INSIDE
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
•My Turn • Sports
PAGE PAGE
KCSC-FM named heir to listener's estate.
5
6-8
• Police Briefs PAGE 10 •Campus Events PAGE 13
PAGE 9
•Out & About PAGE 14 • Classifieds PAGE 15
The Student Voice Since 1903
WWW.THEVISTAONLINE.COM
BRIEFS >News
Donning a new name
The University Center will be renamed to honor former UCO president George Nigh in a ceremony Oct. 12. ✓ Page 3
>Sports That winning spirit Broncho soccer brought home two wins last week over Northeastern Oklahoma and East Central. ✓ Page 8
>Features Pride in self To commemorate Gay and Lesbian History Month, GATE will sponsor activites for Coming Out Week Oct. 8-12. ✓ Page 11
TODAY IN HISTORY In 1973, Elvis and Priscilla Presley were divorced following a five-year marriage. Priscilla was awarded $4,200 a month in child support for their daughter, Lisa Marie, in addition to a property award of $725,000.
QUOTE OF THE DAY "It is a man's sympathy with all creatures that truly makes him a man. Until he extends his circle of compassion to all living things, man himself will not find peace." — Albert Schweitzer
WEATHER Partly cloudy,
Tue. • chance of storms;
highs lower 80s, ;lows upper 50s.
Wed.
Showers and storms likely; highs lower 70s, lows lower 50s
TUESDAY • OCT. 9, 2001
Fate sealed for East Hall dorm BY SARAH BLOUNT
Staff Writer he decision to close East Hall last summer will remain a permanent one. After reviewing the future of student residence, the UCO housing committee said the building would be taken down soon, with only speculative plans for replacements. "East Hall was to the point where any type of routine maintenance was going to be extremely expensive," said David Stapleton, director of UCO Architectural Services. "Our goal is to tear East Hall down in the springtime." He said Architectural Services was asked to do a building evaluation almost two years ago and reported that the infrastructure was essentially gone. "We would have had to strip the building to its bare bones," he said. "It doesn't lend itself to more use." Stapleton said there would be plans for more residential quarters if the housing department has enough requests to fill up another 200 spaces, but plans aren't entirely clear right now. "Right now, we'll landscape to humanize the space. We are at least two years away from building more housing." Steve Kreidler, UCO vice president of Administration, said even though there are no plans for the location, priority goes to new housing. "New buildings like the UCO Commons and Suites don't require much maintenance," he said. "Housing pays for itself." West and East Hall are essentially the same age, built in the mid-1950s, but Stapleton said West Hall is in significantly better shape than East Hall. He explained why West Hall has lasted longer. "East Hall has deteriorated
I
PHOTO BY ELISE CARR
The East Hall dormitory closed this summer after structural damage was found inside the building. After further investigation,. UCO decided against remodeling the building, citing financial
infeasibility. UCO plans to demolish the building during the spring 2002 semester.
much more quickly because guys Murdaugh and Thatcher Hall, make the difference." 1930s era buildings, were the The future of West and original men and women Murdaugh halls is secure, for now. residence halls. Stapleton said Stapleton said West Hall has a life Murdaugh's high span of eight to 10 ceilings and historical "Right now, we'll years and appearance make it a landscape to Murdaugh has a life better building than span of three to five any other older humanize the years as residential residence on campus. housing, but it can "Our goal is for space. We are at be converted into Murdaugh to be least two years something else. retained." He said the The committee's away from university has about analysis said the a $500,000 to use university would have building more for repairs on the to spend over $3 housing." two dormitories. million just to make Smoke detectors, East Hall acceptable. —David Stapleton mechanical and Stapleton said a new director, UCO electrical systems 300 bed residential Architectural and changes in fire building would cost $6 Services exits are of priority. million. "The repairs will be for the Kay Jones of the Housing infrastructure, not cosmetic," Administration said East Hall Stapleton said. residents did not experience any
problems finding places to live. Jones said Grubb and Ellis, a real estate company, accommodated East Hall residents. Students filled out applications and the company gave housing recommendations. "The company, at no charge, placed residents in housing within a five to 10 mile radius," Jones said. "We have a lot of vision on campus. East Hall closed at the same time the UCO suites opened," she said. Kreidler said he thought there would be concern from former East Hall residents, but he didn't experience any problems in accommodations. "This has been a very difficult process for everyone," Kreidler said. "But students deserve to have top quality housing." •