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THEVISTA UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2003
Regents cut funding by $4.5 million by Jim Epperson III Senior Writer The state's lagging economy forced the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to slash UCO's annual funding by more that $4.5 million according to a Regents spokesperson. "Everybody got a cut," said Regents spokesperson Harve Allen. He said it is uncertain how the 9.99 percent cut compared
with other state universities. UCO administration filled out a survey in April to the states regents regarding a 10 percent reduction in state appropriations for fiscal year 2004. "To meet these [budget] constraints, we propose closing low productivity programs, eliminating secondary services such as
Intersession," it said. UCO spokesperson Charlie Johnson said raising tuition would determine what services
would be affected. "Tuition is going to go up," he said. Allen said UCO must submit a budget request with tuition increases to the regents by June 13. The survey stated that budget reductions have caused 81 fulltime faculty positions to be vacant and must be filled with lecturers or adjunct faculty. University administrators are uncertain how many full-time
faculty positions have been filled with adjunct, and Johnson said he is unsure if the Regents' count of 81 is accurate. "There is no way to tell what the student to teacher ratio will be," Johnson said, but budget cuts and vacant faculty positions will cause the student to teacher ratio to go up. According to the survey, unfilled positions will remain vacant while UCO adds 19 sections to accommodate new stu-
dents. But they do not expect to see the same 5.2 percent enrollment increase that UCO had in fiscal year 2003. Jerry Legere of Enrollment Management said the university is looking at a one percent enrollment increase, but it is hard to determine if that figure will fluctuate. "I think there are so many wild cards right now nobody knows what is going to happen," he said.
Some students are concerned about increased class sizes. If class size becomes a problem, freshman Pam Mullins said she will stop going to UCO. "If classes increase to 80 or 100, I'd probably go to OCCC," Mullins said. Emily Fullerton, an international business sophomore, said bigger classes would affect how much she learns.
Lake renovations give campus lace-lift' â– Area to be used for concerts, gatherings and outside classes by Robert T. Crauthers Staff Writer
Photo_by Tina Nyble
The newest addition to Broncho Lake is the first phase of a two-part renovation. The first phase includes a canopy, a deck and a waterfall.
The first phase of a two-part renovation of Broncho Lake is nearly complete, said Charlie Johnson, UCO News Bureau director. Almost $90,000 in private funding was used for the first phase, he said. The donations included $40,000 from various alumni, $40,000 from the Great Plains -Coca-Cola—Bottling Co. and about $10,000 from the university's construction fund.
The lake area will be used for concerts, student gatherings and outside classes, he said. "It will be a change of environment for the students... a face-lift for UCO," Johnson said. The improvements in the first phase include a canopy over the western seating area, a deck, new seating on the east side and a new waterfall that will cleanse the lake, Johnson said. The second phase, which is not yet funded, will include another deck over part of the lake, covered seating with benches, more landscaping, improved lighting and a gazebo, he said. COnstruction will begin on phase two once donations are received.
UCOSA leaders Removal of rubble to begin in July reflect changing world trends by Robert T. Crauthers Staff Writer
by Jim Epperson III Senior Writer For the first time in UCOSA history, women have been voted
"It had nothing to do with male or female. It had to do with the best choice," she said. Political Science professor Dr. Youngtae Shin, who teaches Women and Politics, said women in politics is a trend that has finally reached UCO. "It's a world trend. I guess the world is beginning to see the person with respect instead of competence." Shin said the UCO popula-
Midwest Wrecking Co. will begin to demolish the remains of East Hall in early July, following the removal of asbestos, said Charlie Johnson, UCO News Bureau director. The portion of East Hall that had already had asbestos removed was knocked down in April for a disaster training exer-cise conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Right now we are in the asbestos maintenance phase," Johnson said. Sublett & Associates Inc. of Moore, Oklahoma will remove the asbestos while Marshall Environmental Services over-
Kristin Hoffman to hold all of the primary leadership offices, said Campus Life Director Blake Fry. Kate Thrift was elected UCOSA president; Kristen Hoffman vice-president, and Ann Dunaway president of the senate. Dunaway said she talked to Thrift and Hoffman before the elections about how interesting it would be if they won their seats.
Kate Thrift tion has a majority of women. "Its just natural, if you look at the composition of the student body."
Paralympic qualifying events to be held at UCO this week by Jim Epperson III Senior Writer UCO is hosting the qualifications of the U.S. Paralympics, the equivalent of the Olympics for athletes with physical disabilities, June 6-8. "The athletes are beginning to train for the 2004 Paralympics to be held in Athens, Greece," said Katrina
Shaklee, executive director of the Sports Group, the host of the event. Junior wheelchair basketball will kick off the events at UCO in the Wellness Center at l p.m. Friday followed by adult basket- , ball. Powerlifting is at 7 p.m. Saturday and. Sunday athletes will compete in table tennis, field events, softball, running and swimming.
Photo by Tina Fowble
The remains of East Hall will be removed in early July. East Hall was partially demolished in April for a FEMA disaster training exercise. sees the process. Disposal of the material is expected to last through June, possibly early July, he said. A wrecking ball
will be brought in to tear the building down before July ends. "There is no solid plan for what will happen to the lot after
the demolition... but it will be whatever serves the university best," Johnson said.
School board members never publicly discussed not paying district OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma City school board members knew the district had stopped paying its bills, but never publicly discussed it or told vendors. The Daily Oklahoman reported that suppliers to the school district where unaware the district had decided to stop paying its bills because the board never discussed it during a public meeting. Board members said they had "side talks" about the issue but offered little explanation about why they never talked publicly. The district now owes more than $3 million in unpaid bills from the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2002. School board chairman
Cliff Hudson issued an order to stop payments so the district could try to figure out if it had enough money to pay the bills without finishing in the red. That order, school board members say, was never issued in a "formal, regular communication." "In my opinion, everything that we do that involves spending taxpayer dollars should be done in open meeting," board member Jennifer Puckett said last week. Hudson said he was telling district officials to follow the law when he ordered them to stop paying the overdue bills last fall. A fiscal 2002 audit to confirm how much money the district was expected in
December, but has been delayed. Board members say they hope the audit will be finished this month and they can begin paying overdue bills. District officials think there will be enough money, but if there's not suppliers can sue the district for payment. That could mean higher property taxes to pay the debt. School board members also can be held personally liable if the district spends more money than it has. Board Vice Chairman Joe Clytus said Hudson made the right decision, even without formal board approval. "In my personal life, I certainly don't pay everybody until I know who I owe and how much I owe," he said.
"That's just business. I think that the board chairman has the right to say, 'Let's see where we are."' Board member Al Basey said he thought the problems would be solved by now. "I will tell you, February or March, we thought we had it made," said Basey, who has been working closely with district financial officials since he joined the board late last year. "We thought it was all going to be reconciled and would be behind us." Principals complained about being shut off from some suppliers, while at least one vendor also complained, Wilson said.