Celebrating 100 Years
TH S TA The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
Photo by Tina Fowble
UCO students cheer the Bronchos to victory during the home opener against Mesa State Sept. 6.
Bronchos rout Mesa State 42-16 in Wantland win by Caroline Duke Copy Editor About 6,500 fans filled the stands of Wantland Stadium Saturday to witness the first Bioncho football game of the sason. It was one of the largest aowds in remit years. 'A an has been turned for UCO football," said President W Roger Webb of the aowd. "rm absolutely elated with the spirit and combustible enthusiasm," President Webb said 'It erupted about two hours before game time." Carr attendant Billy Sturnbaugh said he estimated the crowd at halftime was larger than the turnout at past Homecoming games. He said he ecects the inaeased attendance to continue through the season.
President of the Old Blue Crew, Simi Rasmussen, said, 'There were a ton of students there, and everyone was fired up." She said the university is now mote committed to chang;ing its image than ever before. 'The school is just so much more on fire than it has ever been," Rasmussen said. Mile Anderson, a 2002 graduate was one of three founding membets of the Old Blue Crew in 1998. He said the changes at UCO are what attracted people to the first game The new field, coach and overall atmosphere have changed, he said He said he regulady =ends games, even since he graduated, and he had not seen a awed so large in the past few years. Manager of the UCO Bookstore
Brenda Raimondi said she has seen an increase in merchandise sales, especially with new logo items. At the bookstore's booth Saturday, sales picked up an hour before the game at the clap- parry, she saki J.P. Jordan, history education senior and former UOOSA president, said Satuiday's aowd was the biggest he had wren since his fieshmanyearwhen the Bronchos won eon'There is already a lot of hype," Jordan said Underlordan's tmure as UCOSA piesident in 2102, students passed a student fa itity fee allowing Wantiand Stadium renovations. The new stadium allows for a 16,000person capacity. "It has to be an experience to get people to come out to games like this,"
Webb said Blake Fry, director of Campus Life and Student Activities, said image isn't the only factor in attracting more people. The renovations of the stadium and several other projects on campus are contributing to the university's changed image, he said. "These changes have been happening for several years," Fry said. "I think the university is just really letting everybody know...it's a very appropriate and a very accurate portrayal of what's going on," Fry said.
Photo by Tina Fowl*
Andy Antonelli checks on his burgers during the tailgate party at Wantland Stadium September 6.
New chair, student fees bring change to art department by Sherrod Wall Staff Writer Dr. Joe Daun, the new chair of the Art Department, said he is set on instituting a change within the department. Before joining UCO faculty in August, Daun last taught at Kentucky's Georgetown College. He said that he is working with the administration to quickly address issues that need attention in the department. "I think that it is good that he wants to concentrate on improving the art department because there are many things that can be improved upon," said Bob Brothers, a junior art major. Daun said he has plans to improve the department's art studios by aquiring new equipment. "The studios are already cleaner and more orderly than they were. New equipment and other changes will be implemented as funds allow," Daun said.
Resources for enhancing the art department are readily available this year because of new student fees, Daun said. These two fees are the $30 class fee and $40 studio equipment fee. Daun said the fees go directly back to the students in the form of materials and safe work areas. "The department needs help with building its infrastructures so that the teachers can concentrate on teaching," he said. He said an environment conducive for learning and teaching is important, especially at UCO, where 70 percent of Oklahoma art teachers are taught. "I feel that it is of the utmost importance to set up an environment in which the student feels secure enough to express themselves," Daun said. Skill building is important for the student, he said. "Teach the student to explore and accept new ideas and processes, but temper this approach with the understand-
ing that the student must be responsible and develop a belief system," he said. Daun said he is excited about working in the department because of its collaboration with other organizations connected to the College of Arts, Media and Design, such as the Ja77. Lab. "It's exciting to be involved with the reorganization of Arts, Media and Design because there is a lot of positive energy and the opportunity to do crossdisciplinary teaching," he said. An artist himself, Daun has produced over 25 exhibitions in different cities across the country. He said each of his installations conveys metaphors concerning the conflict and confusion of life. "My work deals with how we glean the information we possess," Daun said. "I am trying to explore the roots of our beliefs, the rituals that give our lives meaning." Daun's exhibitions allow viewer participation to create a more personal
experience. For example, in his installation entitled "Water Rises to its Own Level," participants sit at a restaurant style booth and drink bitter coffee from a white coffee cup. When they are finished with the coffee, the participant sets their cup on a conveyer belt, which is built on top of a filled bookcase. The cup then travels down the conveyer belt to the edge of the bookshelf and falls to the floor, shattering atop a pile of already broken cups. "Spectacle or the interaction of the viewer and the work is also a central theme in the work," Daun said. "I am trying to address functionality, the way things work, and hope that I am doing this in a way that makes these ideas accessible to a large audience," he said. Daun said he is currently trying to set up a darkroom in his new home, and he hopes to build a studio this summer so that he can begin constructing some new large-scale installations.
Photo by Heather Harkins
Dr. Joe Daun, new chair of the art department speaks to a vista reporter.