February 16, 2022 v115 i21

THE CAMPUS February 16, 2022 – Volume 115, Issue 21

Walkin’ in a winter wonderland …

Nationwide snowstorm closes campus for three days; students find ways to cope Anna Schmidt

MANAGING EDITOR

By Tuesday afternoon Feb. 1, students and faculty began anticipating winter weather and the possibility of school closure. At 10:12 p.m. on Tuesday, the anticipated closure became a reality with a BlueAlert notifying students and university staff that there would be no classes meeting in-person or remotely on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The BlueAlert stated the closures of the main university, the Law School, the Aduddell Fitness Center, mailroom, and the Dulaney-Browne Library. Dining service hours were restricted to weekend brunch and dinner times, and Alvin’s Market was open for a limited window in the morning and afternoon.

Some students used this winter-weather-induced closure to catch up on sleep, work on homework, or find ways to enjoy the snow. Students could be seen outside building snowmen, snow squirrels, and having snowy photoshoots.

At 2:02 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2, another BlueAlert announced that all closures would extend to Thursday, Feb. 3. The same closures and dining hours applied to Thursday. The following day, which was full of consistent snowfall and freezing temperatures, a BlueAlert announced at 1:26 p.m. that Friday, Feb. 4, would be a continuation of closures.

Chief Dexter Nelson with the OCU Campus Police provided insight into school cancellation decisions and the impact of winter weather on the roads and campus safety. Chief Nelson explained that the police play an active role in determining when campus closures should occur.

“As the Chief of Police I participate as a member of nearly every Emergency Operations Center (EOC) formed on campus. We formed a Weather EOC that meets as needed to discuss the weather forecast, and its effect on our campus,” Chief Nelson said.

In addition to Chief Nelson, another member of the campus police is trained and certified with the Oklahoma First Division of the National Weather Service. This provides the officer with information directly from the Oklahoma Mesonet Service, an organization monitoring Oklahoma weather.

“This allows us to receive weather models, predictions, and information directly from the National Weather Service. We get the same information that our local news stations receive and use to predict

the weather,” Chief Nelson said.

Chief Nelson listed factors that impact the decision of school closure. These factors, stated by Chief Nelson, include “...road conditions; utilities availability; the effects of the weather on the City of OKC; the effect of the weather on OCU campus infrastructure and facilities; and other business closings, such as restaurants and childcare facilities, to name a few.”

Road conditions were deemed unsafe for travel due to the winter weather. Students were encouraged to limit unnecessary driving, yet campus police officers were still available to provide vehicular assistance as needed.

Chief Nelson explained the standard vehicular assistance campus officers provide, saying campus officers routinely assist with “battery jumps, vehicle unlocks, they air up tires, they change flat tires if [the student has] a spare, officers transport students to and from auto shops to pick up or drop off vehicles for repairs, and they provide courtesy and security transports for students.”

In addition to maintaining regular vehicular assistance during the winter weather closures, officers provided assistance and service to the OKC community when needed.

“During this latest stretch of winter weather, we have assisted several passing motorists who have no connections to OCU, but broke down or got stuck in a snow bank near the university,” Chief Nelson said.

Campus police vehicles could be seen routinely patrolling the campus parking lots, driving through the Cokesbury Apartment parking lots multiple times each day despite the snow.

These patrols served to protect students from potentially intruding individuals, as well as inform students of unknown vehicular issues.

“Officers have notified students when problems were found involving parked vehicles. Some of those problems included, lights left on, trunk lids and doors found open, and parked vehicles involved in accidents,” said Chief Nelson.

Jenna Riling, sophomore dance universal major, performed her own act of service by seeking out a car in the Methodist parking garage which had been sounding security horns repeatedly for several hours during the snow days. Upon finding the alarming car, Riling took a photo and posted it to a Facebook group for OCU students in an attempt to alert the vehicle’s owner.

Chief Nelson explained the

importance of patrolling to ensure that no vehicles are parked on campus which are not authorized.

The prevalence of theft from automobiles, both with belongings and car parts, has been an issue on campus before.

Because of this, officers are vigilant and patrol to ensure all cars utilizing residential parking lots have proper parking permits displayed. Chief Nelson urged that students make sure to display their parking tags clearly, and report any information regarding suspicious vehicles or individuals promptly to the campus police.

The campus reopened Monday, Feb. 7 and classes returned to normal. All classes meeting virtually for Covid-19 mitigation returned to in-person instruction.

Anna Schmidt Student Publications OCU students conducted their own impromptu Winter Olympics earlier this month when a winter storm dropped temperatures, freezing rain and snow over much of the country.

Three provost finalists visit campus this month for sessions Blake Uhlig

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Three candidates have been selected and are currently being considered for the position of provost.

The university is hosting zoom sessions with each of the candidates Students may attend faculty and staff sessions. Information regarding each candidates’ session can be found below.

The Provost Search Committee encourages students to participate in these sessions and share feedback.

Diane Nell has been serving as Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at St. Edward’s University since 2012. Dr. Nell has been employed at St. Edward’s University

M MEDIAOCU.com

since 2012.

Dr. Nell earned a Doctor of Philosophy at Rice University. She has an extensive background in the French language.

Dr. Nell will visit OCU on Feb. 17, 2022. Students, faculty, and staff have been invited by the university to attend zoom sessions with Dr. Nell. The student Zoom session will be at 10 a.m. in Sarkeys Center room 100. Students who cannot attend this session may attend the staff session at 9 a.m. or faculty session at 4:30 p.m. Students who cannot attend the session in person may attend virtually at: https:// okcu.zoom.us/j/96825314611.

“I am drawn to the provost role because the mission of Oklahoma

City University—to ‘prepare all learners to Create, Lead, and Ser ve’— corresponds to my values. As the first person Nell to graduate from college in my family, I am committed to excellence, access, opportunity, and equity in higher education,” Dr. Nell said.

“I have served colleges and universities for over thirty years and have more than 16 years of experience in higher education administration. I am a firm believer in providing students with a liberal arts education that leads to a strong pro-

fessional future.

I look forward to conversations on campus later on this week with staff, faculty, and especially students, Kiec that will give me a deepened understanding of institutional goals.”

Michelle Kiec has been serving as the Interim Vice Provost for Extended Lifelong Learning and Dean of Graduate Studies at Kutztown University since 2021. She has been employed at KU since 2012.

Dr. Kiec earned a Doctor of Musical Arts at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. She has an exten-

Page 2: Arts

School of Music to debut new opera version of a literary classic.

Page 4: Opinion

Campus voices address need for continued progress on inclusion.

Page 5: Life

Faculty discuss affects of pandemic on the field of nursing.

Page 6: Sports

Basketball seniors say goodbye to Lemons Arena; new athletic director says hello!

sive background in clarinet. Dr. Kiec will visit the university on Feb. 22.

Kiec’s sessions have not yet been Pinnow announced.

Timothy Pinnow has been serving as the Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Colorado Mesa University since 2018.

He has been employed at CMU since 2010.

Mr. Pinnow earned an M.F.A. in Theatre Performance at the University of Florida.

PROVOST continues on 3

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arts SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Per�orming A�ts Photography Rebecca Huntley as Jo and Viviana Goodwin as Beth are among the cast of 22 featured in the debut of the Mark Adamo opera “Little Women,“ based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, presented Feb. 18-20 at OCU.

Literary classic ‘Little Women’ comes to life OCU Opera and Music Theater Company stages new opera version Feb. 18-20 William Peetoom

STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 18-20 Oklahoma City University will be performing the opera “Little Women” as part of their mainstage season in the Kirkpatrick Auditorium.

The opera will take place on Feb. 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. and on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.

Tickets range from $14 to $28, and masks are required.

There is a “Little Women” themed dinner in preparation

of the show on Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. The ticket price is $25, and it will be held in the Wanda Bass atrium.

Dinner tickets do not include tickets to the show, which must be bought separately.

The opera is based on a semi-autobiography by Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868.

The plot follows four sisters, detailing their life from childhood to womanhood.

The music and lyrics were

written by Mark Adamo.

There have been at least seven movies, seven different stage adaptations, and a Broadway musical of the story.

“Unlike many adaptations of ‘Little Women,’ Adamo focuses on Jo’s battle with time as she watches her sisters grow,” stated Director Karen Coe Miller in a press release.

Karen Coe Miller is the director and Alexander Mickelthwate is the music director for OCU’s showing.

Before the opera, director Miller will give a free, 45-minute director’s talk.

“Little Women” Cast Amy: Jennie Rupp Carlie Pool (understudy) Beth: Viviana Goodwin Avery Mahan (u/s) Meg: Macey Trussell Amelia Unger (u/s) Jo:

Kate Morton (Friday/Sun) Rebecca Hundley (Saturday) Cecilia March: Kristen Olmsted Rebecca Wallingford (u/s) Alma March: Lauren Ingebrigsten Rebecca Wallingford (u/s) Laurie (Theodore Lawrence): Troy Freeman (Friday/Sun) Rafe McConnell (Sat) John Brooke: Paul Gutmann (Friday/Sun) Collin Ellsbury (Sat) Friedrich Bhaer:

Nathan LeBlanc Benjamin Bowers (u/s) Gideon March/Mr. Dashwood: Joshua Cominsky Benjamin Bowers (u/s) Chorus—Off-Stage: S1 Carlie Pool, S2 Avery Mahan, S3 Amelia Unger, S4 Rebecca Wallingford S1 Raeslyn Miller, S2 Maggie Heiskel, S3 Lucy Abramowitz, S4 Maeve Sullivan

School of Theatre revisits the 80s AIDS crisis with Stage II’s ‘A Normal Heart’ Natalie Turner

ARTS EDITOR

The OCU School of Theatre Stage II presented “The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer Feb. 10, 11, and 12 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre.

The production was directed

by Casey Kassal, a BFA Acting senior.

The Normal Heart is set in New York City during the AIDS epidemic. It shows the gradual rise of the epidemic from 1981 to 1984. The protagonist is Ned Weeks, an openly gay man who founded an AIDs advocacy group.

The public was largely indifferent to AIDs at the time of the play, sparking Weeks to start his advocacy group which changed the way people viewed the disease.

Weeks is loud and confrontational while his friends and his closeted lover Felix Turner prefer calmer and quieter approaches.

The play was originally published and performed Off-Broadway in 1985. A Broadway revival opened in 2011 for a limited 12-week run.

The revival won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play in 2011, along with other awards.

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OCU School o� Theat�e From the left, OCU actors Alexandra Eckelbarger, Farley McDaniel, Julian Ibarra and Logan Wilkinson presented “A Normal Heart” in the Black Box Theatre last week.

Stage II productions are presented in an intimate setting with an emphasis on acting with minimal technical elements.

The Black Box Theatre has seats along three sides of the stage with only two rows of seats, allowing each audience member an intimate and special view of the show.

Stage II will present three more productions later this semester: The Pillowman in late February, An Enemy of the People in late March, and Six Years Old in early April.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Ticket Office.

Submitted

CLASS WITH A MASTER Ji Hye Jung, associate professor of percussion at Vanderbilt University, presented a solo recital and master class here last month. William Peetoom reports on MediaOCU.com.

February 16, 2022

news

Laura-Sofia Granados Student Publications

SGA, university officials shine light on poor lighting Powell: ‘We need to bring more lighting to campus’ Blake Uhlig

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SGA President Reid Powell is at the head of an initiative to improve campus exterior lighting.

On Dec. 9, Powell, OCUPD Chief Dexter Nelson, and Dr. Levi Harrel the Dean of Students went on a campus tour to assess the university lighting situation.

“We noticed there are a lot of lights out here on campus or not adequate lighting. We need to bring more lighting to campus,” President Powell said at an SGA senate meeting on Jan. 20.

Nelson says that he, his predecessors, and the Facilities department have all taken action to fix inoperable light fixtures.

Nelson says that the campus lighting issues can be traced back decades to a time that we had a different understanding of light.

He also attributes the lighting situation to changes in building codes. “As we learn about problems and issues we work to improve and eliminate them,” said Chief Nelson.

“The goal of the tour was to identify areas in need of improvement for lighting and overall campus safety.

“We limited the tour to lighting issues so as not to overwhelm the Facilities Department in making repairs,” Chief Nelson said.

While most light fixtures are the responsibility of the university Facilities Department, some fall under the authority of OG&E.

PROVOST Continued from 1

He has an extensive background in acting, specifically, stage combat.

Mr. Pinnow visited OCU on Feb. 15.

“I’m interested in the provost position at OCU because I believe my background matches a number of the needs of OCU. “I’m originally from theatre and a proponent of the liberal arts. My recent administrative experience has been focused on expanding graduate programs, online programs, and allied health programs,” Mr. Pinnow said.

“As provost, we would put student success and the student experience at the center of everything we do, expanding opportunities for more students and offering greater flexibility in fulfilling students’ educational goals.

“For the students: You will always have an ability to connect directly with me, I hold open office hours reserved for students every week and if I am named provost will look forward to meeting as many student groups as I can and I’ll bring the pizza.”

According to the search committee, the purpose of the campus visit is to allow the university community to meet the candidates, learn about their experience, and hear their goals if they were to be selected as provost/VPAA. The provost supervises the academic and administrative aspects of the university. The provost works with faculty to measure the effectiveness of programs and to implement February 16, 2022

Nelson said that emergency lighting can be replaced by the OCU Police Department and University Office of Emergency Management.

Nelson said that the inoperable light fixtures owned by the university need replacement parts.

He said that supply chain problems have delayed repairs to the light fixtures.

“Several companies that the Facilities Department deals with are having problems getting and keeping parts and equipment in stock based on manpower and COVID-19 related problems that have caused delays in the shipping industry worldwide,” Nelson said.

“A lack of effective lighting can allow criminals to operate unseen

improvements.

The provost also serves or selects a representative to serve on many university committees. The full list of responsibilities is extensive.

Melanie Shelley, the Associate Dean of the School of Dance and Entertainment, and Dr. Talia Carroll the Vice President for Diversity, Equity are co-chairing the Provost Search Committee. Dean Shelley was previously the sole chairperson on the committee.

SGA President Reid Powell is representing the student body on the committee.

The search committee hired Summit Search Solutions to obtain candidates for the position of provost.

Summit Search Solutions Senior Consultant Jan Asnicar hosted focus groups with stakeholder populations in October 2021. The primary goal of these focus groups was to gain an understanding of what stakeholder groups were looking for in a candidate.

“The search firm, Summit Search Solutions led the identification of a diverse candidate pool based on the position profile.

The committee engaged in a thorough process to identify many candidates who, we believe, are student-centered and eager to communicate about how they intend to support students,” Shelley and Carroll said.

The search committee is responsible for narrowing the list of candidates for the position of provost. It will now be up to President Kenneth Evans to select the next provost.

and, in the shadows, making it difficult for police and witnesses to identify and describe suspects and suspect activity,” According to Nelson, not all lights have the same effectiveness at deterring criminal activity.

“The traditional yellow-amber glow lighting that was installed decades ago does not provide the right spectrum of light to effectively recognize colors, sizes, and shapes.”

Nelson said that property crimes occur during the day when a property is unattended, but “generally is the type of crime that thrives under cover of darkness.”

Nelson said that while lighting is a key factor in mitigating crime, it cannot stop crime by itself.

“Crime is less likely to occur

when there is a greater possibility that suspects may be observed committing crimes by eyewitnesses or surveillance cameras,” Chief Nelson said.

Nelson asks that students bring safety concerns to university staff.

He says that the OCUPD is an available resource if students feel insecure on campus. “We offer safety escorts and courtesy patrols upon request,” Nelson said.

Nelson explained that it is essential that students report suspicious activity to the OCUPD, because it prevents criminal activity that harms students and the university.

“As OCU students, staff, and faculty, everyone is considered to be university ambassadors,” Nelson said.

Leak above ceiling tiles leads to collapse; soaked tiles damage office desk Anna Schmidt

MANAGING EDITOR

Recent winter weather caused the closure of OCU from Feb. 2 to Feb. 4.

During that time, the ceiling collapsed in Walker Center 114, an office used by Diana Haslett, Artist-in-Residence and Multimedia Studio Manager for the Mass Communications department.

Due to the school’s closure, the extensive damage was not discovered until days after the collapse occurred.

Dr. Beth Adele, Director and Assistant Professor of Mass Communications, said the damage was limited to WC114, and no other areas of the building saw such damage.

“Currently, the main impact is on our valuable artist-in-residence, Diana Haslett,” Dr. Adele said. “She is extremely resilient and resourceful. Ms. Haslett, the department, and Petree College of Arts & Sciences are ensuring our students are not negatively impacted by this damage.”

According to Haslett, she discovered the fallen ceiling upon arriving at her office Monday morning, Feb. 7. “I unlocked my office to find a portion of a ceiling tile had collapsed onto my desk and the water pipe from the ceiling was dripping onto my desk and the surrounding floor,” Haslett said.

Though the exact time of the ceiling’s collapse is unknown, Haslett said that from the amount of water present, the leak from the ceiling had been actively occurring for several days.

“My desk and surrounding floor area were completely saturated with water,” Haslett said. “The desk had to be taken out of my office as the water damage was so prevalent it can no longer be used.”

Haslett also described the damage to equipment and property, the main damage having occurred to a monitor on the desk, a keyboard, and new shotgun microphones.

Haslett suspects the keyboard will need to be replaced, but

said after drying the microphones with towels and placing them close to a space heater, they worked.

“Thankfully, I had my laptop at home so I could work over the break, so it was undamaged,” Haslett said.

At the time this story was written, university officials had not yet concluded the cause of the damage, but they did suspected that the winter storm contributed to the damage.

Dr. Adele explained that while it has not been concluded whether or not the storm caused the damage, the facilities department is currently investigating the situation.

While fans ran in WC114 to dry the carpet, Haslett relocated to work in the television studio’s control room.

“The office is being dried and any damaged furniture, supplies, and equipment will be replaced,” Adele said.

“The facilities department should be able to devise a plan to resolve the damage and hopefully prevent future incidents.”

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opinion IN OUR VIEW

A reflection on Black History Month Diversity in our campus and in our nation should be celebrated Black History month is a time that we reflect on the historical legacy of African Americans.

African Americans have made countless contributions to our society all the while facing overwhelming opposition and insurmountable obstacles.

Many of the brightest minds in our society are African Americans.

Many more of these bright minds were never given the chance to succeed.

We acknowledge that African Americans have been victims of systematic oppression. This is a persisting problem that has penetrated every facet of our society.

This is part of a larger problem that minority groups face. This global phenomenon has occurred throughout history.

Subtle differences between us have been used as justifications for division. This is even more pronounced when one faction wields unparalleled power. This power can be expressed through political, psychological, economic, and militaristic means.

This prejudice is often a result of tribalism, which at its extreme can tear at the fabric of an organized society. These minor differences are not reasons for condemnation, they are reasons for celebration.

No minority group should be condemned to fight these battles alone. Student publications asks students, regardless of their defining characteristics to stand against inequality.

Leond�e Lattimo�e

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS

Osatinski: ‘The world has many histories’ To study history is to constantly search for what is “true” but to never find it. The “truth” of an event lies somewhere between the multiple stories told of that event.

One’s version of history is undeniably colored by one’s identities, experience, and values.

Sometimes, history is even used as a tool to uphold oppressive systems or to justify unjust acts. Theatre History is no different.

In 1903, James Brander Matthews, the Chair of Dramatic literature at Columbia University and the United States’s first theatre history professor, published “The Development of the Drama.”

The book was the first to “comprehensively” cover the history and development of dramatic literature and trace its origins, presenting the first model for studying Theatre History.

Though over a century old, Matthew’s framework for theatre history still permeates undergraduate curriculums across the country.

The idea that theatre began in Greece, then appeared in Rome, and then developed in Europe (particularly the UK) is one that is very familiar to anyone who has taken an undergraduate Theatre History course in the past hundred years.

However, two problems arise when one more closely examines this history. First, it isn’t true, theatre did not begin in Osatinski Greece, there is evidence of performance traditions in Africa and among the indigenous people of what would become the Americas prior to the Greeks.

Second, Brander Matthews’ history dismisses any non-European performance traditions.

One only needs to look at the text of “The Development of the Drama” to see the evidence as it is plainly written. In the book, Matthews states, “Only among the races which may be exceptionally endowed with energy of imagination and with power of construction does the drama arrive at its highest possibility of achievement.”

The races he is referring to are white and European. He also calls other forms and peoples “primitive” and “savage,” labeling their performance forms as undeveloped.

According to Matthews, only Western, written performance forms are worthy of study. Accord-

ing to Matthews, only Western peoples are capable of creating theatre. Everything and everyone else is primitive and savage This text and Matthew’s ideas served as the basis for the Theatre History courses that were developed in the early 20th Century and for the textbooks used in many Theatre History classrooms well into the 21st Century.

Over the years as the discipline of Theatre History has developed, there has been some movement toward including more performance forms in the canon of theatre history. For example, Asian performance forms, particularly those from Japan, have been regularly included in curricula.

A few plays written by women have also entered the canon. For example, Sophie Tredwell’s Machinal and Susan Glaspell’s Trifles are often included.

However, the privileging of Western theatre forms and plays written by men has persisted, despite decades of research that has illuminated a variety of theatre histories from many cultures across the globe.

By continuing to teach a Theatre History curriculum that is based on Matthew’s model, US institutions of higher education are

not acknowledging the richness of these many histories. Therefore, the School of Theatre at OCU will no longer be utilizing this model for our courses in Theatre History.

Beginning in Fall 2022, the Theatre History curriculum is shifting away from the survey course that attempts to cover the history of theatre by tracing a straight line from the Greeks to today.

It is impossible to comprehensively cover the history of theatre in one, two, or even three classes, so these courses will no longer try. Instead, students in the OCU School of Theatre will be taking a Theatre History and Historiography course that teaches skills for engaging with theatre history in order to support their work as artists.

Rather than quickly covering what happened from one point of view, the course will critically examine how history is recorded, how historical narratives are created, and how the biases of the person recording the history impact the history that is recorded.

This course will examine multiple narratives for the origin of theatre and multiple ways that performance has developed since.

This new curriculum will teach the

“how” rather than the “what” of theatre history.

It will teach students to think critically about the historical narratives they consume and how those narratives influence their perspectives and their artistic work.

Paired with the Theatre History and Historiography course, students will also take a topics course in theatre history in which they will spend a semester taking a deep dive into one specific subject area in theatre history.

These courses will put into practice the skills learned in theatre history and historiography, further equipping students with tools for approaching their work in a way that recognizes the many histories that have shaped their art form.

The world has many histories and the job of a historian is to collect as much evidence as possible to try and find that point in the middle where the truth might live.

In enacting this new curriculum, the School of Theatre at OCU is committing to teaching students to seek that truth and to understand that it might never be found.

Dr. Amy Osatinski Assistant Professor School of Theatre

STAFF VIEWPOINTS

Uhlig: ‘Media coverage is not equitable’

There is one issue that I find particularly upsetting in journalism. This issue is the lack of diverse and equitable story coverage.

This problem is prevalent in both domestic and international coverage.

On the first of this month, militiamen stormed a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo and took the lives of at least 60.

The next day, on the other side of the country, an electrified cable came loose in a market and killed 26.

These events were both major losses of civilian life that received little international coverage and even less coverage from U.S. media networks. These events did not receive any coverage on the websites of CNN, FOX, MSNBC, ABC, and NPR.

If either incident had occurred in western Europe, I would wager the story would be in our headlines

Uhlig today.

It is clear to any avid consumer of media that countries in Europe receive a greater share of coverage than countries in Africa.

While a simple conclusion for this disparity may include press freedom and ease of access, I believe they are not the primary influencing factors. As we can see in the cases of Ukraine and Afghanistan, reporting in a corrupt and dangerous country is possible, albeit with risks.

The next step is to consider

THE CAMPUS February 16, 2022 • Volume 115, Issue 21 Editor-in-Chief: Blake Uhlig Managing Editor: Anna Schmidt News Editor: Ava Karas Sports Editor: Elizabeth Heffernan Arts Editor: Natalie Turner Visual Editor: Laura-Sofia Granados Business Manager: Samuel Usaide

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Photographers: Annie Bragg Staff Writers: William Peetoom

the relevancy of this news to U.S. media consumers. There are undoubtedly historical and cultural ties between the United States and Europe (particularly western Europe). These ties are reflected in our foreign policy and celebrity followings.

Another factor has to do with economics. Europeans on average, have a high standard of living, which is comparable to the United States. These same opportunities are not as often found in Africa.

Many countries in Africa have high unemployment rates. The World Bank estimated that 433 million Sub-Saharan Africans were living in extreme poverty in 2018.

Most U.S. citizens can trace their ancestry to Europe and share physical similarities with Europeans, the most obvious is skin tone.

Many find it easier to empathize

with people who look like them and have similar lives. Looking through this lens is disastrous, because there are billions of people who do not fit into this framework.

The problem of underreporting Africa in journalism may very well trace back to the consumption habits of domestic media consumers. There is little incentive for media institutions to send reporters after stories that their readers and viewers are not interested in.

It may be simply that, media consumers in the U.S. are not interested in reports on African peoples in African countries.

Race, lifestyle, and economic status should not play such a centralized role in media coverage.

A person’s personal wealth is not a representation of their societal value.

Not reporting on people

Corrections & Clarifications

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published by the Student Publications staff online at MediaOCU.com, and printed monthly during the academic year.

A story on page 1 of the Jan. 12 issue incorrectly displayed the contact information for the Ethics and Debate team. The correct e-mail is Jwareham@okcu.edu.

A headline on page 4 of the Jan. 12 issue incorrectly described a story on the retirement of former Athletic Director Jim Abbott.

because of who they are and where they live perpetuates racism, discrimination and xenophobia.

There can be no political will to solve a problem if the problem has not been documented and shared.

It is essential that the media report on a wide range of issues in a wide range of places.

This problem helps us to realize the power media institutions have. They are the gatekeepers of information. They decide what information is newsworthy and what information is not. It is the job of a journalist to remain independent and unbiased in their story coverage. They cannot allow personal biases to influence the story building process.

Blake Uhlig Editor-in-Chief Student Publications

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and letters 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 editor@okcu.edu or dropped off at the Newsroom in Suite 121 of the Walker Center for Arts and Sciences.

Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition.

The first copy of The Campus is free. Each additional copy costs 25 cents. All contents copyright © Oklahoma City University Student Publications, 2022. All rights reserved.

February 16, 2022

life

O�fice o� Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion From the left, former SGA President Bobby Trousdale; Dr. Talia Carroll, vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and alumna Bailey Perkins, now State Advocacy and Public Policy Director at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, appear on Episode 1 of the first season ‘Blue Table Talk.’ Carroll recently announced plans for a second season, to be released this semester.

Season 2 of ‘Blue Table Talk’ takes shape Carroll: ‘Seeking to highlight experiences of historically marginalized people’ Blake Uhlig

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Season 2 of “Blue Table Talk” is under production.

The series is a talk show hosted by Dr. Talia Carroll, vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In each episode, Carroll has candid conversations with OCU students and alumni.

The first episode release date has not been set but should be released in the 2022 spring semester. Carroll plans for the episodes to be released at monthly inter-

vals. Each episode will be published on the university’s social media accounts.

Carroll said the new season will focus on how law intersects with diversity and how strategy and branding fit into marketing.

The panel list has not yet been released. Carroll says that panelists will “provide real and inspirational perspectives.”

“We are seeking to highlight the experiences of historically and systematically marginalized, underserved, and minoritized people.

There are often unintentionally missed opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate the important leadership of our alumni who hold a range of identities,” Carroll said.

“The diversity of identity, thought, and lived experiences were illuminated throughout each of the conversations.

There is much to learn when we carve out time to center real discussion,” Carroll said regarding Season 1 of Blue Table Talk.

Blue Table Talk is a series by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The Department of Communications and Department of Alumni Engagement will both assist in the production of Season 2.

“I love that OCU is setting the example of what a healthy conversation can be like and inviting students and alumni into a communal space,” said Ian Weston, a photographer and videographer from the OCU Communications Department.

Episode 1, Season 1, was titled “Advocating for Yourself and Your Community.”

The episode featured former

SGA President Bobby “Trae” Trousdale and Bailey Perkins, the State Advocacy and Public Policy Director at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

The panelists discussed their efforts to advocate in their communities and how others can be advocates too.

Episode 2, Season 1, was titled “Race and the Arts.”

The episode featured Timothy Long, an associate professor of opera at the Eastman School of Music, and Nasir Panjwani, a music theatre student.

The panelists discussed racial barriers in the art industry and their personal struggles in overcoming these barriers.

Episode 3, Season 1, was titled “Small Business Set-Up and Management.” The episode featured John Veal, the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Oklahoma District Office, and Tara Ramakrishnan, a finance student.

The panelists discussed ways to overcome uncertainty in business and life by taking advantage of resources.

School of Nursing faculty see pandemic-driven changes William Peetoom

STAFF WRITER

OCU School of Nursing’s Shella Gettings, clinical instructor, recently spoke with Student Publications about the changes in her profession driven by the pandemic.

Q: Has COVID-19 changed your opinion on the jobs nurses do?

A: The pandemic that affected our nation in 2019 and 2020 has taken my opinion of the nursing practice into a place of great respect and honor.

As a nurse of over 20 years, I have always held abundant pride for what we do within our communities, our states, and all over the world, but when faced with a catastrophic event like this, nurses everywhere stepped up to do the job they were trained to do without fail.

My opinion has changed, but it has only changed to a higher level value and admiration.

Q: Has it affected how you look at patients?

A: I have always looked at each patient as a person, that hasn’t changed, but sometimes as years of practice pass, that view is blurred.

We tend to start to lose focus on the faces and the stories behind the illness. COVID has reminded me to not look beyond the patient, and to redirect my focus back to what matters.

Q: Has it affected your feelings toward the profession?

A: advanced my nursing degree in order to provide for my family and create a level of autonomy that I didn’t have before. When COVID started to spread rapidly in our state, I had to take a step back and reevaluate what was most important to me and my long-term goals.

I had always wanted to own a private nurse practitioner practice and provide much needed care to the rural communities in need but was now faced with a new challenge that made that prevented that dream from becoming a reality.

For the safety of myself, my family, and those around me, it wasn’t the best road to February 16, 2022

take any longer.

I was beyond blessed to have been teaching clinical practice at Kramer School of Nursing as an adjunct, where I found a new passion and goal to strive towards.

Gettings I can still embrace the profession as a nurse practitioner with all my might, but as a faculty member in a quality nursing program, I get to help mold and train new nurses of tomorrow while they work towards their dreams and ambitions of becoming a nurse. It is an honor I do not take lightly.

Q: Has it changed how nurses are trained?

A: When one is trained to become a nurse, you start with a firm foundation and build on it, one layer at a time, until you reach the top. This is where you venture out into the real world and help provide care to those who need you, who need trained and qualified nursing talent to prevent bad outcomes and help them heal.

Training to be a nurse, in my opinion, will never change, but will only improve as new events occur. We can only change or add training to expand into new situations and prevent different results from an unknown disease and the challenges it brings.

Q: Has it changed the need for nurses?

A: The need for nurses in Oklahoma and around the world has always been extraordinary since the beginning of time. There has always been more illness and disease than there are adequately trained nurses to care for them.

Is there a difference with a pandemic?

Obviously, the more illness, the more need for care. The good thing is that there are amazing schools that make training and education easily accessible, such as with Kramer School of Nursing, and highly competent and skilled graduating nurses are being placed into facilities where the need is the greatest.

We prepare them not only for how to professionally and safely care for their patient’s, but also provide exceptionally capable nurse’s that fill the need without hesitation.

William Peetoom

STAFF WRITER

OCU School of Nursing’s Dr. Stacy Swim, associate professor, recently spoke with Student Publications about the changes in her profession driven by the pandemic.

Q: Has COVID-19 changed your opinion on the jobs nurses do?

A: COVID 19 has not only changed my opinion on the jobs that nurses do, but it has changed the profession overall. In the beginning of the pandemic, nurses were heroes for their courage to risk their own lives to fight an invisible enemy that took the lives of too many people.

Nurses were, and still are, working in a “war zone” much like the conditions experienced by Florence Nightingale when she cared for the soldiers of the Crimean War. The lack of supplies, lack of protection for nurses and patients, and environments less than optimal for healing, required the nurse to BECOME the environment.

The nurse has had to step into the role of family, friend, and “soldier.” It is not surprising that many nurses are looking for non-bedside nursing positions and jobs outside of the profession all together.

Q: Has it affected how you look at patients?

A: I believe that we will find research in the future that supports social isolation of a COVID patient was detrimental to the patient’s outcome and played an active role in their demise. People are not made to be alone when they are suffering. Social isolation causes suffering in the healthy person and is used for punishment of prisoners. Patients need family/friends with them when they are most vulnerable.

We are relational beings. People have an innate capability for self-healing when the patient is placed in an environment that promotes healing. The patient should be able to trust that a nurse will create an environment for their self-healing capacities to flourish.

This has not been the case. Patients are being cared for by nurses that are overworked, being

“encouraged” to work even when they are sick, forced to work in areas that are not familiar to them…the list goes on.

In my opinion, being a patient in today’s health care organization is about Swim “survival of the fittest”.

Q: Has it affected your feelings toward the profession?

A: In the very beginning of this pandemic, I projected that there were two predictable outcomes for the profession of nursing. First, nurses may decide to leave the bedside, which we are seeing already. They are in search of careers that offer self and family protection.

Second, those nurses that stay at the bedside will experience some level of PTSD and may need mental health intervention. One cannot fight a war without adequate weapons and be victorious.

One also cannot fight an invisible enemy that has caused so much destruction of human life and emerge without mental scarring. It was quite disappointing to me that the standards to protect the public, created by the profession, were intentionally compromised, affecting the well-being of the patient and the nurse.

Q: Has it changed how nurses are trained?

A: We have found that nursing school can be conducted in ways that we never thought could happen, but fortunately, the changes that happened so quickly have shown to be effective. Some students have liked the virtual opportunities, others have not. Simulation has played a vital part in the education of nursing students through the pandemic. Research support that a large population of nurse educators are nearing retirement age.

In this group of educators, many have not utilized technology as a major teaching modality. Lack of knowledge, lack of time and training have been major deterrents to using technology in the nursing classroom.

During the time of virtual learning, technology has been the staple to the student’s success. Simulation has become the “Gold Standard” for educating nursing students.

5

sports SENIOR DAY

Basketball Stars leave home court in style

OCU Athletics Top: Selena Driskill, Jordyn Eaton, Erika Ankney and Abigail Selzer helped their team beat Southwestern Christian 77-72 in overtime for their last game at Lemons Arena. Above, Romario Spence, Eric Amandio, Elie Ghomsi, Ryan Birt and Rashaun Coleman and the rest of the men’s Stars followed with a 108-100 overtime victory. Family and friends were on hand to stand with their honorees and celebrate the moment.

Heffernan sisters keep each other on track OCU track, cross-country runners started running together when they were 11, 9 Samuel Usiade

BUSINESS MANAGER

Star runners Kaitlyn Heffernan, a junior, and her younger sister Elizabeth Heffernan share their journey of mutual support in athletics. The siblings are from Bentonville, Ark. Kaitlyn, having been a runner for about five years before her sister Elizabeth started running, inspired and motivated her to become a better runner as well.

The siblings share their workout time together and build each other up when they are discouraged. They took time recently to talk with Student Publications:

When did you start running together?

Elizabeth: “We started running together when I was nine and Kaitlyn was eleven.”

Kaitlyn: “We started running together about the time I was in middle school. I had been before then, but it wasn’t until we joined a community junior team that Elizabeth joined in. She was opposed to running at first, but soon became faster than me - which motivated us both to become better, and we’ve been running with each other ever since.”

What inspired you to start running?

Elizabeth: “I was inspired to start running by my sister who had been running for about five years before I had even started.”

Kaitlyn: “We grew up in a family of runners - with both my mom and dad’s side of the family being avid runners, and my mom herself being a former top collegiate runner, still training and loving running to this day. I often say I had no choice to become a runner, and while it started as something we all just did, the inspiration wasn’t hard to catch, as I was and am continually drawn to the elements of drive, dedication, and honest work that running requires.”

How did you both end up running together at OCU?

Elizabeth: “Kaitlyn came to run here at OCU first and I followed in her footsteps.”

Kaitlyn: “I came to OCU because it was a place, I could pursue both running and music, as I am a violin performance major. Elizabeth and I have always been close and on the same team and seeing that I enjoyed my experience here she committed to run for OCU as well.”

Tell us about the first track meet that you ran together in at OCU.

Kaitlyn: “Because of Covid it was quite a while before we ran our first meet. Our first meet was the conference cross country meet of 2020 where our team won conference and qualified for nationals!”

6

How do you support each other in training?

Elizabeth: “To motivate each other, we run our workouts together and build each other up when we’re discouraged.”

Kaitlyn: “We support each other in training in various ways. One way being through workouts where we push each other, as we both have different strengths in pacing and running. However, the most prominent way we encourage each other is through continual support, honestly, and belief in each other.

Running is as much of a mental sport and it is a physical sport, and before every race Elizabeth and I always talk the other through their race, remind them of the training they’ve done, and that the most important thing now is to lay it all out on the course.”

How has OCU supported your journey as an athlete?

Elizabeth: “OCU has supported our goals by providing us with great teammates to help us out along the way.”

Kaitlyn: “OCU has supported my journey as an athlete through the people that it’s brought into my life.

“As I mentioned running is so mentally taxing that it’s often easy to get wrapped up in all the workouts and races that didn’t go right, the physical pain you’re putting yourself through that hasn’t quite yielded results, and the heavy amount of time and training that is required to be an athlete, but through all the hard days it is my teammates and coaches that keep me going. I wouldn’t be the same as a runner or a person without my incredible teammates at OCU.”

What are your goals here in OCU for this season and going forward?

Elizabeth: “My goals here at OCU and after college are to improve upon my own times by staying consistent and working hard.”

Kaitlyn: “Currently we are in indoor track season and as I am writing this, we are on our way to go and try to qualify our Distance Medley Relay for indoor nationals! My goals moving forward are to continue to get stronger as a runner both physically but also mentally - always pushing myself further than I think I can go. Next up is outdoor track and I hope I can have a track season where I can pr in 5k and healthy summer that sets me up for a great last cross-country season.”

Editor’s note: Elizabeth Heffernan is the Sports Editor for OCU Student Publications.

She was not involved in the editing of this story.

OCU Athletics

New athletic director chosen: Bray takes charge March 21 Elizabeth Heffernan

SPORTS EDITOR

Corey Bray, former Vice President and Director of Athletics at Drury University, has been chosen to serve as OCU’s new athletic director.

He will start March 21, 2022.

Bray is looking forward to meeting the staff and athletes.

“It will definitely be a great experience getting to know the staff, coaches, and student-athletes.

“I met many of them while I was on campus for my interview, and I am look-

ing forward to build our relationships after I get started,” Bray said.

Bray is excited to assist student-athletes at OCU. “I am most excited about the opportunity to facilitate student-athlete Bray graduation through their participation in intercollegiate athletics, helping student-athletes become productive citizens who contribute significantly to their community, and winning multiple championships with sportsmanship, class and respect,” Bray said.

February 16, 2022