The Volunt & Service Learning Center is collecting items for the Arneric.in Nod Cross and the Heartline 2 1 1 prognm to help those In need, !terns sOught at Oil% time Int hide: -Cash donations - New, sealed men's / women's I children's toiletries Men's / women's thildren's Students can drop off donations at Rill 212 in the Nigh University Conter
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UCO student organizations wanting to help are invited to call the MO Student Association (UCOSA) at 974 2249,
TH April 14, 2009
www.,thevistaonline.corn
rhe Studem \ oice or the ersit\ of Central Oklahoma Since 1903
UCOSA Senate passes 24/7 tobacco ban Nelson Solomon (o-Floor
With the bang of a gavel, the UCO Student Association Senate passed a resolution that puts the university on the path to becoming tobacco free. The resolution, which passed by a majority vote of 45 to 37, called for making the campus entirely tobacco free. The resolution bands cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, spit tobacco, as well as herbal tobacco products. The legislation applies to employees (full-time, parttime or temporary), faculty (tenured and adjunct) and employee (staff and contract) and visitors, volunteers, guests and spectators, according to the resolution. "This is an auspicious day for UCO. We are taking a step forward, we are being leaders for health and our conference and in our state and city," Senator Robin Chipman, a community health major and an author of the bill, said. "I feel proud to be a part of UCOSA today." Senator Dayid Jenkins proposed an amendment that would ban only smoking tobacco and allow any other Itind, but it failed by a 45 - 22 vote. He congratulated the authors of the bill, but expressed his disappointment with the ban on smokeless tobacco. "I think the chewing tobacco ban is stepping over the bounds a little bit, but
I'm definitely glad the smoking ban is there," he said. Jenkins argued that nonsmoking tobacco only affects the health of the user and likely wouldn't bother students and visitors to the campus. He also pointed out during the session that if the Department of Public Safety and the administration doesn't enforce the passed resolution, then all the work of the senators is to no avail. Daniel Stockton, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and 2009-2010 Student Body President, expressed his appreciation to all the senators involved in writing the legislation. "Credit is due to the senators that wrote this piece of legislation. It's vital, that's what it takes to have a student government that works effectively, student activists that put the time into writing legislation and to doing the groundwork," Stockton said. He said the resolution was a goal of the administration. "It was a close vote, it was well argued, and I know that there will be action from the House of Representatives, but for now, this is the bill that stands, and this will be the legislation that moves on to be signed by President John Bobb-Semple," he said. Constitutionally, BobbSemple has to sign the bill by next week, Stockton said. He will either sign it or veto it back to the Senate. "From there, it will be taken under consideration
Greeks 'Step it Up
DROPPED MATCHES SNUFF BRONCHO FIRE
St. Edward's University swept past UCO this past week to stifle their five-match win streak. SEU didn't take any UCO player for granted and won all eight matches, singles, and doubles. The 22 ranked Hilltoppers move to 8-3 on the season, while the 28th ranked Bronchos fall to io-6. In the doubles matches, both pairs of Bronchos fell by scores of 8-3, respectively. Continued on page 6 SHRUM LEADS BRONCHO LINK STERS, NCAA
Among the many UCO players making heads turn nationally is UCO golfer Colby Shrum. Shrum has had several successful seasons with the Bronchos and ranks as one of the best in Photo by Chris Albers NCAA Division II Golf. In Shrum's senior year he led Delta Zeta sorority sisters took part in a combined performance with Pi Kappa Alpha Perry High School to its first Class fraternity during last Tuesday night's event titled "Step", held at Constitution Hall. They 3A State Golf Championship in were just one of many groups that performed during the event which was a Greek house its history. A first-team All-State competition to show which has more spirit. considered player, Shrum won career tournaments at Perry.
Reflections of a student president Caleb McWilliams (o
To exiting UCOSA president John Bobb-Semple, leadership is not doing things yourself, but in identifying people's strengths and finding the best place for them to be. "It was a goal of mine to be able to use the knowledge, tools and wisdom of all the people I was leading in UCOSA and leading them was something I learned hoW to do," said Bobb-Semple. Under Bab-Semple's leadership, the UCO Student Association passed many initiatives and acts this year, including getSee UCOSA, page ting 1,20o people register 3 to vote, getting a stop sign
put in at the intersection city of Edmond. Additionally, Bobbof Baumann and Ayers Semple said, because the next to campus with the university administration help of the Junior City believed that UCOSA was Council. "The stop sign provid- mature enough and proed more safety and pro- fessional enough to talk to vided less traffic for stu- as many students as posdents there at the corner. sible, the decision about a The traffic flow is twice campus-wide smoking ban as good as it was before," was left up entirely to the Bobb-Semple said. "That Senate and House. "We got our voice heard was done mostly through the work of the Junior City through that mechanism Council, though. We just because were serious about it," Bobb-Semple said. provided the ideal" "I'm also very proud to He also said that the association worked hard to say we defeated the guns on make sure that the transfer, campus bill," Bobb-Semple commuter, international said. "That's something I and other non-traditional worked really, really hard students "got a say at the to do. It's never going to :table," and, that through come back. It's dead." the Junior City Council, see PRESIDENT, the association now has a page 3 better relationship with the
Continued on page 6 UCO FOOTBALL PLAYERSTO WATCH IN 2009
As spring ball rolls on in Edmond, UCO will be weeding out which players they will keep, who will make the team, the depth chart for next season and impact freshman and transfers will be determined. Not including the haul of this year's recruiting class, the Bronchos will return several players who will be player to watch this season. Some of the best are seniors. Continued on page 6
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Liquid Assets with Caleb McWilliams
Special interpreter honored not only my boss, but those out in the field ... that they see not only the work I'm doing ... at .Senior Reporter UCO's community, but also in the outside field," Weathers said. Kimberly Fields, Assistant Director of UCO's DSS, nominated Weathers for the Newby The jump from high school to college can be award. "[Weathers] is the is the girl that's always difficult, especially when you cannot hear the willing to go above and beyond the call of duty," world around you. Sharla Weathers, special interpreter for UCO's Fields said. "It's just the little things she does ... Disability Support Services, has worked for five without even thinking." Students for an Accessible Society nominatyears to make that barrier a littler easier for ed Weathers for UCO's Three C's Excellence UCO's deaf students. Weathers recently received special recogni- Award. The Three C's award is given to a UCO faculty tion for her efforts from both UCO and the Oklahoma Association on Higher Education and or staff member who demonstrates community, character and civility. Disability. "They provide awareness for disabilities OK-AHEAD awarded Weathers their New Professional Award, or "Newby," for her 'dis- throughout the year here on campus," Weathers ability support work at UCO and in the Edmond said. She said SAS created the award to be precommunity, according to UCO press release. "It does mean a lot to me to realize that sented at UCO's first "Dining in the Dark" banRyan Croft
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quet, a part of UCO's Eighth annual Disability Awareness Week. As one of only a few Communication Access From Vista finance reporter Caleb Realtime Translation, or CART, certified inter- McWilliams comes a blog about the preters in Oklahoma, Weathers translates teach- financial, political and other relevant ers' in-class lectures for UCO students who are happenings in Central Oklahoma affecting UCO. unable to hear what is being said. She translates the class by typing what teachers and other students say on a stenograph nside the Lines. with Chris machine, which then displays the words on the Wescott student's laptop. "That way, they can read and still participate as if they were hearing everything for themselves," Weathers explained. She also assists students with disabilities with any enrollment or academic needs they have before and throughout the semester. Weathers said she also provides CART services for organizations in the Oklahoma community Sports reporter Chris Wescott brings and other universities. you all sports, all the time, with Bron"I like to help people," Weathers said. "I think cho scores, mini articles and quotes I have found my niche where I am now." from players' and coachs' interviews.
"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods." -Aristotle
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