E October 1, 1987 Vol. 86, No. 10
VISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
AIDS proposals approach vote By J. Money Senator T. Lee Allen has proposed three resolutions to the Student Association Senate concerning AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The three resolutions come up for debate in front of the senate Monday. The first of the resolutions, 87-107 calls for the formation by the CSU administration of a clear and concise nondiscrimination policy against persons with AIDS. Allen said that CSU has had students on campus who suffer from the disease, but that he doesn't think discrimination has occured. He said the reason for proposing the resolution was to ensure discrimination doesn't occur on the campus. The resolution calls for the dissemination of the policy in a highly visible manner, such as the non discriminatory disclaimer on applications for employment. The resolution also points out that AIDS can not be transferred from one student to another
through casual contact. "By casual contact," Allen said, "I mean, for example, if one student sat next to another who suffers from AIDS in a classroom, the unaffected person can't catch it," Allen said. Resolution 87-108 calls for the dedication of an AIDS awareness week. "Although we are all sick of hearing about AIDS," Allen said, "it is still out there. The Oklahoma public school systems are now educating their students about AIDS under state law. "As a university, we should do the same," Allen continued. The resolution encourages all campus organizations to participate by disseminating appropriate information to their members and by sponsoring forums as well as other activities. "If nothing else," Allen said, "it could be done through Freshman Orientation." The third resolution submitted by Allen, 87-109, calls for the university to change policy and
allow the head nurse of the Student Health Center to dispense condoms. The resolution proposes to dispense condoms out of the health center at the student's cost, not the university's. It also requests, however, that the university Health Center should not sell condoms for profit. The resolution points out that it has been medically established that one way AIDS is transmitted is through unprotected sexual intercourse. The resolution also points out that the Surgeon General of the United States has recommended the use of condoms as one method for protected sexual activity. "I'm not advocating promiscous sex, but we need to be realistic. Students on campus engage in sexual activity. We should allow them to do it as safely as possible," Allen said. Allen said if the names of all condom purchasers should be kept confidential and that parents of students should not be notified.
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This unusual sign appeared on a window at Murdaugh Hall earlier this week. Readers are reminded that even though this practice may be fun, they should get a flu shot before trying it for themselves.
S.A. plans for By Bill Wallo
Student writer On Friday, Oct. 2, at 12:45, the Student Association will meet to discuss the formation of CSU's delegation to the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, SA Deputy Speaker Jeff Aynes said today. OIL is mock government, comprised of a governor, a house of represen-
Prof chosen to help combat illiteracy By J. Money Editor Dr. Imogene T. Johnson, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction has been appointed to Gov. Henry Bellmon's Literacy Task Force. Johnson succeeds Marilyn Vesley, a former member of the task force. The announcement said no senate conformation is required for the appointment. Johnson has been at CSU since 1972 instructing prospective teachers how to teach children who have reading problems. Johnson has developed a reading specialist program, a masters degree program for teachers, and has supplemented the program with a reading clinic. "I teach master level clinical practices in reading," Johnson said, "and the clinical program is the best in the state." Johnson said the program is certified to help children with reading problems from kindergarten through 12th grade. Johnson said, "Currently, we have a one year waiting list for
getting into the clinic." Johnson also said she has an interest in the adult illiterate. "We try to work as many adult illiterates into the clinic as we can," Johnson said. "I feel it is excellent training for potential teachers by showing them what an adult illiterate is like and also what happens if children don't learn to read." Johnson added that she had been concerned about adult illiteracy for a long time, and she had spent time developing materials and programs for the adult illiterate, some of which are used in the reading clinic. "When I began my teaching career," Johnson said, "I was very frustrated because students in my classes were not learning to read at the same pace. Some of my students needed more than I could teach. During her career, Johnson has been director or assistant director of several workshops held on CSU designed to help teachers of the Adult Basic Education classes learn how to help students with
reading problems. "It was fascinating to work with teachers, to hear their experiences and to see what was being done or not done to help the adult illiterate," Johnson said.
Dr. Imogene T. Johnson
Johnson said she also helped to write the reading program for inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, and has held several workshops to instruct teachers how to improve the program.
The Adult Basic Education program, which is federally and state funded, also encompasses the federal prison in El Reno. "The problem with the Adult Basic Education program," Johnson said, "is that it has a very limited scope. Some people need more help with their reading skills than the program can give." Johnson said people who have reading difficulties find it much more difficult to get jobs, and programs other than the ABE that could help them cost too much money for them to afford. Johnson also expressed an idea about what she would like to see done and why she likes to work with illiterates. "I'd like to see something come from a concentrated effort," Johnson said. "Help is there in spots, but it needs to be available everywhere, and tied in with the work place if possible." "One reason I like doing this," she continued, "is because I want to prove that a person can be taught. As long as a person is willing to try, anything is possible."
tatives, a senate, its own district and supreme court, and "all other things associated with the top levels of government," Aynes said. It meets five days a semester and conducts business like real legislatures and governments do. The purpose of the first meeting is to begin to identify those interested in attending this semester's OIL, which will be held Oct. 21st-25th, at the state capital and the Sheraton Hotel. Aynes, who is the chairman of the delegation, says that anyone can join the delegation. All they have to do is pick up an application in the SA office on the fourth floor of the Student Center. However, "it's first come, first serve," he said. He can take approximately fourty people, but he rarely has to turn anyone away. He said the main purpose of OIL is to learn about government. The delegates look over nearly 1000 pieces of legislation in the five-day period. They wear proper dress, debate, sit in the actual chambers of the senate and house, and "use all the parts of state government." Some of the legislation that OIL considers goes on to be considered by real governments. A piece that Aynes co-authored last year with an OU student involved a proposed provision on the state constitution to allow for the recall of any state offical. It was looked at by the state legislature, but returned. Aynes, who has been to three sessions of OIL, wants to see student delegates get course credit for what they are doing. "It is a learning experience, and students have to spend lots of hours working, and miss school," he said. He pointed out that several other schools in Oklahoma offer one credit hour for the session. While the Oct. 2 meeting is not mandatory, for anyone interested who does decide to join, there is a meeting on Oct. 9 that is mandatory.