Aug 24issue

THE CAMPUS

August 24, 2016 – Volume 110 Issue 27

New students participate in Stars Week events Maleyia Vaughn WEB EDITOR

Stars Week underwent a couple of changes after evaluations and feedback from students.

New Student Orientation leaders got new students moved in Aug. 14-16, with the help of members of Greek life. Greek life members didn’t help with check-in at the West Lawn Pavilion this year, but instead only helped carry students’ items into the dorms.

Another change was getting rid of Passport to the Stars, a campuswide scavenger hunt, and adding “The Clue to OCU.” The event was added because NSO leaders got requests for a campus tour so new students could figure out campus and where their classes are, said Spencer Gauldoni, New Student Orientation Week chairman.

“We decided to do a big game of Clue around OCU so they can do different things on campus and figure where all the buildings are,” he said.

“What we did was make up a little script where Starsky

had been kidnapped and we were trying to figure out who kidnapped Starsky.”

All 53 NSO leaders participated in the event and broke up into separate groups. There also were actors dressed up as the characters from Clue who would give hints about where the groups needed to go next and who “snatched Starsky,” Gauldoni said.

The groups were told whoever was the most energetic would win free tickets to Hairspray. At the end, though, they were surprised when everyone received free tickets.

“It turned out to be an awesome event,” Gauldoni said.

The Play Fair was changed to "First-Year Follies." The event includes ice-breaker games in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.

“We actually got on the assessments that people hated Playfair, so we were like ‘wow, okay, we need to make a change,” Gualdoni said.

This year NSO Coordinator Colbi Beam and Levi Harrel, assistant director of student development, made their own Play Fair-type event under a different name, Gauldoni said.

“It turned out to be a huge success. We noticed it was truly the biggest group of freshmen we’ve ever had,” Gauldoni said.

“I didn’t count, but I would think we had a good 200 to 220 people there.”

Stars Week activities began Aug. 17 with events such as Matriculation and Stars on Bricktown, in which some students got to see a movie and others went to Brickopolis, 101 S. Mickey Mantle Drive.

“It’s absolutely wonderful.

It’s truly gone amazing,” Gualdoni said.

Stars Week is meant to help freshmen make friends and get acclimated to campus before school starts.

“It has been so fun,” said MaKenzi Fox, marketing freshman. “I have made so many friends that I already consider my best friends.”

Fox is a member of the pom squad, so she said Blue Out Blow Out Pep Rally on Friday was her favorite event because she got to perform and see the freshmen excited about OCU. Although Blue Out Blow Out had less attendees this year, Gualdoni said he was happy with how it turned out. He also

Donovan Lawson Student Publications

Students cheer at Blue Out Blow Out on Aug. 19 in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The annual event showcases athletics and gets students excited for the upcoming academic year. Attorney Shaun Sperling, better known as the "Madonna Bar-Mitzvah Boy," spoke during the event on the topic of "being your authentic self."

said he couldn’t have done this week without his team of NSO leaders.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better team,” Gualdoni said.

The New Student Orientation staff positions are always paid, but this is the first year they knew ahead of time that they would get paid. They will

receive a $400 salary in September. Normallly, the salary is kept secret throughout the year since New Student Orientation leaders are volunteer positions.

Since Gualdoni is a senior, it was his last Stars Week.

“It’s so sad,” he said. “I actually joined my freshman year immediately after going

through Stars Week. I was like ‘oh my gosh, this is something I have to do.'"

Sororities welcome new members on Bid Day Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Miguel Rios Student Publications Students rush out of the Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center to their new sorority sisters during Bid Day on Aug. 21. This year the sororities gave out 98 bids to new members. Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta extended 25 bids each, while Phi Mu gave 23.

More than 100 women participated in sorority rush during Formal Recruitment this past week.

“It went really, really well,” Panhellenic President Chandler Hardy said. “Every girl was placed pretty much where she wanted to go.”

Recruitment ended with Bid Day on Sunday on the quad outside Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

New sorority members ran out of the Great Hall onto the quad where their new sisters waited.

“We started with 120 girls, so we only lost a few along the way, but we’re happy that today worked out just as planned,” Hardy said Sunday.

During the recruitment process, some women end up deciding not to join a sorority.

Bids were extended and accepted by all 98 potential new sorority members.

“Everyone felt completely at home and that’s one of the greatest feelings," said Madelaine Heigele, vocal performance junior and Alpha Phi. This is the first year the women ran out of the Great Hall instead of Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.

“I was a little scared of running down the steps, but it worked out fine,” Hardy said.

A couple of women tripped as they ran down the stairs, but no one was hurt seriously.

"It was a blast and I met so many new people," said Bella Granato, acting sophomore and new Gamma Phi Beta. "I couldn't be happier about my new home."

Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta welcomed 25 new members each,

while Phi Mu gained 23 new members.

“It’s been such a great experience, being a Rho Gamma and the Panhellenic president,” Hardy said. “I had the time of my life being able to contribute to my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.”

The Interfraternity Council will not begin their rush until next week.

“We wanted to give a bit of an ease on the early year schedule of everyone in the Fraternity community on campus,” IFC President Billy Speed said. “It allows the new students wishing to rush and the on-campus houses to have a little more time to get to know each other.”

Fraternity rush is Sept. 1-3, ending with Bid Day at 11 a.m.

Enrollment numbers show an increased demand in some schools Taylor Rey STAFF WRITER

Enrollment numbers for the academic year show changes in the number of students enrolled in campus programs.

There was an increase in the number of new students in the music, dance, theater, and nursing schools and a decrease in the enrollment for the School of Law. The number of students in the arts and sciences and business schools stayed the same as previous years.

“Those programs showing an increase are just a result of the goals of those programs,” said Kevin Windholz, vice president of enrollment management. “Those growing, like the nursing school, have a high demand.”

This year’s freshmen, a class of about 320 students, has an average ACT score of 25 and an average GPA of 3.75, which is higher than previous classes. More than half of this class is from out of state.

The nursing school has increased demand by creating an accredited physician’s assistant program and an off-site loca-

M MEDIAOCU.com

tion with the Duncan Regional Hospital in Duncan Okla., that students can attend.

Additionally the performing arts programs have been aiming to increase enrollment.

“The dance, theater and music schools have been wanting to grow their programs and they do that with their national reputation that has taken years to create,” Windholz said.

Students in the theater school are happy to see their program expand.

“I think it’s really great, not just for new students but for graduating students, because they know they studied at a school that’s still thriving and growing,” said Franny Harms, acting junior. “More students also means we will have more funding and maybe more new professors to learn from.”

Some programs didn’t see much change from previous years.

“For those programs that haven’t grown this year, it’s just because the demand is the same,” Windholz said.

Miguel Rios Student Publications

Moving in Spencer Gualdoni, music theater senior, welcomes Maddie Riggin, music theater freshman, Aug. 15. Riggin moved in early because she needed to participate in dance leveling and choral auditions before the start of the academic year Monday.

Welcome back!

Follow us on Twitter @MediaOCU

#OCUGRIT

Like us on Facebook at MediaOCU

See photos from events during Stars Week Learn what #OCUGRIT means

Movie mania

See what great movies you need to catch up on

Follow us on Instagram @media_ocu

“

opinion

Students encouraged to take time for themselves Whether we’re freshmen or seniors, most of us start the new school year with goals, ambitions and sometimes even more concerns. Freshmen may come in worried about being away from home or facing college in general, while seniors are just worried about staying sane. Sophomores and juniors are likely somewhere in between.

No matter where you are in your college career, it’s important to remember that most of us will only be here four years.

Those insanely stressful classes or the price of textbooks is not what we’ll remember after we graduate. We’ll remember our friends, the faculty and staff that truly made an impact, and, most importantly, we’ll remember our experiences.

As most OCU students know, we tend to be “over committed,” but we also should try to take time for ourselves. It’s okay to not be in every organization possible on campus, perform in every show or not go to every social event. Our experiences include things as simple as nights with friends or a visit from family.

Our advice is to take every opportunity you can. Everyone is busy, and there’s never going to be a good time to take that dance class you’ve wanted to try, go to a sporting event, or take a day off to visit the Oklahoma City Zoo, Science Museum of Oklahoma, or the Oklahoma City Boathouse District. So just do it.

That definitely doesn’t mean you should slack off and ignore your work, but it is much better to end up feeling like you’re doing too much for yourself than to feel like you should’ve done more.

If you feel like you’re missing out on life because all you do is wake up, go to classes and activities, then go back to your dorm to sleep, then you probably are. We think the only way to graduate and be successful is to do every

Talk Back “What advice would you give to your freshman self?”

The more you take care of yourself, the better ability you have to take care of other people or things.

possible thing for our degrees and our university, but we don’t consider that we might be putting so much into school that we’re harming ourselves in the process.

Here are a few tips to help maintain a busy schedule, while still taking care of yourself: Wake up earlier, even if it’s just an extra 30 minutes. You can take that longer shower, go for a run or just take a little extra time drinking your morning coffee.

If you can do it in silence, science shows you’ll feel more relaxed all day. If you’re like us and like to listen to music or watch TV in the mornings, then just do it. Don’t worry about what science tells you is best for you during that short amount of time. Just enjoy yourself.

Waking up earlier makes your day longer, but in the best way possible. And if you decide you need that second cup of coffee to do so, do it and don’t feel ashamed.

Plan. Buy yourself a nice planner or calendar and write everything down you absolutely have to do. From there, see what days you have available and plan out a road trip or just write down “me time.”

It seems silly to plan out your fun times or the times for yourself, but it really helps. If someone wants you to do something on the weekend your “me time” is scheduled, oh well. You already have plans. As we get older, we start to realize plans with ourselves are definitely a thing.

That brings us to the next point, make “me time.” Your schedule is probably crazy and reading “what days you have available” probably makes you

want to laugh and cry at the same time, but just make the time, even if it’s an hour long bath on Saturday nights instead of going out. Find time for yourself anywhere you can.

Without that “me time,” you can’t actually take care of yourself and your own sanity, so just do it. You’ll feel better and be able to take care of everything else you have to do more efficiently while feeling good enough to do the fun things too.

Finally, take care of yourself physically. Try to drink a gallon of water a day, eat healthy, go for a walk or workout for at least 30 minutes, get at least six hours of sleep at night, and take time to relax.

Working out can be included in your “me time” if it’s what you enjoy doing, but if you hate working out, do it on top of your “me time” so you don’t feel more miserable about your schedule.

For some, the rest of these suggestions may seem kind of crazy, but it’s all worth it.

The more you take care of yourself, the better ability you have to take care of other people or things. However, don’t be afraid to treat yourself every so often. Eat that extra slice of pizza, get an ice cream cone at lunch, or get the chocolate cake for dessert because, after all, life is too short to be left feeling like you missed out on those experiences, and that extra piece of cake may be what keeps your sanity intact.

“Actually enjoy the activities that OCU has to offer. There is a life outside of Petree.”

“Eat less, work out more”

Evie Simons political science senior

Daniel C. Brown acting senior

“Don’t hold back and don’t not meditate.”

“Don’t be afraid of hard classes, just do them.”

Shannon Beshears dance senior

Laura Jardine biology junior

“Stay up-to-date with every assignment, seriously. Also, don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“Be grateful for the resources you are given, and take so much advantage of them.”

Gage Rancich acting junior

McAlyn Forbes acting sophomore

“Make as many friends as you can, and don’t forget to have fun.”

“Sleep more, like actually take care of yourself.”

Alanah Hosford cell and molecular biology junior

Caroline Harrist music education junior

Meet your editor: It’s the start of a new academic year, which means there’s a lot of new people to meet.

While at at OCU, I’ve had the chance to meet many people and develop amazing friendships.

I also have the honor of serving as the editor-in-chief for Student Publications. I’ve been in the position for about half a semester now, but I’m excited about what’s to come this year.

I know I’ll get to meet many new people, but I want you all to be able to know me too.

I was born in Mexico and lived there for seven years before I moved to Oklahoma City with my parents. I’ve lived here ever since.

I graduated from Harding Charter Pre p a r a tory High School in May 2014 and started Miguel at OCU Rios immediately the summer after. I took classes that summer as part of the Clara Luper Scholarship’s Mind the Gap program.

When classes started in the fall I joined the staff as a writer and eventually started shooting video as well. You’ll probably see me at campus events with a camera and a tripod soon, so feel

free to say “hi.”

About two years after I joined the staff, I became the editor-in-chief. It was intimidating at first, but I knew that I wanted the job because news is important. People should know what’s going on around them, especially on a campus like ours where we’re all a part of a tight-knit community.

That’s why I’m proud to be in the position that I’m in.

Make sure to check us out at MediaOCU.com and pick up a copy of The Campus each Wednesday.

If you have any questions or if there’s anything I can help you with, email me at marios@my.okcu.edu.

Columnist offers advice to incoming freshmen To the incoming freshmen: You moved into your dorm, you’ve got a shiny new student ID (with a B number you have’t memorized yet) and there are a few things that would be helpful to know.

You’re going to have to write essays. Start writing those essays now. I’m not kidding. Writing an essay isn’t just about the writing part. Research, organization and citations are all vital and time consuming. Don’t be afraid to ask professors

questions. Most of the time this will actually improve your grade chances because it tells the professor that you’re trying. Everyone here wants to see you succeed. There’s even a tutoring center in the library to help you. Your RAs are especially helpful. If they can’t help you out of a pickle, they can find someone who can.

Caf food is only spectacularly good when large groups (like prospective dance students) come to visit campus.

Sorry, freshmen. You’ve also probably heard of the “Freshman 15.” Don’t worry. Not

Madelyn Parker is an English and studio art sophomore who loves to rant about feminism and tell stories.

every freshman gains 15. It’s all due to stress and irregular eating because of an irregular schedule. You should focus on pacing yourself in the midst of intense schoolwork. You can worry about the Freshman 15 later.

Talk to people. When you

go to college, everyone around you is focused on what they need to get done, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like to have a nice conversation with someone they haven’t met. A good way to do this is to go to things. Soak in all the culture you can.

Don’t only do the things you know. If you’re a music theater major, go to the the Norick Art Center for the monthly Art Socials, or attend a poetry reading. If you’re a nursing major, go to a basketball game or see a show. And don’t knock Greek life. Just because you didn’t go through recruitment doesn’t mean the sororities and fraternities on campus don’t want to get to know you. Sometimes it’s better to get to know each organization outside of recruitment.

College seems overwhelming now, but, in about a

month or so, it’ll be normal.

Take a few deep breaths and don’t worry about meeting all of your best friends in the first month or even the first year. Remember that there is always someone new for you to meet and that you change so much, especially in the first year of college, so let yourself go with the flow, cry when you need to, and lastly, call your parents on a regular schedule.

Sincerely, A sophomore who’s just been through it

SUNDAY La Rondine callbacks in the large rehearsal hall at 1 p.m. in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

MONDAY The Striker callbacks at 6:30 p.m. in Gold Star Memorial Building Studio C

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

THURSDAY It’s a Wonderful Life callbacks at 6:30 p.m. in Gold Star Memorial Building Studio C OCU Pokémon Go Gathering at 6:30 p.m. on the quad Hairspray callbacks in the large rehearsal hall at 7

p.m. in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Final day to add a class without a professor’s signature

Floyd Collins callbacks at 7 p.m. in the medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Choreography Show 2016 auditions at 5 p.m. in the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management

FRIDAY OCULeads Retreat at Canyon Camp in Hinton, Okla.

OCUpella auditions at 7 p.m. in Wimberly Recital Hall in Kirkpat-

rick Fine Arts Center SATURDAY OMT Opera auditions at 10 a.m. in the large rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center Intramural sand volleyball tournament at 2 p.m. on the West Lawn

August 24, 2016, Volume 110, Number 27

2

Photographers: Donovan Lawson, Olivia Johnston, Kelsey Simmons, Danielle Frost, Ali Wonderly Staff Writers: Taylor Rey, Prisca Lynch, Emily Wiley, Chandler White, Zoe Travers, Micaela Heinrich Columnist: Madelyn Parker

TUESDAY Resumes for International Students at 12:30 p.m. in Room 215 in Dulaney-Browne Library

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.

THE CAMPUS Editor-in-Chief: Miguel Rios Web Editor: Maleyia Vaughn Lifestyles Editor: Sage Tokach Photo Editor: Elina Moon Layout Editor: Lauren Fanning Community Manager: Lauren Berlingeri

T h e R e s i d e n t s o f C ra i g s l i s t c a l l b a c k s a t 6 : 3 0 p. m . i n Gold Star Memorial Building Studio C

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Film Critic: Danielle Petersen Circulation Director: Brianna Demuth 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, 2016. All rights reserved.

August 24, 2016

“

news

Religious life starts academic year with new director Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After nine years at OCU, the Rev. Rodney Newman, former director, was appointed the pastor of Bridgeview United Methodist Church in Norman, Okla.

The Rev. Elizabeth HortonWare will take over as director of religious life.

“We have a great deal of respect for each other and I have appreciated him being willing to give me lots of tips,” she said.

“He was so supportive of me when they named me to this position. The students that love and are invested in him, he gave good words of encouragement that I’m going to be okay.”

Newman is also the chaplain coordinator for the Saint Paul School of Theology, which has chapel on Tuesdays, according to the UMC Oklahoma Conference website.

Newman will be on campus on Tuesdays, Horton-Ware said.

“We’re so different, but totally in good ways and I hope we have a chance to work together at some point,” she said.

One of Horton-Ware’s goals is to hire interns that aren’t religion majors. She hired Monica Hiller, elementary education junior.

“I was really saddened when I heard Rod was leaving, but, after I met Elizabeth, I was quickly excited about the change,” Hiller said.

Horton-Ware served as the

I’ve been hoping to come back to the campus that helped me form and grow.

Elizabeth Horton-Ware director of religious life Wimberly School of Religion

Wesley Foundation director at Southwestern Oklahoma State University for the past seven years, but she actually attended OCU. “This is my alma mater, so I was here from 2000 - ‘04 so it feels like coming home a little bit,” she said. “I’ve been hoping to come back to the campus that

“

helped me form and grow.”

Horton-Ware was a religion major while at OCU and an active Wesley Center student as well as a leader in Bible study and a member of Kappa Phi, which is a Christian women’s group.

“I got to see a lot of growth happen. They started Evensong right before I got here. There

Freshman Follies

were like 10 of us and they did the projector on a bed sheet, not even kidding,” Horton-Ware said. “By the time I left, we were regularly worshipping with 35-40 people, so that’s really awesome to have been a part of that and come back and kind of help reinvigorate it.”

Hor ton-Ware came to campus in June and began planning for the school year.

“I really would love to help religious life be a broader part of the campus, kind of incorporating it and have it touch point between student organizations and being a resource,” she said.

“Thinking about specific places and partnerships to enhance the worship life on campus, to address where you are. I mean chapel is always going to be the

same time, but we can be flexible with Evensong.”

Horton-Ware said she’s also thinking about starting a small groups component to religious life, which would meet in places like dorms or empty classrooms and talk about topics that are important to the campus.

“I think Elizabeth is the jumpstart we need in religious life to help bring the campus together,” Hiller said. “She brings a fresh, new energy and she is really excited about all the opportunities we have as the Wesley Center.”

Newman was unavailable for comment at presstime.

Elina Moon Student Publications

New students play Ships and Sailors at First-Year Follies on Aug. 18 in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.

Left: New students pretend to be chickens as they play an icebreaker game at First-Year Follies on Aug. 18 in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. First-Year Follies was a new Stars Week event led by Colbi Beam, coordinator of first-year experience, and Levi Harrel, assistant director of student development, that consisted of a series of games created to facilitate bonding with new friends.

Students share favorite local places to eat, relax Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Most students live on campus and while Alvin’s and the caf are options for everyone, some students still like to go off-campus to study, eat or relax.

Sarah Kelly, business administration junior, said she likes going to Cuppies and Joe, 727 N.W. 23rd St., which is a cupcake and coffee shop down the street from campus.

“I love going to Cuppies and Joe to study in a low-stress environment or to catch up with friends,” Kelly said.

Despite Cuppies’s proximity to the school, Brandon Doyle, acting junior, said one of his favorite place to enjoy a cup of coffee is Coffee Slingers, 1015 N. Broadway Ave. “It’s a chill place to hang out at, plus it’s so close to some cool local shops downtown,” Doyle said.

He said he also enjoys going to All About Cha, 7300 N. Western Ave., which serves a variety of food and snacks but specializes in tea and coffee drinks.

All About Cha just opened a new location in Bricktown, 100 E. Main, according to their Facebook page.

“Me and friends love going there for desserts after seeing a show, it’s fun little tradition to have at a great place with a chill atmosphere and super yummy desserts,” Doyle said.

Oklahoma City also offers many options when it comes to dining.

Spencer Gualdoni, music theater senior, said his top three favorite places are - Empire Slice House, 1734 N.W. 16th St.;

It’s fun to try all kinds of food from local food trucks and relax outside on a nice night.

Sarah Kelly business administration junior

- RePUBlic Gastropub, 5830 N. Classen Blvd. and - Cattleman’s Steakhouse, 1309 S. Agnew Ave. “Empire because of the atmosphere and great pizza for a reasonable price, RePUBlic has incredible food and I absolutely love the atmosphere with all the TV’s, and Cattleman’s is a local OKC restaurant in Stockyards that will give you the tenderest steak you will ever eat,” he said.

If you like food trucks, Kelly recommends Bleu Garten, 301 N.W. 10th St., which is an open-air venue for rotating food trucks.

“Bleu Garten is always a favorite with my friends,” Kelly said. “It’s fun to try all kinds of food from local food trucks and relax outside on a nice night.”

Downtown Oklahoma City has a lot of restaurants, but one of Kelly’s favorites is Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 208 Johnny Bench Drive Suite C, which is in front of Harkins Theatres.

Harkins, 150 E. Reno Ave., is a popular movie theater with OCU students. It’s also the location for Free Movie Night, a monthly event hosted by the Student Activities Council where all students can attend and watch a movie for free.

“Fuzzy’s is an OCU classic, everyone can afford to go there and eat a taco or two,” she said.

Students who have StarsCash can enjoy the benefit of using their card at accepting locations like - Chae, 1933 N.W. 23rd St.; - Taco Bell, 220 N.W. 23rd St. or 2850 N.W. 23rd St.; - Orange Leaf, 600 N.W. 23rd Suite A; - Grand House Bistro, 2701 N. Classen Blvd., or - Pizza House, 2520 N. Penn Ave. For a full list of locations that accept StarsCash visit okcustarcard.com.

If you’re not in the mood for food or coffee, Doyle recommends relaxing in one of downtown’s major attractions, the Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave. “I love a nice relaxing day in the Myriad Gardens,” Doyle said. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful. It’s the perfect place for a morning jog.”

The Myriad Gardens are also a venue for different events throughout the year, which are listed on their website, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com.

Officials continue search for new provost Emily Wiley SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The search for a new provost will continue this semester, after one failed effort to fill the post.

The need to fill the position arose after Dr. Susan Barber, former provost, retired in June 2015. The search committee began looking for a new provost and vice president for academic affairs in December 2015.

Dr. Kent Buchanan served as the assistant provost since 2012 until becoming the interim provost on July 1, 2015.

Buchanan applied for the post during the first search, but no one was hired.

“I love being in this position and plan to apply again,” Buchanan said. “OCU is just a great place to be.”

The search committee conducted two on-campus interviews last academic year after narrowing the pool of thousands of applicants. They did not make a hire because they did not think the candidates interviewed were a good fit for OCU. The goal was to have someone in the position

by April or May. “This is an important position,” said Leslie Berger, August 24, 2016

M

Visit MediaOCU.com for more on the search for a new provost.

MEDIAOCU.com

senior director of university communications. “They have to make sure the person they choose is a great fit for OCU. If that means another round of searching, then that’s what it might take.”

Some of the faculty and staff on the original search committee will not participate in the new search, officials said.

“Since we cannot do a search without a full committee they decided to wait until this semester to start the search again,” Berger said. “This gave faculty and staff a chance to look at their commitments and decide if they would be able to be a part of the committee.”

The search committee membership will be finalized this week, officials said. It will consist of a representative from

each school on campus. The Pittsburgh-based executive search firm, Hyatt-Fennell, will continue to guide in the process.

“It seems the university is taking their time to find the right person for the job,” said Jacob Overling, business administration senior. “I think it’s a smart decision not to rush into it. Dr. Barber did an outstanding job, and it’s being made apparent that they want the right shoes to fill the job.”

The duties of a provost vary at every university. At OCU, the provost serves as the chief academic officer, overseeing all schools and colleges, academic programs, student recruitment and retention, and faculty development.

The committee is looking for an individual with a Ph.D. in an academic area offered on campus, significant experience in university leadership, and competence in implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives, officials said.

They also want the individual to be dynamic and energetic, with a vision and sense of self.

3

sports

New faces in athletics:

Cross country gets new head, assistant coaches Sage Tokach LIFESTYLES EDITOR

The athletics department promoted Matt Aguero to the men’s and women’s crosscountry and track and field head coaching position.

Aguero has been the teams’ assistant coach for the past two years. He worked under former head coach Conor Holt, who left OCU to take a head coaching position at Northwood University in Michigan.

Before coming to OCU, Aguero had head coaching positions for nine years: six and a half years at Cameron University and two and a half

at St. Gregory’s University.

Junior Taylor Harrill thinks Aguero will do a good job as head coach.

“Coach Aguero wil be a great head coach continuing to lead the men and women’s team to great accomplishments,” she said. “He has had some great accomplishments himself so his experience will help us to better as runners.“ Aguero chose David Crynes as his assistant coach. The pair met seven years ago at a clinic.

Crynes has coached cross country and track at a high school for more than 20 years.

“I hired him, and I’m really excited to have him on staff,” Aguero said. “He’s worked

on the counseling side, helping kids get into college. He knows how that Matt works, so Aguero he’ll be a great recruiter.”

The coaching team has individual meetings with each runner to set up a practice routine that works best for them.

Their jobs overlap some because they both recruit and work oneon-one with the team members, but Crynes works more on the academic side, while Aguero

handles administrative work like travel and budgeting.

“They both have David the ability Crynes to mentor us as a team and believe that we are capable of excellent achievements this year,“ Harrill said.

The OCU men’s cross country team has won the past three NAIA championships, as well as two Sooner Athletic Conference crowns. The women’s team won the 2015 SAC women’s cross country title as well and finished

sixth in the nation last year.

“We’ve been successful,” Aguero said. “I had a coach who said to always strive to be at the top, so we hope to continue that tradition.”

The team of runners compete year round, starting with cross country in the fall, then indoor track in the winter and outdoor track in the spring. The men’s team lost several seniors last year, leaving two of the seven championship runners. Most of the women’s team will return this year.

“Five out of seven is the biggest loss we’ve had in the last couple years,” Aguero said.

“However, the two returning men are both All-Americans,

and we’ve done a good job recruiting. I don’t think it will necessarily be a rebuilding year.”

Outside of coaching, Aguero said he enjoys running for himself and outdoor activities like hunting and fishing.

“I’m a country boy living in the big city now. I’ve enjoyed my time here so far, so let’s keep the ball rolling.”

Wrestling assistant coaches assume top posts Maleyia Vaughn WEB EDITOR

Two assistant wrestling coaches took over as head coaches during the summer.

C.J. Campbell was named head men’s wrestling coach, while Matt Stevens was named head women’s coach.

Campbell and Stevens became interim head coaches in April after Archie Randall, men’s and women’s longtime coach was fired. Campbell and Athletic Director Jim Abbott were unable to comment on Randall’s leave at the time because it was a “personnel issue.” Campbell and Stevens were notified they would be head coaches without an

interim basis in late May or June, Campbell said, then it became official July 1.

“It’s real exciting,” Stevens said. “It’s been really enjoyable to be named the head coach. I got a lot of good training ahead of time and I have a lot of good people around me, so it makes this job pretty easy.”

Campbell and Stevens spent two seasons as assistant coaches.

Stevens focused more on the women’s team, while Campbell focused more on the men.

“I definitely have different responsibilities now,” Campbell said. “I came here under the premise that, well Coach Randall was in the twilight of his career, and I had the hopes of taking over the program when

he retired.

It wasn’t a huge surprise, just the timing and circumstances were the only C.J. things that Campbell caught me off guard.

“But I’m more confident in my abilities, and I have trust and respect in the team that we’re going to have a smooth transition.”

Stevens agreed he has different responsibilities now, but he said he just tries to do his job.

“I don’t want to change it up too much,” Stevens said. “But

obviously there’s a little more of a leadership role in it so I just try to not take my Matt Stevens t i m e a w a y from them like I used to do. I put a little more time into the administrative stuff to not take any away from my athletes.”

Campbell said he thinks his experience as an assistant coach helps him.

“I’ve already got a good relationship with the roster we have and I was heavily involved in the

recruiting this year,” Campbell said of the men’s wrestling team.

“No one left after the coaching change.”

The men’s team has 11 new recruits and a roster of 28.

“We’re really excited about the season,” Campbell said.

Stevens said he also has a good team coming in.

“We had a real good recruiting class of six freshmen coming in that I look forward to really helping out the team and I really look forward to us winning a national title, the tenth one here,” Stevens said.

OCU began its wrestling program in January 2006, hiring Randall at the end of that month.

“The program is as strong as ever,” Campbell said. “Adversity

brings people together and I think this is going to be one of those situations.”

Stevens gave Abbott credit for the success of the wrestling program and the athletics department as a whole.

“Mr. Abbott does a great job and we have one of the best athletic departments in the country,” Stevens said. “We’re competitive in every sport and our athletes are always happy and taken care of. That’s the number one thing you can ask for.”

Visit MediaOCU.com for

You could

WIN 2,000!

$

ENTER TO WIN BY

BucktheNorm.com is all about the benjamins.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016.

Want to win $2,000? Just go to facebook.com/buckthenorm to enter!

Then check out BucktheNorm.com for tips on how to keep more money in your pocket.

from Tinker Federal Credit Union Federally insured by NCUA

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT FOR ALL. August 24, 2016

4