10 years of the Future

As we at the Central Florida Future look back at a decade of news coverage of UCF and the surrounding area, we see the up and down effects of time.

From the reaction to the horror of terrorist attacks and massacres to the creation of a medical school that put UCF on the map, we see that life consists of tribulations as well as victories.

Here is a look at some of the biggest headlines of the past decade:

Horror of 9/11 closes UCF campus

September 12, 2001

Written by Lisa Applegate, Joe Kaleita and Becki Panoff:

UCF reopened Wednesday, along with all Florida state universities and community colleges, after canceling classes Tuesday in the wake of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

In a televised news conference, Florida governor Jeb Bush announced that after being closed Tuesday, state universities, community colleges and a number of government buildings would resume operation Wednesday morning.

At press time, all Wednesday classes at UCF are scheduled to take place.

"We're just going to be resuming relatively normal operations," said UCF News Bureau Director Jerry Klein.

Some students remained on campus, including a group that formed to give blood that would be sent to hospitals that treat victims of the attacks. The students stood outside the Student Union and gave directions to area blood banks.

The debacle of the American flags

Clips from June 24, 2003 to October 9, 2003 (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)

Written by Ben Baird:

Rebuilding on a Conservative Kornerstone, or ROCK, has proposed a measure called "Project Freedom," which asks the UCF administration to put an American flag in all UCF classrooms.

ROCK President Heather Smith said the flags will serve the dual purpose of promoting patriotism while adding a decorative touch.

. . .

Twenty hands went up in the Key West room Thursday night, bringing an end to Student Government deliberation of the contentious debate over paying to put American flags in UCF's classrooms.

The SGA Senate voted 20-to-13 to deny funding for a bill, backed by student group Rebuilding on a Conservative Kornerstone, to install the flags with SGA funds.

The decision came after several hours of speeches by those in backers and opponents of the bill, as television cameras and activists watched the drama unfold in a second floor Student Union conference room.

. . .

After the SGA Senate denied its request for the money, a campus student group appealed to conservative talk-show host Shannon Burke and raised the $3,140 necessary to display an American flag in all UCF classrooms starting today.

ROCK was denied student funds for the project Aug. 28 by the SGA Senate, but took to the airwaves the next morning and presented its case to greater Orlando via Burke.

"The SGA was hoping that ROCK wouldn't come up with the money," Burke said, adding that money was never the issue and that SGA simply did not want the flags in classrooms.

. . .

by Patricia  Xavier:

Less than a month after the controversial installment of American flags in UCF classrooms began, UCF Police are investigating the vandalism of several flags throughout campus.

On Tuesday, at least nine flags in the Communications, Visual Arts, and Math and Physics buildings were torn down and stolen. Most of the damage occurred in the Math and Physics Building, where flags were missing from every floor. All but one flag had been replaced before students arrived for classes on Wednesday, maintenance supervisor Wanda Daberko said.

One of UCF's own crowned Miss America

September 21, 2003

Written by Alex Babcock:

Eyes wide and mouth agape, UCF senior Ericka Dunlap claimed the Miss America 2004 title Saturday night before a national audience, beating out 50 contestants in the final night of the competition.

Dunlap, 21, a major in Advertising and Public Relation, repeatedly cried out "Oh my God" when she was announced the winner. Miss Hawaii Kanoelani Gibson was the runner-up, followed by Miss Wisconsin Tina Sauerhammer.

Hurricane Charley 'wrecks' center

August 23, 2004

Written by Monica Panakos:

The Recreation and Wellness Center is closed after winds from Hurricane Charley ripped off most of the roof of the 3-year-old building, inviting massive rain damage that destroyed carpeting, wood floors and exercise equipment.

Jim Wilkening, associate director of the Center, estimated it will not reopen until at least February and perhaps not until after the end of the new academic year. The $12.5 million building opened in January 2002.