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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2003
MO officials detail INS changes by Mark Schlachtenhaufen ms@thevistaonline.com A government program designed to track visitors and help weed out terrorists on American soil is making life more difficult for UCO international students and university administration. The National Security EntryExit Registration System (NSEERS) has some international students searching for immigration attorneys and UCO grappling with the administrative aspect. About 100 UCO stu-
dents learned about how the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) program affects them during an informational meeting Jan. 17. A separate meeting was held for 250 new international students. The INS is taking a firm stance on a position that, in the past, it might not have been so firm about, said Glenn Freeman, international student advisor. The vast majority of students who have registered have had no difficulty of any kind. There have been instances where students
have been detained for various reasons, he said. By Aug. 1, all international students in the United States must have their admission form (I-20), issued at the INS website (ins.usdoj.gov), Daneshfar said. About 55,000 have registered thus far. UCO has 1,881 international students from more than 104 countries. "The goal [of NSEERS] was to make sure the people who were coming into the United States on temporary visas were actually doing what they said
they would be doing," Freeman said. Jalal Daneshfar, immigration and activities coordinator, told the students the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 accelerated the implementation of NSEERS, which had been in the works for about a decade. The original intent was to build a method for tracking visitors. "This semester is the first semester that we are seeing some of the results," Daneshfar said. Annually, some 35 million foreign nationals enter the United States for non-immigra-
tion purposes, Daneshfar said. They include students, tourists and about 30 other categories. The INS is focusing on male students over 16, he said. Out of the 25 countries added to the registry as of Jan. 17, about 23 or 24 are Muslim countries, Daneshfar said. "Many of us believe that in order not to send a negative impression...perhaps it should be across the board," said Daneshfar, a Muslim.
see NSEERS page 5
Athletic director retires after 32 years on campus
Inspired
by Ryan Jameson rj@thevistaonline.com UCO athletic director John "Skip" Wagnon announced his retirement today after serving the UCO sports department for 32 years. Skip Wagnon began his career at UCO in 1969, working as a student trainer. He has also held the positions of Executive Director of the UCO Alumni Association, head golf coach from 1977-79 and head athletic trainer. "The primary reason I wanted to do it this early in the school year is to give the opportunity for Dr. Webb and the administration to select a successor so someone can be in place when I actually leave on June 30," Wagnon said.
Baseball receives No. 1ranking in the Lone Star Conference North Division preseason poll. — Page 8
reaped the benefits of Wagnon's guidance, capturing dozens of conference titles in various sports while still competing nationally for many awards. His coaching record consists of producing 13 NCAA Division II All-Americans, including one national champion, Dax Johnston, current UCO golf coach. "I'll still be at all the games Photo Services and I'll be able to be a fan," Wagnon said. John "Skip" Wagnon, UCO "I can holler at the referees athletic director, said he now, I could never do that. Now will retire in June 2003. I can really have some fun." Wagnon, 56, took over the Skip Wagnon was inducted athletic director's post in 1986 into the Oklahoma Athletic overseeing UCO's move from Directors Hall of Fame in 1999. NA1A play to NCAA Division No timetable has been placed on including their move to the finding his replacement. Lone Star Conference. The athletic department
Lottery debate heats up in state Photo by Justin Avera
Art junior Abby Simons concentrates on her project in the Art building Jan. 21.
Miss UCO tradition continues Jan. 25 by Caroline Duke cd@thevistaonline. corn Thirteen women will vie for the glory and financial benefits that come with the title of Miss UCO 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 in Mitchell Hall Theatre. Full-time female students who maintain a 2.0 GPA and are between the ages of 17 and 24 are eligible for the pageant, said Christina Gilmore, assistant director of Campus Life and pageant board member. "It is a preliminary to the Miss Oklahoma and Miss America pageants," said Gilmore. Winston Banta, pageant
director, said, "The top five finalists will receive UCO tuition waivers, in addition to some cash scholarships." The criteria for judging are broken into four categories, he said. The first is the interview process, in which the candidate speaks about a platform she has chosen. She is judged on her knowledge of the topic, what she has done to impact that platform and her presentation skills. Next the candidates are judged on their talent act, entertainment value and technique. The third part of the judging process is the swimsuit competition, which
by Mark Schlachtenhaufen ms@thevistaonline.corn Editors Note: This is the first of a two-part series about lotteries. Part one details lottery systems. Part two will examine the pros and cons of lotteries. With Gov. Brad Henry saying he wants the lottery on a ballot sometime this summer, the odds of Oklahoma gaining a new form of state-sanctioned gambling are higher now than they were six months ago and the great debate is on. Oklahoma could soon be deciding whether or not they want a lottery, what kind of lottery and if that is their choice what the state should do with the proceeds. "The job of a lottery is to provide money to fund a
sp@thevistaonline.com The Hispanic American Student Association is accepting applications until Jan. 29 for contestants in the Fourth Annual Miss Hispanic UCO Scholarship Pageant. Veronica Pena, pageant director, said contestants must be UCO students, in good standing with the university, unmarried and have at least a 2.0 grade point average. Pena said this pageant is different from other pageants in that there is no cost to participate and no swimsuit competition. Also, the winner of the Miss Hispanic pageant doesn't go on to compete in a larger pageant.
Opinion polls indicate that at present public support for an education lottery in Oklahoma is high, said Paul Lund, Gov. Henry's communications director. Education and the budget crisis are the governor's top priorities, he said. Oklahomans want to restore education revenue, pay teachers more and produce more college graduates. But how? A one-cent sales tax? A lottery What is the truth about lotteries? Are they immoral, a corrupting influence on society? Or, when economic times are tough, are they the final answer to fiscal woes? "The truth probably lies somewhere in between," Zamaripa said.
Men's basketball's 93-82 win over Texas A&MCommerce extended their winning streak to six. — Page 8
see Lottery page 5
see Pageant page 4
WHERE THE MONEY GOES
Applications due for Miss Hispanic UCO by Summer Pratt
cause," said Mark Zamaripa, president of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASLP). In Oklahoma, the cause appears to be education. Governor Henry has long touted a lottery dedicated to education. "I'd like that because whenever I drive to Kansas and Missouri they get our money and we need to keep it here," said UCO student Stephanie Finley. Thus far this fiscal year (FY), the state's education budget shortfall is almost $160 million and local media outlets broadcast dire reports nearly daily. Tax collections have continuously come in beneath projections and the state Constitution mandates a balanced budget.
"We don't have a Miss Hispanic Oklahoma Pageant. There have been talks about it though," Pena said. Contestants will compete on a basis of the following categories: evening gown, interview, talent and Latina Who You Admire. In the Latina Who You Admire portion, contestants dress as a Latina they admire and tell why they admire her. Pena said contestants often dress as someone who has been a success in their major or is from the country they represent. Miss Hispanic UCO 2003 will win a $1,800 scholarship to be spread between over two
see Applications page 4
COLORADO
OREGON
Total Proceeds: $110 million
Total Proceeds: $830 million
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•Great Outdoors CO Trust Fund $46.5 million
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•Conservation Trust Fund $44.0 million
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:
NV LT , UT
• Public School
OK JAR A
111
Fund
$8.5 million
States With Lotteries States Without Lotteries*
GEORGIA Total Proceeds: $T26 million
•HOPE Scholarships $323.0 million • 196,002 Scholarships given to Georgia Students
•Alaska and Hawaii are also without Lottery systems.
Source: NASPL (National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries); Oregon Lottery, Georgia Lottery: Colorado Lottery.
Graphic by Chris Maupin
An Oklahoma woman wants to change the way caskets are sold in the state. — Page 10