JAN 28, 2010
Campus Quotes
Healthy Campus 2010
Q&A
A connected campus
Students answer: Do you text while you drive, why or why not?
Where UCO stands in the Healthy People 2010 initiative.
Find out about Angel Anouar and the multimedia center of the library.
A follow-up of Hertz and UCO’s partnership.
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THE VISTA
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BAGHDAD — The top U.S. military commander says militant groups are finding new ways to foil Iraqi security — rigging cars as bombs by hiding explosives in the chassis or tucking them into secret compartments. The Shiite-led government is facing increasing political problems in advance of the March elections from the suicide attacks, the latest of which shears off the front of Baghdad’s main police crime lab and kills 22 people. OKLAHOMA CITY — For the second time in four years, Gov. Brad Henry urged state lawmakers Tuesday to expand Oklahoma’s Rainy Day fund so more money can be deposited in it to cope with revenue shortfalls. With the state facing a shortfall of $729 million for the fiscal year that ends June 30 and reserve funds in high demand, Henry said he hopes the idea receives more support than it did in 2006, when lawmakers rejected it. PORT-AU-PRINCE— The smallest survivors of Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake are growing into one of the biggest problems in its aftermath. Many of the countless thousands of children scattered among Port-au-Prince’s makeshift camps of homeless have nobody to care for them, aid workers say, leaving them without protection against disease, child predators and other risks. “They are extremely vulnerable,” said Kate Conradt, a spokeswoman for the aid group Save the Children. She said U.N. experts estimate there may be 1 million unaccompanied or orphaned children or youngsters who lost at least one parent in the Jan. 12 quake. Some young Haitians are even being released from hospitals with no one to care for them — there just aren’t enough beds for them.
WEATHER TODAY
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PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK
State Legislature
TEXTING BAN PUT IN PLACE JAN. 21 By Amy Stinnett / Staff Writer Oklahoma’s Gov. Brad Henry signed an executive order last Thursday prohibiting state employees from text messaging while driving during work hours. Numerous studies have been done in recent years to assess the risks of using electronic devices while driving. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded after performing extensive research that “text messaging, which had the highest risk of over 20 times worse than driving while not using a phone, also had the longest duration of eyes off road time.” Furthermore, the VTTI strongly recommends a ban on texting for all drivers. The governor hopes this ban will set a precedent for all Oklahoma drivers and reduce the number of distracted drivers on our state’s roads. “Text messaging” is defined by the executive order as “reading from or entering data into any hand-held or other electronic device.” The effect this ban will have on UCO concerns anyone on the university’s payroll. This ban is extensive and applies to any state employee driving government vehicles or any vehicle while on government business. Steve Kreidler, the executive vice president, said it was confirmed Monday morning that “all university employees are subject to this executive order.” “Really every department on campus has people that drive,” Police Chief Jeff Harp, of the UCO Department of Public Safety, said. “Literally there’s hundreds that can drive a vehicle that might fall under this (order).” Departments that make use of moving vehicles regularly include the physical plant, housing, and transportation and public safety. However, any employee who chooses to drive to and from different buildings on campus is subject to this ban. Although UCO has not had notable problems with its emLast Thursday, Gov. Brad Henry signed an executive order prohibiting state employployees and their handling of their vehicles, administrators ees from text messaging while driving during work hours. Although there have not agree that this order will be beneficial to drivers. been any problems with UCO workers, the administration agree with Henry and the ban.
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Campus News
STUDENTS FROM ALCOHOLIC PARENTS FIND CAMPUS OUTLET By Amy Stinnett / Staff Writer The UCO Student Counseling Center has begun screening students who were raised by alcoholic or addicted parents for placement in a therapy group that will begin meeting in February. Jan Chapel, coordinator of counseling, said that substance abuse is a worldwide problem, but UCO is providing counsel to any student for whom this problem is very close to home. Just like any counseling service provided to students enrolled at UCO, these group therapy sessions are being offered free of charge. “We’ve done it before several times,” Chapel, who has facilitated sessions like these upward of 12 times, said. Those appropriate for this particular group include adult children of alcoholic or addicted parents who are dealing with issues that can be discussed and worked through in a group setting.
“They’ll come in for short screenings to see if they’d be appropriate for the group, and then they’d follow group therapy,” Chapel said. “We meet six times, and it’s probably not going to totally change everything; it’s a good start.” The counseling center will choose eight to 10 students at the most for these meetings, where they will discuss issues ranging from social behavior to relationships and the ways in which they handle problems (or choose not to), Chapel said. “Each day we’ll talk about a different subject that may come up in their lives, in their homes and in their relationships,” Chapel said. “We’ll talk about some things maybe they weren’t aware of going on in their family,” Chapel said, noting that oftentimes children of substance abusers are unaware of their own The UCO Student Couseling Center will invite stuissues. dents raised by alcoholics to meet starting Feb. for ... continues on page 3 group sessions
Transportation
STAFF MEMBER CYCLES IDEA TO CITY By Jenefar DeLeon / Staff Writer
DID YOU KNOW? Today marks the 24th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger’s accident which killed all seven astronauts on board.
Tim Tillman, Central’s Alternative Transportation coordinator, advocates to the Edmond City Council to build streets friendly to pedestrians, bicyclists and all users. Tillman is chairman of the Edmond Bicycle Committee. He and his fellow members believe there is a need for pedestrian-friendly streets that will provide safe access to crossing the streets of Edmond. The types of road proposed are known as “complete streets.” Tillman said the proposal will help reduce traffic and increase alternative forms of transportation for all users.
Complete streets include sidewalks, bike lanes, two outside parallel parking lanes and bus lanes, Tillman said. The Edmond Bicycle Committee first proposed the resolution to the Edmond Public Transportation who unanimously voted Thursday, Jan. 15 to support the resolution. Then it was proposed to the Edmond Planning Commission who also approved it last Tuesday. The Edmond City Council took their vote on Monday, Jan. 25. Tillman hoped for a positive outcome. “Edmond has always worked hard to increase safety and support forward thinking,” Tillman said.
The complete streets will also help the students at UCO, Tillman said. It will help reduce one of the main problem students are facing at UCO, and that is parking. Tillman said the Complete Streets Resolution will help encourage student to use alternative transportation, reduce parking problems and allow those students who really need to park to use the parking spaces. Currently UCO offers several forms of alternative transportation that will not only help students reduce pollution, but encourage affordable transportation. ... continues on page 5