Oct 12 by MediaOCU

THE CAMPUS

October 12, 2016 – Volume 110 Issue 33

Campus clinic offers flu vaccines Sage Tokach WEB EDITOR

The Campus Health Center offers the flu shot, but students disagree on the vaccine's effectiveness. Flu season usually peaks in January, but viruses begin appearing in October. The purpose of shots is to protect recipients from various strains of the virus. Scientists predict which strains of the virus to expect each flu season. It is impossible to create a vaccine that combats every potential strain, so they choose the top suspect strains and create a vaccine to combat those, according to the Center for Disease Control's website. Flu shots are offered from 1-4 p.m. Mondays and from 8:30-11 a.m. Thursdays at the Campus Health Center in the west wing of the Kramer School of Nursing. They will not offer

the nasal spray option this year, but the option is available at local pharmacies. Some students claim to have negative experiences with the shot. “The last time I got one, I was so sick I was out of school for six weeks,” said Lindsay Steinberg, acting sophomore. The shot does not contain live flu virus strains, so it cannot actually cause the flu, reads the CDC website. Recipients may experience side effects like soreness or fever, but these are short-lived and less severe than influenza. “People who receive the vaccine and still get sick either have something other than the flu, or they were exposed to a strain that wasn’t in the vaccine,” said Alanah Hosford, cell and molecular biology junior. “Either way, they were probably also exposed to the strains in the vaccine and were protected against those.”

The CDC does not recommend the vaccine for people over the age of 65 or those with autoimmune disorders. People who feel sick should wait to regain their full health before receiving the shot, according to CDC's website. “I have autoimmune disorders, so I can get severe reactions to a lot of vaccines, including the flu shot,” said Sydney Hughes, music theater senior. “But if you can get vaccinated, and you don’t really have a reason not to, I think you should. It protects you, but by extension, it also protects the rest of us.” One student said she avoids the flu by fighting sickness naturally. “I’ve never gotten a flu shot, and I've also never gotten the flu,” said Julia Grubisic, music sophomore with electives in pre-medicine. “You know why? Because I don't share my food, and if I ever get a cold, instead

of taking medicine, I let my immune system take care of it on its own. If I need something to make me feel better, I drink echinacea tea.” Another student said she thinks people who do not get the shot are selfish. “Don’t talk to me about how it’s ineffective, because it's more effective than not getting it,” said Laura Jardine, biology junior. “The only legitimate reason not to get it is that you’re immunocompromised or you like to kill people. It just pisses me off.” The Campus Health Center will accept the following insurance coverage: Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Tricare, Healthchoice, Coventry, Multiplan, United Health Care, or Cigna health insurance. Anyone without coverage may receive a flu shot for $45 or go to a local pharmacy.

Kelsey Simmons Student Publications

Social mixing Alexis Metoyer, exercise science sophomore, talks with students at the Black Student Association's Mixer on Oct. 6 at the Team One Pavilion. During the mixer, students discussed how to build and grow the organization.

Safety on campus: 'Creepy' clown sightings across country worry students Miguel Rios EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A regular shopping trip to the mall turned scary when a student caught sight of a clown. MaKenzi Fox, dance freshman, saw someone wearing a clown mask at about 5 p.m. Oct. 3 as she was entering Penn Square Mall, 1901 Northwest Expressway. “He was just driving and staring at people, trying to creep people out,” she said. “I was more scared than usual since I was alone.” The first person to spot a creepy clown was a boy in Greenville, South Carolina, who saw the clown Aug. 29, according to The

Guardian. Sightings spread across the country and now people have reported clown sightings in at least 39 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. The happening is being referred to as the “2016 clown sightings.” “I think the whole problem with the fad is the attention the media is giving it,” Fox said. “If the media stopped talking about it, it wouldn’t be an issue because publicizing it is making the fad grow larger.” Bradd Brown, chief of police, said the presence of these sightings on social media drives more of it. “Of course with Halloween coming up in about three weeks,

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we're probably going to hear more and more about that,” he said. “If anyone sees anything suspicious on campus, whether it's a clown or anything else, we encourage them to call us.” The sale of clown masks has gone up more than 300 percent from last year, according to a USA Today interview with officials from the chain store Halloween Express. The trend has grown so much that even White House officials weighed in. “This is a situation that local law enforcement authorities take quite seriously and they should carefully and thoroughly review, you know, perceived threats to the safety of the community,” Press Secretary

Josh Earnest said during a press conference last week. Clown sightings have been reported all over the state in places like Moore, Tulsa, Chickasha, Wagoner, and even Oklahoma City. “Although we are following any and all tips, reports or sightings, this appears to be a complete social media hoax and it has a lot of people scared,” said Capt. Paco Balderrama, spokesman for the Oklahoma City Police Department, in an interview with NewsOK. Many of the first sightings were determined to be pranks, but, as sightings became more common, the clowns started getting violent. Alejandra Santillan, cell and

molecular biology junior, said she doesn't understand the trend. “I really don't know their motive,” she said. “I wish I did because they are terrifying people everywhere, especially when they're armed.” Across the country, people have been chased and attacked, several arrests have been made and some schools have resorted to shutdowns in the wake of threats. A clown sighting at Penn State even sent students on a hunt. Hundreds of students marched through the school with tennis rackets, baseball bats and hockey sticks ready to fight off the clown, according to OnwardState.com There have not been any report-

ed clown sightings on or near campus, Brown said. But Penn Square Mall is only a 10 minute drive away. Fox said she's glad she hasn't seen any clowns on campus and doesn't think she will anytime soon. Brown said clown costumes wouldn't be a criminal matter, but they could cause students to worry. “It could cause some concern, which could generate a lot of calls to the police department, which we wouldn't like,” he said. “So we would like to avoid that.” To contact campus police, call 405-208-5911.

Students express concerns about campus security, crimes Zoe Travers STAFF WRITER

Students are expressing concerns about recent events on campus that make them feel unsafe. Events like encounters with fake maintenance workers, burglaries, and stolen cell phones and cars have happened this academic year. Fake workers Madison Snow, biomedical science sophomore, received a call Sept. 17 from Hannah Bach, music theater sophomore and her roommate, saying that a man pretending to be a maintenance worker tried to enter their Cokesbury Court apartment. “It was clear he didn’t belong here,” Snow said. “I have no idea where he would have come from.” The man, who was dressed in dark clothing and spoke little English, knocked on the door, Snow said. When Bach cracked it open, he told her he was there to check the plumbing, but she didn't let him in. The man asked her if she was a student and that’s when she closed the door and called Snow. After that, they called campus police together. “She was very freaked out, understandably so,” Snow said.

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Only moments after the police were contacted, Snow said she saw police vehicles patrolling the campus. “We’re still a lot more careful about keeping our door locked, but knowing that OCU police was there within five minutes of me calling is putting me at ease,” she said. Cokesbury concerns It's not difficult for outsiders to enter Cokesbury, but Snow said she never saw any issues until that incident. “I know last semester there were some problems with people going into rooms and creeping around, but that was the first I heard of it this semester,” she said. The gates to Cokesbury are rarely closed, Snow said. “That could be a safety concern,” she said. “The fact that break-ins happen is concerning. That shouldn't be happening. The gates weren't working until this week. That's the only time they've even been operating since we moved in.” Bradd Brown, chief of police, said the department is working to improve security around the apartments, including installing additional cameras. "There's more cameras that have been purchased," he said. "They're in the process of getting

Brown said he will remind students to lock their cars and their apartment and dorm doors.

Be aware of who's walking behind you or around you. Make eye contact to let people know that you see them. Bradd Brown chief of police

those installed." More cameras would allow officers to review security footage and catch intruders, Brown said. Despite these concerns, Snow is optimistic about her safety. “As long as you’re mindful of what’s going on around you, I think you have a pretty good chance of not running into trouble,” Snow said. General safety The most commonly reported crime on campus during the 2015 school year was burglary, according to the annual Security and Fire Report, released Oct. 1 by campus police. Both burglary and sexual assault were ranked as more commonly reported in 2015 than in previous years. The university police department gathers their crime statistics from the Oklahoma City police department and campus security authorities.

“It’s not what you think of as a burglar breaking in at night. It usually happens in an office, where someone’s not supposed to be there,” Brown said. “If they enter a room, and they steal something out of that room, and we get something reported missing, that’s recorded as a burglary.” Recent events A student’s cell phone was taken and a car was stolen out of the Cokesbury parking lot in the past two months. This is the second time since February that a cell phone was stolen from students on campus, but this is the only reported car theft since 2013. “You’ve got to be careful,” Brown said. “We have security, and we live in a small community of people. You generally know when someone doesn’t belong on campus, and we generally get a call when that happens.”

Sexual assaults Six sexual assaults were reported during the 2015 calendar year. Brown said he thinks that more sexual assaults are being reported on college campuses due to a nationwide effort to bring more awareness to sexual assaults, especially on college campuses. Officials are working to increase student education on sexual assault awareness and the dangers of alcohol consumption, Brown said. Remy Barnett, Title IX investigator, joined OCU this past academic year, and Brown thinks this has made an impact on the awareness of sexual assault. Victims of an assault can notify Barnett if they don’t feel comfortable going to law enforcement. Barnett then contacts the police department, but doesn't have to reveal all details. Students can also contact Joey Croslin, Title IX coordinator, to report a sexual assault. “That’s what the Title IX process is for,” Brown said. “It’s an administrative investigation to make sure remedies are in place, and then the law enforcement investigation is separate.” In order to protect oneself

against a sexual assault, Brown says the most important thing is to stay alert. "Whether you're here on campus or walking at the mall, don’t talk on the cellphones when you’re out walking,” Brown said. “Be aware of who’s walking behind you or around you. Make eye contact to let people know that you see them.”

Pepper and mace A new firearms and weapons policy is being added that will allow the use of pepper spray and mace. “We’re always looking at things we can do to improve security,” Brown said. This is something that wasn’t allowed under the university’s former weapon policy, Brown said. “We thought that was important to let people carry defensive things like that,” he said. Brown said that students are often hesitant to call campus police about issues that they face. “Just call us,” Brown said. “Don’t hesitate to report anything to our university police department.” To contact campus police, call 405-208-5911.

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Being aware

See pictures and read about National Alcohol Awareness Week

opinion Editors encourage students to get flu vaccinations For some students, whether or not to get the flu shot is a tough, controversial decision. Few people enjoy receiving the vaccine, but as flu season approaches, students are encouraged to protect themselves and others by getting the shot. Read about flu shots on Page 1. The flu shot protects re c i p i e n t s f ro m va r i o u s strains of the flu virus. It changes each year to combat the strains expected that season. The peak of flu season usually occurs in January, but viruses can appear in October. The vaccine takes about two weeks to start protecting recipients, so the sooner everyone gets the vaccine, the better. Some students opposed to the vaccine argue that the shot could give them the flu, instead of preventing it. The CDC dismisses this fear, saying the shot cannot cause influenza because it does not contain active flu

viruses. Possible side effects experienced from the vaccine include soreness or fever, but these are short-lived and much less severe than the flu, according to the CDC. The vaccine can be dangerous for people with autoimmune deficiencies, so consult your doctor if you are worried about the vaccine’s effects on your immune system. People who can receive the vaccine should help their immunocompromised peers by getting the vaccine and protecting themselves and their friends from the virus. Some students expressed worry that, since the vaccine changes every year, the flu virus eventually will mutate enough that it will resist all medication and create a deadly supervirus. Scientists disproved this claim. LiveScience recognizes that bacteria can evade an antibiotic and make their offspring resistant as well, but vaccines work differently. “Vaccinations prime the immune system for the pos-

Talk Back "What are your plans during Fall Break?"

sible encounter with a virus,” LiveScience wrote. “There is no evidence of this [supervirus] happening.” Many people avoid the shot due to fear of needles, but they have an alternative option. Flu vaccines also are offered in a nasal spray. This method is slightly different because it contains live viruses, but the viruses are weakened, making potential side effects mild and short-lived, according to the CDC's website, cdv.gov. “Influenza is a serious disease, and an annual flu vaccine is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and spread it to others,” the website reads. “When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.” The flu shot is offered from 1-4 p.m. Mondays and from 8:30-11 a.m. Thursdays at the Campus Health Center.

"I'm going to Lake Arcadia with some friends."

"Seattle with the Honors program"

Barrett Cahalen dance sophomore

Arrash Allahyar cell and molecular biology senior

"I am staying on campus and plan on sleeping and catching up on life."

"I have rehearsal."

Kate Myers dance freshman

Brade Bradshaw acting senior

"I am going back to Austin and catching up with my family and friends."

"I'm gonna watch too much anime for my own good."

Dawson MacLeod acting sophomore

Daniel Etti-Williams acting sophomore

The Magnificent Seven sure to move audiences of every kind If you find yourself at a movie theater this weekend, a ticket to The Magnificent Seven will not disappoint you. The Magnificent Seven, directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Black, brings a fresh new spin to the 1960s classic western of the same name. The film stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Peter Sarsgaard, Haley Bennett, and others, as a team of seven strangers who assemble to

help the people of Rose Creek after corrupt industrialist, “Bartholomew Bogue,” played by Sarsgaard, threatens their land. The band of avengers is led by Washington who plays “Sam Chisholm” with the commanding and steady onscreen presence audiences expect from the seasoned actor. The film provides plenty of comic relief between actionpacked scenes, without relying heavily on one-liners or empty banter, like many mainstream

Mary McLain is a film production sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who loves sandwiches and social media.

action movies. This cast, as dynamic as it is diverse, creates a fine balance of authority and quirk, making the plot easy to digest and the emotional stakes of their actions compelling in every scene. Even though the

story takes place in 1879, the importance of the characters mission keeps the lengthy film gripping throughout the movie. Pa c k e d - f u l l o f a c t i o n sequences, the film is guaranteed to leave the audience

feeling that they can take on any enemy with just a horse and a revolver. The extensive final battle of the film is clean and compelling, with plenty of emotional development between stretches of shootouts and explosions. The film features a plethora of excessively dope action shots of all the heroes, although it is worth mentioning that Pratt dominated about 80 percent of these. The cherry on top of the epic old west spectacle is the

music. The classic theme from the 1960s film shows up in delightfully subtle ways throughout the remake. Anyone raised on westerns surely will feel some nostalgic joy when the triumphant and distinctly American score sneaks up on certain scenes. Prepare to get lost in the thrill The Magnificent Seven provides, and get yourself to a theater fast so you don’t miss this one on the big screen.

Columnist discusses ID card access in Norick Art Center For many students, ID cards can be used as keys to certain buildings, and, depending on the level of access, students can get into different parts of campus for studying and homework needs. This is convenient because students don’t always follow a typical work schedule. But this easy access isn’t a resource for everyone. More often than not, the Norick Art Center is an overlooked building on campus. Unlike Wanda L. Bass Music Center, a select few students go in and out of NAC, and the majority of these students are art

and film majors. With only one floor, the NAC could never compare to Wanda in size. But one aspect that both buildings have in common is that they cater to students who require access into those buildings during off hours. For students who frequent Wanda’s practice rooms, access isn’t a difficult thing to come by if a student’s ID card has permission to unlock practice rooms. A student’s ID is especially crucial when this kind of access to practice rooms is a daily necessity. Unfortunately, film and art students need this daily access as well, but don’t have the ability to

Madelyn Parker is an English and studio art sophomore who loves to rant about feminism and tell stories.

swipe in and out of the NAC. The only card swipe is on the south side of the building and it is broken. “We tried to get it fixed,” said Mike Wimmer, art professor, “but we were told it was too expensive.” Though the number of art

and film students may be low, access to the studio or computer lab is just as vital to classwork and assignments as practice rooms are vital for majors who use Wanda. As an art major, I often need to put studio work in during late hours because I, and many other art students, don’t have time

during the day. But, if someone’s not in the NAC already, the only way to access the studio is to call campus police. It can take 10 to 15 minutes for an officer to arrive at the NAC to unlock it. Not only does this make me and a lot of other students who require access to NAC on a regular basis feel annoyed, but I often feel like I’m going to too much trouble just to get into a building where most, if not all, of my supplies are located. Students call campus police so often that there’s a list of pre-approved people who get access to the building afterhours and on weekends.

As frustrating as it is feeling like a burden to campus police, sometimes they don’t have that list to check when a student calls. This can still be the case after two months into the semester. And this can be really frustrating, especially when, like me, you’ve been let into the building on many occasions before. There is no reason for the campus police not to trust you, and all you want to do is work on your homework. The only thing left for an art or film student to do is hold out hope that the list will come out soon.

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

OCU students… as we are in the midst of cooler temps and midterms, we also draw very near the holiday most enjoyed by many college students around the country… Halloween. As someone who cares about you and the feelings of all members of our campus and local communities, I ask that you take special care in selecting your Halloween costume. Please keep in mind that certain costumes inappropriately perpetuate racial, cultural, and gender stereotypes. Though it may not be the intent, wearing these costumes can be offensive or hurtful to others. So, if you choose to participate in Halloween festivities, please be thoughtful and respectful as you celebrate. In the end, I hope you enjoy one another, have fun, and be safe. With OCU Pride, Dr. Amy Ayres Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

WEDNESDAY Midnight Breakfast from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the caf THURSDAY Chapel from 1-2 p.m. in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel Choirs recital from 8-10 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center Project 21 concert from 8-10 p.m. in medium rehearsal hall in Wanda L. Bass Music Center FRIDAY Deadline to apply for December graduates

October 12, 2016, Volume 110, Number 33

Donovan Lawson, Olivia Johnston, Kelsey Simmons, Ali Wonderly Staff Writers: Taylor Rey, Prisca Lynch, Chandler White, Zoe Travers, McAlyn Forbes, Tatum Nelson, Nicole Waltman Senior Staff Writer: Emily Wiley

SATURDAY Deadline to apply for Study Abroad Scholarship for winter or spring 2017 SUNDAY Coming Home film screening from 2-4:30 p.m. followed by discussion in Kerr-McGee Auditorium in Meinders School of Business Intramural flag football from 2-6 p.m. on intramural sports field

MONDAY Fall break - no classes Evensong Worship from 8-9:30 p.m. in Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel TUESDAY Fall break - no classes WEDNESDAY Coffee with Cops at 8:30 a.m. in Walker Hall lobby Blue-White Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Belle Isle Restaurant, 50 Penn Place

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,

Student Choreography Show "Hit the Lights" at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. in Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center

The Student Publications staff welcomes unsolicited material and let-

Film Critics: Danielle Petersen, Mary McLain 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.

October 12, 2016

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Courtney Beyer Student Publications

Skriker, no skriking! Dana Noel and Franziska Harms, acting juniors, portray teenage sisters “Lily” and “Josie” in TheatreOCU’s Stage II production of The Skriker on Oct. 5. The play tells the story of an ancient fairy who transforms into objects and people throughout the play, as she pursues, befriends and seduces the sisters. Top: Dana Noel, acting junior; Allison Hudson, acting senior, and Harrison Langford, acting sophomore, perform in The Skriker. Hudson portrays the titular character, while Langford is part of the ensemble which performs in movement pieces.

Students receive evacuation alerts from another university Sage Tokach WEB EDITOR

Some students on campus received false emergency alerts around 8:30 p.m. Oct. 5. The messages warned students to “calmly evacuate all buildings” and “wait for further instructions.” The same number sent a correction message soon afterward saying there was an emergency on the campus of “UNIVERSITY PARK.” The messages originated

from Lonestar College in Houston, Texas, said Rod Jones, assistant director of media relations. Rave Mobile Safety is the contractor that provides the emergency alert system for Lonestar. “Lonestar just recently set up their system and loaded a set of data that included contacts from both past and present students – rather than just their active student population,” Jones said. Some OCU students were

affiliated with Lonestar College because of summer classes or dual credit courses in high school. Because Lonestar did not narrow or update their emergency contact list, some OCU students received the alerts, as well as other students in the Oklahoma and Texas area. The original cause of the alert was a gas leak at Lonestar’s University Park campus. Firefighters took care of the problem immediately, and no one was hurt.

“When OCUPD was notified, we immediately investigated to see if anything happened on campus,” Lt. Michael Kavenius said. “We realized it was a system flaw, and we’ve been in communications with Rave. They’re going to look to change their system to include university’s identifiers on the messages.” Some OCU students posted on Facebook when they received the text alerts, warning other students about the potential danger.

“I was in my sorority house and asked if anyone got the same message, and they hadn’t,” said Shelby McCarver, acting sophomore. “We immediately posted about it on Facebook to see if anyone else had received it. We waited it out for a while then realized other schools were getting the same messages.” Dancers in the student choreography show were rehearsing in the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment when the emergency

texts went out. The students paused the rehearsal and evacuated the building until they confirmed their safety. “We are very serious about our safety for our students, staff, and faculty,” Kavenius said. “We truly feel this is a great system. We’d like to see everyone continue take it seriously.”

OKC Ballet opens OCU offices McAlyn Forbes STAFF WRITER

The Oklahoma City Ballet has offices on the second floor of Gold Star Memorial Building. The Ballet has a studio at 7421 N. Classen Blvd. that includes some office space, but they have grown larger in the last few years and needed more room, so they were granted free use of the space in Gold Star. Oklahoma City Ballet is considered to be one of the School of Theater’s profes-

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sional partners, meaning that students in the program have opportunities to work with the Ballet, specifically in the design and production aspects. Other professional partnerships include Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, and Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre. “We’re growing that collaboration almost exponentially every year,” said Courtney DiBello, adjunct professor of stage management. DiBello said that housing the Ballet helps to solidify the ties between them and OCU. Not only is there an agreement

on paper, but the two are sharing the same space. DiBello is also a company manager for the Ballet, further strengthening the ties between the Ballet and OCU. Students have a positive reaction to the Ballet being on campus. “It gives students an opportunity to work on projects outside of plays and musicals, and that’s something really beneficial,” said Amanda Miller, acting sophomore.

PA program to host Fun Run Nicole Waltman STAFF WRITER

The Physician Assistant program is hosting a “Trick or Treatment” 5K and one-mile Fun Run to raise money. The race begins at 9:45 a.m. Oct. 22 at Ann Lacy Stadium. All money raised will go toward JD McCarty Center, a place for children with developmental disabilities in Oklahoma. The PA class chose to specifically benefit the division of the charity called “Camp ClapHans.” The camp allows children with a variety of disabilities and special needs the opportunity to go to summer camp in a safe and fun way, said Sarah Campbell, vice president of the PA class and 5K coordinator. The event is family friendly, and runners are encouraged to dress safely in Halloween costumes. There will be trickor-treating, face painting and Halloween games for families at the Fun Run. Plus, the 5K route is certified by USA Track & Field, and it winds through OCU’s campus and beyond, Campbell said. October 12, 2016

Our class has made it a priority to set the important tradition of supporting local charities for future classes. Sarah Campbell PA class vice president 5K coordinator

The start/finish line and check-in, are on NW 27th Street between the Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center and the Ann Lacy softball stadium. “An important part of being a PA is helping others in the community,” Campbell said. “As a new PA program, we are excited to involve more of our OCU community into our classroom experience.” She said that all students, faculty and members of the community are encouraged to join, and children are welcome as well. “One founding goal of the OCU PA program is for our students to give back to the community,” said Dr. Daniel McNeill, director of the physician assistant program. “The run our inaugural class has organized is certainly a testament to the zeal

in which the PA students are pursuing that goal.” The 36 members of the inaugural class were chosen from 97 students, after having almost twice as many applicants than last year. Participants can register for the event by going to www.signmeup.com/116493. “Our class has made it a priority to set the important tradition of supporting local charities for future classes,” Campbell said. “We’re eager to see how our partnership with the JD McCarty Center can expand, and look forward to introducing this great organization to the OCU community.”

lifestyles

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Donovan Lawson Student Publications

Speech and Debate

Caitlin Gibbons, acting junior, sings an original song for her video blog as Austin Wyatt, acting

freshman, watches online in Out of the Box’s production of Speech and Debate. The show had

performances at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 7-8 in Clara E. Jones Administration Building. Left: Jeffrey Laughrun, music theater sophomore, plays “Howie” in Speech and Debate. The next Out of the Box production, The Mystery of Love and Sex, performs Nov. 11-12.

Governing bodies:

SGA hosts first Prexie Club meeting with ‘unsuccessful’ attendance Sage Tokach WEB EDITOR

Representatives from five of the 80 campus student organizations attended Student Government Association’s first Prexie Club meeting Sept. 29. SGA officials considered the attendance unsuccessful, though it benefited those present, said David Hall, SGA chief of staff. “We take the blame, but we did find that many organizations’ OrgSync accounts were outdated, making it hard to get in touch with them,” Hall said. “Obviously, spreading the word through mass email and word-of-mouth was not enough.” The meeting focused on clarification of the SGA grading scale and tips to help organizations improve their grades. The grading scale helps SGA determine how much money to allot to each

organization each semester. Organizations apply for allotments, which allow them to automatically receive money for the semester. Allotments are different from bills, which allow organizations to apply for excess money during the semester. Representatives from Out of the Box, a student-run theater organization, attended the meeting and cleared up several budget questions, said Amanda Miller, acting freshman. “Plus they always keep attendance in mind when they’re giving out money,” she said. About 14 organizations applied for allotments last semester, and each received $200-$300, Hall said. SGA chooses which organizations deserve higher allotments based on their grading scale, which gives each organization a rating between one and five, based on five categories: 1. Volunteer hours Organizations can log the hours their members volunteer

I want organizations to get involved and communicate with SGA as much as possible. We’re here to clarify and help. David Hall chief of staff Student Government Association

on OrgSync. They also can host philanthropic events to earn more volunteer points, but student-funded events like Pancake Palooza would not count, since students must pay an entrance fee. The more volunteering the better, but SGA wants a minimum of one volunteer hour per member, Hall said. 2. Fundraising efforts SGA wants to see fundraising attempts, including anything from ads to donations, even if it’s something as simple as one bake sale every semester, Hall said. “We’re more willing to give you money if we see

you’ve been trying to raise it yourself,” he said. 3. Impact on campus SGA evaluates the number and type of students the organization impacts on campus. SGA is more likely to give money to organizations that have a larger impact, Hall said. 4. Student involvement This includes membership numbers, as well as attendance at organization events. SGA wants their money to benefit as many students as possible, Hall said. 5. SGA involvement SGA considers the organization’s participation in SGA

events like Homecoming and Spring Sing, as well as members’ attendance at Prexi Club meetings, Senate sessions and SGA office hours. During the meeting, Hall discussed ways for organizations to improve their grades, and encouraged organizational leaders to update and maintain their OrgSync profiles. “OCU has about 80 active student organizations, and SGA cannot keep statistics for all of them,” Hall said. “The more information members can provide about their volunteering, attendance, fundraising, and impact, the better they will do on the scale.” Hall also introduced a new method of fundraising. Through SGA, any organization can set up a Papa Johns pizza account. From there, anyone who uses that account to buy pizza from one of the 10 Papa Johns in the area (whether they are a member or not) will receive 40 percent off their pizza order and 10 percent

of the bill payment will go toward the organization. SGA will host six more Prexie Club meetings this year. The next one will be at 1 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. Hall said a representative from each campus organization should attend. Main topics of discussion will include last-minute Homecoming clarifications, and details about allotment and billing processes. “I plan to send out a recap and a tip sheet for grading scale improvement to all organization leaders by the end of the week,” Hall said. “I want organizations to get involved and communicate with SGA as much as possible. We’re here to clarify and help.”

SAC gets increased budget, plans more activities for students Chandler White STAFF WRITER

Student Activities Council has received an increased budget for the semester. SAC is in charge of activities like Homecoming and Free Movie Nights. The increase in their budget enables them to put more money toward the events that bring the campus together, such as Midnight Breakfast,

which is from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday. SAC’s budget for the semester is $30,250, and the biggest allocation is for Homecoming with $11,500. Officials were uncertain of the amount of last year’s budget, but knew this year’s was more. The budget already is being managed in new ways by Shannon Beshears, SAC vice president. Beshears, who has led SAC

since March 2016, doubled SAC’s tailgate budget to $2,000 per semester, intending to use it to benefit and plan more events with the athletics department. Beshears said she delegates and organizes committees with specific people reserved for specific events. By doing this, the labor of SAC is broken down into individual processes managed by multiple minds. “The more people that you have looking over an event, the

more ideas that can spawn from that,” Beshears said. “More perspectives on an idea always tend to make it better.” The council also gears their activities toward the student body’s needs. “People were concerned that there was only one Homecoming game that people might miss, so we created three different Homecoming games,” Beshears said. “Students found kickoff to be little uneventful,

so we’re doing a carnival. “We’re just trying to spice up things.” Ultimately, the future of SAC rests in the smaller organizations of campus. By becoming involved with already established institutions, SAC aims to secure more connections to the other bodies of campus, rather than act as a remote, detached body in itself. This is greatly through the use of OrgSync, an online network system

that connects students to the organizations and programs on college campuses. “OrgSync makes it easy for groups to connect with their members as well as get information out easily,” said Callie Dewees, acting sophomore. “It just helps groups run smoother.”

Student development offers leadership workshops Taylor Rey STAFF WRITER

Student organizations can request assistance from the associate dean of students for leadership and developmental training and workshops. These “Programs in a Box” are designed to help the organizations grow closer together as a group and learn to work better together. There are four programs offered: -“Bystander Intervention Training,” which is to educate students on how to prevent various types of violence that can be introduced in an environment where alcohol is being used; -“Conflict Resolution,” which is about learning how to successfully problem-solve with other people; -“True Colors,” a personality assessment and how to October 12, 2016

work with other people who have a different personality than yourself, and -“Strategic Team Building,” which is composed of team building exercises. Levi Harrel, assistant director of student development, said the training could benefit any organization on campus. “We felt like there could be a need for this on campus and we were looking to see if there was a way to make these types of programs available to more students,” he said. “Any program who needs to can come and talk to us and we can customize a program for them. We also think this is a great way to showcase student development.” The programs are open to any on-campus organization looking for a presenter to facilitate a leadership development workshop. Elaine Weatherby, acting

junior, said she’d like to learn more about what the workshops are like. “I think that this is a really good idea. I’m curious if they could do a sample of what this would be like on the quad so more students can hear about it,” she said. For more information on the workshops students can visit okcu.edu/students/leadership/workshops or email Harrel at ljharrel@okcu.edu or Lesley Black, associate dean of students, at lgblack@okcu.edu. Harrel and Black organized the G.O. OCU event last month. The event, also known as Get Organized OCU, was a half-day student leadership conference focused on developing personal leadership.

Miguel Rios Student Publications

Leading youth Maria Velasquez, keynote speaker for the Latino Youth Leadership Conference, eats lunch with HSA President Bequer Gomez at the conference Oct. 7 in Meinders School of Business. HSA hosts the conference each year, inviting high school students from local schools. This year, more than 90 students got the opportunity to attend a college fair and learn about higher education through workshops led by community leaders.