The Vista Feb. 05, 2008

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February 5, 2008

www. thevistaonline. corn The Student Voice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since 1903

Breaux crowned Miss Black UCO LUCO improves by Jana Davis Staff Writer Raychelle Breaux was crowned the winner of the 24th annual Miss Black UCO Pageant last Saturday in Mitchell Hall. "I was excited, I was shocked," Breaux said after she had won. Breaux, a junior finance major, won a $1,800 UCO tuition waiver scholarship, an official crown, sash, plaque and gift basket. Breaux will also get to participate in the Miss Black Oklahoma Pageant this summer. "I was getting a little nervous," Breaux said about her name not being called until late. "I felt like I did really well." Each of the eight contestants participated in swimwear, talent, eveningwear and an on-stage question. "The girls work so hard," said Meshawn Conley, the director of Multicultural Student Services. Conley said it is Breaux's task to implement her platform and make different appearances around campus. Breaux plans to set up different workshops around campus to help educate students on her platform, the importance Of self-discipline and development. One, she hopes, will be called "Discovery," which will help students discover who they are. "I don't only want to do different stuff on campus. I want to get out in the community," Breaux said. Breaux said she came to support her platform of selfdevelopment after competing in the pageant last year and not placing. She said it gave her insight about herself and the things she needed to improve. "If you don't [develop yourself], you get caught up and pulled in different directions," Breaux said. "It's so easy to lose yourself with everything that's going on in your life," Breaux

leadership skills by Nelson Solomon Staff Writer

by Vista photographer Chris Albers

Raychelle Breaux is crowned Miss Black UCO 2008 Saturday night at Mitchell Theater. said during her on-stage interview. Nikki Webber, a junior early childhood development major, was the first runnerup and won a $1,600 UCO tuition waiver scholarship and an official plaque. "I was really anxious and she's my best friend," Webber said about Breaux. "I knew it

was going to be hard." bunch of young kids," Johnny "Raychelle will be won- Watley, fitness coordinator derful. She's very intelligent, for the Wellness Center and a friendly and outgoing. She judge for the pageant said. will represent this university This year's sponsors were well," Conley said. the Black Student Association Miss UCO 2007, Brittany and the Multicultural Student Carradine, returned to crown Services. Breaux and sing two songs during the contest. Jana Davis can be reached at "This is a good, talented jdavis@thevistaonline.com .

A new program on campus is helping to improve the leadership abilities of selected UCO faculty and staff. Leadership UCO is designed to help identify, develop and support the leadership skills of selected UCO faculty and staff members, according to Leadership Central Web site. The program is separate from another program under the leadership umbrella, the Educators' Leadership Academy, according to Williams. "While ELA is a statewide program, Leadership UCO focuses specifically on this university," Williams said. LUCO focuses on developing 360-degree leaders who are knowledgeable regarding what is happening at UCO in order to create a larger pool of candidates to fill open positions and leadership assignments, according to their Web site. There is no fee to be in LUCO. All full-time faculty and staff of UCO are eligible to submit an application for participation in LUCO, Williams said. Each year, the LUCO program offers a structured but flexible development opportunity for selected high potential faculty and staff to further prepare them to provide significant leadership at the university, according to their official Web site. Program sessions include topics such as communicating with influence, leaders' challenges and opportunities, the principles of 360-degree leaders and self-leadership. Program participants complete the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorÂŽ (MBTIÂŽ) personality inventory and a 360-degree assessment prior

to the class and receive a customized report outlining personal strengths and areas for improvement, according to a description of the program from Williams. Participants grasp the meaning of the term "360degree Leader" in the course of the program. This is taken from "The 360-degree Leader, Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization" by John Maxwell, according to a description of the program from Williams. Maxwell asserts in the book that "99 percent of all leadership in most organizations takes place in the middle. People who desire to lead from the middle of organizations face unique challenges." At the end of this program, participants are taught how to increase their influence from wherever they are. They are shown how to overcome challenges and are taught the skills needed to become a 360-degree leader, such as how to lead down as they manage their team, how to lead across with their organizational peers and how to lead upward to whom they report. "Applications for 'he 2008/09 LUCO class will begin soon. An announcement will be made soon," Williams said. Applications are available online at www.ucok.edu/ leadershipcentral/staff fact. shtml and in the Leadership Central office, located in the Administration building. All completed applications will be reviewed by the LUCO committee. For more information, contact Williams at 974-5561. Nelson Solomon can be reached at nsolomon@thevistaonline.com.

Voter apathy still an issue among Oklahomans, Americans by Jordan Richison Staff Writer On a day known to many as "Super Tuesday" thousands of Oklahomans will head to the polls in hopes of narrowing down the candidates in the race for the White House. Oklahoma is one of 22 states that are holding their presidential primaries on Super Tuesday. Oklahoma's primary will be a closed one that requires registered democrats to vote for the Democratic nominee and registered republicans to vote for the Republican nominee. Each party will vote to see which candidate gets Oklahoma's 38 delegates. Among the 22 states, there are 1,688 delegates available for the taking. With so many delegates up in the air, many

say that Super Tuesday is the make or break day for a presidential nominee. One of the problems America faces is that many people don't even bother to vote. With this being one of the most crucial presidential elections in recent memory, many people are expressing to the masses how important it is to get out and vote. College-age students have become Qne of the key demographic groups the candidates have been trying to reach. They are hoping the majority of the estimated 44 million registered student voters will turn out to the polls and vote in their favor. UCO American Democracy Project Student President Meredith Scott said it is important for students to go out and vote because

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it is a chance for them to help decide who will run for President. "Students going out to vote not only helps in narrowing down the candidates, but it also gives people the opinion of what Oklahoma wants in a president," Scott said. Scott added that she wants students to do their research into the candidates to see the issues that each candidate believes in. She said that last semester ADP created a grid about their presidential candidates' issues to give the students an idea of who they might like to vote for in November. In a recent poll conducted by the Tulsa World, registered voters were asked who they would vote for in the presidential primaries, for-

by Vista photographer Brenda O'Brian

Former Arkansas Gov. and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee speaks to a crowd of about see TUESDAY, page 3 600 at Coach's restaurant during a campaign stop in Oklahoma City on Friday, Feb. 1.

"Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it." Jean Jacques Rousseau

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