UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY UCOSA
SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 PLAYWRIGHT
Senate extension 4
Play performed in Calif 8
POLITICS
SPORTS
Journal relocates to UCO...6
Story description 12
INTERNSHIP
AROUND CAMPUS
Student's D.C. experience..7
Student activities
The Student Voice Since 1903
UCO faculty underpaid, says AAUP committee chairman By Madhumathi Krishnamurthy
StaffWriter
O
ver the last three years, UCO has received record increases in state money allocation. However, "a lot of the money is not filtering down to the faculty," said Dr. Thomas Guild, professor of general business and committee chairman of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). "You'd have to ask the administration where the funding is going, because we know for sure it's not going to the right institutions," Guild said. The AAUP is working to promote a $70 million increase in funding for higher education programs in Oklahoma. "Faculty salaries are only 82 percent of the national average, which means for every $1 earned by faculty members in other states, we only get 82 cents," Guild said. Two years ago, UCO received a 16 percent increase, out of which the faculty
received a 3 percent raise. In 1998, the increase was 9 percent and faculty members will receive a 3 percent increase by January 1999. "So actually, it is not an increase of 3 percent but 1.6 percent, because we will get the pay raise after half of our pay period has passed," Guild said. The increase is one of the items on the agenda for the 1999-2000 academic year, and is aimed at
moving Oklahoma closer to achieving excellence in its higher education system. "The Oklahoma public university system is behind in its technology in certain areas," Guild said. "If we have better technology, and a better paid faculty, there will be better education." The state AAUP is also trying to pass a state Senate bill through the legislature, requiring universities to give written reasons for the termination of nontenured faculty.
You'd have to ask the administration where the funding is going, because we know for sure it's not going to the right institutions.
—Dr. Thomas Guild AAUP Committee Chairman
Another item on the association's agenda is to fully fund the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) program, to raise it from its current 50 percent to approximately 65 percent. The proposed Guild increase is $2 million in OTAG funding for academic year 1999-2000. "We're trying to get it closer to 100 percent," Guild said. The national AAUP is also working on raising the maximum Pell Grant award from $3,000 to $5,000. "If you consider the inflation since the day the grant started, the maximum would have reached $5,400, so this would bring it very close," Guild said. "Oklahoma has one of the best in-state tuition rates in the country. We'd like to move it up to the national average." <
Kappa Sigma raising funds for local under-privileged children By Kate O'Neill Staffailer
U
Get a job
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Metlife representative Stephanie Denis talks to UCO student Carrie Vaughn. Metlife was one of the participants of Career Day, which began UCO's 1998 Homecoming actvities. (Photo by UCO Photo Services)
CO's Kappa Sigma fraternity is selling raffle tickets to benefit Oklahoma City's underprivileged children. Kappa Sigma member Mike Thrift said, the grand prize for the "Hike to Dallas" drawing is two tickets to the Oct. 10 University of Oklahoma vs. the University of Texas football game at Texas Stadium, two tickets to the Texas State Fair and $100 in spending money. Thrift said the money raised by the raffle will be used to support a television show for underprivileged children to air on KOCB Channel 34, Christmas Day. "There are thousands of little kids in the Oklahoma City metro area that don't have the opportunity for nice things, like we do...and this is a good way for Kappa Sigma to make sure
they have something nice on Christmas," Thrift said. The television show will resemble a talent show and allow the children to participate. Sports radio personality Al Eshbach will help host the show, and the official winner will be announced over the airways on the Al Eshbach Show, live from Dallas on the day of the football game. "This program gives back to the community, effects the lives of the kids and let's them know that someone cares...that could have a huge impact on the rest of their lives," Thrift said. The winner of the raffle will be notified after the 7:30 p.m. drawing on Oct. 6, at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. Raffle tickets will be available until Oct. 5. Anyone wishing to purchase raffle tickets or donating money can contact any Kappa Sigma fraternity member or call 359-7798.
