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Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Professor blames plant shutdown on deficit By Chris Covert "High interest rates and the problem of a structural deficit," in the U.S. budget, was the diagnosis of Central State economist Dr. Frank Wert of the problems leading to the closing of the B.F. Goodrich plant in Miami, Okla. The deficit, according to Wert, has driven up interest rates, which result in an influx of foreign investment. Since the return on investments is so high in the United States, foreign competition is able to offer lower prices — even with tarrif barriers. "Something has to happen on the other side of the ledger," said Wert. "Since it takes many more dollars to invest domestically in
products to be exported, the high cost from high interest rates make competition from American-made goods very difficult." News of the sudden move prompted Gov. George Nigh to convene a "task force" to coordinate state relief activities. The task force consists of representatives of various state agencies which will be dealing with the economic crisis in Miami as it develops over the next several months. The plant employed 1,900 workers at its peak. The plant closing comes at a difficult time for the community in northeastern Oklahoma which is still suffering from the combined effects of a general recession three years ago and one of the
worst shakeouts in the oil industry in recent history. Will Bowman, director of research for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, said Miami's unemployment rate would probably double by the time the phased shutdown is cornpleted in February of 1986. We are looking at a 20 percent unemployment rate, assuming they don't put another plant in there, said Bowman. According to Bowman the secondary effects would be "devastating." Secondary effects mean the loss of either supporting jobs or supporting industries which result from the closing of a major plant. The same economics apply to farmers. Wheat produced here
Regents OK $227,000 to remove transformers By Curtis Killman Editor Central State University received approval Friday to seek bids to replace the campus's last four electrical transformers containing an alleged cancer causing fluid. The Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges at the Friday meeting in Alva voted to approve a request to replace four transformers containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at an estimated cost of $227,000. The four transformers are located in the Administration Building, the Max Chambers Library, the University Center and Howell Hall. Dr. Larry Williams, vice president of administration, said that none of the transformers are inoperable, but that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations require that all transformers containing 500 parts per million or more must be removed by Dec. 1, 1985. While these four transformers are considered large, this will be the last transformers on campus that contain PCBs. "We've been phasing these out all along," said Williams. "In the dormitories for example, we've been phasing these out over the last couple years. "We knew we were going to have do away with them. You plan those kind of things out for the future. We did not anticipate doing them quite this quickly, we probably would have done them within a year, but as it is we'll try to go ahead and get them out now." Williams said one of the requirements of the winning bidder will be that the company be certified in the process and have a legal disposal point. A spokesperson from the Industrial Waste Division of the State Health Department said that unless a transformer leaks it is not a danger. "As long as it's intact it's not going to hurt anything," said the spokesperson. "It's when
cannot be sold abroad because of the high cost. With the combined effect of a poor trade balance, high interest rates, low crop prices and dropping land values, farmers cannot stay in business to buy the products that B.F. Goodrich produces. The B.F. Goodrich plant produced farm tires and farm accesories. "This is just indicative of the slow "growth recession" we are now in," said Wert. "No one is going to tell me that the American worker cannot compete because of laziness. The problem lies in this structural deficit which is killing economic activity in this See Plant closing, page 3
Dr. Frank Wert
Campus fashions
something bursts and the oil leaks out and contaminates the ground — that is when you have to worry. Even then you have to get it on you or somehow ingest it. Dr. Terrill Smith, professor of chemistry, said that the health hazards of PCB filled transformers have been known for 20 years. "These were just halogenated hydrocarbons (hydorcarbons treated or combined with, in this case chlorine)," said Smith, "that turned out to have good electrical properties. It also turned out that they had bad properties as far as long term pollution of the environment — they don't break down readily." Smith said that PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals.
"Electrical companies are phasing out the PCB filled transformers and they're replacing them with some other kind of dielectric fluid," said Smith. "A dielectric fluid is a fluid that allows you to run a transformer at a higher electrical load without having it get too hot and causing an electrical short." PCBs were used because they allowed electrical companies to make transformers smaller without catching fire, and if a fire did break out the PCBs did not spread. Transformers here on campus are used to step down electricity from a higher to a lower phase so it can be used in the buildings. Smith said he believed that PCB danger has been blown out of proportion. "Most of the time when those things do break or spill it's really sensationalized," said Smith. "When OG&E has to go out and clean up a PCB spill from a transformer that has crack or leaked, it's generally treated as though somebody has spilled a big area of plague virus or something like that," said Smith. "Those things aren't really that dangerous.
In this issue. . Mosque decision shocks reader...page 2 Campus fashions...pages 3 and 4 Bronchos face Howard Payne...page 7 Intermural schedule posted...page 8
Turtlenecks are back!
Yes,
the fall fashions are here with the turtleneck and the "James Dean" haircut topping the list of 60s revivals. Photographer Tom Gilbert found Jeff Quade here on campus typifying the "new" look. See pages 4 and 5 for more fashions.
Hypnotist to perform Hypnotist Dr. Roy Bellows will perform in the University Center Ballroom A at 8 tonight. In 16 years of work with hypnosis, Bellows has performed on over 500 stages. With his demonstrations, he illustrates the "overwhelming power of the mind," said Colleen Garside, University Center Activities
Board Director. Garside said volunteers will be taken from the audience for different demonstrations, but she added, under no circumstances will anyone be embarassed or offended. Bellows is a native of Seminole, Okla., and is a member of to American Association of Profes-
sional Hypnotists. He obtained his education in Texas and Hawaii and currently holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Bellows' performance is in conjunction with the "Come Alive '85" celebration of the University Center's 18th birthday. Admission is free to students, faculty and staff.