The Vista Oct. 11, 2001

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INSIDE

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

• Letters

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Financial aid Internet chat session available

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• Sports PAGE 6 & 7 • Out and About PAGE 12 • Column

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• Campus Events PAGE 14

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• Classifieds PAGE 15

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BRIEFS >News Chemical warfare A chemical weapons specialist discusses chemical attack scenarios and what to do in the event of such an attack. ✓ Page 10

>Sports Sorrow and joy Barry Bonds ties Mark McGwire's record, and mourns the death of his former bodyguard and friend. ✓ Page 7

>Features UCO 4 ME A new program hopes to foster unity among multicultural UCO students. v Page 8

TODAY IN HISTORY In 1975, Saturday Night Live debuted with comedian George Carlin as the first host. The original cast included Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin and the voice of Don Pardo. The cast has included comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Andy Kaufman, Chris Farley and Mike Myers.

QUOTE OF THE DAY "There is no indispensable man." — Woodrow Wilson

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THURSDAY •

11

OCT. 11, 2001

UCOSA addresses financial aid effectiveness BY J.W. MCBEE

Staff Writer

S

tudent complaints of lost

student financial aid, commented on the allegations. "It is very difficult to respond to general comments from students, because each student's processing experience may not be the same, while there are a lot of things that the student might consider as delays," Fugett said.

She said the only way for her to put someone on hold on the old phones was to "leave the phone off the hook." "In order to put someone on hold you have to tap the switchhook and hang up the phone," said Ron E. Beard, director of telephone telecommunications.

paperwork, delays, and inability to reach office personnel has prompted UCO's Student Association (UCOSA) to survey the campus about the effectiveness of the Financial Aid office. The survey is headed by UCOSA's President Pro Tempore Jason Vaughn and Speaker of the House, Tyler Tully. "The main problem is the lack of effective communication between the Financial Aid office and students," Tully said. One issue brought up was the fact that phones were left off the hook earlier in the semester. Another problem addressed by UCOSA is loss of paperwork and PHOTO BY ELISE CARR delays in processing applications Senior political science major, Chrystal Mortimer, discusses her in the Financial Aid office. Sheila Fugett, director of financial aid status with UCO financial employee David Selliman.

Fugett said, "When you deal with the number of students, the volume of paper, the complexity of eligibility, and the difference of the issues associated, there is no doubt that there could be some problems relative to the sheer volume." Vaughn pointed out that not everyone in the office is part of the problem. "It depends on who you talk to. There are people in the Financial Aid office that are friendly and then there are others," Vaughn said. A meeting is scheduled at 3 p.m., Oct. 17 in Room 126-J for the Financial Aid office and UCOSA to discuss the problems outlined in the administered survey. "I hope that the leadership of the Financial Aid office realize the huge problems that they have in terms of publicity," Vaughn said. •

World Within pairs U.S., international students BY LAURA BELLO

Staff Writer

I

n light of the Sept. 11 tragedy, UCO faculty and students have found a way to make a difference on campus. "It's like the bumper sticker — think globally, act locally," said Ronald Bogle, vice president of External Affairs. A program to unite international and U.S. students called "UCO's World Within: Campus Friendships for Global Understanding," will host its first event at 3 p.m. Oct. 22 at Evans Field. The program will match an international student with a U.S. student of the same gender. Those two students will join six other students and an Edmond couple to form a virtual family. At the reception, the two students will meet for the first time and afterward there will be a soccer game with mixed

nationalities on each team. enrolled, 1,843 are international "We've been through a students representing 106 tragedy that will have a countries, said Aaron Wilkerson permanent impact," said Dr. of the International Office. William Wiseman, director of Wiseman said as a university University Relations. we have not taken advantage of He wants the the opportunity program to bring we have for friendships and international understanding friendships on among diverse campus. cultures during "We have a tense times. wealth of The program international hopes to students we can facilitate lifelearn from," he long friendships said. between He said a students. program like this CAMPUS FRIENDSHIPS FOR manna. IINDERSTANDINC "This is what is necessary college is all about — who you because of American's poor meet," Wiseman said. reputation abroad. The virtual families will meet "A lot of U.S. students don't throughout the year and the have a real good picture of how World Within committee will we are perceived around the plan events. world," Wiseman said. Of the 14,707 students The idea for the program

came from Wiseman and President Roger Webb. It was put together in a couple of days and it is still in the early stages, Wiseman said. "We have 50 people working on it today [Friday], and will probably have 100 by Monday." Wiseman said. The committee has two weeks to gather student information, match students and find Edmond families. Wiseman thinks this will inspire other universities to form similar organizations. To be a part of this program, students can pick up registration forms in the Campus Life office, International Office or any dean's office and turn it in by Oct. 17. For more information, call 9745060 or log on to www.ucok.edu/worldwithin . •

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