The Vista September 10, 1985

Page 1

THE Sept. 10, 1985 Vol. 84, No. 3

VI

STA

Tuesday Edition

Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma

Student Senate aims to fill vacancies By Debbie Martin

Vista photo by Daniel Smith

The celebration begins on the Broncho sidelines Saturday night in Jefferson City, Tenn., as Central State University knocked off

No. 1 ranked Carson-Newman in impressive fashion, 28-9. See story, related photos on page 7.

Dorm students given choice

Shhhh! Quiet zone ahead By Thomas Schwartz Central State University students seeking a quieter living area more conducive to learning may now request rooms in intensive study areas of the dormitories. To live in the specially designated areas, students must sign an agreement to be quiet, said Bob Fields, director of housing as CSU. The creation of the quiet zones follows a national trend, added Fields. They are in response to students who find dormitory life too distracting. Fields noted that surprisingly, a recent study has found that students don't do most of their learning in either the classroom or the library, but in the dormitory. Conducted by the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center, the study concluded that 78 percent of that college's freshmen find the dorms a satisfactory place to study and

that 75 percent do most of their studying there. The "intensive study area" insures that students who want to spend most of their time studying will be able to do so. "We haven't had any problems with the noise level in the dorms," Fields said. "However, some individuals — particulaly graduate students and upperclassmen — must concentrate on their studies so carefully and intensely that even small levels of noise may bother them. Thus we came up with a solution." Anyone, regardless of academic standing, may enter into an intensive study area as long as he or she agrees to abide by the rules. Much student interest has been demonstrated in the concept. Fields said that 150 students have signed up so far this year. "I think this will really pay off in terms of benefits to the students," Fields said. "This will allow them to concentrate fully on

In this issue. . . New teacher certification begins...page 3 Asbestos removed... page 3 Magic show reviewed...page 4 Welcome back week detailed...page 5 What lies ahead for CSU?...page 6 Bronchos No. 1 now?...page 7 Cross country team rebuilds for new year...page 8

their studies and not be distracted by the minimal level of noise which already exists." Fields said that most students he has talked to feel that life on campus is a "definite plus." "Most students who live in the dorms find studying easier," Fields said, "and believe they profit more from their study there." Fields said that life off-campus presents too many distractions and doesn't cultivate the enviromnent necessary for good study habits. "If someone lives in a fraternity or sorority house or an apartment somewhere, there are all kinds of things to distract him. In the dorms, distraction is minimal." Fields noted that activities and social events for dorm residents are carefully planned to avoid

conflicting with times that students need to study the most — during mid-terms, finals and other time periods. Also, the length of the activity and the time it is held is carefully scheduled. "We want to make dorm life a lot of fun, and I think it can be," Fields said. "However, at the same time, we want to avoid giving the students so many things to do that they forget the real reason they're here — to learn something." The University of Michigan study concluded that quiet is the main factor in attracting students to study in dorms. The overwhelming majority in the study, 49 percent of the students — Fields noted — said they studied in the dorms because the dorms are quiet or have quiet hours.

Cloning to be topic of biology seminar A public seminar discussing the cloning of plants will be held 12:40 p.m., Thursday in room 201 of Howell Hall, according to Dr. William Radke, associate professor of biology.

The seminar, entitled "Plant tissue culture: A tool for biotechnology", is sponsored by Sigma Xi, The Society for Professional Research. Joe Vaughan, assistant professor of biology, has just completed research this summer in Australia and will be the speaker. The seminar is expected to last about 40 minutes. Some of the advantages of plant cloning, Vaughan said, were that the process "knocks off months in growth periods in some species." Endangered species and other types of plants that are difficult to propagate from cuttings or seedlings may fare better under this process also, Vaughan said.

Empty seats predominated the Student Senate meeting on Monday at the University Center. Over half of the Student Senate seats are vacant. Many of the vacancies were created by the adoption of the new constitution last spring semester which revised the election procedures. The other seats are vacant because they were not filled in the last election. Each student senator was given a petition for filing and urged to recruit. Scott Birdwell, speaker of the senate, briefly outlined the unresolved resolutions of the Student Senate last semester. He assured the Senate that these resolutions will be picked up again this year. The Student Senate considers these unresolved resolutions important: increased academic scholarships, a student activity fee budget committee, publication of faculty evaluations, formation of a college bowl and a need for a full time child care center. The increasing of academic scholarships and student activity fee budget committee resolutions are related issues which were passed by the Senate last spring. CSU President Dr. Bill Lillard remanded the activity fee committee resolution back to Senate. Lillard suggested that a committee be formed that would give input into the entire budget process on cam-

pus. Student senators said last spring that the suggestion was unacceptable. Also passed last spring semester were resolutions calling for the faculty evaluations, or student feedback surveys to be made available to the public. A bill endorsing a full time child care center on campus for students, faculty and staff also was sent to Lillard office for approval. The college bowl resolution called for the formation of an academic college bowl or quiz game whereby a team of CSU students would compete against other college campuses. Funds for the college bowl were to come from the student activity fee budget. All five of the Student Senate resolutions received the support of the Faculty Senate, but have yet to be acted on by Lillard. In other business, an activities booth will be set up on Wednesday in the University Center promoting the Student Senate. Student Senate is sponsoring Welcome Back Week, which includes a cookout today, two movies to be shown on Wednesday and a dance on Thursday in the University Ballroom (see related story, page 5). With the new constitution and so many new faces, John Buttry, student senate president, said he expects to see a few radical changes within the next semester.


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