University of Central Oklahoma
TUESDAY anuary 27, 1998
The Student Voice Since 1903
Many UCO employees receive pink slips By Mark A. Schneberger Staffilliriter
D
ozens of pink slips were delivered to University Center Bookstore and Food Service department employees Friday, notifying them that their employment with the university would soon be terminated. The termination letters came only days after employees were notified that the university hoped to hire outside companies, such as Barnes and Noble Booksellers, to take over the respective departments. They also came less than a week after Administration Vice President Dr. Cornelius Wooten said he expected most workers to keep- their jobs if outside companies are hired. In the letter, written by UCO Human Resources Director Blanche Washington, employees were told that their last day of employment would come relatively soon. "The employment status of all food service and bookstore employees will be terminated July 31, 1998, unless further notice is given," Washington wrote. "As Human Resources Director, I am sensitive to the fact that this is a very traumatic experience and I encourage you to take advantage of the counseling services provided through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)," she added in her letter. "The Office of the State Employment Service has been contacted regarding the expected layoff and are available to visit with you at your convenience to assist you in finding other
in pm up ma INSIDE >, BOOKS UCO professors Chris Markwood and Charles Simmons publish books. 7
employment." Bookstore and Food Service employees would not publicly comment about the firings. Individually, though, they said they were shocked to hear the news and worried for their financial futures. They noted, however, that they still had hopes that they could find jobs with whichever company was hired to take over their departments. Bookstore Manager Bob Campbell and Assistant Manager Jesse Nelson said they had not yet received termination notices. Neither would comment about their personal feelings, but both said they expected letters to arrive at their homes soon. "I live pretty far out, so maybe mine hasn't made it to me yet," said Nelson. Washington, in her letter, also noted that she expected outside companies to be hired by Aug. 1. Yet her words regarding the firings may have been somewhat premature, at least according to statements made by Director of Purchasing Ron Mattingly and Wooten. Washington did not return repeated phone calls made by The Vista about the timliness of her letter. Mattingly, last Friday, said the university had not even begun soliciting bids from outside businesses, such as Barnes and Noble, because he had not finished writing the requests. He was uncertain when he would finalize his efforts to contact the outside companies. "I hope to have that done soon. I guess I have to have it Bobby Osmand and one-year-old Devan Dunsmor browse the selection of fiction books in the done soon," Mattingly said. He UCO Bookstore. The tables of books were added to the store's normal offferings of textbooks V See FIRED, Page 4 and supplies last week. (Staff photo by Bryan Terry)
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Broncho basketball coach achieves his 200th career victory Saturday.
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SPORTS
INDEX Edtiorial Sports .... 1 0,1 1 ;entertainment 13 round