Jan. 11 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS

January 11, 2017 – Volume 110 Issue 40

President, chancellor, legend

“ OCU a�chives

Virginia Walker and former OCU president Dr. Jerald Walker enjoy a meal with their daughters outside during their free time. Virginia Walker, known as “Ginny,” and Jerald Walker have two daughters who both attended OCU. “Jerry and I have always been involved in a team effort. Ever since we’ve been married, we’ve been in higher education and we’ve always worked together,” Ginny Walker told FOCUS while she was first lady. Above: Dr. Jerald Walker speaks to the campus community during the 1984 commencement. Dr. Mark Davies, Wimberly professor of social and ecological ethics, was a student while Walker served as president. He also worked under Walker for a short time. He said one of the things he remembers most about Walker is how he seemed to know everyone’s name and always said ‘hi.’

Longest-serving university president leaves a legacy Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

he university’s longestserving president has died. Dr. Jerald Carter Walker served from 1979 to 1997 after graduating from the university in 1960. “Four of the best years of my life were spent here,” he said in an inauguration article for FOCUS. “It’s good to be back in a situation about which you have both good memories from the past and strong hopes for the future. I believe this institution can and should have a productive future.” A pivotal inauguration Walker was inaugurated on Dec. 8, 1979 in a special Homecoming/inauguration joint ceremony. This marked the beginning of what was known on campus as a new era for the university. Walker served as president of John J. Pershing College in Nebraska and Baker University in Kansas before serving OCU. He was first named president of a university on his 29th birthday. A year before Walker was inaugurated, OCU was going through an extremely difficult time. Financially, the school was in shambles. The American Bar Association even threatened to withdraw accreditation of the school due to subpar facility conditions. Things were so bad

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that someone even suggested OCU be given to the University of Oklahoma. Enter President Walker. Under his presidency, the university finally operated with balanced budgets for the first time in five years. The university would go on to operate with a balanced budget for his entire tenure, according to okcu.edu. A decade after Walker became president, enrollment had increased by 39 percent and the university’s assets increased by 218 percent, according to Student Publications archives. Walker actively secured gifts for the university whenever he could. He brought the university back from dire financial strain and continued its expansion. His tenure as president is dubbed “the miracle on 23rd Street” by some members of the community. “Dr. Walker tirelessly contributed to building community and making people believe in education as a means of progress,” wrote Cary Pirrong, alumni relations director, in a press release. Pirrong attended the university during Walker’s tenure. Sweeping improvements As the 14th president, Walker took the university from the brink of financial ruin to heights once thought impossible. He still holds the longest tenure of any OCU president with 18 years under his belt. During those years,

The most memorable moments in my professional life each year are those in which I have the privilege to observe first-hand constructive student development.

chairman of the board of trustees at the time. Though the grievances included criticisms of his leadership style and certain actions, some deans were more concerned about his health. Dr. Jerald Walker former university president, chancellor

the university’s permanent endowment quadrupled to nearly $37 million. He was able to rid OCU of the budget deficit and grew the balanced budget from $6.7 million to $43 million. He also began a master’s of mass communications program in Singapore and master’s of business administration programs in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the U.K. Walker implemented an MBA program in health care administration and the master’s of liberal arts program, which was expanded into several disciplines. He also made several physical changes to the university. About $25 million was spent on construction projects from 1980 to 1997, according to Student Publications archives. New buildings during Walker’s tenure included Noble Center for Competitive Enterprise, Norick Art Center, Sutton Baseball Facility, Cokesbury Court Apartments, Sarkeys Law Center, Kramer School of Nursing, and Petree Recital Hall. Walker Center for Arts and

Sciences was named after him for his service. A stressful year The year of 1997 was full of uncertainty for the university. In March, Walker suffered a stroke. He was 58 at the time. The stroke left him with limited mobility and confined to a wheelchair, according to Student Publications archives. Blue Clark, executive vice president at the time, took over while Walker was absent for the rest of the semester. In September 1997, Walker spoke to students about his progress in physical therapy and his plans for the future. Through physical therapy, Walker was able to walk at times, but he still relied on a wheelchair. In October 1997, the university’s academic deans signed a seven-page letter full of grievances against President Walker. The letter also raised questions about his leadership and health in an attempt to force his resignation. Deans sent the letter to Herman Meinders, the vice

End of an era President Walker resigned shortly after the deans’ letter made it to the trustees. The executive committee of the board of trustees named Walker a chancellor. It was a new position created to allow Walker to remain active in the university’s fundraising and public relations efforts. “I look forward to my new role and responsibilities as chancellor,” Walker is quoted saying at the time. “This will give me an opportunity to concentrate my efforts in areas that will provide maximum positive impact for OCU.” Rest in peace Walker died at 78 years old Dec. 24 in Tulsa. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 14 at Boston Avenue Methodist Church, 1301 S. Boston Ave. in Tulsa. “Proud of his Cherokee heritage, President Walker was devoted to improving higher education, driving standards and accountability in Oklahoma political and social ethics and access to education for Native Americans, other minority students and students abroad,” wrote President Robert Henry in a press release.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Jerald and Virginia Walker Native American Scholarship Fund, c/o The Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation, 4201 N. Classen Blvd. “ The most memorable moments in my professional life each year are those in which I have the privilege to observe first-hand constructive student development,” Walker told the university’s yearbook staff in 1995.

Community love Dr. Mark Davies, Wimberly professor of social and ecological ethics, was a student while Walker served as president. He also worked under Walker for a short time. The thing he remembers most about Walker is how he seemed to know the name of every student on campus. “When he saw you walking on campus, he didn’t ignore you,” he said. “He made a point of saying ‘hi’ and seeing what you were doing and calling you by your name.” The university’s Alumni & Friends Facebook page shared the news about his death. Alumna Kelly Casey commented memories she had of him. “I babysat the kids a few times,” she wrote. “He and Ginny were so approachable. As an RA and president of [Kappa Phi], I got to interact with him a lot.“

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Steele gone

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opinion Editors encourage students to say 'no' more often It seems like the majority of people had a bad 2016. It was definitely a tumultuous year full of ups and downs, but 2017 can be a better year for everyone. People’s resolutions usually include goals about losing weight, eating healthy, traveling, or spending more time with loved ones. While all of these are positive goals, they’re also the most commonly abandoned resolutions, according to Time magazine. In today’s Talk Back, Daniel Taylor, music education sophomore, said his New Year’s resolution is to say “no” more. While this may sound like a negative thing, saying “no” actually can be one of the most powerful steps you can take for personal growth, according to an article in Forbes. It’s also a lot simpler than going to the gym for 365 days straight. Forbes lists three things to consider if your goal is to say “no” more often. The first is that you’re responsible for creating your boundaries. Boundaries have to be created, which means you’re

responsible for saying “no” when you’re uncomfortable or too busy. At a school known as OverCommitted University, it can be easy to get involved in several groups or organizations–especially when your friends are a part of them. But, if you don’t want to join a group, say “no.” If you don’t want to go see your 10th junior recital, say “no.” If you don’t want to go to your friend’s baseball game, say “no.” It may make you uncomfortable, but it’s worth it. The second thing to consider is that you are not responsible for people’s reactions, the Forbes article reads. A lot of the time, people say “yes” because they want to please their friends, families or teachers. This is understandable, since most people aim to be liked, but it can be incredibly damaging, especially in the setting of a college campus. You might be focusing too much on keeping others happy, which needs to change. Think about how much time you spend pleasing others or how often you regret agreeing to something. Saying “no” can be

Talk Back "What is your New Year's resolution?"

uncomfortable, but it’s better to be a little uncomfortable than to be resentful. “Knowing what this discomfort brings up in you is huge feedback for your own personal growth,” according to the Forbes article. “This awareness will allow you to make a more conscious choice on how you show up in your authenticity.” The last thing to consider is that successful people know how to say “no.” “This is something they’ve had to teach themselves, because they too struggled with the ‘no’ word at some point in time,” the article reads. A research study published in the Journal of Consumer Research claims that nobody can afford to keep saying “yes.” It found that saying “no” actually improves productivity and mental health. So do yourself a favor and say “no” more often this year. It might be a little awkward, but you’ll be happy that you did it.

“To create the next big meme"

“To say 'no' more“

Caroline Hawthorne acting sophomore

Daniel Taylor music education sophomore

“Spend more time fishing in 2017 than I did in 2016”

“I don't have one. I'm not against them-just bad at planning my life.”

Joel Hall mass communications junior

Alanah Hosford cell and molecular biology junior

“Go to a cycling, spinning class at least once a week”

“Eat healthy and work out every day”

Lily Hickey theater and performance freshman

Tyler Malinauskas acting sophomore

“Take chances to branch out as a performer”

“Stay a bit healthier and better myself for the sake of people around me“

Kendra Comstock vocal performance senior

Lysa Engle film production sophomore

Fantastic Beasts brings audiences ‘back into the world of Harry Potter’ J.K. Rowling has been delighting audiences with her Harry Potter stories since 1997, sending readers young and old into a magical world full of wizards and witches. Since the final film came out in 2007, Potter fans have been itching to dive back into Rowling’s universe, and now they finally have their wish. While it may not be Hogwarts, and the familiar cast of characters is nowhere to be found, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them still brings audiences back into the world of Harry Potter. Directed by David Yates, the

director of the final four Potter movies, and written by Rowling herself in her first time as a screenwriter, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them stars Eddie Redmayne as “Newt Scamander,” a former student of Hogwarts. The movie follows him as he arrives in 1926 New York with a suitcase full of mysterious creatures. Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston and Colin Farrell also star in supporting roles. It’s remarkable that Rowling has more to offer at this point, and how she finds a way to bring more original ideas to the table without making things stale or tiresome. The first half of the film

Danielle Petersen is a violin performance graduate from San Jose, Calif. She likes playing with her cat and watching films.

has that classic feel of the “Potter” movies. The new characters are compelling with the cast fitting into their roles perfectly, and the relocation from Hogwarts to 1920s New York brings a fresh setting to the franchise. The beasts are truly fantastic as well, wordlessly stealing hearts each time a new one is introduced.

Even with plans to turn Fantastic Beasts into a new franchise, it feels like too much was packed into the first film. Storylines are either left unresolved or frustratingly wrapped up too quickly, while Fogler's character seems to be the only one with any type of growth throughout the film. Upon closer inspection one can

tell that the film was extensively edited to be able to fit into a normal runtime. The camera and characters awkwardly jump around in scenes, especially near the end, and it becomes obvious that the editor was forced to cut any type of unnecessary moments to get it down to feature length. This may not seem like a big deal, but it makes the film feel incomplete and not entirely satisfying. It seems as though no one wanted to reduce the length of Rowling’s script, and even though it’s well-written, she’s used to writing novels, where length is much less of a priority.

Though it’s good that she didn’t meet much resistance, this is one of the rare cases where it might have helped if someone had told her to trim parts of the script. Overall, the film, as it is in theaters, comes across like diet Harry Potter. You get a hint of what it should be, but something is missing. I have a sneaking suspicion that there will soon be an extended edition available, and if this is the case, then that’s the one fans should see. For now, the beasts are still fantastic, but a satisfying story is nowhere to be found.

Columnist promotes unifying our campus community While driving to work early one morning during winter break, I saw something large moving in the barely-lit distance. As I got closer, I saw it was a man waving a flag on a pole at least twice his height. I live in the mountains of Colorado, and normal mornings can have temperatures ranging from below 0 to 30 degrees. Yet this weird guy was standing outside in the freezing cold, waving his flag as though his life depended on it. It was odd, but I soon thought nothing of it. But, a few days later, some

family friends mentioned a man they had seen waving a flag in a different mountain location. I assumed there was some group of bizarreyet-enthusiastic flag-wavers slowly infiltrating my mountain community. After a third sighting, I decided to do a little digging. Jeff McNamara of Conifer, Colorado, is the one and only ardent Colorado flag-waver, according to Channel 7 News in Denver. He stands outside for hours in various parts of the Denver/mountain area to inspire camaraderie and unity

McAlyn Forbes is an acting sophomore from the beautiful mountains of Colorado. She loves petting any dog that she sees and reading in bed with tea.

after the election, and to honor those who have fought for our country. In an interview with 7 News, McNamara said: “It doesn’t matter who you voted for. Right now, as Americans, we’ve got to come together. We’ve got to be able to see there

is more to America than sides and who won and who lost.” The people I spoke to in the community all thought McNamara’s flag-waving to be political, though nobody was quite certain what it meant. As bizarre as it was, it gave us Coloradans a sense of community,

a Stars Hollow-esque, smalltown-feel of unity and shared experience. We accepted the flag man as fact, and he became a part of our lives. Though his intent may have political origins, the effect I witnessed was anything but. The flag waver became a symbol of our community, something we all had in common. At OCU, we may experience this through collectively complaining about the Wi-Fi, or the somewhat recent habit of every performance major prefacing all positive statements with a vigorous “Yes!”

These odd little shared experiences are important and should not be overlooked. They are what make us feel like part of a community. McNamara was correct. Unity is what we need right now. In a time of political and social strife, a sense of community and belonging is more important than ever. Whether it’s through colloquial sayings or a particularly patriotic man, I am grateful for the small things that create my environment and shape my life. Yes, community!

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

WEDNESDAY Campus Safety Luncheon from 12-1 p.m. in Room 151 in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences (required for all new undergraduate students) THURSDAY

Get Connected: Involvement Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Shdeed Lounge in Tom and Brenda McDaniel

University Center Chapel from 1-2 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel Men's basketball game vs. Southwestern Christian University from 8-9:45 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center Open Mic Night from 8-10 p.m. in

the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center FRIDAY Final day to add a class without a professor's signature SATURDAY Dr. Regina Bennett's memorial service from 1-3 p.m. in Room 151 in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences

Makayla Osgood's junior flute recital from 6-6:30 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center Richard Speed's junior music theater recital from 8-8:30 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center MONDAY Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No

January 11, 2017, Volume 110, Number 40

Associate Web Editor: Nicole Waltman Photographers: Courtney Beyer, Donovan Lawson, Kelsey Simmons, Ali Wonderly Staff Writers: Taylor Rey, Prisca Lynch, McAlyn Forbes, Evan Juedeman, Nathan Moelling,

Evensong worship service at 8 p.m. in Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel OCU Distinguished Artist Series presents Bob Mintzer from 8-10 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Out of the Box auditions at

10:30 p.m. in Clara E. Jones Administration building TUESDAY Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting from 8:30-10 p.m. in Leichter Reunion Room in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center Physician Assistant program deadlines

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: Sage Tokach Copy Editor: Chandler White News Editor: Zoe Travers Lifestyles Editor: Madelyn Parker Photo Editor: Elina Moon Community Manager: Lauren Berlingeri

classes, university closed

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Adrianna DelPercio Film Critics: Danielle Petersen, Mary McLain Videographer: Emily Haan 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.

January 11, 2017

news

Feel the love: Memorial service planned for Dr. Regina Bennett Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dr. Regina Bennett, associate professor of English, died Dec. 3. A celebration of her life is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. Jan. 14 in Room 151 in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. The community is invited to attend. Bennett is a 1988 graduate of the university who served as an adjunct professor, beginning in 1993, before becoming a full-time faculty member in 2000. Dr. Amy Cataldi, interim dean of Petree College of Arts and Sciences, wrote an email to students and faculty thanking them for their condolences following Bennett’s death. “She was called on for many roles at the university and did each with humility and professional acuity,” she wrote. “If you interacted with Regina at all, you knew her as genuine, kind and dedicated. Regina was a dear lady and shall be missed by many.” Bennett got her undergraduate degree in English with a concentration in women’s studies. She was a non-traditional student, supporting herself, so it took her eight years to complete her degree. “After graduation, I worked in non-profits with battered women, sexual assault survivors and women prisoners,” Bennett wrote in her biography for okcu.edu. OCU English faculty and adjunct professors worked together to cover Bennett’s teaching course load while she was on medical leave last semester. To follow Bennett’s wishes, the details of her medical condition will be kept private, officials said.

January 11, 2017

After her death, officials from Petree College made memorial donations to both the YMCA and the Women’s Services and Family Resource Center of Chickasha in Bennett’s name. They raised $650 for the donations. Bennett enjoyed working for nonprofits for several years. Though she found the work to be fulfilling, she Regina Bennett missed intellectual interactions, so she associate professor of English enrolled at OCU in the master’s of liberal arts program. She still was working full-time. “The MLA fed my insatiable curiosity and gave me the confidence I needed to pursue a Ph. D., which I did during the 1990s,” Bennett wrote in her biography. She took graduate classes while she taught as an adjunct at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Community College and Rose State College. “One of the things I tell potential students is that when I walked across campus at OU to classes, I never saw the same person twice,” Bennett continued in her biography. “That doesn’t happen at OCU, and that’s what I like about teaching here… You are a name, not a number at this university.” Tory Doherty, administrative assistant of social sciences/ humanities, put out a basket of paper hearts in the humanities suite for people who wanted to write about Bennett. Hearts were taped to Bennett’s office door to commemorate what she meant to the university and community. The hearts read things such as “I will miss your laugh, Regina,” “I will miss your humility and graciousness,” “I will

miss your laughter,” and “Colleague, mentor, friend… thank you for all that you gave to us.” The basket of paper hearts still is available for anyone who would like to participate. Callie Dewees, acting sophomore, said Bennett was a woman who knew when to get things done, but also was understanding when it came to her students. “She was a very kind woman who didn’t play around with class work,” she said. “Her class fostered healthy and controlled debate, which took place almost every class period.” Sunsinee Parker, liberal arts graduate student, has fond memories of Bennett. She said Bennett nominated her for the position of editor-in-chief of Stellar, the university’s undergraduate research journal. “Working with Dr. Regina Bennett has been one of the highlights during my time at OCU,” Parker said. “Dr. Bennett always saw the positive and possibilities in her students and encouraged to explore the road less traveled to see where it could lead. “She loved people, she loved Oklahoma and she loved OCU. I know people will miss her warm nature, her sincere concern for her students, colleagues and friends, and that ever-present glowing smile.”

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Ali Wonderly Student Publications

Snow-klahoma! Hannah Descartin, acting senior, and Sarah Lapaz, music theater senior, arrive back to campus early from winter break and frolick in the snow Jan. 6 on the quad. It was the first snowfall of the year so far. Above: Campus closed Jan. 6 due to the inclement weather and dangerous road conditions. Classes were not yet in session. Weather forecasters predict possible snow, ice or freezing rain this weekend.

Undergraduate research day organizers accepting submissions Nathan Moelling STAFF WRITER

Another academic year of projects, papers and presentations is in its final stretch. But rather than toss all that work directly in the file folder, some students choose an alternative opportunity that brings recognition and cash. The 17th annual Undergraduate Research Day is in February. URD is a day for undergraduate students to present, compete and utilize academic work from the previous semester in an academic and public environment. There are multiple categories available to compete in, such as research papers, posters and PowerPoints. As the submissions and applications are received over the next couple of months, they will be separated into groups that share similar characteristics. Dr. Erik Heine, professor of music theory and assistant director of the honors program, said URD helps students share their work with everyone on campus. “The idea behind Undergraduate Research Day is to encourage students to engage in research activities and share that research with peers across the OCU community,” he said. URD is not limited to upperclassmen, and submissions can come from any academic field across campus where creativity can be shown, Heine said. Judges will be chosen in January from a wide spectrum of academic fields that span the campus. This is partly to match the various topic groupings, but also to provide variation in academic prowess and perspective. Judging criteria is different among the

When I won money for the first time, that motivated me to keep submitting entries each year.

Sylvia Hayes

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cell and molecular biology senior

various categories. For example, when evaluating papers, strength of the thesis throughout the work will be a focus, as well as keen attention toward grammar and other typical evaluations. Judges will evaluate posters and PowerPoints based on an effective presentation, the draw of attention and “aesthetic elegance,” Heine said. Papers will be submitted with the application and judged in advance, while the posters and PowerPoints will be presented and judged the day of the event. Sylvia Hayes, cell and molecular biology senior, said she was reluctant at first to participant in URD, but now encourages other students to try it. “I originally was required to participate, and I didn’t realize there was prize money. When I won money for the first time, that motivated me to keep submitting entries each year,” Hayes said. The first topic Hayes submitted was a poster titled “What’s in Your Water Bottle” about bacteria growing on water bottles. Since then, she has submitted papers on Mockingjay and Medea.

“I encourage other students to participate because it’s a great way to share your work with other students and compete for prizes,” she said. “I am planning to submit a paper this year about gender and medical care.” Hayes placed third in her first poster contest, winning a small amount of cash, but the following year she won her paper category and received $100. This year’s cash prize amounts have not yet been announced. In prior years, URD was split into two days, one in the fall and one in the spring. But, this year, it will all occur on a single day, Feb. 24. This change was made in hopes to gather a larger number of submissions, as well as to allow students time for feedback and revision to make their work of higher quality, Heine said. Locations will be spread across campus. Papers and PowerPoints will be presented from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences, while posters will be from 1-4 p.m. in the Honor’s Lounge and other rooms in Gold Star Memorial building. Submissions are open to any undergraduate student, honors and non-honors. Students can present their original research work as a paper, poster or PowerPoint. Students may compete in multiple categories. Submissions are accepted from Dec. 1 through Jan. 27. More information and the application for submission can be found on the honors site, okcu.edu/academics/honors/links.

Acting student begins professional career in commercials Sage Tokach WEB EDITOR

Caroline Stella, acting senior, filmed her first professional commercial Nov. 16. S t e l l a’s a g e n c y, K i m Dawson Agency based in Dallas, Texas, booked her an audition for the commercial. When she was hired, Stella drove to Arlington, Texas, for a three-hour commercial shoot for a Texas energy company. The shoot was classified as a regional SAG commercial, meaning it ran by the rules of the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The union protects film, television and radio actors

working in the professional world. The regional classification means the commercial will be shown in a restricted area of the U.S. where the company is located, Stella said. “I’m a non-union actor who got hired in a union commercial, so I’m trying to figure out if this gig makes me SAG eligible,” she said. “Having the option to join the union would help me out when I move to Los Angeles, though I wouldn’t get my membership right away. I’ll find out when they send me a letter.” Stella’s call time for the shoot was 7 a.m. Filming took place in a house, and Stella acted in the kitchen area, with nearby rooms being used as

When I first started acting, I felt bad for the ‘poor actors who can’t make it in the big leagues,’ but now I known that commercials provide some of the best paying work out there.

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costume and make-up spaces. Because the commercial ran by union rules, there was a professional costumer and make-up artist present, and the actors were given free food at mealtimes. When she arrived, Stella looked over and signed her contract, which technically booked her for three days. She filmed her portion in one

Caroline Stella acting senior

day, though, and finished around noon. After editing, her footage will be cut into two separate 30-second and 15-second commercials. Stella and her scene partner were given a script that they used to film about five takes, before improvising for more than 60 takes. Between takes, the cameramen often would take

15-20 minutes setting up the next shot, so Stella and her scene partner had plenty of time to become acquainted, Stella said. “I learned to stick to small talk and be very careful about what I say on set because you never know where mics are placed or which mics are on,” she said. SAG commercial actors receive 20 percent residuals, meaning they are paid extra if the commercial extends. “I was paid well, and they even had to compensate my travel expenses and pay me to drive to Dallas for a costume fitting before the shoot,” Stella said. “The hard part now is learning what I’m allowed to tell people. For instance, I don’t know if I’m allowed

to disclose my salary, the company’s name or anything I said during the commercial.” The commercial’s release date has not been determined, but Stella plans to post it on her professional Facebook page, @CarolineStellaActor. “Until recently, I didn’t realize that commercials are an actor’s bread and butter,” Stella said. “When I first started acting, I felt bad for the ‘poor actors who can’t make it in the big leagues,’ but now I know that commercials provide some of the best-paying work out there. Flo, the Progressive girl, is one of the highest paid actors in television.”

OCU partners with Washington University for engineering program Chandler White STAFF WRITER

The academic institutions of OCU aim to supply students with an all-around, culturing education. It is for this reason that OCU partnered with Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, to create liberally educated engineering majors. The partnership allows students to spend two to three years at OCU to receive a liberal arts education. Then, after their junior or senior year, students enter WU for their undergraduate degree in engineering. With one additional year of study at WU, a student can go on to earn a master’s degree in engineering if enrolled in the threeyear graduate option. The partnership was approved in October and will be initiated in Fall 2017. “In the past, we’ve had students who realized that they wanted to do engineering, but we could only give them the option of completing their bachelor’s degree and then going somewhere else,” said Dr. Stephen Prilliman, liaison officer for pre-engineering at OCU. “We wanted to give students the opportunity to pursue engineering coming out of OCU, and this partnership allows us January 11, 2017

Program graduates would be liberally educated engineers with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Chris Kroeger associate dean of engineering Washington University

to do that through a partnership with one of the best engineering schools in the country.” There are practical benefits of a degree like this, said Chris Kroeger, associate dean of engineering at WU. The program gives students more opportunity to complete multiple degrees in other areas, as well as more time to pursue other extracurricular or non-academic interests. These advantages, as well as the seven different disciplines in which an engineering major can study, give the dual degree partnership a high potency for multiple, varied usages, Kroeger said.

“Our informational material describes the Dual Degree Program as an attractive alternative to traditional engineering curricula,” Kroeger said. “Program graduates would be liberally educated engineers, with strong communication and problem-solving skills, a broad background in the humanities and social sciences, as well as a high-quality technical education.” In a world becoming more and more industrially and technologically complex, the demand for engineers is high. This is true for Oklahoma in particular, and companies are often more comfortable hiring from schools already in Oklahoma, Kroeger said. Ryan Sturdy, engineering sophomore at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, said a degree from an Oklahoman campus paired with a high-caliber study out of state would equip an engineering student well for a local market. “It’s always good to have some affiliation with a local university simply due to familiarity,” he said. “Business owners know what they’re getting when they hire graduates from these schools, and the quality of education is almost always high.”