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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2003
Officials run attack drill at UCO
by
Mark Schlachtenhaufen
ms@thevistaonline.com Hours before the first missiles fell on Iraq March 19, police, fire and other state officials were at UCO preparing for a worstcase scenario, responding to a fictitious terrorist attack on Oklahoma soil. About 60 representatives from local, state and federal
departments and agencies attended the daylong "table top" training exercise conducted by the National Homeland Security Training Center (NHSTC) based out of Camp Gruber, near Muskogee. Since the beginning of the war on terrorism, government officials have been concerned that terrorist attacks could occur on American soil. Oklahoma has
been taking steps, including the training exercise at UCO, to ready its first responders and various administrators. Before the attendees responded to the scenario, Dr. Mike Crutcher, a state epidemiologist, briefed them on bioterrorism issues. There are many ways a terrorist could attack Americans with biological weapons, Crutcher said.
"I can tell you that there is no way you can write a very detailed and specific plan about every possible scenario that a terrorist could use," Crutcher said. First responders and administrators rehearsed how they would mobilize the local resources of communities and how they would coordinate with state and federal officials following a bioterrorism attack.
Caroline Duke
Plans for a new state-of-theart forensics facility in Edmond were announced March 12 by the City of Edmond, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and UCO, said Claudia Deakins, public information specialist for the City of Edmond. Jessica Brown, OSBI public information director, said the $20 million complex will be built on the five-acre site on the south side of 2nd Street across from the university, but will not be completed for at least four years. The City of Edmond is still in the process of purchasing the site, she said. Among other things, the facility will be used for DNA testing, biology and ballistics, Brown said. The complex will also allow
Main enemy is fear, says bioterrorism expert
by
Mark Schlachtenhaufen
ms@thevistaonline.com Bioterrorism is a word that conjures up many frightening scenarios. But the reality is that Oklahoma has a team of professionals prepared to respond if terrorists ever unleash a biological or chemical weapon in the state. Terrorists use fear as a weapon and learning the facts about bioterrorism can reduce fear, Oklahoma Bioterrorism Preparedness Division. Director
see Bioterrorism page 5
by
for mitochondrial DNA testing, a process the OSBI is not currently able to perform due to lack of space. Charlie Johnson, university news bureau director, said the "forensic science institute" will be about 60,000 square feet and will be comprised of several buildings. Some will hold classrooms and labs that will also house the UCO forensic science degree program, he said. UCO will be involved in financing the complex, but details have not yet been worked out, Johnson said. The state Legislature passed a bill in 2001 that implemented a revolving fund from money collected from traffic tickets. Brown said the fund will contribute to the financing of the complex. "This will be revolutionary for the state of Oklahoma,"
see Forensics page 5
Thad Danner td@thevistaonline.com
Photo by Tina Fowble
Forensic Science major Jeanne Beck takes a sample of organic layer at the fofensic lab March 25.
Students react to war against Hussein
by
Jim Epperson III je@thevistaonline.com UCO students wish American troops safety and a swift, successful battle into Baghdad, but they disagree about the war's necessity. UCO history sophomore Josh Shupert said even though he is patriotic, he questions the war and thinks it is scary. The war on terrorism started with Osama bin Laden, not Saddam Hussein, he said. "We're focused on one thing — Iraq — instead of the general view of a war against terrorism. I think the Bush administration should keep that in mind," he said.
see Drill page 4
Referendum passes, four percent votes
New facility to benefit forensics department by cd@thevistaonline.com
All states, including Oklahoma, have long established systems in place for responding to infectious disease outbreaks, like the West Nile outbreak last year, Crutcher said. Bioterrorism is a manmade infectious disease outbreak, he said. Following a bioterrorism
Sarah Lamb, sociology sophomore, supports the troops, but said America should not have gone to war. "I do not think we should rule the world," she said. Josh Lemonds, Spanish senior, said he was against the war until he learned more about Hussein's regime. "After watching the news coverage on the war, I realized Saddam Hussein was playing games with the U.N. weapons inspectors," he said. "He pretty much took them [the inspectors] on a guided tour though the country. Why was he doing all that?" Lemonds said it was because Hussein was hiding weapons of
Practice Makes Perfect
mass destruction. A war against Iraq is necessary to prevent an attack on America, he said. MIS junior Irvan Irawan supports the war because it is for world peace. He said the war is not scary and when soldiers die, they will die as heroes. "I just believe if it's for world peace, God will be on our side." Dance freshman Cassidy Murphey said she didn't know a lot about a war with Iraq until it began. "Until it's something you really have to face, you don't really concentrate on it." Murphey said she was concerned when her boyfriend had to fly to Washington D.C. on business March 19, the night the war began. She worried for his safety. "It's pretty scary," she said.
The Stadium Referendum Act of 2003 passed March 12, with 410 students voting for the increase and 163 voting against it. Roughly four percent of the current 14,241-person student body cast their votes in the online election. J.P. Jordan, UCOSA president, found encouragement in the turnout, saying "it's a larger turnout than what has happened in past elections." However, this is only the first step in the process toward implementing the fee and moving forward on the improvements. The vote constitutes an expression of student support, which will be used by President Webb to make his decision. If he decides to go ahead, then the proposal goes to the Board of Regents presiding over the six regional universities, then the State Board of Regents and finally the legislature. All must approve the increase before it can be put into action. UCO President Roger Webb said he hasn't "made a decision yet [on whether to ask the Regents for the increase]." Though the referendum was phrased to approve a bond, the exact amount is not yet decided. Jordan said, "it's contingent on Major League Soccer (MLS)." President Webb said, "No one knows [the amount of the bond]. We'll get some architectural drawings and price out the improvements." He said though it was not entirely contingent on MLS, "that will be a factor, obviously, if they say no." "I would hope that I will have enough information to
see Referendum page 4
Tuition, lottery bills await final legislative process
by
UC0's tradition continues as the Bronchos
captured their 14th national title with three individual champions and clutch efforts from Jeff Henning and Jerod Goodwin. —Page 8
No. 7 baseball split a doubleheader 8-7 and 7-1 with the St. Mary's Rattlers March 23. —Page 9
Donna Nigh Gallery will showcase student art work in two exhibits next month. — Page 7
Mark Schlachtenhaufen difference. • Presidents and local regents ms@thevistaonline.com
Photo by Justin Avera
Students of Dr. Tom Isbill's class pratice their photo techniques by the Communcation Builiding on Mach 13.
Two pieces of legislation affecting higher education are nearing the conclusion of the legislative process: the tuition bill and the Education Lottery Act. Paul Sund, Gov. Henry's communications director, said barring any unforeseen legal snares, the governor could sign HB 1748, which would remove present caps limiting tuition increases, sometime this week. Before signing the bill, the governor's legal staff will review the fine print, Sund said. The measure seeks to remove the caps limiting annual increases to seven percent for residents and nine percent for non-residents. Critics of the bill say removing the caps will result in large tuition increases that will make higher education unaffordable. Bill Nations, the measure's primary author, has said more scholarships could make up the
will be required to receive final approval from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, who currently set tuition levels. Chancellor Paul Risser lobbied for the measure, described as financial aid for Oklahoma colleges and universities facing course reductions and faculty furloughs. Decreases in state tax revenue collections, the result of a continuing weak economy, have resulted in budget cuts. "The state Regents applaud legislators for the speed at which they were able to move the tuition bill through the legislative process, and we eagerly await Gov. Henry's signature," Risser said. Allowing state colleges and universities to set their own tuition levels will prevent class reductions and faculty furloughs, resulting in more college graduates, Risser said. A
see Bill page 5
New members of the Journalism Hall of Fame to be inducted March 28. —Page 6