UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY
The Student Voice Since 1903
Short break gives spring grads jump on finding employment
Revised fees to finance new student fitness center By Mike Greer
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StaffYirita
By Mike Greer
Stair-Wirer
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cross campus this week students are filing back into classrooms. Some are talking about their Christmas, some about New Year's. Most just want to know why their vacations are already over. This winter break was shorter than most. From December 17 to January 10, there is a three week break. Last year UCO had four weeks of vacation between semesters. "The idea," said Jerry Legere, assistant vice president of enrollment management, "is to get students out early in the spring so they could get a jump on summer jobs." Legere was the chair on the University Calendar Committee that made the current schedule. The committee consisted of 11 faculty and administrators and student Allison Martin. Many students feel their opinion has been ignored. "After a fall semester with no fall break, I'm a little burnt out. Now they go and cut a week of out Christmas?" said junior Randy Rothwell. Regardless of popular opinion, the schedules are already set. Usually the committee has the schedule decided a year and a half in advance. Martin, the lone student representative, has graduated since helping determine the current schedule. Student Services traditionally elects a student for the committee. "We could just cut the break altogether, spring break too. Then we'll be out of here in mid-April," said UCO sophomore Alison Payne. Another Calendar Committee will meet this spring to discuss future schedules. 40
JANUARY 13, 2000
—Staff photo by Landon Salyer
Facing the future... As the year 2000 dawns and the sun rises over the UCO campus, our mascot stands steadfast, ready to face whatever challenges this era brings. The Broncho statue is located in front of Hamilton Field House on the north side of the campus.
eginning this semester students are paying a newly structured fee to fund the campus' new Wellness Center. The old facility fee consisted of a $20 flat fee plus $2 per credit hour. The new plan calls for $4.30 per credit hour with no flat fee. The new plan costs less for those taking fewer than nine hours but slightly more for each additional credit after that. According to the new rate, nine credit hours will cost an additional $1.70. Fourteen credit hours will cost an extra $12.20. Taking 18 credit hours will cost students $21.40 more under the new system. This restructuring should generate an extra $67,000 for the project. With the projected opening date of fall 2001, some students are concerned they are paying for something they will never get to use. This is not the first time the university has asked students to prepay for improvements. Students in the early 1990's paid similar fees to fund the Max Chambers Library addition which opened in 1997. "One problem with this sort of project is that people who don't necessarily get to use it are the ones paying for it," said Keith Weber, research assistant to the president.
• See WELLNESS, Page 2