Celebrating 100 Years
THEVisTA The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2003
Women's enrollment still rising by Robert T. Crauthers Senior Writer The gap between male and female enrollment is continuing to widen as more women than men enroll in UCO's colleges , according to a recent study by Institutional Research. "Nationally, there began to be a shift in women's increasing enrollment numbers since the late `60s and into the '70s," said Jerry Legere, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management. Legere said the shift has been constant for years. The College of Education has the largest gender difference at the university. There are three women to every one man enrolled.
The college has several programs to educate people in positions traditionally held by women, such as early childhood and elementary education, said Dr. Pamela Fly, associate dean for the college. Because these are large programs, she said, the male-tofemale ratio becomes skewed and more pronounced. "More females consider these careers than men, although public schools would welcome the opportunity to hire more male early childhood and elementary teachers," Fly said. This semester, 2,726 more women than men are enrolled at UCO, according to the report, making 59 percent of students female.
Faculty panel debates over Judeo-Christian God's reality by Kim Roberts Staff Writer Students and faculty filled the Pegasus Theater Sept. 12 to hear a philosophical forum on the existence of a Christian god. Josh Umar, vice president of the Philosophy Club, mediated the three-hour debate, which was sponsored by the club. Dr. Doug Miller, professor of philosophy, and Dr. John George, retired political science and sociology professor, led the debate. "I cannot prove to you philosophically, mathematically and scientifically that the Christian god exists," Miller said at the start of the debate. "What I hope to do is make a compelling argument," he said. George said he has seen no compelling evidence that a Christian god exists. "I don't have faith at all. I have confidence in things I've seen over and over again," George said. Each speaker was given ten minutes followed by a question-and-answer period. The audience was given note cards to write questions, which were given to Miller and George for
debate. Both agreed that the historical figure Jesus existed but held differing beliefs on the validity of his teachings. Miller said his logic behind his argument was that if Jesus told the truth, then the Father God exits, and it is likely that Jesus told the truth. George, on the other hand, stated that there was no proof to convince him that the Christian God exits. "I don't volunteer my opinions, but if asked, I'll tell them, 'If it makes them angry, I'm sorry,"' George said. The debate grew from Dr. Eva Dadlez's introduction to philosophy class. "I asked if they'd debate the issue for the class, but we found we just didn't have enough time. So we decided `why not turn it into a debate?' More people could come, and we'd have more time to better debate it," Dadlez said. Miller said the debate was specific to the Christian god because the specificity makes it more interesting. "Even if you argued whether or not God exists, the question becomes which god is it? This just makes it more interesting by being specific," he said.
The male student population at UCO has dropped by 3.7 percent, while the number of women has increased 2.8 percent. The College of Business Administration is an exception to the trend with 55 percent male enrollment. The women also outnumber men in the undeclared major status, by 12 percent. "There is no longer any real stigma associated with having both family and career," said Eva Dadlez, professor of Humanities and Philosophy. "As more and more careers become gender-integrated, the workplace will begin to reflect gender-breakdowns in the country, in which women slightly outnumber men," she said.
University of Central Oklahoma Fall Enrollment by Gender 10,000 ••.. 9,000 8,000 ••• 7,000 6,000 5,000 — 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 •••
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1999 2003 1999 2003 Women Men
Child's play...
Photo by Jut Barker
Ella Kate paints Sept 10 in the daycare in the Human Environmental Sciences Building
Homecoming events to begin by Sherrod Wall Staff Writer Homecoming events will start Sept 28, beginning with a volleyball tournament at 1 p.m. The tournament will comprise two brackets, a men's bracket and a co-ed bracket. The first place teams from each bracket will receive $100. The two brackets' winners will then compete for a $100 prize. Fruana Aber, program assistant for Campus Life, said that students should look forward to all of the evening events that will take place during
Homecoming Week. "The volleyball tournament, the talent show and the Craig Kargas act are all new additions to this years Homecoming," Aber said. The Talent Show features comedian Eric 0' Shea, and will be held in Constitution Hall Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. The winner of the Talent Show will be awarded $100. Second prize will receive $50, third will receive $25 and a peoples choice award will be given out to one act, who will then receive $25 along with the award.
To sign up for this event visit campus life on the 4th floor of the University Center before Sept. 22. Parade Co-Chair Mendy Houge looks forward to having a big turn out for Homecoming and recommends that the students come to see the game day parade in downtown on Oct. 4 at 10:30 a.m. This year's parade Marshall will be Jacob Smalley who appeared recently on the television show, "American Idol". Other game day activities include a free Tailgate Party which will take place west of
Wantland Stadium at 11:30 a.m. The football game itself will begin at 2 p.m. at Wantland Stadium. After the game a BSA Step Show will take place in Constitution Hall at 8p.m. Other Homecoming Week events include, the Kickoff Cookout, Sept. 28 at West Hall courts at 7p.m. Window Decorating will also take place on the same day at 8:30 p.m. On Sept.30, "Lunch On the Lake" will take place at Broncho Lake from 11a.m. to 1p.m., The Laff Olympics will take place at Evans's Field from
2p.m. to 4p.m. and the Craig Karges Mentalist act will be at 8 p.m. in Constitution hall. On Oct. 1, the OBI Blood Drive will take place in the Nigh Univeristy Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Laff Olympics will convene on Evan's Field from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the BSA fashion Extravaganza will be in the Constitution Hall at 8 p.m. tickets are $5 with a student ID and $10 for general admission. On Oct. 2, the OBI Blood Drive will take place in the Univeristy Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a dance marathon
will be in Wantland hall from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. On Oct. 3 a pep rally will take place at Hamilition Fieldhouse at 9 p.m. and the Cheer and Dance Competition will take place at Hamiliton field house at 9:45 p.m. For those who wish to volunteer for this year's Homecoming or get information concerning one of the many events that will take place during Homecoming week visit latp://bronze.ucok.edukampus_life/homecoming.