March 30

THE CAMPUS

March 30, 2016– Volume 110 Issue 22

SGA hosts elections with one contested office Maleyia Vaughn WEB EDITOR

Today is the last day for students to vote for Student Government Association president.

Nic Rhodes, economics junior, and Daniel McClain, accounting/finance junior, are running for SGA’s top post.

Voting began at 8 a.m.

Tuesday and ends at 5 p.m. today via OrgSync, orgync. com. If students have problems voting online, paper ballots are available in the Involved Center in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

The election filing process started Feb. 29.

Rhodes said he would make a good president because he has experience in SGA. “I’ve been involved in SGA each of my three years at OCU,” he said. “Having served as a committee chair in Senate and as VP of SGA, I have rapport with the pertinent members of the OCU faculty and can enter into the position without a steep learning curve.”

As vice president of SGA, Rhodes is working on the plus/ minus grading scale resolution, which looks at the grading

scale here versus grading scales at other schools to decide whether to keep the plus/minus Nic system or Rhodes not.

Visit MediaOCU.com for more on the resolution.

McClain said he would be a good president because he is new to SGA and could bring fresh ideas.

“We see the same people in

SGA every y e a r,” h e said. “While their dedication is certainly commendable, this leads to stagnation Daniel and creates McClain a disconnect between the organization and the student body as a whole.

“I am a candidate who can provide SGA with energy and ambition it hasn’t seen in years.”

Ten other students applied for positions, but were uncontested.

If there is only one candidate for an office, then the office may be filled by acclamation, according to the SGA Constitution.

The candidates for the office automatically assume the office without a formal election.

The two other high offices are decided.

Holly Randall, political science/Spanish sophomore, received the position of vice president of SGA. She was the athletics district senator last year.

Shannon Beshears, dance performance junior, received the position of vice president of Student Activities Council.

Visit MediaOCU.com for a full list of new senator positions.

“The more people that vote, the more that administration respects our representatives,” Rhodes said.

Results will be announced Friday.

The election process can last until April 4 if there is a runoff between candidates.

Visit MediaOCU.com for more updates on the election.

Ali Wonderly Student Publications

Pitch perfect

Softball Coach Phil McSpadden talks to his team during a break in the game against Texas Wesleyan on Thursday at Ann Lacy Stadium. McSpadden recently celebrated his 1,500th win, with only one collegiate softball coach having more victories than him. Under McSpadden, the softball team has won eight national championships, the most in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics history, according to ocusports.com.

Left: Junior Infielder Madison Ellis throws the ball to first in the Stars’s match-up against Texas Wesleyan. The Stars beat the Lady Rams 6-1 and 8-0 in the doubleheader. Their next home game is at 2 p.m. Monday at Ann Lacy Stadium.

“

Housing draft changes, officials plan to change it again Sage Tokach LIFESTYLES EDITOR

This year’s housing draft will allow students to choose their rooms via individual, scheduled appointments.

Students who filled out an online housing application received the date and time of their meeting via email. The draft will last three consecutive days, with a day dedicated to each returning class.

Appointments for incoming

seniors will be scheduled for the first day, Monday.

Within each class, meetings are scheduled by random selection through Microsoft Excel. The online application was due March 21. When students turned it in, their names were automatically entered in the spreadsheet.

“The lottery system was put into place to make the process more organized,” said Kevin Culbertson, coordinator of housing operations. “Last year,

within each class, we assisted them in the order they showed up, so students camped out in the office all night.”

At their scheduled time, students will enter the housing office in Methodist Hall and choose any available location to live next year. If students are unable to attend their appointment, they must fill out a proxy form to allow another student to choose their room for them. Proxy forms are available in the

housing office.

The room retention process did not change from previous years. Forms from any student wishing to keep their same location next year were due March 13.

“The appointment method will help the draft system become less stressful and more effective,” said Erin Epperly, music education junior. “Personally, though, I enjoyed the utter chaos of last year because it was fun.”

The housing draft will change again next year, moving the entire process online, Culbertson said. Room retention will remain the same, and three days will still separate the three classes. Instead of going to the housing office, students will receive a link that allows them to view every available room and select the one they want.

“The draft will become a similar process to enrollment, but there will still be a lottery

and staggered times,” said Michael Burns, director of residence life. “For instance, if we both needed housing, your link might open at 8 a.m., while mine opens at 9 a.m. You can choose housing as soon as it opens, but the site won’t close until you pick.”

University Manor to close with no plans for building Sage Tokach LIFESTYLES EDITOR

University Manor Apartments will shut down indefinitely after this semester.

By shutting the apartments down, the university saves maintenance staff time.

The change will not save any money since the residents’ fees balance out utility costs.

The apartments are generally reserved for graduate students and students with families. They are not widely advertised to undergraduate students. Max capacity is 30

M MEDIAOCU.com

residents. Fifteen students live there this semester.

“We geared UMA to law students this year because they wanted their own area, and its location across the street gives it a different atmosphere,” said Kevin Culbertson, director of housing operations. “We didn’t see the demand we intended, so we opened it up to a few undergrad students in special circumstances.”

Cokesbury Court Apartments are not at full occupancy, so housing staff feels confident that UMA’s additional space will not be necessary next year,

Work certainly needs to be done there, but UMA is not our primary concern. If other housing still needs maintenance work, why would we unnecessarily send our staff over there?

Kevin Culbertson coordinator housing operations

Culbertson said.

“I have enjoyed my apartment in UMA very much this semester,” said Abigail Padgett, nursing junior. “Although I am

sad to see them close the space, I think it would be a wise move to focus more on the other existing campus housing facilities and sell the UMA complex to

management that could turn the space into something that meets its potential.”

There are no definite plans for the space. OCU still owns the building, but no one will use the utilities until the school decides what do to with the property. “ We ’re i n t he e v a lu ation stage, so we don’t have any definitive answers,” said Michael Burns, director of residence life. “Before making decisions, we need to determine if it’s a space we can and will use.”

If the university keeps the apartments, housing staff mem-

bers plan to develop a strategic renovation plan for the space, Culbertson said. Some rooms are renovated, while others have partial or no renovation.

There is no consistent room style.

“Work certainly needs to be done there, but UMA is not our primary concern,” Culbertson said. “If other housing still needs maintenance work, why would we unnecessarily send our staff over there?”

Making miracles happen

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Updating housing

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View photos from Phi Mu’s “Miracle Week” to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Read about facilities updates on Banning Hall

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Read Lifestyles Editor Sage Tokach’s interview with Professor John Nail

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opinion Talk Back

Editors concerned about continuing changes to housing process Students never have liked the system used to assign rooms on campus.

Change is good, but there has been too much change with how students select their rooms. The housing assignment system has changed each of the last three years.

The housing lottery worked well. It only lasted a couple hours, and it seemed students were at least somewhat happy with their choices.

The year after was a little more chaotic as students camped out in front of the housing office all night to get the housing assignments they wanted.

Now a student will have to find a way to either make an appointment they did not have a choice about or put their trust in another student

to pick a room for them. Then, next year, the housing draft will move to a completely online system.

See Page 1 for more on the changes.

The problem is that officials can’t seem to make up their minds about how housing should be assigned, which confuses students as they decide where to live.

The lottery system worked fine and was pretty unique to this campus as we are smaller than other schools. It was fun for students to hang out with their friends, listen to music, play games, and eat junk food.

Now all the competitiveness and fun was taken out of housing selection and it instead was made more inconvenient by making students take time out of their school day.

At first, it seemed like offi-

“How are you staying weather aware?”

cials tried to fix something that wasn’t broken. Then, instead of going back to what worked before, officials tried to fix it again with something completely new. Officials need to find a system and stick with it. There is no sense in repeatedly changing something that worked in the past.

Changes such as these can make a simple process confusing and more difficult than necessary.

Perhaps the system next year will be a little better, and officials will decide to keep it.

We appreciate the effort to improve students’ experience registering for housing, but a new system every year is difficult to keep up with. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

“I just kind of assume what the weather is based on my window temperature.”

“I sometimes turn on the news, but not for the news, for the weather parts.”

Joe Pierce accounting freshman

Jacob Keen film production freshman

“I use the weather app.”

Eliza Hare acting sophomore

“I check my phone every morning before I leave.”

Kyle Copp biology freshman

“The thing called ‘weather’ on my iPhone”

“I’m not.”

Katelyn Jassoy music theater freshman

Sam Henry mass communications senior

Editor calls for end to inflammatory rhetoric toward Muslims Europe was shocked by terrorist attacks this month in Belgium, but the response by some American politicians is just as troubling as the attacks.

Terrorist thought to belong to ISIS set off explosions in an airport and metro station in Brussels.

Authorities have said they believe five men played a part in the bombings in Belgium that killed 35 people and injured more than 300, according to cnn.com.

Some Republican presidential candidates thought they could pick up points with voters by responding with tough rhetoric.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a statement: “We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.”

Donald Trump (R- NY), the front-runner in the Republican presidential race, responded also

John Hiller is a religion senior from Ringling, Okla.

He enjoys running, spending time with his fiancé, Hannah, and sarcasm.

with a harsh tone.

“And people from certain parts of the world, like Syria, without documentation, should not be allowed in our country,” he said in an interview with CBS News.

“We have no idea who they are, where they come from.

They could be ISIS-related. We can’t allow that to happen.”

Politicians like Trump and Cruz are ISIS’s biggest recruiters. Inflammatory statements

toward Muslims and foreigners play into the hand of ISIS recruiters who want to convince young Arab men that America is xenophobic and oppressive toward Muslims.

As a country, we cannot intimidate ISIS members who are willing to kill themselves to further their cause. Playing the tough guy will only make things worse.

We don’t need a president who thinks he can swing his fist in the air at ISIS and make

the problem go away. We need leaders who are willing to reach out to those in the Muslim community and welcome them as allies in the fight against terrorism.

As citizens, we should support leaders who would rather build bridges instead of walls.

We should not accept intolerant rhetoric that says all Muslims need to be watched any more than we should accept rhetoric that says all Westerners should be blown up.

Critic finds Boyhood a ‘masterpiece’ by underrated filmmaker Since the early ‘90s, one of this generation’s most underrated filmmakers has been hard at work putting out one great film after another.

Richard Linklater’s films include Dazed and Confused, the Before Sunrise trilogy and his most recent film Boyhood. His name shamefully isn’t brought up as often as it should be among other filmmakers.

Linklater specializes in humanist films that are light on plot or narrative, but beautifully

convey everyday, seemingly mundane life. There’s no car chase or plot twist, which is more than likely the main cause of his lack of star power, but his films take you on a ride nonetheless.

Linklater’s most incredible ride so far is the film Boyhood, released in 2014. The movie was filmed every year since 2002.

It follows a young boy named “Mason” from age 6 to 18 as he grows up in the midwest. Ellar Coltrane plays “Mason,” with Patricia Arquette and Ethan

Danielle Petersen is a music theater senior from San Jose, Calif. She likes playing the violin, playing with her cat and watching films.

Hawke as his divorced mother and father.

The loose narrative focuses on Mason as he deals with typical childhood problems, such as moving to a new school or adjusting to different father figures.

What makes this film so successful is that it is an incredible phenomenon to watch someone grow into another person. Linklater captures it in such a way that you almost don’t notice until the end that the little child

you’ve been watching is suddenly all grown up.

“Mason’s” parents do a significant amount of growing themselves, making it apparent how growing up is a process, one that never stops, even as we grow into our advanced years.

Arquette and Hawke’s personalities and psyches are shaped and formed just as much as “Mason’s” throughout the film, but it’s so subtle it may take multiple views to notice.

While Hawke puts on a great

performance, Arquette stands out in the film, and was awarded the 2015 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Boyhood captures the essence of what it’s like to grow older. All of our successes, failures, dreams and experiences shape who we are, and affects every one of us differently, yet in similar, universal ways.

If possible, watch some of Linklater’s other films before seeing this masterpiece, but you should experience this movie.

tion recital at 6 p.m. in the medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

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 Zach Bays’s senior tuba recital at 8 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center THURSDAY Chapel with Taylor Barnett, religion senior, as speaker at 1 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel Baseball vs. USAO at 6 p.m. in Jim Wade Stadium

Yuliy Leontiev’s junior trombone recital at 6 p.m. in the medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center FRIDAY Jeff Newell’s junior clarinet recital at 6 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center SATURDAY Carly Sinclair’s senior vocal performance recital at noon in

Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

p.m. in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center

Adriana Napolitano’s senior voice recital at 2 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Alex Petersen’s music theater recital at 4 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Danielle Petersen’s senior music theater recital at 2 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

McKeever Arnold’s senior composition recital at 4 p.m. in the medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Spring Contest Pow Wow at 2

John Harvey’s graduate composi-

Jonathan Garver’s junior guitar recital at 6 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

SUNDAY World Religions Expo at 2 p.m. in Allison Hall in the Gold Star Memorial Building

Libby Dowell’s senior voice recital at 8 p.m. in the small rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

MONDAY Enrolment begins for graduate and honors students

Thomas Wheeler’s junior guitar recital at 8 p.m. in the small

TUESDAY Enrolment begins for seniors

Columnist advocates for technology use by children A woman I did not know came up to me in Target and told me I shouldn’t let my daughter walk around with a cell phone since she is just a little child.

This woman’s first mistake was assuming that my 7-yearold sister was my daughter.

This woman assumed that I had given my “daughter” a cell phone before she was of the age that society deems acceptable

for children to have their own technology.

I’m not sure why it’s shameful for children to have technology.

My sister has learned how to problem solve with the use of technology. One day she could not figure out how to draw a realistic horse, so, without asking for help, she got on the computer, went to YouTube and looked up tutorials to learn. She taught herself how to do something

Tatum Nelson is a mass communications/religion sophomore from Tulsa, Okla. She enjoys spending time with her sister and eating tacos. !

without anyone else assisting her.

She draws amazing horses now.

Technology aids in teaching children, especially regarding reading comprehension, according to a study by Massey Univer-

sity’s Institute of Education. My 3-year-old brother plays on my parents’ phones all the time. He is better at Temple Run than I am but, he also plays educational games. He plays games that

THE CAMPUS

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Photographers: Donovan Lawson, Andrew Robling Staff Writers: Prisca Lynch, Elina Moon, Taylor Rey Columnists: Tatum Nelson, Madelyn Parker Film Critic: Danielle Petersen

school. Few families still have home phones, so for children in school, lowering the age in which parents give them technology makes sense.

The reality is we are already in an age where technology is ruling everything. I don’t see any problems with allowing children to use technology in moderation. My siblings have learned a lot and continue to learn everyday.

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.

March 30, 2016, Volume 110, Number 22

Editor-in-Chief: Emily Wiley Web Editor: Maleyia Vaughn Lifestyles Editor: Sage Tokach Multimedia Editor: Miguel Rios Photo Editor: Ali Wonderly Copy Editor: John Hiller Community Manager: Lauren Berlingeri

involve shapes, counting money, colors, the alphabet, and many others that teach him things he will need to know when he goes to Pre-K next year. While our family can still teach him with flashcards, technology has pushed his education along.

It also provides safety. One of the first things my sister was taught was how to call 911 in an emergency, or our parents if she was home alone after

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include the writer’s phone

Ad and Marketing Director: number, address, major, and classification. The staff reserves the right to Ashten Vincent edit all letters. The staff also reserves the right to refuse letters without exCirculation Director: planation. Letters can be sent online at mediaocu.com, emailed to stupub@ Digitally signed by Newsroom Allie Glazner okcu.edu DN: cn=Newsroom, o, ou, or dropped off at the Newsroom in Walker Center for Arts and SciFaculty Adviser: Kenna Griffin

Newsroom

email=ehwiley@my.okcu.edu, ences. Submitted items may appear on MediaOCU and in the print edition. c=US Date: 2016.01.09 13:22:47 -06'00' The first issue of The Campus is free. Each additional issue costs 25

cents. Contents copyright, 2016. All rights reserved.

March 30, 2016

g n i n

r a W m r o t S Students advised to stay alert as severe weather season begins

O

klahoma’s current severe weather season will be slightly different than in the past.

Severe weather season usually starts around March and goes until the beginning of June, but it looks like this year tornado season will extend into mid to late June said Damon Lane, KOCO chief meteorologist. He said this severe weather season will likely start off quietly because of El Niño.

El Niño is the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The pattern can shift back and forth irregularly every two to seven years, and each phase triggers predictable disruptions of temperature, precipitation and winds.

“Just because we have a slow start to the storm season, which is what we’re expecting, doesn’t mean it’s always going to finish slow,” Lane said. “It looks like, going into May, we’ll probably have a pretty good chance at seven to nine tornado watches that will be issued across Oklahoma City.”

The peak of the season tends to be at the beginning of May, right in time for finals and graduation, said Lee Brown, university risk manager.

He said to stay as aware as possible.

Monica Hiller, elementary education sophomore, said she used to go into the storm cellar as soon as her area was under tornado watch.

“Now that I’m older, I have turned into more of a stand on the cellar and watch it until it gets close person,” she said.

Brown advises against this.

“This year things are going to be a little different,” he said. “If you hear a siren, not only will we issue a Blue Alert immediately, but you will have to get to the lowest point possible of the building you’re in.”

In the past, sirens have sounded all through the county when a tornado warning was issued anywhere in Oklahoma county.

“What made that a problem is that Oklahoma City actually extends into far eastern Oklahoma County and even in the eastern Cleveland County,” Lane said. “Now Oklahoma County is going to be divided into quadrants, and basically if you hear the sirens now sounding then it’s because you are in the path of the storm.”

The sirens sound for three minutes only when a tornado warning is issued in that specific area or when they are testing them. They do not sound during a tornado watch.

The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when tornados are possible in your area.

A tornado warning is issued when a tornado actually has been sighted or indicated by radar, according to Oklahoma City’s website, okc.gov.

Oklahoma City tests the sirens for three minutes at noon on Saturdays when there is no risk of severe weather.

Their website says to turn on a television or radio if the weather looks threatening, and warns people not to count on a siren to wake you or get your attention above the background noise of your home or car.

“Shelter locations are listed in the Emergency Resource Guide, which is in every conference room and classroom on campus,” Brown said. “In addition to that, they’re going to be found on the OCU emergency main page. So know where your shelter locations are, and know how to get to them.”

The guide can be found by visiting okcu.edu/emergency. There are 17 shelter locations on campus. The Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center is available as a shelter 24 hours every day of the week.

If you are in the state and not on campus when a siren sounds, go to the lowest level of the building. Lane said you are safe even if you don’t have a basement, as long as you go into the innermost room of the building you are in.

“We want everyone to know that you can survive a tornado above ground, as long as you’re away from windows and in the innermost room of the building,” Lane said.

Karen Vasquez, nursing sophomore, said she knew people who lost family members during the 2013 tornado that destroyed parts of Moore, Okla.

“I was overwhelmed with thoughts of what had happened and how many people were affected,” she said. “All I could think about was losing my loved ones because of a storm. Ever since then, my family and I take tornado warnings serious and take precautions.

Lane said one of the most important things that anyone coming into Oklahoma can do is know when storms are going to be at their worst so they have enough time to prepare.

“We know that when storm season systems start coming in here in March, April, May, they’re going to get pretty bad and that helps people plan better,” he said. “It’s always best to have a plan days, weeks, months in advance rather than coming up with that plan when the warning sounds.”

By Multimedia Editor Miguel Rios

Designated Shelter Locations Banning Hall Clara E. Jones Administration Building Draper Hall

Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel Dawson-Loeffler Science and Mathematics Center Dulaney-Browne Library

Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment Gold Star Memorial Building Harris Hall Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center* Oklahoma United Methodist Hall

Sarkey’s Science and Mathematics Center

Smith Hall

Walker Hall

Wanda L. Bass Music Center

*This location is open 24 hours a day

March 30, 2016

3

news Music professor uses puppets to engage with students Maleyia Vaughn WEB EDITOR

One professor uses puppets to motivate his students and make his class more memorable.

Dr. David Easley, associate professor of music theory, lends “Verdi” and “Mozart,” puppets to students as a motivational prize and also uses them in some class lessons.

The Verdi puppet is based on the Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi.

“I wish there was some like elaborate, planned out story about how I decided I was going to use them to motivate everyone,” Easley said. “I think they just kind of happened. One day before a class I thought ‘oh, I’m just going to take that hand

puppet in because it’d be weird and funny’0 and it was definitely weird, and they laughed, so I assumed it was funny.”

After that, Verdi started talking to students in Italian and stuck around, Easley said.

“There’s no way for me to talk about this without sounding crazy,” he said. “I’m just glad it’s not creepy yet.”

The puppets weren’t given out to students until last year, and Easley said that was planned. He teaches mostly freshmen music theory and aural skills five days a week.

He said half way through the semester, it gets tough, so Verdi was used to increase motivation.

“I gave him away as a prize one day. I said ‘oh, you can take Verdi on an adventure,’” Easley said.

Madeline Dannenberg, music theater sophomore, was the first student to take Verdi on an adventure.

“I took Verdi everywhere,” Dannenberg said. “He saw the Hall of Queens, the Chickasaw Warrior statue, my Acting II class, and the caf, among other places.”

Verdi was given to Easley by his girlfriend, who became his wife. She bought the puppet from New York in 2005 because Easley’s two areas of research focus on popular music, such as pop rock and thrash metal, and 19th Century opera with an emphasis on Verdi.

“Mozart” is a finger puppet based on the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that a student gave Easley last year.

Both puppets give students

“

a reason to think and talk about music theory outside the classroom, making the class more memorable, Easley said.

“Seeing them five days a week, you’d think they think about our class enough already as it is,” he said. “But anytime I can get them to think about our class, I hope that will spark a memory of what we did in class, and I think that’s really what will help students learn.

“Not doing a homework assignment, not doing a test, but really thinking about things they learned. It’s creating that memory and helps them remember my class in a positive way.”

Dannenberg agreed the puppets help students.

“Some of the composers we learn about lived hundreds of years before us and so it can

Elina Moon Student Publications Dr. Easley, professor of music theory, teaches his honors music theory II class with the help of his Giuseppe Verdi puppet. Verdi was an Italian composer known for composing operas such as Macbeth and Othello.

be hard to remember that they were actual people,” she said.

“The puppets sparked interest in the composers themselves rather than only focusing on their music.

“I always remembered the concept better during quizzes

because I could associate the concept with whatever he did with the puppet.”

Students invited to attend event, discuss campus issues Prisca Lynch STAFF WRITER

Student leaders are invited to come to STAR Summit to set goals for next semester, learn to be better leaders and share scheduled events.

STAR Summit is an event where student leaders meet to discuss the needs of students and what the university can do to meet them.

At the event, students will

gather to discuss, learn from each other, and grow through leadership activities.

STAR Summit will begin with a guest speaker, goal setting exercises, and an opportunity for students to give the university feedback through a program called “I Would Like To See…” Each student organization is invited to share their scheduled events for the 2016-17 campus calendar at the event.

Dr. Danne Johnson, professor

Students should attend the event if they are looking for an opportunity to grow, learn, be inspired, and help others, I welcome them to STAR Summit.

Levi Harrel assistant director student development

of law, is the guest speaker. She will speak about how students can be effective leaders within their organization and the greater OCU

community.

“Students should attend the event if they are looking for an opportunity to grow, learn, be

inspired and inspire others. I welcome them to STAR Summit”, said Levi Harrel, assistant director of student development. “This is a true event where they can learn to be leaders and where their leadership skills can inspire others to develop those skills as well.”

Any student can attend the event but student organization leaders are targeted. The event will be from 2 to 5 p.m. April 8 in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students to be able to be active in campus leadership,” said Franziska Harms, acting sophomore.

R.S.V.P. for the event by emailing Harrel by 5 p.m. Friday.

For more information about STAR Summit contact Levi Harrel by email at ljharrel@okcu. edu or phone at 405-208-6287.

Students to donate unused meals to homeless Prisca Lynch STAFF WRITER

Sage Tokach Student Publications

Hunting for eggs

Children run around the lawn outside Meinders School of Business looking for hidden Easter eggs. The Emerging Leaders group from the United Way hosted an Easter egg hunt Saturday for children of low-income families around the community. To learn more about Emerging Leaders visit the United Way website, unitedwayokc.com.

Students can donate unused meals to help those in need.

David Hall, music education/sociology sophomore, organized a meal donation program called OCU Feeds.

This is the second semester for the program. In the fall, OCU Feeds donated 150 meals to the Oklahoma City Homeless Alliance shelter, 1724 N.W. Fourth St. “The Homeless Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the system of care for the homeless in Oklahoma City,” according to the website, homelessalliance.org.

“I knew that as someone who is a performer that works and is very busy, the cafeteria isn’t always open whenever eating fits in my schedule,” Hall said.

“Because of my schedule, I end up having around 78 meals left at the end of the semester, and I know a lot of other students often have too many meals or StarsCash left over that could easily be donated.”

Student can donate from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 21 at the OCU Feeds table outside of the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

Any student with leftover meals or StarsCash can donate, as long as they have enough meals left for the rest

of the semester. Students also can also donate new and gently used clothing and books.

Sodexo takes the number of swiped meals and creates meals to be brought to the Oklahoma City Homeless Alliance shelter.

Sodexo will donate up to 300 meals, double the amount from last semester.

“It was nice to see my extra meals go to someone who needed them,” said Arash Allahyar, cell and molecular biology junior.

For more information, contact David Hall by email at dshall@my.okcu.edu.

TheatreOCU prepares for final mainstage performance Tatum Nelson STAFF WRITER

Rehearsals are taking place for TheatreOCU’s last mainstage performance of the season, a portrayal of the Shakespearean comedy As You Like It. The play was written by William Shakespeare and is considered by many to be one of his greatest comedies. It follows the story of two lovers who overcome various obstacles like exile and death threats. They retreat to a forest and must straighten out the many confusions of love before ending up together.

St e p h e n Wr e n t m o r e , adjunct professor of theater and director of the show, summarized As You Like It in his own words. “ B oy m e e t s g i r l , g i r l meets boy, realizes girl can’t have boy, so dresses as boy to teach boy how to seduce girl. Then girl gets boy,” Wrentmore said.

Wrentmore directed and adapted As You Like It to fit into contemporary times.

I reapportioned gender March 30, 2016

roles in the play so that there was an equal quantity of opportunity for the actors, he said While the show would originally run around three hours and 20 minutes, Wrentmore said he cut it down to about one hour and 40 minutes without an intermission so the play reads m o re l i k e a “r o m - c o m .”

Wrentmore chose to not change the Shakespearean language.

Wrentmore said the play will be set in late ‘70s Bronx.

“The ideas of dukes and lords seems like an alien concept to America, so setting it in a street culture within the Bronx gives a sense of how hierarchy works,” he said.

Ariel Richardson, acting senior who plays “Rosalind,” said she has had fun during the rehearsal process. “ St e p h e n d i d n’t h a v e any plans coming in,” she said. “He was just like ‘let’s all try to collaborate and just have fun and play in re h e a r s a l e a c h t i m e . No expectations.’”

Wrentmore said the show is a comedy and should be

fun to watch.

“Falling in love is such a big part of being human,” he said. “Watching a play that shows how silly, uncomplicated, easy and un-messy that it can be is really why we go to the theater.”

Robert Jamerson, acting senior who plays “Orlando” said he likes the challenge of making a 400-year-old language understandable to a modern audience.

“Don’t be scared when you come in,” he said. “Don’t be scared and don’t have any preconceived notions of the show. Just come in with an open heart because that’s the way we are performing it, with an open heart.”

The performances are: – 8 p.m. April 7-9, and – 2 p.m. matinee April 9-10.

The performances are in the Burg Theatre in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

Tickets are available for $12 at okcu.edu/tickets or by calling 405-208-5227.

Donovan Lawson Student Publications

Stephen Wrentmore, adjunct professor, directs Zack Payne and Ariel Richardson, acting seniors, during a rehearsal of As You Like It. The show is widely considered to be one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies. The mainstage show will be performed April 7-10 in Burg Theatre in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. The show will be at 8 p.m. April 7-9 and 2 p.m. April 9-10. To get tickets, visit the box office or call at 405-208-5227.

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