MISS BLACK UCO

By Trent Dugas StaffWriter

Only one of the seven contestants competing for Miss Black UCO will be crowned at 7 p.m. on Feb 6 in Mitchell Hall Theater.

The university's annual Miss Black UCO pageant will be held at 7 p.m. in Mitchell Hall Theater.

Multiculture Student Services and the Black Student Association are hosting the pageant.

The winner of the pageant will recieve a one-year scholarship, a diamond bracelet, a $500 wardrobe allowance and a trophy. Semester scholarships and a trophy are the prizes for first and second runner-ups.

Jami Joyner, pageant coordinator, said she believes the pageant is a learning tool for the girls and entertainment for the audience. "Our pageant doesn't just focus on cosmetic beauty," she said. "A lot of it is confidence, personality, poise, charm and talent. Overall, I think everyone is looking at the whole package, not just 'she's pretty,' but if she is well spoken and can stand up for herself."

Joyner said the applicants go through a selection process in order to become a contestant. She makes sure their academics are up to standards and they are not struggling in school.

Joyner asks the applicants if they have anything in their background that someone could construe as negative, such as felonies or personal problems. "We try not to discriminate or anything like that, but certain things need to be asked because they (the contestants) are representing the university."

The pageant will have something many people believe to be inappropriate—a swimsuit competition.

Joyner does not think anything is wrong with the swimsuit competition. She said UCO's pageant handles the swimsuit competition with respect. "With our pageants, we have had contestants of all shapes and sizes," she said. "It is about how you carry yourself. You can sexualize something or you can have some dignity about it and I think it depends how the pageant presents itself. We do ask the contestants when they are picking out bathing suits to be tasteful."

One of the judges said she does not like the swimsuit competition, but the pageant is following Oklahoma procedures. "I don't see where it (swimsuit category) would be necessary in any other case, but we are keeping in accordance to the Miss Black Oklahoma pageant," she said. "It depends on what is necessary in these pageants. We don't want the girl who wins to go on to the Oklahoma pageant and be surprised that there is a swimsuit contest."

Last year's Miss Black UCO, Kelly Lambeth, went on to become Miss Black Oklahoma.

Lyndale Walls, pageant director, said he was proud of Lambeth and all the girls in this year's pageant. "I think if the swimsuit part of the pageant was eliminated, there would be more people to participate," Walls said. "The swimsuit part does give the girls more confidence but I have had girls say to me 'I would like to be in the pageant but I am not getting up there in my bathing suit.' It discourages the girls."

This year's pageant contestants are Flora F. Albers, Christina Calhoun, Anesha Harrison, Dawn D. Haygood, Renika T. McFadden, Tamara J. Pugh and Pertricee N. Traylor.

Sherrill Carrington, Miss Black UCO 1988, and Carla Shaw, Miss Black UCO 1994 will emcee the pageant.

The catagories of competition are interview, talent, evening gown, swimsuit and projection. The winner will go on to compete for Miss Black Oklahoma.

Admission is free to UCO students, faculty and staff and $5 for the general public.

Financing for the prizes comes from the Student Activity Fee fund, which everyone pays in their UCO tuition.

Va lentine's Day

It's right around the corner, and we've got

osi c_ eS 'keels • „ A ber 7;38?7d6Y 5 '4 e 3r T- 1.0 98 7654 01/1 0 / 00 Siscopping .COM Capping

CC)rn the gifts that could save your life! Shopping .com Your source for Back-to-School Everything! V9Xeeig C/Nregpv • Also Available In 100 7 9c , 200 Minutes No strings attached . No connedion charge ailaz,vag - . No monthly billing Sign up for a Maximizer Account Today! • Earn Bonus Dollars • Free Emaili • Free [-Newsletter - Personalized Shopping.List Build your own Website at Shopping_com! 500 Minute Pre-Paid Phone Cards Call your Mother, she misses you. $5 999

Book:

All Bestsellers 30'96 Off List Price... IEVa7217 DLSYrki

Please Join multicultural student services

The Biqck student Association

We also carry V11,3g7i13CX:XXO at Incredibly Low Prices! Music CD!

I, Tools Celli-Tech Grape ,46-06 4.3 On List trite yaw Savo

ega nor Fat Burners /10741C4 bia trite Yew Sawa Pewer nor Athielic Power Bar worn 74 List Price Yaw Soy.

Otaltinsun Nutrition 100% Whey Protein aeca. Zink lid No Vow Saw. ir ... . ,,,,........ ruirrrfr-- - - . 2.

All Billboard Top 40 CDs only a0.477 each... L21111217 DC:1711

Sports Nutritior

$39.99

S54.” $20.001

INK =If

4111/111110

$9.99 516.94 $7.001

$23.99 542.00 $10.011

$19.99 531.1111 020.001

Sho pp ing