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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2002
Officials propose twisting lid off tuition cap ■ Oklahoma students pay 70 percent of the national average for tuition and fees, ranking among the seven cheapest states to attend college. by Michael Larson ml@thevistaonline.com The recent avalanche of budget cuts has higher education administrators scouring the cold
shadow of an economic cliff for haven — some more willing than others to dig down into the warm pockets of students. Senate Bill 596, which passed May 2001 under more economically stable skies, transferred the burden of approving tuition raises from the state legislature to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OKSRHE.) In order to gradually warm Oklahoma's tuition rates up to the national average, the bill also allowed regents to approve up to seven-percent increases in tuition
every year. With statewide education budget cuts some administrators are anxious to get rid of the seven percent cap. John Michael Hays, President of Southwestern University in Weatherford, said, "The students, taxpayers, and people involved in higher education have to decide what level of quality they are willing to pay. for. IF tax payers say this is all we can do, and students want higher quality, they are going to have to pay for it themselves." Because Southwestern State
and UCO are under the same 6school board of regents, called BOROC, and charge the same fixed tuition rates, a hypothetical tuition jump for Southwestern State would up UCO with it. As it stands, UCO has already taken a $1 million budget cut as it began its fiscal year July 1, and another $2 million cut just weeks ago. Steve Kreidler, UCO vice president for administration, said so far he has been able to piece together enough money to keep UCO afloat, thanks largely to an
enrollment increase and a refund on workers compensation insurance. Kreidler said he had anticipated the tax cuts, and set aside money last year, but that, "If our budget cuts get any deeper, we'll have to deal with that if that as well." "We are not planning on tuition increases above that which are allowed by law," Kreidler said.
The Ten Percent Myth: How much of your brain is active? - Page 4
see Tuition Cap, page 5
Candidates disagree on how to fund higher education woes by Mark Schlachtenhaufen ms@thevistaonline. corn Independent Gary Richardson and Republican Steve Largent agree that Oklahoma's colleges and universities are under funded, but the gubernatorial candidates disagree on how they would find revenue to fill in the gap. Higher education in Oklahoma was the focus of the gubernatorial candidates' issues forum Oct. 2 in the state House of Representative's chamber. The Oklahoma Higher Education Alumni Council sponsored the event. During the hour-long forum, Regent Cheryl P. Hunter, Edmond Mayor Saundra Gragg Naifeh, the Tulsa World's Ken Neal, and BancFirst Chairman of the Board Gene Rainbolt quizzed the candidates. Last month, the State Regents for Higher Education cut $36 million from its budget, forcing Oklahoma's 25 colleges and universities to make reductions in their budgets. State revenue collections have been down, and future budget cuts are a real possibility, state officials have said. "If we want to fund education and do it at appropriate levels
we've got to figure out how to get our economy moving in a different direction," Largent said. Richardson said, "I do believe we have to start work on things that we do have control over and that is making ways where we can help people get college degrees. We have to look at raising the state by raising the education level." Each candidate believes the state would save millions by reforming government and cutting unnecessary programs. Richardson and Henry want a state-run lottery system to raise money for education. Largent does not favor a lottery. Liquor by the drink and paramutual betting were supposed to help fix the financial problems in the state education system, but did not, Largent said. "And now look at the answer, a lottery," Largent said. "That's the answer? That's gonna fix it? It's not gonna work. You've got to overhaul the engine." Richardson cited progress made by Georgia in its education system after implementing a state-run lottery. With the improvements that followed, Richardson said the number of
high school seniors leaving Georgia dropped substantially. Under Richardson's plan, when lottery-generated revenue collections maintain projected levels, $155 million would be spent annually on college scholarships. To qualify, students would need a minimum 2.5 GPA and a 21 on the ACT. Richardson's plan is modeled after Oregon's lottery, he said. "We've got to invest in the future of our state, and by investing in the future of our children we are investing in the future of our state," Richardson said. Largent said the private sectw creates new wealth in a state, not the government. "Taxpayers and the state of Oklahoma are subsidizing seventy-two percent of every college student's education in the state of Oklahoma today," Largent said. Oklahomans "have watched eighty percent of the top twenty percent of our graduates leaving the state." Largent stressed the significance of getting post-secondary education by saying that a college graduate will earn in their lifetime a minimum of $1 million
see Debate, page 5
MO researcher, professor, mentor schedules return trip to work at NASA by Summer Pratt sp@thevistaonline.com Dr. Baha Jassemnejad, UCO professor of physics and engineering, worked with nanotechnology at NASA this summer. Jassemnejad has plans to return to NASA next summer and hopes to take at least one UCO student with him. Jassemnejad worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio to develop a pair of laser tweezers that can manipulate particles about 900 nanometers in size, or about 1/1000th the width of a human hair. "It's very promising technology. It's supposed to help us in many areas," Jassemnejad said. He said the laser tweezers will allow scientists to arrange particles like atoms and molecules without damaging them when creating tiny materials and machines. He said the first priority in selecting a student to go with him when he goes back to NASA will be the student's level of enthusiasm. Jassemnejad has asked junior
Photo by Rebecca Martin
Over the summer Dr. Bahaeddin Jassemnejad worked with nanotechnology at NASA, manipulating particles with laser tweezers. engineering physics-sciences major, Cassie Hoyt, to go with him. Hoyt met Jassemnejad her freshman year while taking Introduction to Physics, a general education class for non-science majors. "He thought I did well and he said, why don't you become an engineering physics major?" she said. She said Jassemnejad is her mentor and encourages her to stay on track.
"It's nice to have someone on the inside rooting for you," she said. Hoyt has started reading about nanotechnology to prepare for the work she'll do for NASA. She said she was impressed to learn the things you can do with an optic laser. "It's really cool that you can manipulate tiny cells," she said. Hoyt said she is eager to begin
see NASA, page 3
Photo by Rebecca Martin
The newly constructed Department of Design's office will be named in honor of James W. and Lorraine R. Watson on Oct. 11.
2002 International Festival featured countries, cultures and traditions. See pictures inside. - Page 3
Identity of design office sets department apart by Kristen Armstrong ka@thevistaonline.com The newly formed UCO Department of Design will have the official opening of its new office, the James W. and Lorraine R. Watson Department of Design Office, on Oct. 11. The department was established under the College of Arts, Media, and Design, which was inaugurated in January 2001. "UCO is at the forefront of a trend across the country to create design departments separate from art departments," said Dr. Jim Watson, chairman of the design department. "We are the only university in Oklahoma to have a distinct design department, and we are one of the few in the nation," he said. Once the Design Department was formed, it became increasingly obvious that design students needed a separate identity from art students, Watson said. This quest for identity took the shape of a new office devoted specifically to the needs of a design group. Throughout the year, Watson saved departmental funds to pay for the construction of a new office. However, once the university budgets were zeroed in July, the money was gone. "My parents donated the money to build this office, so we are honoring them in its name," he said. Construction on the office was finished Sept. 25. Since then, other renovations and redecorating have been taking place in order to give the design wing of the Art Building a facelift. "We wanted a space that really said, 'Design' when you walked into it. We wanted to be separate from Art," said Watson. He designed the area himself, working on a grid different from the original building. "Everything in the office is a symbol. We angled the walls and used a different grid system to show that in design, you
must 'think outside the box,' he said. The double doors disappear into the wall to provide a sense of openness. Designer chairs sit in the waiting area. Silver metal letters of all fonts and sizes spell 'DESIGN' over the reception desk. The faculty mailboxes are personalized with anything that would define the owner's per-
"Everything in the office is a symbol. We angled the walls and used a different grid system to show that in design, you must 'think outside the box.' " - Dr. Jim Watson College of Arts, Media and Design
Student bodybuilder competes in Red River Classic in Norman. - Page 6
sonality. "This is not your typical academic office — we didn't want it to be," Watson said. In the hallway outside the office, the new Design Gallery will hold the artwork of design students and faculty. Its official opening will coincide with the office opening on Oct. 11. The first artist to be featured is Phenix, a 1992 UCO design graduate. "The body of work represents an overview of the past year and a half. It is inspired by the events of contemporary life and is a report on the current conditions of society," he said. The theme of the exhibit is "Technology, People, Euphoria, and Doom." "It is artwork from a designer's point of view," Phenix said. Watson hopes the new design office and gallery will continue to strengthen the identity of UCO design students. "We want to create a unique identity for UCO and its design majors," he said. The office and gallery opening will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Art and Design Building.
Broncho returns to action Saturday, Oct. 12 in their final LSC crossover game of the season against Abilene Christian. - Page 9