Celebrating 100 Years
The Student Voice Since 1903 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2003
Vista to celebrate centennial during Homecoming Week â– The Department of Journalism will hold an alumni
reception as part of the Homecoming festivities. The reception will honor alumni through the 100 years of journalistic excellence at UCO. The Annual Journalism Alumni Reunion returns to the University of Central Oklahoma from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4, 2003 in the University Center Heritage Room as part of UCO's Homecoming celebration weekend. Alumni who majored in journalism, and those who worked on The Vista or Bronze Book staff are invited to attend in honor, this year, of The Vista's 100th anniversary. In addition to reprinting the original Vista from November 1903, the current Vista staff is planning a special Oct. 2 Centennial edition. Speaker will be Dr. Don Betz, UCO provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. Dr. Terry Clark, Journalism chairman, will emcee. This semester's Vista staff will also be recognized as guests of honor. "Nuts and bolts journalism...that's the heritage of 100 years of The Vista at UCO," Clark said. "Join us for the celebration, visit with your colleagues, learn how the old department is doing, and help us have a good time."
The first 150 journalism alumni who register for the reunion will receive a reproduction of the first issue of The Vista, and everyone will have an opportunity that evening to browse through yearbooks and reminisce with former faculty. "We've reprinted the first Vista, actual size, as a commemorative gift for the first 150 attending, and this year's staff is planning a big centennial issue also," Clark said. "It's our way of showing how proud we are of our alums and students who have built the program over the years." The long-traditional journalism alumni party will serve hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar will be available. Alumni are asked to register by Sept. 30 and to send a registration fee of $10 toAlumni Relations, University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University, Edmond, OK, 73034. Further information, including reduced area hotel rates, can be found on UCO's web site, or e-mail ucoalum@ucok.edu .
hoto by Tina Fowble
Tomoyo Urat, sophomore business major, and friend Hiromi Yamacka, pyschology sophomore, take part in the Campus Coversations group that met Sept. 17 in Thatcher Hall.
Program opens doors to cultural understanding between students by Sherrod Wall Staff Writer To facilitate discussion between international and non-international students, education majors lead "Campus Conversations" every week, Monday through Thursday. The goal of Campus Conversations is to dissolve the language barrier that deters interaction between students and their college environment. The program was created in spring of 1999 with money from a grant given to Dr. Susan Scott, director of Campus Conversations and assistant professor in Professional Teacher Education. Scott said she emphasizes the Academic Support Center as a partner, along with Dr. Jennifer Endicott, professor of professional teacher education, who also sends her teacher candidates to participate in the program. "Every session is led by different people," Scott said. The names of more than 100 teacher candidates are put into a pool, Scott said. Students whose names are drawn lead the discussions. Some international students have difficulty communicating with group leaders and other students in the group. But
Scott said they tell stories and express their views to other students who they have just met. "International students gain increased confidence in their speaking inside and outside of the classroom," Scott said. Freshman Marco Rodriguez said that he thinks Campus Conversations will help him and other students interact with other people. "It's a chance to meet new people and cultures, and exchange your views on your country," Rodriquez said. Rodriguez said that he recommends Campus Conversations for other students who are seeking to overcome communication anxieties due to language disability or for those who simply want to learn more about American culture. "There are a lot of new people to meet and a new culture to be exposed to, the whole experience is really interesting," Rodriguez said. Scott said that non-international students also attend Campus Conversations meetings to become more exposed to new cultures and people. "This is the first semester that faculty members have asked whether or not noninternational students can come," Scott said. "Everyone is invited," she
said. According to Scott, four or five students show up to every meeting. Some students end up coming back regularly. Scott said that teacher candidates who participate in the Campus Conversations program are required to write a reflection on their experience. Group leaders usually recommend the Campus Conversations experience for other teacher candidates in their reflections because of its innate ability to break down barriers, she said. "It's a good opportunity for international students to ask questions and learn more about other people and their views," group leader Kara Essary said. Essary said that the program is extremely helpful and that it will facilitate relationships with international students in the future. Scott encourages English teachers to inform their English as a Second Language students to attend the free Campus Conversations meetings. Campus Conversations meets from 12 to 1 p.m. Mondays, from 12:30 to 1:30 Tuesdays, from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and from 5:30 to 6:30 Thursdays in the first floor lobby of Thatcher Hall.
Photo by Justin Avera
Whitney Hobson, freshman pyschology major, walks past an emergency call box Sept. 16. If used, the call box will bring a DPS officer to assist the caller.
Recent rape attempt raises campus awareness by Robert T. Crauthers Senior Writer A rape is most likely to occur where there is alcohol involved, at a residence or in a dark area, said John Blair, of Community Policing and Crime Prevention at UCO's Dept. of Public Safety (DPS). According to the most recent Annual Security Report, UCO has had three reported cases of forcible sex offenses between `99 and '01. From what the report shows, it's not a problem on the campus, Blair said. If someone were to be assaulted, the best thing for them to do is report it right afterward, Blair said. "Make sure to be safe first; once the culprit has left the scene call the police," he said. Blair said the victim would then be taken to a medical facil-
ity. But if injured in any way, an ambulance would be called for them. The victim should preserve the evidence, he said, by not showering, bathing or changing clothes. "This pertains to men also," Blair said. "They need to preserve the evidence for any hope of convicting the criminal," he said. Once the victim is treated, he or she would be questioned by police officers for information pertaining to the case. "We know the questions would be hard to answer, but they're needed," he said. Characteristics, such as skin color, accents, scars, tattoos and hair, are important in identifying the perpetrator, Blair said. For some reasons a victim might not wish to report the crime, said Jan Chapel, counseling center coodinator.
"It could be too intimidating for them...they might not want the publicity, the court trials or to be victimized all over again," she said. The University Counseling Center is available to talk to and support victims, Chapel said. Rape/Date Rape Awareness classes are available through the UCO Department of Public Safety, Blair said. These informational classes designed to educate the students and make them aware of what can happen, he said. DPS also has Operation Safe Walk, a program available for students and personnel to be escorted somewhere when they do not feel safe, he said. For information on the programs available through DPS, call 974-2345, or for Counseling Services, call 9742215.