Celebrating 100 Years American Democracy oject
11-IE
The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2004
CampusRegents seek additional tuition increases
Announcements
by Vista Staff ■ Officer elections for the Residence Hall Association will be at 5:30 April 14 in the Dogwood Room. For more information, e-mail ucorha@yahoo.com . ■ The LDSSA religious forum will be at 6 p.m. April 13 in Constitution Hall of the Nigh University Center. ■ The nomination form for the Herbert S. Dordick Award for Outstanding Mentor is available online at http://bronze.ucok.edukampus_life/dordickapp.pdf.
state budget cut in higher education, schools across the state raised tuition in the double
Oklahoma States Regents for Higher Education proposed an increase in the tuition cap for colleges and universities for the next fiscal year. During a public hearing April 12, Regents members listened to public comments about the possibility of tuition increases for the second year in a row. Last year, with a 10 percent
di gits. "I think it needs to be very clear that (increases in tuition caps) is not a predictor of tuition increases," said Ben Hardcastle, spokesperson for the Regents Public Information Office. David Koehn, UCO vice president for administration, said administrators have not determined if tuition will be increased further
for the 2004-05 school year. Koehn said that a UCO budget task force committee meets every year to determine budget cuts but will not know if they will cut anything until they see the legislative budget for higher education. "We're going to try to determine what the state will give us first," Koehn said. After the amount of state funds allotted is
■ The OKC Memorial Marathon is April 25, and volunteers for the event are still needed. Call Ross Lampert at 478-3180 or visit www.okcmarathon.com .
questions of purpose, relevance and meaning. by Caroline R. Duke Editor in Chief
Photo by Gavin Elliott
Dallas Burn and the Kansas City Wizards battled two 45-minute halves in a mostly defensive game ending in a 1-1 score.
by Lindsay Brady Student Writer Constant drizzle and 40degree temperatures did not stop 6,738 soccer fans from attending the second Major League Soccer exhibition game at UCO's Wantland Stadium April 10. For more than a year, UCO officials have strove to demonstrate the requirements to receive an MLS franchise. Requirements to win a team are an ownership circle, a stadium and a large season ticket holder base. "I think we've demonstrated clearly that we have the. fans and the corporate base needed to support an MLS team," said UCO
President Dr. W. Roger Webb, who attended the game. If chosen to host an MLS team, Edmond will be the only professional sport venue in Oklahoma. This would give Edmond an edge, Webb said. UCO soccer Coach Mike Cook said the MLS exhibition game was designed to draw interest to find possible franchise owners. Bill Farley, UCO athletic director, headed the cornmittee that brought the MLS game to Wantland Stadium. "We are elated about the future of this stadium," he said. "We struck a deal that will bring the state high
Students to cast ballots on leaders, fee increase ■ Voting to increase student activity fees and to elect student body president and vice president will be online April 14. by Vista Staff UCO administrators plan to increase the student activity fee through a bond proposal in the April 14 student elections. If the proposal is passed, half of the $1.10 fee increase will be allocated to athletics for an athletic trainer and athletic scholarships, according to the proposal. "Twenty-five percent of all additional funds would be allocated to student organizations currently pending annual budget requests, and twenty-five percent of all additional funds would be allocated to campus—wide programs for activity scholarships, a special events coordinator, and a campus speaker bureau," according to the proposal. Online voting will take place on UCONNECT between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14. Along with student body president and vicepresident elections, students can vote for a new fee increase. Bill Farley, UCO athletic
Democracy to be main topic at ADP regional conference ■ The American Democracy Project explores
■ Cheer team, pom squad and Buddy Broncho tryouts are April 15. For applications, visit the Campus Life Office. Call 974-2363 for more information.
■ The Big Event," a day of service, will be April 17 in communities around the metro. To register, call 9742621 or e-mail vpena@ucok.edu .
Although the cap increase does not predict higher tuition, it still remains a possibility based on state legislative appropriations.
see Tuition, page 5
Rain no match for MLS
■ The Liberal Arts Symposium 2004: Passport to Knowledge will be April 14 in the Liberal Arts Building. Contact Linda McDonald at 974-5635 or Imcdonald@ucok.edu .
■ "May Day: Under the Big Top" will be from 12 to 5 p.m. April 23. The Residence Hall Association will sponsor the event. To participate, volunteer or reserve a booth, call 974-4166, or e-mail srasmussen@ucok.edu .
Regent's plan to raise the state tuition cap June 30 for the 2004-05 school year.
Voting Instructions Using UCONNECT ✓ Log on to UCONNECT ✓ Click on "School Services" tab ✓ Click on "Broncho Central Services" ✓ Select "Personal Information" ✓ Click on "Answer a Survey" ✓ Select the appropriate election Using Broncho Central: ✓ Log on to Broncho Central ✓ Select "Personal Information" ✓ Click on "Answer a Survey" ✓ Select the appropriate election
director, said, "It would mean the world to athletics if the students would approve this." Farley said UCO's athletic department is far behind in competitive scholarships in the Lone Star conference. The proposal will provide a " great athletic program our students really want," Farley said.
To see proposal, see page 4.
school soccer championships here May 14-15." Kansas City Wizard midfielder Diego Gutierrez, who scored the team's lone goal, said playing at UCO was a good experience with a nice atmosphere. "I can see a successful MLS league here," he said. Last spring, students passed the Stadium Referendum Act of 2003. The referendum allowed for more stadium seating, one of the requirements necessary to bring an MLS franchise to Edmond. "This would be a great recruiting tool for UCO athletics," said Luke Slattery, senior interpersonal communications major.
Representatives from institutions around the region will be here April 14 for the American Democracy Project regional conference. The ADP seeks to increase the number of undergraduate students committed to civic engaement by asking the greater question, "Why are we here?" "This work is becoming more a focus of our attention as we review our mission and core values," said Dr. Don Betz, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. Most higher education institutions in Oklahoma will be represented at the conference, as well as eight to 10 outside institutions, Betz said. "Once it gets rolling, it will be rolling," Betz said. UCO is one of the top 10 most participatory schools in ADP in the nation, Betz said in a ADP committee meeting earlier this semester. "We're really on the right track in terms of service," he said. UCO modeled its ADP mission around character, civility and community, known as the "3 C's." "UCO is making a serious commitment to developing this," Betz said. "We have a story to tell." The conference will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast in the Heritage Room of the Nigh University Center. It will continue through 4:15 in Ballroom C.
National experts on engaging citizens will speak throughout the day. Break-out sessions will be at various times throughout the day, including a 1 p.m. student session. Universities and colleges represented at the conference will be from Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Partners of the project are the American Association "This work of State Colleges is becoma ing more a Universities,
The New York Times Oklahoma Campus Compact. — Dr. Don Betz Speakers at the 11:30 a.m. luncheon will be Murphy, Harper and Gina Wekke of Campus Compact for the Oklahoma Board of Regents for Higher Education. The cost for UCO faculty, staff and students to register is free, but the cost for the luncheon is $8 for students and staff Faculty is free. Seating will be available, however, for those who want to attend luncheon but do not want to eat. To register or for more information on the conference, call Linda Smith at the UCO Center for Learning and Professional Development, 974 - 2543. Or visit bronze.ucok.edu/AmericanDemocr acyProject.
focus of our attention."
For a complete schedule of the conference, see page 4.
Candidate Platforms President
Vice President
Aaron Kaspereit
Mitchell Corter
■ Restructure parking situation ■ Give better notification of campus events ■ Set up sessions with legislators to discuss allocation of funds ■ Coordinate with state Senate in regards to the funds UCO gets
■ To focus on what the students want ■ To create more public awareness of what is going on
Lane Perry
Nicholas Harrison
■ Arrange trip to Capitol with students to let voices be heard ■ Increase student involvement and leadership on campus ■ Be UCO's student body megaphone ■ Continue letter-writing campaign to inform State of Oklahoma that students know UCO is underfunded
Rory Telemeco ■ Work on budget by encouraging students to write legislatures ■ Create a strong voice to address the issue of parking
Please see page 3 for additional candidate information.
■ To establish an International House ■ To create more residential parking ■ To provide student activity stipends ■ To get students involved in the House of Representatives ■ To establish a speakers bureau ■ To provide more Greek funding ■ To initiate equity funding
Bryan Walker ■ To work side-by-side with the Edmond mayor and the Chamber of Commerce ■ To get Edmond local businesses and merchants to distribute UCO items ■ To intertwine Edmond and. UCO ■ To work to establish more on-campus housing for affordable prices ■ To create more campus involvement