The Student Voice Since 1903 University of Central Oklahoma
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Renovations begin on UCO's oldest dorm Murdaugh Hall gets new maintenance, cleaning crew by Desiree Treeby Staff Writer
Council seeks new parliamentarian
A common complaint of Murdaugh Hall residents is that the dormitory isn’t regularly maintained and cleaned. “There’s a broken egg on the hall floor that’s been there for days,” said Scott Richter, psychology senior and resident for almost four years. “I haven’t seen anyone clean since about a week ago,” Richter said. “They do take out the trash. That seems to be all they do.” As of Jan. 3 a new cleaning company, Sodexho, was hired to take over UCO’s mainPhotos by Vista photographer Brett Deering tenance and cleaning. The previous company employed Above: Alan Webb, UCO Department of Housing repairman, tiles a shower stall Jan. 25 in a secalmost 95 percent of the 58 ond-floor bathroom of Murdaugh Hall. Top right: A Murdaugh Hall shower wall must be completely people hired by Sodexho. removed and rebuilt as part of the ongoing renovation project. Bottom right: A shower drain in
see MURDAUGH , page 5
by Nathan Winfrey Staff Writer
Murdaugh Hall before the renovations began.
UCO gets grant for bat project by Christina Purdom Staff Writer UCO’s Selman Living Laboratory has been awarded a $17 thousand grant to conduct research to protect the 70,000 bats that hibernate in its caves. The grant was awarded to only two of the 27 potential File photo projects submitted to Florida Power and Light Energy, the Dr. Bill Caire, UCO biology professor, displays a Mexican freetail nation's largest generator of bat's wing last fall in a cave at the Whitlow Ranch in western wind power, in a pilot program Oklahoma.
to conserve North American bat species. Dr. William Caire, professor of biology, will be in charge of the project. He said he hopes to incorporate the help of local high schools and UCO students and faculty. “It will bring high school students and teachers out to learn hands-on science,” Caire said. “One of the things that appealed to [FPL Energy] was getting the high schools involved…it
encourages students to stay in science.” The conservation project will address the problem of human disturbances on the bats' hibernation, Caire said. Caire has found evidence that unauthorized visitors have entered the cave during the bats’ hibernation. This can cause problems because repeated waking causes the bats to use
Please see BATS, page 9
Barthell named dean of College of Math & Science by Nathan Winfrey Staff Writer
Husband, father and nature researcher Dr. John Barthell will take up the office of dean of the College of Mathematics and Sciences July 1. Currently the interim associate dean, Barthell will take the office, with Dr. Charles Hughes from the Department of Physics and Engineering coming on as associate dean. Sitting in his office, surrounded by pictures of his
family, nature and humorous caricatures drawn by his colleague Dr. James Bidlack, Barthell detailed his current research projects, which emphasize undergraduate participation. “Undergraduate research promotes critical thinking skills and exposes them to potential careers they might not have otherwise pursued,” Barthell said. “I have always known Dr. John Barthell as a passionate advocate for undergraduate research and I am extremely
excited about his new position of the dean starting next year. He started the program which got me into research and for that I am very grateful,” said Vagan Mushegyan, biology sophomore. One project concerns the study of the relationship between weedy plant species and their non-native pollinaby Vista photographer Midori Sasaki tors like honeybees. Dr. John Barthell, new dean of “We basically want to the College of Math & Science. know two things. First, do weeds attract our native pollinators away from our native weeds and non-native bees plants, and secondly, do help each other out when
UCO students participate in art show by Courtney Bryce Managing Editor
by student photographer Krystal Nida
A UCO art professor and his students displayed paintings and photographs at the Oklahoma Garden and Home Show Jan.2022 at the State Fairgrounds. Dr. Bob Palmer, art professor, said this is the fifth year he’s taken students to this event. “I think they had about 75,000 people come through the event,” Palmer said. “There were times when we had 30 to 40 people watching at once.” Palmer said he usually involves all his students from photography to mural and studio painting. He said everyone from freshmen to graduate students participated. “I had about 30 students,” Palmer said. “They were all part of my classes one way or another.”
Dr. Bob Palmer, UCO art professor, demonstrates painting techniques Jan. 23 at the Home and Garden Show at the Oklahoma State Fairpark.
Please see SHOW, page 4
ISC meets to prepare upcoming activities
they invade new regions of the world together,” Barthell said. All honeybees are native to Europe, Asia or Africa, but only constitute a small percentage of the thousands of bee species. Most are solitary bees, which are antisocial insects that are represented by over a hundred different species on Santa Cruz Island in California alone. Barthell, and his colleagues from the University
The International Student Council held its second meeting of the semester Monday to prepare upcoming events targeted at students from the 90 countries represented at UCO. New ISC president Josephine Mangoli, from Kenya, facilitated the meeting. The council asks that anyone interested in filling the vacant parliamentarian seat give their name and student I.D. number to the International Office. MeShawn Conley, assistant director of the Department of Campus Life, took the floor to promote the upcoming Oklahoma Conference on College Student Character, a free character development event starting at 8:30 a.m. Feb 4. People interested can sign up in the Campus Life office on the fourth floor of the Nigh University Center. “Students who have a real interest in improving themselves internally will get a lot out of the Oklahoma Conference on College Student Character. One of the exciting aspects of the conference will be Tom Martinez, an ex Neo-Nazi member who now goes around the country speaking on the evils of hatred,” Conley said. Jill Sallee, history education sophomore and president of the international unity organization, Envoys, posed a request for a country to focus on for their March meeting. Juliana Marin, president of the Association of Latin American Students from Venezuela volunteered to help. “Instead of them just being general meetings, we’re making them cultural celebrations where we highlight a different country every month,” Sallee said. The first country Envoys will celebrate will be Japan, in February.
see BARTHELL, page 4
Please see ISC, page 4
INSIDE Health Health columnist Callie A. Collins offers advice for students who suffer from migraine headaches. See A Healthy Dose Pg. 3
New Dean Dr. John Clinton named interim dean of College of Arts, Media, and Design. Pg. 3 National Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation all but assured. Pg. 7
Police Briefs Pg. 5
INDEX Opinion.......................2 News..........................3 Sports........................12 Classifieds.................10