Mar. 8

THE CAMPUS March 8, 2017 – Volume 110 Issue 47

Going a different direction: Officials hire new food service provider, café hours change The university officially moved on from Sodexo and hired a new food service provider. Sodexo’s contract ends this semester, and officials chose not to renew it.

Chartwells, a division of Compass Group, will become the new food service provider July 1, according to a press release sent March 3 by Catherine Maninger, vice president for finance and business operations and chief financial officer of the university.

Chartwells is the food service provider for the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and for more than 230 universities nationwide, according to its Facebook page.

Chartwells was a unanimous decision by a selection committee, said Lori Walker, director of auxiliary services.

Chartwells will work to provide enhancements to the caf, Alvin’s Café and Dulaney-Browne Library.

Details about enhancements have not been finalized, but will be released as soon as possible, Walker said.

Some students hope the change isn’t for the worse.

“Our food isn’t as awful as what’s on some campuses, so I hope this isn’t a step back,” said Madison Carey, acting sophomore.

Ernie Cottier, mass communications freshman, said he hopes Chartwells will provide accommodating hours, especially a later breakfast. He also said he’s worried about employees losing their jobs.

“I’ll miss Willie,” Cottier said. “And Miss June may be sassy, but she makes a mean sandwich.”

Sodexo employees will meet with Chartwells officials to ensure a smooth transition. They also will be able to apply for jobs with Chartwells.

“OCU has highly recommended the food service team currently on campus to Chartwells, noting their years of service as well as their expertise and familiarity with our students, faculty and staff,” Maninger wrote in the email.

The costs of a meal plan will remain the same for the 201718 academic year, according to Maninger’s emails. Renovations will begin in Fall 2017 with caf improvements slated for 2018.

Student Government Association representatives and other student groups provided information to campus dining to discuss what services, locations and hours work best for students.

Throughout the past few days, students have found Alvin’s closed early. This is because the staff was meeting to discuss the upcoming changes.

The transition caused officials to change Alvin’s hours of operations March 3.

“The change in hours is because of a coverage issue,” Walker said. “There aren’t enough employees to cover Alvin’s until 1 a.m.”

Greg Del Rosario, Alvin’s employee, said the staff is preparing for renovations.

Chris Lisher, Alvin’s employee, said employees are only somewhat aware of the details of the changes, but they were encouraged not to talk about it.

“We’re just looking at finding new jobs,” Lisher said.

Other than construction, there shouldn’t be any other changes to Alvin’s until July, employees said.

Kelly Pan, nursing freshman, said she’s frustrated about the new hours.

“I always stay up late to go to Alvin’s, and now they’re no longer open late,” she said.

Sodexo officials were not available for comment Monday.

“

By Web Editor Nicole Waltman and News Editor Zoe Travers

ALVIN’S NEW HOURS

Miguel Rios Student Publications

Alvin’s Cafe officials changed the hours of operation March 3. Alvin’s hours were shortened because there aren’t enough employees to work until 1 a.m.

Current employees will have the chance to apply to work with Chartwells, the university’s new food service provider. Chartwells, a division of Compass Group, is a food service provider for higher education institutions. They are the food provider for the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and more than 230 other universities nationwide. Compass Group is a family of food service and support service companies. Their companies serve restaurants, cafes, hospitals, schools, arenas, museums, and more, according to its website.

Student investigated for impersonating dance professors online Zoe Travers NEWS EDITOR

A student in Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment is accused of creating fake social media profiles for her professors, resulting in an ongoing police investigation.

The 19-year-old woman is suspected of impersonating four professors, according to a police report filed Feb. 20.

The student is a dance freshman. She is still on campus.

The student is accused of creating Twitter profiles in the professors’ names.

Police would not release the names of the student or the professors involved.

Two of the professors refused to comment.

However, according to Facebook posts from the professors, the profiles were cre-

ated in September and October 2016. Some of them were active until February.

According to the police report: One professor became suspicious when students told her they were glad to be keeping up with her on Twitter. The professor did not have a Twitter account, so she went online and found the fake profile, which included her child and husband’s names.

Other posts on the fake account showed the professor’s location at the Cheesecake Factory on Feb. 14, but she had never been there. There also were two posts about making cookies and “liking” certain pages like Britney Spears, but the professor said she has not made any cookies recently and does not like Britney Spears.

Other fake profiles were

A lot of times people will experience something where someone has been impersonated online. I would encourage them to contact us and make reports.

Bradd Brown police chief

discovered Feb. 20 with similar content, such as personal details and location posts.

Campus police matched the profiles to the student by tracking the content of social media platforms.

For example, the student posted on her personal profile that she was having dental work done and was not feeling well, so her mother took her to GiGi’s

Cupcakes, where she bought a triple chocolate cupcake. Later, on a fake Twitter account, there was a picture of a GiGi’s cupcake.

In another video, the student mentioned her dance instructor.

The student uploaded a video Feb. 19 revealing that she was going to Harkins Theater in Bricktown to see Newsies. She showed her tickets in the video.

The same day, there was a post on one of the victim’s Twitter accounts claiming the professor was seeing Newsies with her son.

Campus police tracked several private Twitter conversations with OCU students, faculty members and personal family members from the fake accounts, including an exchange with an OCU alum who appeared in Newsies.

Bradd Brown, chief of police, said he deals with these types of cases by addressing relevant laws.

“We look at several different laws like the Computer Crimes Act in Oklahoma and laws dealing with identity theft,” Brown said.

Police also take into account a catfishing law, which went into effect Nov. 1 in Oklahoma, and several state laws related to social media ethics. Based on

their research, police determine which of these laws are applicable to the situation by investigating the particular case. This case is in that phase.

Once enough evidence is gathered, police will take their information to the district attorney, who will decide whether to file charges.

“A lot of times people will experience something where someone has been impersonated online,” Brown said. “I would encourage them to contact us and make reports.”

The emergency phone number for police is 405208-5911, and the nonemergency phone number is 405-208-5001.

Women’s basketball team wins 11th Sooner Athletic Conference title Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The women’s basketball team won the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championship for the 11th time.

The Stars defeated Wayland Baptist on Saturday with a final score of 86-65, according to OCUsports.com.

“I tried to tell them the whole season, ‘we’ve got to get better every week, every month, every game,’” Coach Bo Overton said to OCUsports.

Senior Forward Daniela Wallen received the SAC tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

“At all our games, coach says we have to play hard because nobody is going to give us the win, so we need to be focused,” Wallen said.

The team’s regular and conference seasons are over, but they’re still looking ahead to the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics Division I tournament March 15-21 in Billings, Montana.

“I can’t wait to play there and get the championship,” Wallen said. “I’m very excited because we have a pretty great team and it’s going to be a fight.”

The teams OCU will face are to be announced. The university won NAIA championships in 1988, 1999-2002, 2012, 2014,

M MEDIAOCU.com

Cou�tesy o� OCUspo�ts.com The 2016-17 women’s basketball team with Coach Bo Overton show off their Sooner Athletic Conference championship award. The team secured the championship by defeating Wayland Baptist. They will not move on to the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics Division I tournament March 15-21 in Billings, Montana.

These players understand we’re here for these red flags.

“They’ve worked towards this next week coming up. It’s just a great weekend. It’s always great to be playing your best right now, and we are.”

The university is advancing to its 20th consecutive national tournament and 23rd NAIA tournament appearance overall, according to OCUsports.

Overton called Wallen the “best player” on the team in the past. Wallen has been on the team since 2015 and already collected a number of accolades. In this season, she’s been a twotime NAIA Player of the Week and a five-time SAC Player of the Week, according to OCUsports.

As a senior, Wallen said she’s done after this season, but she said she thinks Overton can continue the success they had this season.

“I think with Coach Overton – he knows a lot, he knows how to recruit players – I think next season is going to be exactly the same thing as this season,” she said.

and 2015, according to OCUsports.

“When you’re at this school, and you come to practice every day, and you have all these red flags up, those are national championships,” Overton said to OCUsports. “Trust me, we play in a great league with great coaches. There’s a lot of great players.

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opinion Food service transition calls for sympathetic students OCU ended its relationship with Sodexo and hired a new food service provider, Chartwells.

Chartwells will officially begin July 1, but the transition already has begun.

Students should acknowledge the work of Sodexo employees during their last few months with the university and help them through the transition.

Some students are upset that the university didn’t renew their Sodexo contract, not because they will miss the food, but because they will miss the people.

See Page 1 for more on the new food service provider.

Part of the issue to keep in mind is that certain employees often receive more credit than others. While students love Willie and what he brings to the campus, all of the Sodexo employees work diligently to make the campus dining experience the best it can be.

With that in mind, if stu-

dents want Sodexo employees to stay with the university through its transition, they will have to become more focused in making sure employees know they’re appreciated.

And it’s not just about flashing a friendly smile and striking up a conversation.

For the next few months, students can think about not entering the caf right before it closes or not impatiently leaving their cards on a table for employees to swipe instead of waiting for the employee. While several students complain about the lack of food diversity in the caf and the inflexible hours of dining, they may want to consider making use of the options they have while Sodexo is still here.

After all, employees have left the university during the past few months, and OCU is lucky to have the employees it has. The dining hours are actually not terrible considering the amount of employees compared to the

Talk Back “What are your Spring Break plans?”

number of students. Small things like not complaining about the caf food while eating in the caf could make a difference to employees during their last few months.

Students have expressed frustration with the new Alvin’s Cafe hours, which is understandable, but it must be considered that it was necessary for them to cut back due to their lower number of employees.

If students feel like they aren’t receiving proper communication from the staff about the transition, they should remember that even the employees aren’t entirely sure what’s going on, despite their recent meetings. This is not okay.

Officials should be clear about everything going on. Communication is key for employees, students and the university, especially during a transition period such as this one.

“I'm just going back to El Paso.”

“I'm working at the children's theater for their Spring Break camp.“

Lino Gomez cell and molecular biology senior

Marae Narvaez acting sophomore

“I'm getting surgery on my knee.”

“I'm going to Chicago to see Hamilton.”

Rachel Waters business administration freshman

Lucas Haupert acting senior

“I'm going home to the beach.”

“I'm going to Austin for the first part.”

Mike McDonald criminology freshman

Jessica Blume dance universal sophomore

Columnist abroad visits Paris, realizes the extent of her Spanish integration When you’re learning to become integrated into a new culture, you don’t really realize you’re being boiled— like that frog metaphor, not realistically—until you’re not surrounded by the hot water anymore. Going to Paris, I found out just how much of the Spanish culture I have absorbed.

After I felt that I was comfortable here in Madrid and could handle my daily schedule without any bumps in the road, I decided it was time to try exploring the rest of Europe, starting with Paris. I mean, why on earth wouldn’t I? It’s so close and so easy.

And so expensive, especially when you’ve been living in Madrid for about two months and you’re spoiled by the lovely availability of el menu del dia that includes two plates, a drink and a dessert and can be found almost

anywhere from €5-15. If you paid €15 in Paris you would get a small-ish quiche, an ice cream sized bowl of soup and half of a piece of “artisanal bread,” whatever that means.

But I thought, what’s a little extra to see the rest of the world? And once I was there, it was well worth it. I was gawking at everything – at how Parisian everything was.

It was similar to Spain, yet it was not like Spain at all.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up from afar was breathtaking.

Walking down the steps of Montmartre made me feel like I was in a dreamy 1940s film.

The street artists and their watercolors of Paris (some €15, which, for art, is nothing!) were so hard to resist.

And, of course, the books at Shakespeare and Company were piled so cozily. They were marked up a couple of euros, but I love bookstores and supporting that industry

Madelyn Parker is an English and studio art sophomore who loves to rant about feminism and tell stories. She's currently studying in Spain. Visit MediaOCU.com to follow her abroad column.

in all facets, so I don’t regret that extra novelty fee.

I promise I’m not ragging on Shakespeare and Company or anything, I mean there was someone off the streets jamming on a piano upstairs, which was amazing, and there’s a lot of history just clogged into this store’s pores, but I honestly would say this place is comparable to Oklahoma City’s Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway. I get the same swoopy, warm-at-the-pit-ofmy-stomach feeling in both places. So Shakespeare and Company is nothing special in comparison to what we

already have in Oklahoma, but definitely something to be treasured, valued and visited.

After two and a half days in Paris and with one and a half left to go, the sparkly feelings started to wear off. The city was so much dirtier than Spain and only glamorous in the touristy areas. The food, like I said, was not all that affordable. And the metro in Paris? A complete and utter nightmare.

Add a language barrier to all of this, and you really start to miss what you had. This is especially true when your methods of coping with a fishout-of-water situation, like trying to speak in your broken

Spanish, don’t really get you anywhere like they used to.

I didn’t realize how much t h e Sp a n i s h c u l t u re h a d become a part of me until I was exhausted, ready to go home and, of course, struggling to shove my carry-on into the overhead bin. Then I heard two simple little words that two months ago would have filled me with panic: —¿Necesito ayudarte?

“Do I need to help you?”

I was instantly flooded with relief, hearing Spanish.

Granted, yes, I didn’t hear him the first time and had to say, “huh?”

But once I realized what he was saying, it changed my entire mood. It felt so good to have Spanish directed at me, a concept that would have blown my mind two months ago, considering the fact that my English-oriented brain would put up walls and raise “red-alert” every time some-

one tried to speak to me in Spanish.

After three days of French, Spanish was something my brain knew what to do with, even if it is sometimes a little slow on the uptake.

It might have been fatigued from constant walking through Paris (because the metro was broken down two mornings in a row), but I felt such a strong connection to this Spaniard who was asking me if I needed his help.

I said, “Sí, ¡muchas gracias!” so quickly from the excitement at the fact that I’d understood him and from the comfort of hearing something familiar.

I know it was a little thing, and perhaps not that big of a victory in my path toward fluency. The words necesitar and ayudar are more universally known by non-Spanish speakers. But I felt like I belonged to Spain in that moment. I felt like I was at home.

Lent gives students a chance to reflect, explore themselves For those who do not know (me, I’m talking about me), Lent is a season in the Christian church that lasts 40 days, not including Sundays. It begins on Ash Wednesday, which was March 1 this year, and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.

Lent means different things to different people,

and it differs within each denomination. For some, it’s an excuse to play “Lent Madness,” an online game where 32 Saints compete to win the Golden Halo (like March Madness, only better).

But many people use it as a time of reflection and introspection.

People also give things up or do things that will better

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.

themselves. I have some ideas for the OCU students during this season of self reflection.

Dig deep in yourself and

find a sentence every now and then that makes grammatical sense. For example, if you are watching a video

of a sleepy kitty, refrain from shouting out “Me AF!” and instead opt for a full sentence.

Explore your natural reactions. When you are successful, is it really, truly your natural reaction to whip?

Or perhaps to dab? If it is, then, by all means, continue.

But, as this is a time for selfexploration, do not be afraid

to see if you have a different reaction.

Stand in front of the mirror. Look at yourself.

Do you really love flannel?

Again, if so, continue to wear it. But do not be afraid if you find it really isn’t you.

Find what Lent means to you and use these 40 days to discover something new about yourself.

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 Spring business luncheon from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Meinders School of Business FIRST Midterm Study Party from 6-7 p.m. in the Walker Hall lobby John Allen's trombone recital from 8-9:30 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Midnight Breakfast at 10 p.m. in the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center

pany's Broadway Revue at 8 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

FRIDAY SAC's Stress Relief Week bubble wrap day

THURSDAY Midterm grades due to the registrar by noon

Christine Ebeling's senior vocal performance recital from 8-9 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Hayley Pickess's senior music theater recital from 6-7 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

SAC's Stress Relief Week movie night from 8-11 p.m. in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

American Spirit Dance Company's Broadway Revue at 8 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Baseball vs. Southwestern Christian at 6 p.m. at Jim Wade Stadium American Spirit Dance Com-

March 8, 2017, Volume 110, Number 47

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Photographers: Courtney Beyer, McAlyn Forbes, Donovan Lawson, Kelsey Simmons, Ali Wonderly Staff Writers: Taylor Rey, Prisca Lynch, McAlyn Forbes, Nathan Moelling, Adrianna DelPercio Film Critics: Danielle Petersen, Mary McLain Videographer: Emily Haan

American Spirit Dance Company's Broadway Revue at 2 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Jenna Applebaum and Tyler Stone's joint senior recital from 8-9 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

American Spirit Dance Company's Broadway Revue at 8 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

SATURDAY Baseball vs. Southwestern Christian at 1 p.m. at Jim Wade Stadium

MONDAY Spring Break. No classes. University open.

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

Elizabeth Wasson's senior vocal performance recital from 8-9:15 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Ad/Marketing Director: Madison Clark Ad Representative: Jonathan May 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, 2017. All rights reserved.

March 8, 2017

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news

Fellowship of Christian Athletes fosters spiritual camaraderie Chandler White COPY EDITOR

Students are finding new, personalized ways to reflect their faiths through extracurricular activities.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is an on-campus organization that promotes spiritual bonding and support between Christian student athletes.

FCA is a worldwide organization. The OCU branch became an official Student Government Associationapproved organization in Fall 2015, but the group met before then.

Since becoming an official organization, the group has grown from four active members to about 15.

“People we hang out with

in FCA, if we didn’t have FCA, we probably would never talk to,” said Korey Walker, youth ministry sophomore and FCA co-president.

“It’s just that common interest we all have, that bond we have and share. It’s just one big family, and that’s one thing I love about it.”

The group meets at 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays in the Leichter Room in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.

Meetings consist of icebreakers and casual conversation, followed by a discussion centered around a particular message or subject.

The group occasionally invites guest speakers to their meetings. Past speakers include Jack Spates, former wrestling coach at the University of Oklahoma, who spoke along-

It’s just that common interest we all have, that bond we have and share.

It ’s just one big family, and that’s one thing I love about it.

“

side his wife Barby Spates, and Reggie Willits, former outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels.

“We try to make it discussion-based,” said Alyson Morse, exercise science junior and co-president. “I think it’s better because when you listen to something, you retain, and it’s so much more applicable when you actually talk about it and say ‘How is it relatable

Korey Walker youth ministry sophomore

to me?’

“But we also do like playing games and being competitive because we’re athletes, so we usually start with something like that. It’s pretty funny to watch.”

FCA receives community support from several nonstudent sources.

Trayvon Smith, former FCA president, is their adviser.

Several benefactors from the

community also assist them, the most prominent of which are Matt Stewart, director of the OCU branch of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, and Dillon Byrd, OCU alumnus and pastor at Frontline Church in Oklahoma City.

FCA members also attend events around the state.

Last fall, they attended “Fields of Faith,” a worldwide Christian athletic event. It was hosted at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, and it involved various branches of FCA from across Oklahoma. Thirteen members also attended “College Night Out” on Feb. 17 at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond.

The future of the organization looks bright, said Kevin Tankerson, first-year seminary student and member of FCA’s

leadership team.

“The way our numbers are going, we should continue to grow,” he said. “It should be around for a long time. I don’t see it going anywhere, especially with the students who are committed to going and spreading the word.”

To become a member of FCA, join the OCU FCA Facebook group or follow them on Twitter @fca_ocu.

Due to the informal nature of the group, the most reliable way to become involved is to attend the weekly meetings.

Students also can contact Morse at ajmorse@okcu.edu for more information.

Professors begin weekly English classes for Oklahoma immigrants Chandler White COPY EDITOR

The university’s Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages program began a series of weekly classes on citizenship English for residents in the Oklahoma City metro area.

The classes are run by Dr. Robert Griffin, TESOL professor, and Alicia Mumba, student of the TESOL program and class coordinator/instructor. The classes are meant to assist immigrants in Oklahoma City and Edmond in learning the linguistic, civic and informational skills required to pass the U.S. citizenship interview.

“The objective here is to help the community,” Griffin said.

“In Oklahoma City, we have a large immigrant community who have been here for a number of years, and they’re seeking citizenship.

“And, a lot of the time, the only thing that keeps them from doing this is that they may not have the English knowledge to go through the application or they don’t have the knowledge to successfully pass the interview.”

March 8, 2017

We’re getting a mix of people from around the globe. We’re having to assess them to see where they’re at, and then we have to give them individualized teaching.

Dr. Robert Griffin TESOL professor

The classes are in Oklahoma City and Edmond. Oklahoma City classes are 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays at the Southern Oaks Library, 6900 S. Walker Ave., and Edmond classes are 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesdays at the Edmond Public Library, 10 S. Boulevard.

More than 30 students have attended the class so far. Though the demand is high, each class is taught by at least five different trained instructors from the TESOL program to ensure students

are instructed to their particular needs.

“One person has their appointment next week for an interview. Another is brand new and has no idea where to start from,” Mumba said. “We’ll split the teachers up. We have a lead teacher, and then we have tutors that assess them individually. Everyone has a different story.”

The classes are made up of Hispanic and African American students and different nationalities from all around the world, including Germany, Ghana, Brazil, and Kenya.

“We’re getting a mix of people from around the globe,” Griffin said. “We’re having to assess them to see where they’re at, and then we have to give them individualized teaching.”

All classes and textbooks are free and inclusive to any who need the training the classes offer.

To enroll or get more information, contact Griffin at rgriffin@okcu.edu or (405) 208-5941.

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lifestyles

Elina Moon Student Publications

No heaven for clowns Matthew Reindl, music theater sophomore, performs a dramatic death scene in TheatreOCU’s Stage II production of Clown Bar. Reindl played “Dusty,” a depressed clown that sings throughout the show. Clown Bar had performances March 2-5 in Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center. The show is about the seedy underground crime world of clowns.

Above: Jordan Lee, acting senior; Tyler Ronca, music theater junior, and Rachel Necessary, Caroline Hawthorne and Adelaide Ross, acting sophomores, have a confrontation discussing the conspiracy-ridden death of a former clown’s brother, “Timmy.” The next Stage II show, All This Intimacy, has performances April 6-9 in Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center.

Campus community supports student’s sister via hashtag, pictures Nicole Waltman WEB EDITOR

The campus community recently came together on social media using the hashtag #Dab4Danielle in support of a fellow student’s sister.

Ashleigh Robinson, music theater sophomore, has a little sister named Danielle, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Feb. 20.

Children with down syndrome, like Danielle, often have a higher risk of developing leukemia.

Danielle is known for her dance moves, her favorite of which is “dabbing.”

“Because she’s known for it, we use that hashtag so that we can get people to dab for her while she’s in the hospital and can’t dab for herself,” Robinson said. “Kind of in a stance of

solidarity with her, to show that people support her.”

Rather than focusing on her illness, the Robinson family wants the focus to be more positive, Robinson said.

“When we say #Dab4Danielle, it reminds people of the spunk and the character that she has, and it’s kind of an uplifting sort of thing,” she said.

Danielle began her dabbing habit at the dinner table while covering a sneeze, Robinson said. Dabbing then became a trademark of sorts for Danielle.

“A whole bunch of people reached out to me asking how they could help, how they could support my family, that sort of thing,” Robinson said. “But, because of the condition she’s in, we can’t accept food or flowers. Those are the normal ways people help out, so instead of that, I was trying to think of

“

Submitted

Ashleigh Robinson, music theater sophomore, and her siblings, Courtney Robinson, Danielle Robinson and Anthony Robinson, dab for a family photo.

ways people can help. So, my boyfriend’s stepmom actually started the hashtag in a post.”

Individuals and groups such as Phi Gamma Delta and the OCU cheerleading team have posted videos and pictures of themselves dabbing for Danielle.

The movement has gone statewide, with participation from high schools and churches. A

news station from Reno, Nevada, even took part in the trend.

“It’s been really incredible,” Robinson said. “It’s been mostly good for my Mom because she just loves seeing how many people love Danielle and care for her, and it’s really cool to see how many people Danielle has affected.”

Robinson said the hashtag

is an effective way of bringing Danielle’s experience to those unfamiliar with her or her condition.

“We really really really appreciate all of the dabs,” Robinson said. “It gives people that maybe don’t know me and don’t know Danielle as well, better exposure to her, and better exposure to leukemia and down syndrome and so many different things that they weren’t exposed to before.

“It helps broaden their idea of what normal looks like, and helps get more support for this.

Dab on.”

The Robinson family is trying to begin “Reach for the Stars,” a program for intellectually disabled young adults at OCU. “One thing we keep saying is that ‘life doesn’t stop, it just slows down,’” Robinson said.

“Yes, we’re still doing Reach for the Stars. While my mom is a

little more devoted to hospital time now, they’re still having meetings, they’re still fundraising, they’re still getting approval and things like that.”

The family plans to submit the program to the trustees in April.

There was a recent cabinet meeting regarding the program.

Ashleigh’s grandmother is also helping with the creation of “Reach for the Stars.”

“My Grammy has been working a lot for my Mom while my mom has been at the hospital,” Robinson said.

“There’s talk of a GoFundMe happening to give students and other people a better opportunity to donate.”

Students sick, frustrated by campus health clinic staff’s availability Sage Tokach ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The campus health clinic’s appointment schedule filled quicker than usual during the last couple weeks due to various sicknesses spreading around campus.

Many students said they had trouble finding a time to see a practitioner.

“I called during their hours, but nobody answered,” said Daniel Etti-Williams, acting sophomore. “When I called again, they couldn’t fit me for two more days because of my schedule. It’s inconvenient that they all take their lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. because that’s when most people probably have time to go.”

When a student calls the clinic, Clinic Manager Alyson Dent first asks about the student’s symptoms. She then asks about their insurance and the length of time they have been experiencing their symptoms. From there, she tries to schedule an appointment.

“Right now is a weird time because a lot of people are sick, but usually, we get a lot of the same types of issues,” Dent said.

“In an emergency situation, we screen the patient and tell them their options, but we rarely see true emergencies.”

The clinic employs a rotating staff of physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The number changes, but eight providers currently cycle through the clinic, splitting their time via a schedule that changes each month.

About three years ago, the clinic employed one full-time nurse

The availability is my only real complaint, but I don’t even really call there anymore unless it’s something that can wait quite a while.

“

Adrienne Pierce acting junior

practitioner, but when OCU started the physician assistant program, the clinic utilized those resources, employing faculty from the program, Dent said. The nurse practitioners, who also come from the physician assistant program, were added into the rotation within the past year to add more providers to the schedule.

Adrienne Pierce, acting junior, said there are still not enough practitioners to accommodate students’ needs.

“Everyone at the clinic is organized and knows what they’re doing, but the practitioners are only there in the mornings most days,” Pierce said. “The availability is my only real complaint, but I don’t even really call there anymore unless it’s something that can wait quite a while. I have insurance through the school, though, so it would be comforting if I could go there when my situation is more of an emergency.”

OCU’s website lists clinic hours as 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m.

Monday through Friday, but that does not guarantee a provider will be there during those times. At any time, clinic staff members can give vaccinations and screen patients. Prescriptions and diagnoses can be handled only by scheduling an appointment with a provider.

This month’s calendar has providers scheduled for full days on Mondays and Tuesdays and half-days Wednesday through Friday.

If a student calls early in the morning, a provider usually can fit them in that day or the next day at the latest, Dent said.

“Sometimes students’ schedules don’t match up with ours, so they go somewhere else or say we turned them away,” Dent said. “We don’t ever turn anyone away, though, unless we aren’t equipped to handle the issue.”

The health clinic operates similarly to an urgent care clinic, treating immediate injuries and illnesses that are not serious enough to require an emergency room visit, Dent said. In the case of injuries, the campus health clinic often acts as the first contact point. They do not have an X-ray machine, so if the injury is serious enough to require that, staff will send students elsewhere, Dent said.

To contact student health or schedule an appointment with the clinic, call (405) 208-5090 or email their confidential email address, studenthealth@okcu.edu.

Film institute planners announce documentary series, arrange poet visit McAlyn Forbes STAFF WRITER

The 19th annual documentary series entitled “Why Art Matters” will begin with Eva Hesse.

Eva Hesse is co-sponsored by the Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film & Literature, the School of Visual Arts and the Respect Diversity Foundation. It follows the story of the daughter of two refugees who becomes the center of the 1960s New York art scene.

The documentary series coincides with the annual poet visit center officials arrange. This semester’s selection is Simon Armitage, a U.K. poet, novelist and playwright.

Dr. Tracy Floreani, English professor and center director, said the three documentaries were chosen to illustrate why art matters in society, and that Armitage often writes on similar themes.

Floreani also said she is excited about this year’s series.

“It’s nice to be doing documentaries at a time when documentaries are getting a lot of attention,” she said.

March 8, 2017

In today’s political climate, I think it’s important to emphasize the arts and reteach history to the generation that will take over soon.

Harrison Langford acting sophomore

Harrison Langford, acting sophomore, said the documentaries in the series are especially valuable in the current state of the world.

“In today’s political climate, I think it’s important to emphasize the arts and reteach history to the generation that will take over soon,” he said. “I would be very interested in attending. I love history, especially when it can be applied to events occurring in my world today.”

Shendra Stevens, acting freshman, said the documentaries are timely.

“It hits on powerful women, refugees coming from hard places, very empowering. I would definitely go,” Stevens said.

All of the documentaries will be screened at 2 p.m. in KerrMcGee Auditorium in Meinders School of Business.

- Eva Hesse will be screened March 26, - A Ballerina’s Tale: The Incredible Rise of Misty Copeland will be on April 9, and - Thunder Soul will be April 23.

Armitage will speak 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. April 5 in Kerr-McGee Auditorium in Meinders School of Business. He also will host an open mic at 6:15 p.m. for anyone who wishes to read their work live.

Admission to all events is free.

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