1111 Remembering Jenna: a tribute to her life -See page 6
www.thevistaonline.com
III Interview with "Max Payne" stars -See page 8 & 9 Oct. 23, 2008
Preparing for the homecoming
Looking at school history through the pages of The Vista By Chase Dearinger Copy Editor
by Vista photographer Chris Albers
Public relations major Maryann Stewart takes part in a window painting competition for homecoming week. The Bronchos will take on Midwestern State 2 p.m. Saturday at Wantland Stadium.
On an especially cold Christmas Eve in 1890, Gov. George Washington Steele signed Council Bill #106, a bill that established, for the first time, a college in the eight-month-old Oklahoma Territory. The act established the Territorial Normal School of Oklahoma in the town of Edmond. The first twenty-three students met in a church and their curriculum consisted of a review of the eighth grade and the first year of high school courses. The school has seen a century come and go and a variety of name changes. In 1904 the Normal School became Central State Normal School; in 1919 it became Central State Teachers College; 1939, Central State College; 1971, Central State University and 1991, the University of Central Oklahoma. The language of Council Bill #106 states that the intent of the Normal school was "the instruction of persons in the art of teaching in all the various branches that pertain to a good common school education, also to give instruction in theory and practice of teaching, in the fundamental laws of the United States and in what regards the rights and duties of citizens." But this is as far as I can go. In the spirit of Homecoming Week, I took it upon myself to write an article that set forth the history of UCO. I'm talking about a history that explores all facets of the school, from spirit to athletics to new buildings to name changes; a comprehensive history that brought all students and alumni up to speed on the oldest college
in Oklahoma. What better place to go than The Vista itself to find all of this information? I headed for the UCO Archives, on the second story of Chambers Library, determined to capture the history of the university in articles written by Central students at the time of the event. What did the Vista have to say in its first issue in 1903? What was reported about the establishment of the new football team in October of 1904? How did students respond to Mrs. Wantland's suggestion that the school's mascot be a Broncho? How did they feel about the spelling? The most interesting thing that I found was that none of these events were ever recorded in print, at least not in the college or city newspapers. All I found was a sidebar on how the college became a four-year school in 1939 and a small discussion of the new library building that was to be built in 1956. What I did find, however, was far more interesting that what I didn't find. I found another history; a history concerned with the lives and activities of students at UCO and less concerned with a comprehensive, categorical assessment of major university events. The very first issue of The Vista contained an interesting critique on the part of Harvey 0. Shuff and Alice D. Mann, the editorial staff. It seems that around the turn of the last centaury, students at the Territorial Normal School lacked school spirit.
see HISTORY, page 7
Campus gun bill Documentary shown to may be returning raise health awareness By Andrew Knittle
Senior Reporter
With Oklahoma's legislature set to begin a new session in about 90 days, many of the state's top education officials are worried the controversial campus gun bill, which was shot down in March, may be back on the table come February. House Bill 2513, written by Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) sought to allow students over the age of 21 to bring guns onto campus, so long as those students had a concealed firearm permit and proper training. The bill was passed in February by the House (65-36), but it never made it to the Senate due in large part to a resolution passed during a meeting of Gov. Brad Henry's
Campus Life and Safety and Security Task Force early in 2008. Higher education officials were very much opposed to the bill at the time, and University of Oklahoma President Boren even offered to get on his knees and beg the Senate to
keep the bill from becoming law. On Oct. 13, the task force met again. And again, the issue of the campus gun bill seemed to become an issue. Glen Johnson, chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education, said the bill wouldn't protect students if a gunman attacked a campus. Instead, he said passing the bill would decrease the level of safety student's currently enjoy. "If it comes up again, we want to be ready to oppose it," Johnson
said. Murphey said while his first attempt to get the bill signed into law may have failed, it doesn't mean he is going to stop trying. "I'm really committed to doing something to break up the gun-free bubble," Murphey said. "There's got to be a way to have an application of concealed-carry to a campus that at least makes it so that a criminal can't go into that environment knowing that the only people that are going to have guns are going to have uniforms."
ed 90.1i
TODAY S COLLEGE MUSIC
By Laura Hoffert
OKLAHOMA
Senior Reporter The Church of Open Arms is hosting "Unnatural. Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?," a documentary about United States healthcare in hopes of raising awareness to Oklahomans. The Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign's four hour-long film explains how and why the nation ranks 30th in the world for life expectancy. Relying on facts such as levels of illnesses for adults in their 30s and 40s with a low income are comparable to affluent people in the 60s and 70s, the Church of Open Arms, Oklahoma Turning Point Council and the Oklahoma State Department of Health are collaborating to spark debate and interest in the healthcare system. The partners are hoping to educate and organize alliances and advocate government action to solve the problem quickly and effectively. Teachers, practitioners and community leaders are all being looked to as vessels to spread the message. The documentary will be shown in episodes along with discussion afterward. The first episode, "In Sickness and In Wealth", will be shown from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Sunday and
HEALTH EQUITY CAMPAIGN Rev. Dr. Kathy McCallie will speak about the documentary's findings of links between health, economic status and race. The seventh and final episode, "Not just a paycheck" will be shown on Sunday, Dec. 7. Race will also be discussed at the meetings. In 2002, Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher and his colleagues found that 83,570 African Americans died from preventable causes. If "Black-white differences" in health did not exist, 229 deaths a day could be avoided. The documentary will explain why it is believed the root of health inequities are different intertwining areas of survival such as, affordable housing, urban planning, labor transportation and education. Church of Open Arms is located at 3131 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City. To RSVP call (405) 525-9555.
Film showing gives students advice and preventative measures on school shootings.
--See page 10