April 10

THE“CAMPUS

April 10, 2019 – Volume 112 Issue 24

Student sick after food mislabeling in caf Paul Dower

ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR

Students are frustrated by vegan and vegetarian food in the caf being mislabeled and containing animal products, resulting in one student getting sick.

Alexandra Eckelbarger, acting freshman, said she is vegan and has noticed the mislabeled food.

“It’ll say it’s ‘vegetarian’ on the screen, and it’ll have a ‘vegan’ label on the bottom of it,” Eckelbarger said.

Eckelbarger said she spoke to Emily Anderson, director of dining services, and Executive Chef Chris Barton about the vegetarian and vegan food for a class project.

“I was talking to them about how my proposal was to make the vegan/vegetarian station only vegan, and they were really on board with it,” she said. “I told them how it’s frustrating when you find out all the things are vegetarian, and I can’t have any of it.”

Eckelbarger said, after she spoke with officials, she encountered some mislabeled vegan food in the caf.

“Two days later, there was a soup that was mislabeled,” she said.

I just eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch now and wait for them to give me something I can eat.

Alexandra Eckelbarger acting freshman

“It basically had ham in it. I haven’t had ham in three years, and I got really sick. I just thought it was funny that not a day or two later after talking to them about that, I ran into it.”

Allie McMurry, religion freshman, said the food should be labeled correctly so vegans and vegetarians won’t get sick.

“I think it’s wrong and something that should be addressed,” she said. “I think I would get very sick if I ate meat. I haven’t had it in a long time. I would also be very annoyed if I did because

“ “

I have a long streak of not eating meat, and so, if I ate it and I didn’t want to eat it, I would be pretty upset.”

In a statement made to Student Publications, Chartwells officials said they try to meet everyone’s preferences.

“Our vegan and vegetarian options are thoughtfully built into our menus and are served on a daily basis,” Chartwells officials wrote in their statement.

Chartwells officials also wrote that they make sure to label all of their food clearly.

“We ensure that BalancedU icons clearly display our vegan, vegetarian, avoiding gluten, and balanced so students are able to find what they are looking for daily,” they wrote.

Eckelbarger said she avoids eating food from the vegan/ vegetarian tables.

“I just eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch now and wait for them to give me something I can eat,” she said.

Hope Melton Student Publications

Celebrating heritage Left: Rachel Barrs, psychology junior and Miss Indian OCU 2019, places a shawl around Alumna Lois Glory Neal at the 13th Annual Spring Contest Powwow. Neal is a 1984 alumna and one of two alumni honored at the powwow, the other being Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. Barrs was crowned Miss Indian OCU on March 7.

Above: Participants at the 13th Annual Spring Contest Powwow sing and play music for the gourd dance. Gourd dancing is a Kiowa tradition to honor Kiowa warriors and veterans.

Nursing students achieve 95% exam pass rate Francesca Iacovacci

STAFF WRITER

Nursing students received a 95% pass rate on their national exam.

Upon graduating from the Kramer School of Nursing, students take the National Council Licensure Examination to obtain their nursing license. The exam is 265 questions and concerns the safety of patients, said Dr. Diana Blackmon, chairwoman of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Blackmon, an associate professor of nursing, has been chairwoman of the department for three years.

“When I took over, the school’s average passing rate was 82%, which is also the national average, and we wanted to do much better than that,” she said.

To achieve a 95% pass rate, Kramer officials implemented

When I took over, the school's average passing rate was 82%, which is also the national average, and we wanted to do much better than that.

Diana Blackmon

chairwoman Bachelor of Science in Nursing program

an admissions test on which students have to score a certain percentage to be accepted into the nursing school. Additionally, the professors formed a testing committee that meets every week to review students’ exams and provide the most diverse and accurate feedback possible, Blackmon said.

“We’re creating better candidates of our students, and it seems to be working very well,” she said.

Drew Thielen, nursing senior, said she noticed a change after her first semester when classes switched from having four main exams throughout the semester to having more condensed tests every week.

“It made it a lot easier because you weren’t just trying to study and cram a whole bunch of information into your head at once,” Thielen said.

Like most nursing schools, Thielen said Kramer makes their tests difficult so the students retain the information.

“You should know almost everything you need to pass the NCLEX,” she said. “After your two years of nursing, the exam should just be a review.”

Softball coach credited with 1,700 wins, 10 national championships Emily Wollenberg

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A softball coach reached his 1,700th win after 32 years coaching at OCU. Phil McSpadden, head softball coach, reached the milestone after two games Friday against Panhandle State University. The Stars won 7-6 and 5-3 in Ann Lacy Stadium. The victory makes McSpadden the coach with the highest number of wins against four-year colleges in the history of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Under McSpadden’s coaching, the Stars are ranked second in NAIA softball. He has brought the team to 10 national championships.

McSpadden said he thinks the team can make a national championship run this season.

“We’re ranked second right now, and we started the season ranked No. 1. We’re close,” McSpadden said. “It’s a good ball club. This is a good bunch here.”

Athletic Director Jim Abbott said McSpadden is the reason OCU’s softball team scores as high as it does.

“Phil is responsible for creating the tradition of success that we have in softball,” Abbott said. “He has been able to sustain it.

He’s coached for 32 years, all at OCU. All 1,700 victories have

M MEDIAOCU.com

I'm blessed with some good ball players.

Phil McSpadden head coach softball

come at Oklahoma City University.”

McSpadden said the team has been practicing since the beginning of the semester.

“NAIA allows you to practice 24 weeks in a school year. We practice eight weeks in the fall, but we don’t play any games,” McSpadden said. “Then we have 16 weeks for our season, and in the spring we start the first week of January.”

Abbott said McSpadden’s approach has been consistent throughout his career.

“He hasn’t changed the way he approaches it every year,” he said. “He’s able to recruit outstanding players, help them grow and contribute, and sustain the level of success that we’ve enjoyed.”

Senior Infielder Sha Ingram said McSpadden has a lot of devotion to the sport and his team.

“Coach has the biggest heart for his players and for the game,” she said. “He puts so much passion into every detail and is so passionate about what he does. I wouldn’t have wanted to play for anyone else.”

Abbott said OCU is fortunate to have McSpadden, as well as alumni who have made it possible for the program to succeed.

“I just think it’s remarkable,” he said. “We have a terrific number of alumni out there in the world who really helped blaze the trail for this program. Our 1,700th win is just as remarkable as our 1,000th win and our 500th win, and our 100th win, and our first win.”

McSpadden said the achievement is a testament to his 32 years.

“It makes me feel older than I already do,” he said. “I’m an old fart.”

McSpadden said he thanks his supporters.

“I appreciate the support the university has given us all these years, and I’m blessed with some good ball players,” McSpadden said.

Contributing: Web Editor Jessica Vanek

Let's Have a Picnic

Follow us on Twitter @MediaOCU

Dear Crazy Kazoo Lady

Like us on Facebook at MediaOCU

See pictures of TheatreOCU's production of “Picnic” Get advice on everyday problems by emailing chawthorne@my.okcu.edu

Open Streets

Check out a review for a local street fair in OKC

Follow us on Instagram @media_ocu

opinion Attendance at a variety of events crucial in full college experience At a university with such a diverse population, it is ideal for students to always be aware of important events occurring outside of their major.

What’s more often the case is that non-performance extracurriculars do not receive as much attention, focus or support as the performing arts.

This is especially true in the athletic department. Earlier this semester, the volleyball team saw lower attendance at their games, and Freshman Middle Blocker Olivia Nutter said the school’s emphasis on the arts may have caused it.

“I think maybe since this is such an arts-centered school, people might not be interested in sports,” Nutter said.

With baseball and softball seasons in full swing, it likely would be appreciated by athletes if more students showed their support. This support rarely is seen in any athletic season, and it’s disheartening to

those involved. At a university that claims 66 national championships and other impressive athletic achievements, it seems like campus support would be overwhelming, but that is not always the case.

The visual arts department deserves more attention as well.

The last art exhibit of the year, Visceral Tendencies, opened April 3. If students want to support the variety of art that our university has to offer, it would be wise to check out the exhibit and be open to artistic experiences that aren’t exclusively theatrical. The gallery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays in Norick Art Center.

Even in the realm of performing arts, it seems like the majority of attendance goes to music theater and theater specifically, leaving some instrumental ensembles unsupported, as well as some dance shows.

Even choir concerts are sparsely attended by people not required

Talk Back “What equipment/machine do you use most in the gym?”

to be present.

Understandably, we are all busy with duties inside of our major, but a huge part of a liberal arts education is maximizing exposure to multiple disciplines. If students aren’t doing this, they’re missing out.

Allotting time to broaden the scope of knowledge and give other students the respect they deserve is the best thing to do if students want to end the year on a positive note.

Whether it’s attending a baseball game or an art exhibit, participation in a variety of university functions is the best way to experience OCU as a university. Stretch your limits.

Support other students’ passions with your attendance and respect.

"Definitely the treadmill"

Jessica Lomas acting sophomore

"I like the elliptical because it's easy on the joints, but it's still cardio."

Lauren Hamrick entertainment business junior

"The treadmill is my favorite."

"I love using the treadmill."

Maddie Barnes dance sophomore

Karenna Mudd acting freshman

"Leg curl machine"

"The elliptical because it's better than running on the treadmill"

Chassiti Oglesby exercise science freshman

Megan Cheng music sophomore

Columnist comments on teenage culture through female artists There’s a lot to discuss within the realm of teenage girls right now, at least in the greater popular music genre.

On March 25, an opinion column was published on Jezebel titled Jagged Little Pill Is Actually Very Bad??? and it quickly gained viral attention.

The author of the piece, Tracy Clark-Flory, a senior staff writer for the website, described how important Alanis Morissette’s 1995 album Jagged Little Pill was to her 12-year-old self. Reflecting on it as an adult, Clark-Flory is less than impressed with the musicality of the album that sold more than 33 million copies worldwide. It feels like she is trying to apologize for the music that she used to like.

Writers, musicians and Twitter

users alike took to the internet to defend Morissette’s album, stating that it’s more than just music.

What matters about Jagged Little Pill is that the album gave Morissette and her fans an outlet to be emotional and youthful. After all, Morissette wrote the album shortly after graduating from high school.

While the Jezebel columnist may be disappointed with how the album holds up musically to her 2019 tastes, she doesn’t take time to think about how the album shaped her teenage years.

Aren’t we all a product of the content we consumed when we were teens? And who better to understand teenage girls than Billie Eilish? Born in December 2001, the singer is just 17 years old and already topping charts

Amanda Miller is an English senior from Kansas City. She likes pop culture, glitter and iced coffee.

for her music videos and songs.

Her first full-length record, titled WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, was released on March 29. Tickets to her upcoming headlining tour sold out within minutes, months before her album was released.

Eilish’s music videos and public image are that of a spooky, almost-demonic teen girl, complete with images of the singer levitating, crying thick black tears and not having

visible eyeballs. But her album opens with a 14-second track titled !!!!!!! that features a spoken conversation between Eilish and her brother and co-writer, Finneas O’Connell. Listeners hear the two laughing and the line “I have taken out my Invisalign, and this is the album.”

Between her possessed music video character and her goofy recording studio persona, Eilish demonstrates her versatility.

It’s almost as though she’s demanding to be taken seriously

by adopting a dark, morbid personality when on camera.

Should she have to? What if Eilish just wanted to be her outgoing teenage self, without stepping into a persona for the public? I don’t know her personally, so I’m really just left to assume that she’s a combination of all of her personality traits.

And no one should be able to tell her which version of herself to be.

All of this alludes to a larger problem—society’s tendency to discredit teenage girls for their feelings and accomplishments. Like most other people, teen girls are passionate about music and movies and celebrities, and their interests should be taken just as seriously as those of someone else. Teenage girls often feel a sort of

shame that comes along with liking something (makeup, boy bands, reality TV) that’s not seen as important to the greater public, and while navigating their teen years and the complexities of growing up, the last thing these fans need is a constant array of comments that their interests are “shallow” or “silly.”

While the two albums, Jagged Little Pill and WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, may not sound alike, they capture some of the same feelings from the artists. And they communicate a full range of emotions from a young, female songwriter. Morissette’s and Eilish’s fans can be anyone—people of any age and any gender—and their opinions matter.

Film critic deems Pet Sematary worse than source material Occasionally, someone will turn to me and say, “Hey Chandler, you love horror, right?

What do you think of Stephen King?” Then, I have to take my blood pressure pills.

I’m not going to be the one to say King is a terrible writer.

I will give it to King that he can occasionally give insight to the human subconscious. He has a decent understanding of character development and, get this, he makes a lot of money.

But the time when King was producing decent novels—The Shining, The Stand and my personal favorite, Carrie—has long passed. One such work from the mediocre side of his oeuvre is Pet Sematary.

Pet Sematary follows the oh-so-typical “Creed” family

as they move into a new house, complete with mom, dad, daughter, baby boy, and cat.

The dad “Louis” befriends their neighbor “Jud,” who shows the family a piece of the property they (somehow) didn’t know they bought, the Pet Sematary.

This place is where children go to bury their dead pets, not far from a spooky forest where, spoiler alert, if something is buried, it is reanimated into a much darker, eviler version of itself. Well, one thing leads to another, and the family cat “Church” is hit by a car, prompting Louis, under Jud’s persuasion, to bury it in these woods.

I don’t like holding films solely to the standard of the books they’re based on, but it’s worth noting that the newest

Chandler White is an English senior from Meeker, Oklahoma. He likes gothic horror and good hip-hop.

Pet Sematary film adaptation, released Thursday, follows the novel almost perfectly. So, the question is: does this adaptation share the same flaws as its original source material?

Oh boy, yes it does. And they come rolling in quick.

This is easily the worst film I have reviewed all year. The first thing the viewer notices is what some call acting, what I call “imitating.” A family of actors

mimic for the camera what a family would look like, making sure the audience picks up all the lazy exposition through godawful child acting and things that no couple married for more than a year would ever say to each other.

Viewers who have read the book are treated to a lovely game of count-the-failed-translations.

The original source material is already weak, yet the film some-

how manages to make it even worse. What few memorable lines there are in the novel are taken out of context and ruined, as is Jud’s whole character, which completely fails to make sense in film form and comes off lowkey pedophilic toward Louis’s kids. Don’t worry, though, the film does keep the same stupid lore that King used to attempt explaining the fragmented plot.

And when it’s not drawing from this material, it’s unapologetically biting the style of Hereditary, a movie of a completely different league.

Finally, there’s the question of if it’s even scary in the first place. No, no it is not. The spooky cat zombie on every poster is sinfully overused, and nothing that frightening hap-

pens until about 75 minutes in, ultimately fizzling within the next 10.

Meanwhile Pet Sematary tries to impersonate a horror film via all of Hollywood’s consumerist tricks. Here’s some thunderstorms, some sudden unsettling music, some tilted camera angles, some creepy child drawings, some cartoonyspooky woods, a ridiculous excess of dream sequences— after all this, you might just be convinced you saw an actual movie.

Because trust me, this is not one. Pet Sematary feels like it’s going through the motions with every single thing it does, to the point where I have a hard time imagining even King himself liking it.

Campus Calendar Calendar items must be received in the Newsroom or stupub@okcu.edu by noon Friday for inclusion in the following Wednesday issue.

TODAY Softball vs. Southwestern Assemblies of God University at 2 and 4 p.m. in Ann Lacy Stadium 12th Annual CETL Awards Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel

University Center THURSDAY Coffee and Doughnuts with the Cops from 7:30-9:30 a.m. outside Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center Staff Council Meeting from 10-11 a.m. in Dulaney-Browne Library

FRIDAY American Music Recital at 4 p.m. in Medium Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center Visceral Tendencies Opening Reception at 5 p.m. in Hulsey Gallery in the Norick Art Center Crazy For You at 8 p.m. in Kirk-

patrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

patrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

SATURDAY Crazy For You at 8 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

MONDAY OCU Jazz Band in Concert at 7:30 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

SUNDAY Crazy For You at 3 p.m. in Kirk-

TUESDAY Baseball vs. Tabor College at 3

THE CAMPUS

2

Web Editor: Jessica Vanek Staff Writers: Luke Barrett, MaKayla Baxter, Erik Hamilton, Francesca Iacovacci, Hope Melton, Dru Norton Columnists: Caroline Hawthorne, Amanda Miller Photographers: Carolann Stout, Kylie Sullivan, Hope Melton, Clara Foster

Softball vs. Langston University at 2 p.m. in Ann Lacy Stadium OCU Percussion Ensemble Concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published Wednesday during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and exam periods.

April 10, 2019, Volume 112, Issue 24

Editor-in-chief: Nicole Waltman Associate Editor: Emily Wollenberg Copy Editor: Chandler White Associate Copy Editor: Paul Dower Photo Editor: Elina Moon Community Manager: Maddie Bowes

p.m. in Jim Wade Stadium

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Videographer: Emily Haan Ad Director: Emily Jones Faculty Adviser: Kenna Griffin

ters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include the writer’s phone number, address, major, and classification. The staff reserves the right to edit all letters. The staff also reserves the right to refuse letters without explanation. Letters can be sent online at mediaocu.com, emailed to stupub@ okcu.edu or dropped off at the Newsroom in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition.

The first issue of The Campus is free. Each additional issue costs 25 cents. Contents copyright, 2019. All rights reserved.

April 10, 2019

“

news

Geology expert to visit, give lecture on energy Luke Barrett

STAFF WRITER

A renowned geologist will speak this month on campus about energy and economics.

Dr. Scott Tinker, state geologist of Texas and director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, will visit campus Monday to deliver a lecture.

The lecture will be from 1:30-3 p.m. in Kerr-McGee Auditorium in the Meinders School of Business. The event is free and open to everyone, but RSVPs are encouraged. To register, go to okcu.edu/tinker.

“I’m going to talk a little bit about energy and its impact on the world; economic impact, how it impacts positively our efforts to lift people from poverty, and some of the environmental impacts, and some of the things that are being done and can be done better,” Tinker said.

Megan Hornbeek Allen, director of alumni engagement, said the lecture is a great opportunity for people to hear Tinker speak about sustainable energy transitions. Tinker previously worked with Steve Agee, dean of the Meinders School of Business, Allen said.

Tinker said he worked in the oil and gas industry for 17 years and has worked at the University of Texas for 20 years. He has traveled extensively and explored the topics of energy, economy and environment in various locations, he said.

Tinker also founded Switch Energy Alliance, a nonprofit that works toward an energy-educated future that is objective,

I'm going to talk a little bit about energy and its impact on the world.

Scott Tinker

state geologist of Texas

nonpartisan and sensible, according to the organization’s website.

The organization is born out of the award-winning documentary Tinker created with documentary filmmaker Harry Lynch, entitled Switch, about how energy transitions will likely occur in years to come. The movie is available online, and Tinker is creating a sequel titled Switch On to be released in September, he said.

Tinker said his talks have a global focus, and he emphasizes the connection between energy, the economy and the environment.

He said he concentrates on the environment and economy equally, focusing on data instead of a particular framework.

“They’re all important, you know, very important to have a healthy environment. The environment is broad, it’s not just the atmosphere. That’s part of it, but local air emissions, and land use, and water, those are all things we all depend on. We all benefit in this country from a really healthy economy, but that’s not the case in many parts of the world,” Tinker said.

Tinker said his goal is to encourage people to examine available information more deeply before forming opinions, no matter

their political perspective.

“It’s really important to look at the data and the information that’s available and not come to conclusions without seeking and looking and investigating a little bit into multiple sources of information,” he said.

Sarah Kelly, coordinator for special events and alumni management, said she wants a wide array of people to attend, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the Oklahoma City community.

Kelly said the talk will include a Q&A portion, which presents an opportunity for community members across the generational gap to be involved in the conversation.

Allen said the information in Tinker’s lecture will be important for everyone to hear.

“This is a topic that kind of transcends interests, and I think that the knowledge that he has to share is really pertinent for our future community, again, locally and globally,” Allen said.

Sammi Bronow, economics senior, said she was unfamiliar with the upcoming talk but would attend a lecture on the topics.

“I think it would be very interesting, and obviously, living in the state of Oklahoma, it’s something that affects everybody’s lives, whether they realize it or not,” she said. “We are one of the biggest producers of oil and natural gas in the United States, just given the natural resources that the state has to offer, so, naturally, it’s a big part of the economy.”

“

Upcoming visual art exhibit features selections from artist’s previous work Caroline Hawthorne

STAFF WRITER

Carolann Stout Student Publications

Take me out to the ball game Freshman Infielder Tristan Williams prepares to throw the ball at the April 3 baseball game against Southwestern College. The Stars won the first game, 9-4, and lost the second game, 3-6. The next home game is at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Jim Wade Stadium.

The School of Visual Arts is opening a new exhibit called Visceral Tendencies.

The exhibit will be on display until May 8 in the Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery in the Norick Art Center. The opening reception will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday. The exhibit features the work of Morgan Robinson, visiting artist in residence, and will showcase his sculptures.

“The exhibit is an umbrella way to look at how I see the world,” he said. “This body of work contains all the puzzle pieces that fit under that umbrella. I look at the world and see gum-stains and oil drops on the concrete, and I take it and put it into physical form.”

Robinson said the exhibit is different from his previous work, since it is a collection he has accumulated.

“In many ways, it’s a look back of a few different threads of series involved in my work,” he said. “Usually, when I’ve had a solo show in the past, I stare at the opening date and make a different body of work for that title. In this case, I chose 35 pieces from my body of work I’ve already produced.”

He also said this exhibit is a reflection of how his work has expanded during the last decade.

“Ten years ago, I was doing furniture pieces, occasional tables and a lot of laminated plywood forms,” he said. “I mainly now do more large-scale metal forms, which are also in the show.”

After the exhibit, Robinson will finish his term with OCU and work on a new commission, which will appear in Washington, D.C. “I was given the tasks by architects to explore a texture,” he said. “I have a power hammer. It’s a hammer at will, and I’ll be able to use that to create a variety of power textures and hammer textures. It’s a unique set up.”

As for his current exhibit, he said he hopes it will make the

“

I hope it provokes questions of the potential of the insignificant, which is where I live and thrive.

Morgan Robinson

visiting artist in residence

viewer think.

“I hope it provokes questions of the potential of the insignificant, which is where I live and thrive,” he said. “We take so many little things for granted that have so much potential.”

Marty Gibson, visual arts junior, is a student of Robinson’s and said they are excited to see his work on display.

“I’ve been wanting to see more of his work for a while, and now he’s showing it on campus,” Gibson said. “I love how he uses shapes and forms in his work and I find it really interesting.”

Shakurah Maynard, graphic design junior, said she is fascinated by Robinson’s ability to take ugly things and make them beautiful.

“I think his art reflects nature in a really cool way,” she said.

“He finds these things we usually think are disgusting or ugly and makes them beautiful. I think in art today, people try to highlight the things that are ugly, which is something I’m also interested in. But I also like the idea of taking something ugly and making it beautiful in its own way.”

Students excited for new equipment, machines in Aduddell Fitness Center MaKayla Baxter

STAFF WRITER

Students can expect new exercise equipment in the Aduddell Fitness Center.

The center will acquire five new pieces of equipment, including new eco-friendly treadmills, weight machines and adjustable stair climbers, said Josh Hall, assistant director of student life.

“We’re really excited about this,” Hall said. “We have replacement plans for our aging machines. As the warranties start to go up, we know it’s time to start replacing them with new ones, and that’s the point we’re at right now.”

Hall said the equipment should arrive within a month or two, but the exact date is still uncertain. The new machines will be paid for through the center’s budget.

Griffen Birdsong, design and production sophomore, said new equipment will be beneficial for students and possibly motivate them to go to the fitness center more often.

“I usually work out off campus,” Birdsong said. “The way it’s laid out right now just feels cramped and crowded. Everyone is trying to use the exact same machines at the same time, when there are mostly only one or two of each. I walk in sometimes and just feel really intimidated.”

Birdsong said he especially looks forward to the eco-friendly aspect of some of the equipment.

“I’m all about saving the planet,” Birdsong said. “I think it’s really great for OCU to consider and acknowledge ecofriendliness when buying new equipment.”

Hannah Gundermann, dance freshman, said she hopes the new equipment will help make the center a better environment for students and faculty.

“I go to the gym around four to five times a week, and it’s frustrating because I don’t have a lot of time to stand around waiting for people to stop using the equipment I need,” Gundermann said.

Gundermann said the current layout makes it nearly impossible to go to the center with workout partners.

April 10, 2019

We're really excited about this. We have replacement plans for our aging machines.

Josh Hall

assistant director student life

“I pretty much can’t work out with my friends because we all want to use the same stuff all at the same time, so I think new equipment will really help out with that,” Gundermann said.

Gundermann said she is pleased with the idea of new additions and eco-friendly equipment, but she hopes center officials will set aside money for a larger variety of machines and, eventually, a new facility all together.

“I personally just don’t think there’s enough room to accommodate the amount of students in the gym,” Gundermann said.

“Our student population is made up of so many performers and athletes. Proportionally, I feel like we have a lot more people needing to use the gym than the amount of machines available.

So, this is definitely a step in the right direction, but hopefully one day we get something bigger.”

The Aduddell Fitness Center is located next to the Oklahoma United Methodist Hall housing office. It is free to all students, faculty and staff. The fitness center’s spring hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 1-10 p.m. Sundays.

Kylie Sullivan Student Publications

Dance the night away Taylor Stufflebean, dance sophomore, learns a combination during Miracle Marathon. The event was 6 p.m. to midnight Friday in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. More than $25,000 was raised for Children’s Hospital Foundation, a foundation that supports research and education geared toward helping children.

3

lifestyles SHINING STAR Olympic-style weightlifter places at nationals Nick Shironaka, English senior, carries a heavier load than most students.

Shironaka transferred from Fort Hays State University in Kansas after he picked up the sport of Olympic-style weightlifting.

“I transferred here after I got in contact with my coach here who eventually offered me a scholarship for OCU after my second year in Kansas,” Shironaka said. “I’ve been in the sport since my freshman year of college.”

Shironaka said he considered transferring when Fort Hays didn’t have a program for him.

“When I started out, I just did things on my own,” he said.

“They didn’t have a weightlifting program there at Hays, which is why I started looking to see if there were schools around that did have it. I messaged a lot of different places, but my coach here was the only person to get back to me, and we really hit it off.”

Shironaka is completing his English degree, as well as competing in tournaments.

“Most of the stuff I was working toward for English was handled in the fall when I finished my capstone,” he said. “And weightlifting doesn’t have a designated season. So, we train yearround for competitions.”

Shironaka placed second in his weight class at the Nike 2018 National University Championships March 7-10 in Las Vegas.

“

Submitted

Nick Shironaka, English senior, placed second at Nike 2018 National University Championships for Olympic-style weightlifting. The competition was March 7-10 in Las Vegas.

He’s training for another competition as well.

“We’re in prep for senior nationals, which will be the week after graduation,” he said.

In addition to Olympic-style weightlifting, Shironaka said he enjoys writing and old British literature.

“Before I got here, I didn’t do a whole lot of creative writing, but once I got here, I got into a couple classes,” he said. “Ever since then I’ve taken to a holistic approach with English and sort of enjoying what I can do.”

Shironaka said his teachers and coach got him to where he is today.

“Pretty much every professor I’ve had in the English department has made it a great experience,” he said. “And my coach, who I wouldn’t be here without, has always been a great part of being here and has done a lot to support me.”

Shironaka advised students to stay connected with the campus.

“Become involved in something and connect with a group of individuals who share interests with you,” he said. “The connections can last way beyond the four years of college.”

Jason Miller, chairman of exercise and sport science and Olympic-style weightlifting coach, said Shironaka is a model student and athlete.

“He’s a hardworking guy, and he’s earned all the things he’s achieving,” Miller said. “He’s made OCU proud.”

By Web Editor Jessica Vanek

Composition student makes world premiere in England Dru Norton

STAFF WRITER

Ivan Salas, music composition sophomore, won the 2019 Great Britain/Great Plains Composition Contest.

Salas and eight other music composition students entered the contest. Salas composed a clarinet trio piece and submitted it to Liverpool Hope University in Liverpool, England. The faculty at Liverpool Hope University judged each piece and chose a winner.

Salas was chosen and traveled to Liverpool to see the world premiere of his piece, Unlovable on March 21.

“For a couple years now, we’ve been having an exchange with a school in Liverpool. What we do is have a competition to see which piece from each school is the best,” Salas said. “Then the students that won from each school get to have their own pieces performed in the respective place.”

Salas said Unlovable is about the emotions he was experiencing at the time.

“It was in December, and everything that could’ve gone wrong, pretty much went wrong. I sort of channeled that energy into a piece where I could express that without having to say words,” Salas said. “That’s why it’s called Unlovable, because that’s how I felt.”

Salas said the piece took him a couple weeks to create.

“It took me about two weeks to really start writing, so basically what I would do is go to work every day after school, and then, whenever I would get home, I would force myself to write

It was really nice to get immersed into such a rich culture, especially with the Beatles being there.

“

Ivan Salas

music composition sophomore

for hours, and I’d go to sleep around 3 a.m. and wake up and do it again,” Salas said. “I worked on it a lot within those two weeks.”

The piece was performed by three members of the Royal Philharmonic at LHU. “It was a clarinet trio, so they were playing the clarinet, viola and piano,” Salas said. “I personally think it’s very beautiful the way they played it. The structure of the piece forms the five stages of grief, and I think that symbolizes overcoming this emotion of feeling unlovable.”

Salas said he enjoyed his time in England.

“It was my first time being overseas, and we were there for about five days,” Salas said. “It was really nice to get immersed into such a rich culture, especially with the Beatles being there. I ate a lot of fish and chips. It was great.”

Salas said he was anxious to see his piece performed.

“It was a little nerve-racking. Because I’ve traveled 5,000 miles and I’m with these Italian composers, and I’m having to present this work that was kind of out of context,” Salas said. “My piece was very romantically inspired. I worried about the audience reception on that as well.”

Dr. Edward Knight, professor of music and composer in residence, said the opportunity was made possible by Mary Benner, director of global engagement. The trip to England was paid for by the study abroad program, except for some meals, Knight said.

“An important aspect is to come up with funding, and the music school quite frankly can’t afford it. It’s good that we have money on campus for international travel and study abroad,” Knight said. “Mary has been extremely supportive of this program and is on the lookout for these kinds of things for students.”

Knight said Salas’s talent cannot be overstated.

“It’s a remarkable piece, especially for a sophomore. It’s quite an honor he got this because he was going up against master’s students and upperclassmen,” Knight said. “He’s a very talented musician, and I can’t say enough about his work ethic and his curiosity to write music that challenges you. He breaks outside the boundaries and is continually trying to advance his technique and find ways to express himself through music.”

Student organizes feminist club inspired by composition class Caroline Hawthorne

STAFF WRITER

A group of women on campus are starting a feminist organization called “FEM.” Kayleigh Adams, acting freshman, said she was inspired to start this club by her English composition class.

“We’re currently doing a project that is a proposal to the university,” she said. “I’ve been jumping around a lot of difficult issues.

The main issue that led me to this was the lack of security cameras on campus installed in public areas. Someone who I’m very close to was sexually assaulted in one of the dorm halls, and there weren’t any security cameras to help the evidence.”

Adams said she also was inspired by Wendy Brunner, associate professor of mass communications, saying she would be willing to sponsor a women’s organization.

“If there was a women’s organization, we can tackle many issues,” Adams said. “It’s still a proposal for my class, but it’s just a formality for it. I’m excited.”

Brunner said she has always wanted to start an organization like this.

“I started teaching an LAS class a few years ago about media literacy,” she said. “We tend to talk about women’s issues a lot in this class. Whenever women’s issues come up, I see people of all genders get fired up about it. So every semester for years, I’ve said, ‘this is a heavily female campus, it makes sense we would have a

It is so important to represent our strong women on campus.

Kayleigh Adams

acting freshman

student organization for women and for women’s issues.’”

Adams said she would like to have speakers on campus to educate people on issues that women experience. She also said she wants to have drives for feminine hygiene products, as well as set up groups for women’s marches.

“I would also like to do an open mic night that showcases women’s art and women’s voices,” she said.

There is an executive board proposed to run the organization. It includes Adams, Jessica Vanek, music theater sophomore, Kaylila Pasha, acting sophomore, and Zoe Travers, mass communications junior. The organization is in the process of a proposal for Student Government Association for funding.

Brunner will be the faculty adviser until she leaves the university at the end of the academic year.

“I would like to see the group do advocacy as well as education,” Brunner said. “The bottom line is that feminism is about inclusivity in general, and so I think that even though this is a female-centric organization, what they’re doing here is wanting to point out the fact that feminism is for everyone.”

Adams said she wants a meeting every week where everyone can come. Her overall goal is to create an organization that supports the women on campus.

“It is so important to represent our strong women on campus,” she said. “I really want to encourage men to join this organization too, or any gender. Having that kind of support makes people feel safe and good.”

Travers said she wants the group to create a safe space to explore all topics related to feminism, and she looks forward to supporting the women on this campus.

“I’m super excited to be a part of this new women’s empowerment organization,” she said. “On a campus like OCU with so many women doing so many amazing things, this is going to be a really cool resource to just build each other up.”

Editor’s Note: Web Editor Jessica Vanek is on the executive board for FEM. She did not participate in the writing or editing of this story.

Life's a Picnic Far Left: Sara Byerly, acting senior, and Maddie Gustitus, acting junior, perform in the final theater mainstage of the year, Picnic. The show was performed April 4-7 in Burg Theatre in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

Tyler Malinauskas, acting senior, and Sydney Epstein, acting junior, play Hal and Madge in Picnic.

Kylie Sullivan Student Publications

April 10, 2019

4