by Ryan Jameson rj@thevistaonline.corn The UCO wrestling team has regained their No. 1 ranking in the final regular season NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll.

They moved past the previous No. 1 team Nebraska-Kearney after avenging an earlier loss to them winning 21-13 on Feb. 6.'

The Bronchos landed every

first-place vote giving them 160 points, with Nebraska-Kearney falling to third at 141 points.

UCO finished the dual season with a school record of 18 wins and one loss.

Individual NCAA Division II Rankings are as follows for UCO: At 125 pounds is Mark Dodgen (20-2) No. 1, 133 ,pounds Cole Province (18-0) No. 1, 141 pounds No. 3 Matt Dodgen (23-3), 165 pounds

Shawn Silvis (25-6) ranks No. 2, 174 pounds Jason Tapia (20-12) No. 4, and 184-pounder Jeff Henning (16-2) is No. 4.

The Bronchos return to action on March 2 for the Midwest Regional in Kirksville, Mo. The top-four places in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship March 14-15 in Wheeling, WVa.

by Brad Frizell bf@thevistaonline.com After starting the season off on a sour note going 0-6, the Broncho softball club got two much needed victories by taking the NAIA No. 4-ranked OBU Bison for a ride in a double header Saturday.

In the first game, the Bronchos

clinched the win 4-3 under Jamie Schiedt's relief pitching.

Nikki Vandever's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Bronchos to their first win of the season.

In the second game the Bronchos held an early lead 3-0 until the fifth inning.

OBU tried a comeback in the

fifth gaining a run and blasted a homerun in the seventh.

However, Schiedt earned the save by holding OBU off striking out five and allowing one run for the 3-2 win.

The Bronchos return to action next week hoping to improve their record at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Irving, Texas. •

Last-second shot beats women

by Ryan Jameson rj@thevistaonline.com East Central University buried a 3-point field goal with 4.5 seconds left to upset the UCO women's team 76-73 Feb. 20.

"East Central hit some really big shots." UCO coach John Keely said. "We knew this one would be tough and it was.

However, we have to get ready for the next one."

ECU's Lesli Shores converted a lay-up and a foul shot with only 20 seconds remaining to give the Tigers their first lead since the

beginning of the game.

Lindsey Young of UCO was fouled rebounding a missed shot and only made 1 of 2 from the line tying the game 73-73.

Guard Rashaundra Singleton brought the ball down for ECU and fired a three from the top of the arc that swished through with only seconds left giving them a three point lead.

Then as a last-ditch effort, Laura Hamilton fired a long three-point shot as time expired that came off the back of the rim.

The loss cost UCO the oppor-

tunity to play the first round LSC North Conference Tournament game with home advantage at Hamilton Field House.

Leading scorers for UCO were Summer Wafford with 14 points and April Woods contributing with 13.

The Bronchos fell to 14-9 overall and a game behind Northeastern State at 7-2 in the division.

The first round of the LSC North Division Tournament begins on Mar. 4.

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February 26, 2003 10:00am•2:00pm There will be over 50 non-profit agencies from all over the metropolitan area. The Spring Fair will be located in the Nigh University Center in Ballrooms A and B on the 3rd floor. This gives you the opportunity to explore the vast number of nonprofit organizations looking for Volunteers.

For more information, please call the UCO Volunteer Center at 974.2621

CLASSIFIEDS

FEBRUARY 25, 2003

DEADLINES DEADLINES: All classifieds MUST be submitted by noon

Tuesday for the Thursday publication, and noon Friday for the Tuesday publication.

Prices: Classified ads cost $3/day for the first 25 words and $.12/word thereafter. PAYMENT IS DUE WHEN AD IS PLACED.

Classified Display ads have same deadlines and prices as regular display ads. Call 974-5549 or 974-5916 for additional info.

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330-8973

HELP WANTED: Umpires needed for Adult softball leagues.

Experience preferred but will train. Call Rick at 330-2629 after 3:30pm.

DO YOU THINK you might be pregnant and need a free confidential pregnancy test or someone to talk to?

Call Birth Choice of Edmond at 3302111.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE CTR

ESL for Internat'l Students * Prepare for University study * Prepare for the TOEFL * Succeed in a stress-free atmosphere NOW OFFERING GMAT AND GRE CLASSES, CALL FOR DETAILS. 348-7602 info @elcok.com www.elcok.com

DO YOU WANT to speak Spanish?

Take conversation classes for only $20/hr. Hurry, call and make your appointment! Lisette, 285-6792 (new #).

HELP WAN $1500 WEEKLY potential mailing our circulars. No experience required.

Free information packet. Call 203683-0202.

ENGLISH CLASSES

at the

Edmond Language Institute

We teach English as a Second Language and are conveniently located on the UCO Campus at Thatcher Hall.

PHONE: 405-341-2125 *9 LEVELS Intensive Training *NEW SESSION every 4 wks *PRIVATE TUTORING available *PREPARATION for TOEFL

IF YOU ARE looking for a reward-

ing career and enjoy helping people, then consider working for Panhandle Opportunities. We are an agency that provides services for individuals with Developmental Disabilities in their family home.

I have two openings in Edmond with a 22-yr-old male: 2-9pm M-F. Job duties include but not limited to: assist w/bathing, dressing, preparing lunch or dinner.

Community outings such as basketball and football games, movies, etc...

Requirements- Must be at least 18 yrs old, have transportation, able to lift and transfer 168 lbs from wheelchair to vehicle, etc...

Must be able to attend required training, paid for by the agency.

Contact: PANHANDLE OPPORTUNITIES

844-2085 FAST LANES Supercenter of Edmond is now hiring carwash attendants, lube techs, and cashiers. Great pay and opportunity for advancement.

Apply in person at 2220 S Broadway.

CONSTRUCTION WORK Immediate openings PT/FT, no experience required. Hard work, good pay.

Framing experience a PLUS. Edmond area, call 824-8954.

SERVICES DENTAL PLAN

$11.95 per month single; $19.95 family. No deductibles, no claim forms.

Includes Vision, RX and chiropractic plans. Affordable health and life plans also. Call Michelle at 340-4998.

APPOINTMENT setters needed for customers and new customers. Job starts March 1. Must have good communication skills, references required. $7/hr + commissions. Call 340-3914.

PT CAREGIVER needed for a

14-yr-old boy. High functioning autism. After school, evenings, weekends. Own transportation is required. Call Margo at 341-1118.

CITY OF EDMOND is accepting

applications for summer positions: Pelican Bay Aquatic Ctr Lifeguards, Concessions & Cashier staff, Camp Edmond Recreational staff, Golf Course staff, Park Maintenance staff. Job info line 359-4648. Apply at 100 E First, Rm 106. www.ci.edmond.ok.us

Earn 51,000 - $2,000 for your Student Group in just 3 hours!

**BARTENDER TRAINEES NEEDED** $250/day potential. Local positions. Call 1-800-2933985, ext 224.

THE EDMOND Public Schools Transportation Dept is in NEED of SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS. Free CDL training.

Starting pay $8.44/hr, min 4 hrs/day. Must have application on file one week before next scheduled class in order to obtain necessary forms.

Classes run Mon-Thurs, and you must attend all four nights.

CALL 340-2962 for class -time and place.

LOOKING for individual to clean 3 bedroom, 1&1/2 bath home once per week.

Transportation can be provided. Please call 340-8310 with estimate.

HELP WANTED at Edmond Schools for cafeteria workers.

Shifts vary from 3-6 hrs/day.

Apply at 1216 S Rankin or call 34.0- 2222.

QUAIL SPRINGS optomistrist office seeks assistant. Flexible hours, must work evenings and weekends, 749-0220.

1 & 2 BEDROOM APTS, Duplexes & Townhomes, Kennedy Place Apts, 1010 N Kennedy, Edmond (Across from UCOI, 341-7911. Visit us on the web at: www.kennedyplace.com Welcome Students!

RESPONSIBLE, extroverted students needed to distribute flyers March 3 & 4. $8-$10/hr.

Call 1-800-927-9194.

PART TIME help wanted.

Moved my shop, need help with unpacking, setting up shelving, organizing, computer data input and/or service.

Computer experience helpful.

Hours flexible, near 1-35 and 33rd. Call 341-0631. $800/WEEKLY guaranteed stuffing envelopes. Send selfaddressed, stamped envelope to Oakdale Enterprises, 1151 N State St, Suite 231, Chicago, IL 60610.

FOR LEASE: New apartments, 2 bed, 2 bath, kitchen appliances, washer & dryer hookups, ceiling fans, lots of closet space. NO PETS! Excellent location, 1 block from UCO. 445 N Blackwelder,$_560/mo_ 500/de_p. TENANT ESPONSIBLE FOR ALL UTILITIES. 1 yr lease, 3419651.

THE ATHLETE'S FOOT in N OKC is accepting applications for PT employees, 12-15 hrs/wk, evenings and Saturdays. No retail experience needed. Call 848-3232.

. sows PADRE ISLAND •

tundratstng cottons available No catwashes No raffles Just success , Fundraising dates are ftihng quickly Get Min the program, that work ,

•PANAMA CITY BEACH • •STEANBOAT • •BRECKENRIDGE • •DAYTONA. BEACH • VAIL •

esampus S. 4141-4 . 4 4 14 4 11441141:4

Call Ed at 692-2235 to apply

888 - 923 - 3238 • wwwcampusfundratser.com

www.sunchase.com 1 • 800 •8'0111CHASE

10-Hour Class 1st-Time Offenders ■ ■ ■

KICKINGBIRD APARTMENTS, conveniently located next to UCO. Rates starting at $410 with GREAT MOVE-IN SPECIALS! Now open Saturday. Call to set your appointment at 341-2332.

FOR SALE BRAND NEW mattress sets straight from factory, in plastic, with warranty. Queen $105, king pillow-top $210. Call 4081458.

BASEMENT SALE March 1, 8am-5pm Crown & Chartrand Sts, Edmond Couches, chairs, dresser, tables, bed, lamps, pictures, household, clothing, shoes, much more.

Low prices.

1992 626 MAZDA, $2000, one-owner, new Goodyear tires, runs well, maroon, 4-dr, am/fm cassette, AC, 4-cyl engine. Call 359-7401.

CASH FOR BOOKS ARCHIVES BOOKS 1914 E 2nd St, Edmond 348-6800

Put Yourself to the Test...

DUPLEX FOR RENT. 2 bdrms, 2 baths, garage w/opener, CH/A, kitchen appliances, washer/dryer hookups, ceiling fans, lofs of closet space. NO PETS! Excellent condition and location. Quiet neighborhood. Located 2 blocks from UCO. 1121 E Campbell. $650/mo, $500 deposit. Tenant responsible for all utilities. 1 year lease, 341-9651.

DUI SCHOOL

College tundra tstng nidde Simpic Safe rind Fre*.

)';411 1414,, 41

OPPORTUNITY in financial planning industry. Self-paced training available. www.wealthlink.com/incomefromdebt

WWW.THEVISTAONLINE.COM

Court Approved/State Certified Walk-ins Welcome State Set Fee: $85 Assessments/Counseling

March 1-2

SAT/SUN 8:30 am-1:45

pm

March 3 4 -

MON/TUES 5:15-10:30 pm

94-DRIVE or 1(800)522-9050

Do you have the skills and knowledge to challenge one of our exams? We have approximately 45 nationally standardized exams and 158 tests developed here at UCO that you can take to earn college credit to benefit your degree.

www.okduischool.corn In OKC, AT&E Office, 2800 NW 36th Street Ste. 108

UNIVERSITY OF C

Li. 0.1.9u:

TESTING SERVICES 974-2388 302

•

Mr

apelRidge

Paulk's Plan, from page 1

NI

Management, has been meeting since August 2002, updating its emergency preparedness plan.

The committee began the work as part of its regular job description, Powers said. It is revising the university-wide "umbrella plan," to be augmented by other plans submitted by various UCO departments.

Departments represented on the committee include the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Auxiliary Operations and the Physical

Plant.

House Bill 1512 seeks to provide for "the common defense" and to protect "the public peace, health and safety, to preserve the lives and property of the people of the state" and to promote "state and natural survival and recovery in the event of a disaster or emer-

gency."

If the bill becomes law, public entities would be expected to conduct a hazard analysis detailing risks and vulnerabilities, coordinate Training for all "relevant personnel" and conduct yearly exercises to evaluate the plan.

"Relevant personnel" would include, for example, UCO DPS employees and students, Paulk said. Students would need to know what to do if a natural or manmade disaster occurred, he said.

Paulk said he has received input from various public entities and expects future modifications in the bill's language. Some of the original language in the bill was written in the early 1960s, during the Cuban missile crisis, Paulk said.

The feedback has been both positive and

negative, he said. Many fellow legislators have reacted positively, Paulk said.

The Department of Central Services, the gatekeeper for the state's physical properties, agreed with the intent of the measure, Paulk said. Others have voiced concern about the ability of some entities to pay for the plan updates.

The bill would change the name of the Civil Emergency Management Department (CEMD) to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The CEMD, Oklahoma's equivalent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, compensates schools for costs related to updating plans, Paulk said.

1. IN

Apartment homes starting $425 • OspoliS sr ,

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Deposit owl y

first full month* $87. 50!

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200 4116 • • •

TCIM Services has the right job for YOU!

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Join us for

Find out what's new at OSU Center for Health Sciences Osteopathic Medicine 41111110.

O%mad professional work environment advancement $11/hour

Biomedical Sciences

359-7444

Call our Edmond office at and ask about how to receive a

sign on bonus.

TCIM Services is an equal opportunity employer and supports the affirmative action plan.

TCIVI I -1 V I C

Need a Vacation?

Do yourself a favor and go here,

www.thevistaonline.com

Friday, March 7 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

(8:00 a.m. Registration) 'Breakfast and lunch provided.

An action packed day for pre-med advisors, faculty and prospective students.

A Tour campus and research labs A Meet faculty A Speak with medical and graduate students ♦ Learn about the latest admission trends and tips for application

RSVP by Thursday, February 27 918-699-8628 or 800-677-1972 bblaster@chs.okstate.edu

SU

OSU Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine 17th & Southwest Boulevard Tulsa, Oklahoma www.healthsciences.okstate.edu