Nov 9 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS

November 9, 2016 – Volume 110 Issue 37

Homecoming winners announced

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Gamma Phi Beta wins Sweepstakes Sage Tokach WEB EDITOR

Elina Moon Student Publications Women from Gamma Phi Beta strike a pose at the end of their Lip Sync performance, which was inspired by Forrest Gump. The sorority placed first in spirit structure, second in Lip Sync and window painting, and third in the banner competition. They placed first for Sweepstakes for the second year in a row. Alpha Phi got second in Sweepstakes and Kappa Sigma received third place.

Homecoming concluded as the women of Gamma Phi Beta rushed to the basketball court to accept their Sweepstakes trophy for the second year in a row. The sorority won the Homecoming championship at the awards ceremony after the Lip Sync competition. The event was Nov. 4 in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The theme was “Something Old, Something New, Something Bold, Something Blue.” Eight campus organizations competed in the festivities, choosing their own themes within the official theme. Six of those groups entered submissions in all four categories: banner, window, spirit structure, and Lip Sync. Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Mu, and Kappa Sigma participated in all competitions. FIJI participated in banner, window and spirit structure competition, but did not participate in Lip Sync. The United States Institute for Theater Technology entered a banner and window for the competition. Gamma Phi Beta placed first in spirit structure, second in Lip Sync and window and third

in banner, awarding them the Sweepstakes prize. Second place in Sweepstakes went to Alpha Phi, who got first in window, second in structure and banner and received the People’s Choice Award for their Magic Schoolbus-inspired Lip Sync. Kappa Sigma took third in Sweepstakes, with first place wins in banner and Lip Sync. Alpha Chi Omega won the Spirit Award. Monica Thompson, music theater/vocal performance senior and Gamma Phi Beta, said she is proud of her sisters. “Homecoming is all about coming together to celebrate OCU, having fun and utilizing the immense talent we have on this campus,” she said. Taylor Blackman, acting junior and Kappa Sigma, said that Homecoming always pays off. “We get so annoyed and ticked with each other during Homecoming week because it’s challenging to stay up late and do things over and over,” he said. “But when it comes to fruition, we see that this has not just made us a stronger fraternity or sorority, but a stronger community. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” After Lip Sync, emcees Daxx Wieser, music theater senior, and Casey Andrews, music theater junior, crowned this year’s Homecoming Royalty.

Homecoming is all about coming together to celebrate OCU, having fun and utilizing the immense talent we have on this campus. Monica Thompson music theater/vocal performance senior Gamma Phi Beta

Zack Travers, business administration senior and Kappa Sigma, and Courtney Beyer, acting senior and Alpha Chi Omega, won the titles of Homecoming Royalty. Ali Funkhouser, music theater junior, said she liked the results. “I was not emotionally, physically, mentally, or spiritually prepared for my level of joy when Courtney Beyer won Homecoming queen,” she said. Students voted for Homecoming King and Queen on OrgSync, and voted for the People’s Choice Award during the ceremony via Facebook. Other competitions were scored by a panel of judges unaffiliated with any participating organization. Shannon Beshears, vice president for Student Activities Council, said she had only good things to say about Homecoming. “This year’s Homecoming committee has been one of the most dedicated and hardworking groups I have had the absolute

pleasure of working with,” she said. “The Homecoming Commissioner Tamara Doherty is one of the most hard working individuals on this campus and I have learned so much from her.” Doherty said Homecoming was a huge success. “We took a lot of risks this year and made some experimental changes, so with that comes a learning process,” she said. Franziska Harms, acting junior and Gamma Phi Beta, said Homecoming reminded her why she is proud to go to OCU. “When combined, the organizations on campus created over 27 projects during Homecoming this year that were purely student-designed and produced,” she said. “How often will you find a group of people that will support each other in multiple artistic endeavors to represent a community?”

Zack Travers, business administration senior and Kappa Sigma, and Courtney Beyer, acting senior and Alpha Chi Omega, wave to the crowd Nov. 4 after being crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Kappa Sigma’s Homecoming theme was Ghostbusters. They placed first in Lip Sync and in the banner competition, and received third overall in Sweepstakes. Alpha Chi Omega’s theme was Despicable Me. The sorority did not place in any competition, but they were named the Spirit Champions. “I am proud and excited,” Travers said. “It's something I’ve dreamed about since freshman year.” | Photo by Ali Wonderly. Far left: Isaiah Williams, acting senior and Lambda Chi Alpha, throws his hands up in a star as he performs during Lip Sync. The fraternity chose Monster’s University as a theme, in which Williams portrayed “Sully.” Lambda Chi received third place in spirit structure, window decorating and Lip Sync. | Photo by Ali Wonderly. Left: Alpha Phi, the People’s Choice for Lip Sync, ride the Magic Schoolbus during their performance. The sorority placed first in the window painting competition and second in spirit structure and banner. | Photo by Elina Moon.

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opinion Editors unhappy with the removal of chapel pews The Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel is coming up on its 50th anniversary and has undergone some changes in the past few weeks. First built in 1967 and opened in 1968, the chapel will have its semicentennial anniversary next year. Leading up to its birthday, the chapel will undergo some more updates. Before, the sanctuary was home to uniform-wooden pews. The two middle rows were replaced with newer pews that interlock and are easily moveable to change the space for other groups on campus who use the chapel. This change is practical and expands the functionality of the chapel for students, but many faculty, staff and students have negative feelings about the change. See Page 4 for more on the new seats in the chapel. The new pews are an unsettling color of blue, giving off vibes of a fellowship hall or family life center rather than a chapel. But what’s more horrifying is the Frankenstein-like quality of the sanctuary, which leaves

the question to be asked: if you’re going to replace part of the pews, why not just replace them all? The remaining wooden pews on either sides of the sanctuary lose rhyme or reason when compared to the new foreign-looking seating. In terms of a venue space, the chapel begins to lose its appeal, and the new blue seats look like a lettuce leaf wedged between the teeth of a once charming grin. The seasonal stained-glass windows are the chapel’s crowning jewel, next to the chapel’s impressive organ. Unfortunately, the new pews are nowhere near up to their standards. Beautiful stained-glass windows in churches are a tradition and an homage of the church to the beauty of creation. The new, contemporary-looking pews distract from the masterpiece’s ode to God’s glory. Alumni can’t experience that same tradition and history when coming back to Angie Smith Chapel, especially those alumni who return to use the space for weddings or other events.

Talk Back "What should be done with the old Buy For Less?"

The chapel is an icon to OCU students, and not being notified of these sudden changes is almost heart-breaking. What’s most important to remember is that the chapel does not just belong to the students of OCU. The chapel, designed by famous MIT architect Pietro Belluschi, who designed the MetLife Building in New York City, is a symbol for the United Methodist Church, especially in Oklahoma. The church has always been dedicated to education, creating “Sunday school” in the 1700s as a way to educate underprivileged children. By removing pews that were once made custom to fill this sanctuary, pieces of the history of the Methodist Church are removed. These relics that represented all who witnessed the church’s dedication to education, as well as John Wesley’s mission for the world, are lost.

“I think it should be an Incredible Pizza. That was always fun."

"An H&M. Just because I really like H&M."

Daniel Paugh mass communications junior

Lucas Haupert acting senior

“A homeless shelter, but then people would complain and throw a fit.”

“A place to sell puppies, like an animal shelter.”

Patience Williams English literature senior

Celina James music theater freshman

“Homeless shelter because that is kind of a problem around the city.”

“Pancheros. It's a burrito place like Chipotle, but better.”

Bailey Burleson theater and performance freshman

Jeffrey Laughrun music theater sophomore

“Having a domestic violence refugee/help center for anyone would be great.”

"Trader Joe's. As long as it's a good place to go and not a place to go and die."

Bethany Stanley religious education freshman

Dylan Mobley acting senior

Spotlight features a dream team cast, is ‘extremely watchable’ Most Best Picture winners don’t exactly get ignored, but that's what happened with the 2015 winner Spotlight. While criticallyacclaimed, Spotlight didn't see much attention upon its release and came as a surprise to some when it took home the Academy Award for Best Picture. If you take some time to check it out, however, it isn’t hard at all to see why. Featuring a dream

team cast with Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, and John Slattery, to name just a few, Spotlight follows a team of journalists working for the Boston Globe in a division named “Spotlight” that tackles hard to investigate stories. Set in 2001, at the request of their new editor, the team looks into the allegations of molestation from a Catholic priest. Upon digging deeper, the

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

team finds that the story goes much further than they originally believed. The film is extremely watchable. If the story stretched out to more than four hours, it would still

probably feel like a breeze. The plot is engrossing and the cast is full of interesting characters. Even knowing how the story will turn out doesn't matter, as watching the team dig deeper into the sordid

details of how the Catholic Church handled allegations of sexual abuse combines the best of a great narrative and a compelling documentary. Tom McCarthy, acclaimed writer and director, doesn’t do anything special with his direction, instead letting the story unfold in front of your eyes, letting it be revealed for the audience much like it is for the characters. The entire cast is solid, and while Ruffalo stands out a bit, the

talent level makes it hard to distinguish anyone as being better than the other. McCarthy's directing may not do anything special, but what he does, he does well. The movie is well paced, easy to watch and thoroughly engrossing. You may not have heard of it before, but you’ll remember it after you see it. Overall rating:

Columnist encourages artists to make a mark on the world Five months after the tragic shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, playwrights will begin to share their responses in an international benefit entitled After Orlando. Mo re t h a n 7 0 s h o r t plays have been created in response to the shooting, written by a variety of playwrights including Leah Nanako Winkler, Mia Chung, and one of Theater Professor Hal Kohlman’s own favorites, Neil LaBute. After Orlando will be presented by Missing Bolts Productions, NoPassport

Theatre Alliance and Broadway producer Daryl Roth. The first readings will take place in November and December in New York City and will continue internationally through Jan. 31. After each reading, discussions will be hosted on art and activism, gun control, the LGBTQ community, and art and terrorism. With OCU being such a performing arts-heavy community, artists are encouraged to make their work meaningful and to realize that it is important. But artists sometimes

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.

forget just how impactful their work can be. “As theater-makers, we have the ability to bring together many singular u n i q u e vo i c e s t ow a rd a common goal,” wrote Blair Baker and Zac Kline, artistic directors of Missing Bolts Productions, in a joint statement.

“We have invited some of the most admired theater artists worldwide to participate; to share our grief, our anger, our hope and our desire to combat the violence we are now living with on a daily basis.” As an acting major, I hear the words “make a bold choice” thrown around with

laughter and sarcasm at least twice a day. It’s a mantra repeated to us by our professors, and, yes, an easy one to poke fun at. But it is a mantra for a reason. It is the artist’s responsibility to chall e n g e a n d s h a re h u m a n experience. “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,” wrote Finley Peter Dunne in his 1902 book Observations by Mr. Dooley. Although this quote was originally intended to reference newspapers and the press, this is the

goal to which performers should strive. It is honorable for performers to have integrity in their art. Create something bold, create something meaningful, even if only to one person. Even if that person is yourself. After Orlando will force audience members to face the reality of such violence, afflicting those who dare be left comfortable. We, not only as actors, but as people, should aspire to be so bold. Make your mark on the world. I dare you.

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 New Student Orientation Leader applications open through Dec. 16 via OrgSync

Oklahoma City Symphonic band concert from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

Michelle McChristian's junior music theater recital from 8-8:30 p.m. in Wimberly Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

THURSDAY Chapel from 1-2 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel

FRIDAY National auditions for prospective students from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

SATURDAY National auditions for prospective students from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Men's basketball game vs. Randall from 7-8:45 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center

Carley Dickey's junior music theater recital from 8-8:30 p.m. in the Small Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center

Orchestra concert from 8-10 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

SUNDAY Sydney Blosch and Brycie Gauthier's joint junior music theater recital from 4-5 p.m. in the Small Rehearsal Hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center Megan Jiron Ewy's senior voice recital from 6-7 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center MONDAY Evensong Worship from 8-9:30

November 9, 2016, Volume 110, Number 37

Kelsey Simmons, Ali Wonderly Staff Writers: Taylor Rey, Prisca Lynch, Chandler White, Zoe Travers, McAlyn Forbes, Nicole Waltman, Evan Juedeman, Nathan Moelling, Adrianna DelPercio Film Critics: Danielle Petersen, Mary McLain

John Allen's trombone recital from 8-9 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center TUESDAY Future Lawyer's Day: Examine with OCU from 1-4 p.m. in Ann Lacy Admission and Visitor Building Dr. Sergio Monteiro's piano

studio recital from 7-9:30 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center WEDNESDAY Men's basketball vs. Dallas Christian from 7-8:45 p.m. in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center Guitar ensemble concert from 8-10 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

The Campus has served the Oklahoma City University community since 1907. It is published Wednesday during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and exam periods.

THE CAMPUS Editor-in-chief: Miguel Rios Web Editor: Sage Tokach Lifestyles Editor: Madelyn Parker Photo Editor: Elina Moon Community Manager: Lauren Berlingeri Photographers: Courtney Beyer, Donovan Lawson, Olivia Johnston,

p.m. in Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

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.

November 9, 2016

lifestyles

Elina Moon Student Publications

Trapped underground Joshua Cooper, opera performance graduate; Adam LaPorte, music theater/composition freshman, and Jackson Walker, music theater junior, portray reporters trying to get the scoop on “Floyd Collins,” a man trapped in a cave 200 feet underground. The Wanda L. Bass School of Music’s production of Floyd Collins had performances at 8 p.m. Nov. 4-5 and at 3 p.m. Nov. 6 in Burg Theater in the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. Above: Ian Marcontell, music theater sophomore, and Nicholas Haas, music theater junior, sing “Daybreak” in Floyd Collins. Katherine Metcalfe and Jenna Mazzoccoli, music theater juniors, and Michelle McChristian, music theater senior, portray sirens. In the show, they personified the cave and the fallen rocks trapping Floyd Collins. The Wanda L. Bass School of Music’s next production is La Rondine, which runs Nov. 18-20 in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

Professor runs more than 70 miles for scholarship Taylor Rey STAFF WRITER

Dr. Erik Heine, professor of music, recently completed a 12-hour endurance challenge to raise money for an endowed scholarship for music students. Heine set out at 6 a.m. Oct. 22 to participate in “24 The Hard Way,” an annual marathon race in Oklahoma City where contestants can choose between doing a six, 12 or 24-hour run. Heine’s goal for the day was to run 50 miles in 12 hours to raise $50,000 for the Deb Heine Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship was inspired by Heine’s mother who first introduced him to music. It will be awarded to a music major who has completed at least five semesters at OCU as a way to diminish the cost of attendance and encourage high academic achievement. “When I first set out for the day, I was with my friend who asked me ‘how many miles do you think you’ll run?’ and I said ‘well I don’t know, probably a bunch. Upper 60s I hope.’ And they told me ‘no, you’re going to run over 70 and win the whole thing,’” Heine said. “Once he said that, I started thinking ‘maybe I can do this.’ And that’s really what we try to do as teachers too. We tell our students

Submitted Dr. Erik Heine, professor of music, pushes through hour seven of the endurance challenge on Oct. 22 at the annual “24 The Hard Way” marathon race.

‘you can do better, I know you can do this’ and I did.” Heine exceeded his goal by running 50 miles in the first eight hours and finishing with 71.85 miles total, winning the race. Gabriella Ottersberg, music theater sophomore, said Heine is an admirable professor who sets a great example for his students. “I went to the race, and it is an honor to be a student of a teacher that is invested, body and mind, in his students and our learning,”

she said. So far, the Deb Heine Endowed Scholarship has more than $6,000, and officials still are accepting donations, though the pledge-per-mile portion was removed after the race. “Our goal is still to raise $50,000, so I hope people will continue to donate because we still have a long way to go,” Heine said. “I’ve been writing thank you notes to everyone that contributes, so I hope people will make me write thank yous ‘til my arm falls off.” Donations can be made online at okcu.edu/onlinegiving/ endurancechallenge/. Heine returned to teaching the Monday after the race and went back to running by the end of the week. His next goal is to reach a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon, which is three hours and 15 minutes. “People keep telling me ‘I could never do that,’ but it’s just not true,” Heine said. “Maybe not running, but everyone can do something really great. Maybe not today, but someday you’ll do something really great that will inspire someone else to do something great.”

Housing to renovate dorms Nicole Waltman STAFF WRITER

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Ali Wonderly Student Publications

Virtual reality

Gareth Forsberg, acting freshman, portrays “Sims,” a man who created a virtual reality realm for himself called “The Hideaway” where he and others could indulge in pedophilic desires. Paige Konger, acting senior, portrays “Iris,” an avatar appearing as a 12-year-old girl. TheatreOCU’s production of The Nether had performances at 8 p.m. Nov. 3-5 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center. TheatreOCU’s next production is It’s a Wonderful Life: a Live Radio Play, which will run Dec. 2-10 in Burg Theater in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

Walker and Banning Halls will be undergoing renovations soon. These buildings have been identified by students, faculty and staff as highest priorities for improvement, said Michael Burns, director of housing and student life. Kevin Culbertson, coordinator of housing operations, said the residence halls are important for new and prospective students. “Walker and Banning halls are the oldest residence halls on campus,” Culbertson said. “They are primarily freshman dorms, so it makes sense that we utilize the space and create appropriate new aesthetics.” There is a team of people working together to come up

with improvement plans for all of housing. The plan is to renovate one room and bathroom in each building as a model, Burns said. This is a preliminary project for housing to show administrators the potential look and cost of the rooms. “The functionality and layout of the rooms and bathrooms will stay the same,” Culbertson said. “But things such as new furniture, new flooring, new tile in the bathroom, new sinks, new paint on the walls, and new window treatments are some possibilities that will be implemented to give the rooms a fresh new look.” Once the model rooms are completed, students will be able to give feedback regarding the updates. “The model project should

be complete in mid-January,” Burns said. “We will then be able to put together a schedule and budget to renovate the entirety of both buildings.” Students will be contacted if they are going to be directly affected by the construction. “I definitely think the renovations are a good idea and much needed,” said Addie Pollard, acting freshman. “But I also worry that they might get annoying after a while.” The goal is to have as little disruption as possible for the daily life of students, Burns said. Fo r a n y q u e s t i o n s o r concerns, email Burns at mpburns@okcu, or call at 405-208-6365.

Italian opera explores journey through emotion, romance Nathan Moelling STAFF WRITER

The Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company presents the next mainstage opera, La Rondine, by Giacomo Puccini. The three-act show tells the emotional story of “Magda,” a courtesan in the early 20th century who longs to taste the sweetness of true love, and once she is given a chance at happiness, must decide between this blissful, budding romance and her previous immoral life that has come to haunt her heart. Sarah Kuhlmann and November 9, 2016

Karlye Whitt, vocal performance seniors, are double-cast as “Magda.” The male lead is “Ruggero,” Magna’s newfound love interest, performed by Ben Hopkins and Sam Schlievert, second-year opera performance graduates. “Being a part of this show is a dream come true,” Kuhlmann said. “Puccini’s music is absolutely gorgeous and really tells the story.” The stage manager for the show, Erin Patterson, design and production junior, shares similar sentiments. “Working on La Rondine has been such a great learning experience,” she said. “I really

Being a part of this show is a dream come true. Puccini’s music is absolutely gorgeous and really tells the story. Sarah Kuhlmann vocal performance senior

love music, so for me, opera is the perfect combination of the beauty and dexterity of music that also showcases the talent of my fellow students and the intricacies of human emotions so well that even language is not a barrier.”

Before writing La Rondine, Puccini was known to be involved in several romantic ventures that often crossed the border of acceptability into the scandalous. The emotion drawn from these activities has made it into his operas, Kuhlmann said.

“The emotional journey is intense,” she said. “Magda is such a passionate person who is always striving for adventure and freedom. Playing her has been very liberating.” The cast of La Rondine will perform the opera in Italian, with English supertitles. The show will be performed at 8 p.m. Nov. 18-19, and 3 p.m. Nov. 20 in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. Ticket prices range from $14-$28. Karen Coe Miller, the show’s director, will give an optional, free pre-show talk 45 minutes before every performance in

Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. More information on the show can be found on the box office tab at www.okcu.edu, or by calling 405-208-5227. Jake Bannerman, design and production junior, said he looks forward to seeing the production. “I am always excited to see an opera because it promises to have a wow factor, a spectacle within the show that makes it larger than life, while keeping the story something that everyone can relate to,” he said.

news Students create weekly podcast to promote discussion Sage Tokach WEB EDITOR

Dawson MacLeod and Tyler Malinauskas, acting sophomores, started a video podcast called Ramble Ranters. Malinauskas already uploaded daily videos to his personal YouTube channel, so when MacLeod came up with the idea for a podcast, he agreed to collaborate and help find traction. Through their video podcast, the pair said they hope to create a forum for people to share their opinions on broad topics like politics, religion, movies, and art in general. They will film Ramble Ranters in their apartment and release a new video at 2 p.m. each Sunday on YouTube. “We want to take the idea of internet anonymity and allow people to speak their mind and actual opinions without the consequence of having their views slandered,” MacLeod said. “We’ll provide a jumping-off point for comments, and we hope to respond and interact, building a niche community for discussion. The weekly videos will each last about 45-60 minutes. The full podcast will be uploaded to YouTube, SoundCloud and iTunes under the name Ramble Ranters. The creators plan to create a Facebook page soon, where they will upload the best three to four minutes of each podcast. MacLeod and Malinauskas have created and uploaded two videos so far. The first, “Introductions, Getting Mugged, and High School vs. College,” introduced the pair to viewers. It addressed

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how the friends met, where they came from, the differences in their personality types, and how they think. In the second video, “A Few of Our Favorite Things,” the pair discussed their favorite movies, people and philosophies, among other topics. Caroline Hawthorne, acting sophomore, said she truly enjoys the podcast and can tell that MacLeod and Malinauskas are best friends. “I think they have great chemistry,” Hawthorne said. “They’re charismatic and aren’t afraid to point out BS on each other. It felt like I was in their apartment listening to them.” Though the first episodes featured only the two students, Malinauskas said they plan to bring in guests for more of a forum feel.

“We want to bring in some more opinions, and every once in a while, want to have like eight people for a table discussion,” he said. “Maybe we’ll even get Ricky Gervais sometime. I love him.” They said they plan to continue their weekly podcast indefinitely, potentially past graduation. “In a sense, it’s a business in itself because it teaches you responsibility and gives you a timeline,” Malinauskas said. “If you stick to it, you can learn a lot and earn a net income.” MacLeod said he also learns from YouTube, through producing videos and watching content. “We both watch like an hour and a half of YouTube every day, and I subscribe to over 120 channels,” MacLeod said. “I think there’s a need for a longer forum that sparks new thoughts. Tyler and I don’t agree on a lot of things, but I want to get more opinions and new perspectives. How awesome would it be if I read a comment that completely debunked my idea and made me change my opinion?” The keys to YouTube success are consistency and good content, Malinauskas said. “We may have subpar equipment, but we are a consistent source of jokes and good conversation about everything from the troubles of the universe to what George Washington would have liked best on his breakfast cereal,” MacLeod said. “I think we provide good content, whether or not you agree with us.”

Elina Moon Student Publications

Old vs. new Junior wrestler Riley Fielder competes against alum wrestler Derek Peperas at the first Alumni Dual at 2 p.m. Nov. 5 on the quad. The alumni returned to face the current team, ranked No. 3 in the NAIA preseason. The team provided refreshments during matches, and an open house for the new wrestling room followed the dual. Above: Junior wrestler Brok Williams faces an alum before his dual Nov. 5. Current wrestlers won 28-19. The wrestling team’s next home match will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. They will compete against Bacone College.

Chapel pews replaced with chairs to increase versatility Evan Juedeman STAFF WRITER

The Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel is coming up on its 50th birthday, and, leading up to the golden anniversary, it will be undergoing a series of updates. Chapel attendees have already noticed the first change-removal of the pews. Some pews have either been sold to raise money or dismantled. There was some resistance to the change, and one of the main issues is that there seemed to be

no advance notice that the pews would be removed. Melaina Riley, religion sophomore, said this made her concerned. “I think it’s really sad that we didn’t even know they were going to be gone,” she said. “I wish we could have had a celebration of the life the pews had seen, the sadness, the joy, the grief, the friendship.” Additional concern stems from the pews replacement blue upholstered stackable chairs. The chairs have no pockets on the backs, meaning they cannot accommodate Bibles or hymnals.

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Because of this, these items are distributed as attendees enter for chapel services. The Rev. Dr. Charles Neff,

dean of the chapel, was in charge of making the decision to replace the pews. “The ultimate needs for the

chapel were to have greater flexibility so that more groups could use the space,” he said. Even though there may be negative aspects, there are generally many positive factors at play, said the Rev. Elizabeth HortonWare, director of Religious Life. “Although I wasn’t personally a part of the decision-making process, there are definite benefits to the change, and I can see the versatility of it,” she said. “We did something similar to this at one of the churches I used to work at, and it led to opening up the space for a wider range of worship styles, and made it feel

more like sitting around a table rather than the formal air pews bring.” Originally built in 1967 and opened in 1968, the chapel was designed by Pietro Belluschi, a famed Italian-born architect and former dean of the MIT School of Architecture. Neff said there will be more changes leading up to 2018. “The changes will happen in such a way that the projects themselves will be minor, but the overall aesthetic change will be large once it’s all completed.”

Ally training program to advocate for LGBTQ community Taylor Rey STAFF WRITER

The university’s first ally training program has been created to educate students and faculty on the needs of the LGBTQ community. Allies are faculty, staff and students knowledgeable about LGBTQ issues and who choose to openly support and advocate for those individuals. There are about 20 people signed up to be allies. “An ally is really someone who is consciously engaging in actions with people of a different background,” said Remy Barnett, the university’s Title IX investigator. The first ally training will consist of two sessions, one from 9-10 a.m. and the second from 1-2 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

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Russell Tallchief, director of student engagement, inclusion and multicultural programs, is organizing the training sessions and others that will happen throughout the year. “It’s great to have allies in the LGBTQ community because our faculty and staff have years of life experience and some even have degrees in LGBTQ studies that they can share,” Tallchief said. “Allies don’t have all the answers, but we do have resources we can share.” Barnett will lead the ally training. Ally training on campus is important, and Matthew Hester, film production senior, said he hopes students take advantage of it. “Not only does this open doors for organizations like SPECTRUM, creating a climate in which more Queer-centric educational and artistic events may occur, but it gives those of us who are constantly disparaged for our sexual orientation or gender identity a voice within the academic community and, hopefully,

within Oklahoma as a whole,” said Hester. “Ally training is an invaluable experience, both for the openminded individuals who attend and the OCU population as a whole.” Students who want to attend may R.S.V.P. by emailing Tallchief at trtallchief@okcu.edu. Students who attend the meeting will receive a T-shirt and a “safe zone” sticker to hang in their rooms, signifying that it is a safe space to openly talk about people’s needs. “We are so blessed here at OCU to have such an open-minded community where we can do things like this,” Tallchief said. “I think this is something that is unique to us and it’s something that we all can sense and should be proud of.”

Buy For Less closes, university officials decide against buying it Chandler White STAFF WRITER

The building that formerly housed Buy For Less just west of campus will remain empty for the foreseeable future. Officials closed the Buy For Less at 2500 N. Pennsylvania on Oct. 7. “When I saw that it was closed, it seemed really quick and out of nowhere,” said Lucas Haupert, acting senior. “I don’t really know what their mindset was in doing so, but it was really abrupt.” Officials cited financial difficulties as the reason for closing the store. “I had heard of Buy For Less going bankrupt,” said Callie Michaud, design and production junior. “However, the site has also had multiple shootings in the past few years, so that was November 9, 2016

We were informed that the property was for sale, but OCU was not interested in buying it at the time. It never went much fur ther than a brief consideration. John Starkey religion professor

definitely a concern.” Oklahoma City media released information after the closing, saying OCU was interested in purchasing the building. The uni-

versity’s budget committee considered the possibility, but decided against the purchase. “We were informed that the property was for sale, but OCU was not interested in buying it at the time,” said John Starkey, religion professor and budget committee member. “It never went much further than a brief consideration.” Some members of the campus community said they will miss the store and its unique offerings. “One of the reasons why Buy For Less was important for the community was because this is a diverse area,” said Kira Poole, English sophomore. “Their entire spice section was pretty amazing, and now people won’t be able to access those foods without a 30 minute drive.”