Russian defector compares new life in U.S. to homeland By Lina Hammond Sergi Zamascikov, a former Russian Political officer who defected to the west in 1979 was the guest speaker Wednesday at Central State University. "I wanted to be free, a person can live in a free country and chose not to be free. In Russia people try to be free and they can't," said Zamascikov. Zamascikov is the son of a retired army political officer and a high school teacher. The fact that Zamascikov's father was an officer in the army made it possible for him and his family to be part of Russia's two or three percent of the privileged class, which can be compared to America's middle class, according to Zamascikov. During a press conference Zamascikov said, "I never con-
sidered myself a communist and I never believed in communism and when I had to join the party I did so under clear understanding that that will bring me to the west." "Eventually I came to the stage when I realized that my position was going to be my ticket to the West. Usually party officials in Russia are allowed to leave the country one in three years," he added. Italy seemed like the perfect place for Zamascikov to apply for Visa, he said, because Italy excepts Russian defectors. During a meeting with the Russian Council General in Milan, Zamascikov was assured that if he went back to Russia he would not be persecuted. He said the General asked him
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why he wanted to defect. Zamascikov's response to the Council General was, "It is none of your business. I've wanted to tell that to government officials for a long time." When asked about the political system in the United States Zamasciukov responded, "The weaknesses of the system in the USA comes from its strengths and an alternative to this would be a strong government control." The Soviet Union is the most unequal society, with unequal access to almost anything, like food, housing, political influence and career, he added. In the Soviet Union people impose certain ideologies on a person so people will not think about asking questions, he said.
Vista photo by Daniel Smith
Soviet defector Sergei Zamascikov, Wednesday in the Liberal Arts auditorium.
addresses students
March 7, 1985 Vol. 83, No. 42
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Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Museum director presents medley I art show By Thomas Schwartz David Mickenberg, executive director of the Oklahoma Museum of Art (OMA), presented a slide show - and program Wednesday dealing with Medieval art from 900-1500 A.D. The presentation was held in the Liberal Arts auditorium. Mickenberg was introduced by humanities professor Lillian Boland. Boland praised Mickenberg and his work at the OMA saying "he is bringing art to so many of us." "And now, here's God's gift to Oklahoma City," Boland said as Mickenberg walked through the door. The slide show and spoken presentation done by Mickenberg dealt with the OMA's "Songs of Glory: Medieval Art from 900-1500" exhibition on display currently at the museum. Begun in late 1981, the exhibit was completed for display at the beginning of 1985 and cost more
than $200,000 to acquire and display. Mickenberg explained there are three types of art exhibits: those that are rented from one source, those that are borrowed from a collector or organization, and those that are acquired from many sources around a central theme or concept. The "Songs of Glory" exhibit is an example of the latter, Mickenberg said. "These (theme-concept) exhibits take the longest to acquire, are the most difficult to display, are the most complicated and definitely the most expensive," Mickenberg said. The exhibit opened at the OMA on January 22. More than 30 public and private collections are represented within the exhibit, containing more than 200 pieces of what Mickenberg called "the finest examples of medieval art in this country." The works on view come from such renowned collections as the Boston Museum of
Fine Arts; the Detroit Institute of Art; the Seattle Art Museum; The Robert Lehman Collection and others. The exhibit is arranged around a background of ecclesiastical domination and the evolution of western European feudal society. "The art of the middle ages decorated places of worship, which illustrates the power of the church and how it pervaded almost all aspects of secular and religious life," Mickenberg said. Within the exhibit are many different types of artwork, including stained glass; ivories; jewelry; manuscript illuminations; cloisonne (a kind of enamel work in which the surface decoration is set in hollows, formed by thin strips of wire welded to a metal plate in a complex pattern); bronze and stone sculptures; paintings, prints and drawings; arms and armor; tapestries and vestments.
Coeds compete for Miss CSU Nine Central State coeds will compete for the Miss CSU 1985 crown tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell Hall. The winner will receive a oneyear scholarship, a $500 wardrobe, a chance to compete
in the Miss Oklahoma contest and many other prizes. Carla Crull, 20, a junior fashion merchandising major, will perform a vocal solo. Jana Engelke, 19, a sophomore finance major and last year's first runner-up, will sing.
In this issue. . Bronze and Blue Revue...page 3 The great Vista crater competition...page 4 Art students hang banner at capitol...page 6 CSU wrestler looks to repeat... 7 Outdoor track season begins...page 8
Janice James, 19, a sophomore elementary education major and the second runner-up in last year's pageant, will dance. Tonya Lawrence, 22, a sophomore performing arts major, will perform a modern dance. Regina Machnicz, 18, a freshman sociology major, will perform a saxophone and vocal solo. She was Miss Del City 1984. Virginia Nichols, 19, a freshman marketing major, will perform a piano solo. Sheila Roberts, 19, a sophomore business education major, will sing. Carol Ann Roy, 19, a freshman broadcasting major, will peform a vocal solo. Tracy Tims, 19, a sophomore speech pathology major, also will sing.
The "Songs of Glory" exhibit and Monday through Wednesday will be on display at the OMA un- evenings, 6:30-9 p.m. The OMA is til April 29. Group or private closed Monday morning and tours of the collection may be afternoon and on major holidays. scheduled by calling the museum tourline at 840-5603. Reservations should be made two weeks in advance whenever possible. Tour admission charges are $3 for adults and $2 for students. Regular admission charges (without tours) are $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for students. Tuesday evenings admission is free. OMA hours have been extended during the "Songs of Glory" exhibit. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Dr. Reginald Hocker
Biology professor retires By Eva Galipeau Teachers of the 1980s often find the classroom is a hodgepodge of computerization and modern educational methods. But for Central State University retiring biology professor, teaching still "boils down to the human thing of friendship and understanding." Dr. Reginald Hocker, CSU faculty member since 1956, is packing up his textbooks this semester after more than 30 years in from in front of a classroom. "I know I'm going to miss it," Hocker said. "You become aware every August that you're not in your usual place." The biology professor began his teaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas. Hocker claims that the classroom provides a learning experience for both students and teachers alike. "All along the way you're experiencing things instead of already knowing it all," he said. "It's always exciting to see youth finally understanding something and appreciating it." Hocker's methods of education reflect his belief in the human approach. "It's like a family situation—you can teach a student to either like something or hate it," he commented. `,`We've done such a poor job of making the sciences come alive that students have stopped being interested." His solution is to work with students in smaller groups "at least until they get interested." "Unfortunately, with growing enrollments and bigger classes, we don't always get the opportunity to do that," Hocker noted. Hocker's only regret upon leaving the world of teaching is that he didn't manage to solve all the problem that plague education. "It's a wee bit disappointing," he jested. "I've been at this for more than 30 years. Looks like I'd have wised up.