The Vista March 31, 1992

Page 1

University of Central Oklahoma

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The Student Voice Since 1903

TUESDAY March 31, 1991

Candidates talk platforms By Sam Powell Staff Writer

Greeks acquitted in neo-Nazi's death

DRESDEN, Germany (AP) — Two men accused of killing a neoNazi leader last year were acquitted last week by a Dresden court, which ruled they had acted in self-defense. Greek-born Nikolas Simeonidis, 25, had been charged with manslaughter in the death of 36-year-old Rainer Sonntag. Ronny Matz, 24, had been charged as an accessory for driving the car in which Simeonidis fled the scene after the May 31 shooting. The shooting occurred when about 50 neo-Nazis surrounded Simeonidis and Matz on a Dresden street. Witnesses testified that Simeonidis threatened the group with a shotgun, scaring most of them off. Sonntag then approached Simeonidis and dared him to shoot, according to testimony. Simeonidis said he felt threatened by Sonntag and bit him with the gun, accidentally discharging it. About 1,500 skinheads and other extreme rightists attended Sonntag's funeral..

Gotti trial nears end NEW YORK (AP) — Reputed mobster John Gotti killed people with words rather than a weapon, a prosecutor said last week in closing arguments. "He did not go out and shoot people in the face," Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gleeson told the jury hearing the murder-racketeering trial. "He had other people do it for him." "I submit to you that no reasonable person could dispute that John Gotti is the boss of the Gambino crime family since Paul Castellano was murdered in 1985," Gleeson said. The racketeering indictment against Gotti accuses him of the slaying of Castellano and his bodyguard, Thomas Bilotti, in a daring mob hit on a crowded Manhattan street.

See World Wrap, back page

Candidates for the University of Central Oklahoma student senate's executive offices used a public forum last week to pound the final planks in their political platforms. The candidates, Joacquin Stevens and Jason Campbell opposed by Chris Folsom and Carole Crawley agreed on most issues saying their primary aims are to work toward improving the lot of UCO students. Stevens' and Campbell's platform states that they support creating additional parking, a tuition payment plan, more terminals during registration and additional afternoon classes. They said they oppose a 4 percent tuition increase. Folsom's and Crawley's platform states that they want to improve the financial aid process, extend library hours and improve the parking situation.

Presidential candidate Folsom said one of his pet projects is to institute a new student orientation program in order to increase school spirit at UCO. "Texas A&M has a freshman orientation where they take them out to a camp for a week," he said. "I know that would be hard here because we are a commuter college, but we need to start some traditions." Campbell, the vice-presidential candidate on the Stevens ticket agreed that a new student orientation is important, but said the focus should not be just on the incoming freshmen. "I think we need to involve some of the older students," he said. Campbell's running mate said his favorite project would be to improve the way campus leaders are trained.

See Candidates, page 4

Where you vote

• Today: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Centennial Square, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the University Center Breezeway, and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Old North Tower. • Tomorrow: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Centennial Square, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the University Center Breezeway, and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Building.

State question 640 gets 'frosty' reception By Allen Norbury Staff Writer The passage of State Question 640 turned the lights out in Oklahoma, said Frosty Troy, editor of the Oklahoma Observer. Troy said the amendment to the constitution was vaguely written and forced through the legislature in a hurry. SQ 640 limits the legislative taxing power, but there is more to SQ 640 than meets the eye. The Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OSCCI), which voted unanimously to oppose the question, said that SQ 640 will have a negative impact on business and economic development.

It will also threaten the state's bond rating and state funds. OSCCI said that the negative impact on the bond ratings will in turn limit the ability to raise funds for state projects. So in turn higher education will feel the impact of SQ 640. "The state will be less likely to appropiate funds for higher education," said Dr. John George, University of Central Oklahoma political science professor. That may mean no new classrooms for UCO. "It can't help but affect higher education," Troy said. "Higher Education better batten down the hatches," he added. See 640, page 4

Line up for enrollment! Regular summer registration ends May 29; worm shows head today for fall early birds By Traci McKnight Student Writer For those students who will be hitting the books instead of the beach, enrollment has begun for the summer semester at the University of Central Oklahoma. Early enrollment for the summer semester ends May 22 when the fee payments for the courses are due. After this date students who have not paid for classes will be dropped. Regular enrollment for the summer session will be May 26 through May 29. There will be two blocks offered this

summer; block one (June 1 to June 24) and block two (June 25 to July 21.) "One of the things that I think makes our summer program so attractive is the two blocks that we have," said Suzanne Martin, admissions and records director. "You have teachers coming back to get their master's degrees. They can go to school one month instead of two." Even though the spring semester here at UCO was a record- breaker for attendence Martin said she does not expect a significant

increase over last summer's enrollment figures. See Enrollment, page 4

Rollerblading, the latest hip craze for those athletically inclined, has hit UCO's campus full force, endangering pedestrians and motorists alike. (Photo by Mike Simons)


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