The Vista Feb. 4, 2010

FEB 4,10 ` ?

Campus Quotes

Medical Examiner's office to UCO

Students answer: Colts or Saints?

Why?

Broncho Buddies

UCO Basketball

Approval of Oklahoma State Senate Bill 738 would make it offical.

Program designed to help international students.

Both men and women's basketball teams are in first place.

uco360.com twitter.com/uco360

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA'S students voice since 1903.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Corporation Commission plans to furlough employees to deal with budget shortfalls.

The commission announced the furloughs Tuesday.

Employees will take unpaid leave on February 12, March 19, April 9, April 30, May 14, May 28, June 1 and June 25.

All commission offices will be closed those days.

Commission spokesman Matt Skinner says the agency employs about 350 people.

He says about 10 percent of the work force was cut last year through voluntary buyouts and other reductions.

Director of administration Brooks Mitchell says the furlough plan is subject to change depending on funding. The commission had planned to furlough workers last year but canceled the plan before it took effect.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma soldier and a soldier from New Hampshire have died in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense announced Tuesday that 39-year-old Army Capt. David Thompson and 19-year-old Spc. Marc Decoteau died Friclay of injuries they sustained in Wardak province.

The U.S. Army Special Operations Command provided no specific information on how the men died. According to a news release, the deaths are under investigation.

Thompson, of Hooker, was commander of Operational Detachment Alpha 3334, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. The Army says he enlisted in 1989.

It was the first deployment for Decoteau, of Waterville Valley, N.H., who was assigned to the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg.

Campus Life

BARBARIAN HORDE TAKES THE FIELD IN MURDAUGH'S FROZEN TRADITION The only rules of the game: no shirt, no pants. Participants may only wear undergarments, a loincloth and shoes.

The tradition began five years ago with four participants. That number has grown to 27.

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FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Murdaugh Barbarian Horde Football tradition began five years ago with founding players Aramis Douglas and Matthew Gossom. Douglas, Gossom and two other friends decided to play football in their underwear in the snow. That number has grown to 2Z including residents of Murdaugh Hall, Campus Suites, Central Plaza and West Hall. The only rules of the game are: no shirt, no pants. Participants may only wear undergarments, a loincloth and shoes. Students spent two hours in the Murdaugh Hall lobby cutting out loincloths and applying war paint.

Students ran screaming to the field by Buddy's and were visibly miserable from the icy cold wind. Many of the students described the first time hitting the snow from being tackled as being the worst part of the whole experience. The game lasted for 10 minutes, and then the players ran back inside Murdaugh Hall, shivering. Go to uco360.com for more photos.

Campus

NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION BRINGING CAMPUS CLOSER TOGETHER

By Allison Cid / Contributing Writer

TOMORROW H 42°

The Older, Wiser Bronchos is a campus group of nontraditional students who meet on a bimonthly basis to discuss issues facing UCO and the community and stay informed about activities and events on campus.

According to the group's founder, Nathan Box, a variety of things can make a student nontraditional: being 24 years old or older, having had an interrupted collegiate tenure, being engaged, married, divorced or being a parent. "Basically anything that makes you different than your average 18-year-old," Box said.

After attending a conference last year, Box noticed there were several groups like the Older, Wiser Bronchos across the country and saw a need for one at UCO. Box believes nontraditional students feel isolated. The group provides

a chance for them to mingle and meet other students in similar circumstances. "We hope the members find things in common, see that there are other students going through the same struggles, and realize they are not alone," Box said.

Members talk, but they act as well. The student organization creates programs, advocating day care and family housing on campus. The programs, according to Box, are built with commuter and nontraditional students in mind. Keith Falcon, a member of the group, believes the Older, Wiser Bronchos gives him a voice.

"The college experience is very different for a person who is 18 years old and just coming out of high school than it is for a person who has been in the work world for 20 plus years," Falcon said. "So what works for a traditional student, doesn't necessarily work for a nontraditional student." Falcon

believes participation in the group allows him to play a part in making issues known to the school.

Box tries to make nontraditional students understand that both age groups are intimidated. "An 18-year-old kid has been around people that are in his age group, then you come to college and sit next to someone who is 40, 50, 60 years old, and it's mind-blowing," Box said.

Box thinks the group provides its members with a sense of belonging. "Everybody wants to know that someone cares about them," he said.

Students interested in The Older, Wiser Bronchos are invited to attend a meeting on the last Friday of the month in Nigh University Center, Room 312.

There are no dues or outside requirements. "Come as you are and keep coming back," Box said. For further information contact Nathan Box at 9743655.

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OKLAHOMA IMMIGRATION LAW CHALLENGED OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Tuesday upheld much of an injunction against Oklahoma's tough anti-illegal immigrant law but said the state can now force public contractors to cross-check employee names against a government list of eligible workers.

In a divided opinion, a three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled

that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several other pro-business groups had legal standing to challenge Oklahoma's immigration law.

The law sought to subject businesses that hire illegal immigrants to financial penalties, dictate who can and cannot be fired and require contractors to withhold taxes for workers without proper documentation.

The panel said that though the plaintiffs would likely triumph with most of their claims, Oklahoma can direct employers to a federal database of workers eligible to work in this country.

The judges also granted Attorney General Drew Edmondson some immunity from the lawsuit.

Countinues on page 3

OPINION

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THE VISTA 100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034 (405)974-5549 editorial@uco360.com The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, semi-weekly during the academic year except exam and holiday periods, and only on Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.

EDITORIALS Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO. LETTERS The Vista encourages letters to the editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters must be typed, double-spaced, with a maximum of 150 words, and must include the author’s printed name, title, major, classification and phone number. Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of questionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters.

Address letters to: Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Dr., Edmond, OK 730345209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be e-mailed to vistauco@gmail.com.

STAFF

Editorial

Laura Hoffert, Editor In Chief Kory Oswald, Managing Editor Elina Golshani, Copy Editor Chris Wescott, Sports Editor

Tiffany Brown, Senior Staff Writer Jenefar De Leon, Staff Writer Ryan Costello, Staff Writer

Advertising Kris Graham

Byron Koontz Garett Fisbeck

Circulation

Editorial Comic

Stephen Hughes

Prakriti Adhikari

Adviser Mr. Teddy Burch

Photography

Administrative Assistant Tresa Berlemann

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DO YOU AGREE WITH GOV. HENRY’S DECISION TO USE 80% THE RAINY DAY FUND TO MAKE UP THE STATE’S 2011 BUDGET SHORTFALL?

Give us your opinion at twitter.com/uco360.

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Management

By Prakriti Adhikari/ Cartoonist

CAMPUS QUOTES Saints or Colts, why?

ZACH SNIDER

WHITNEY WILLHITE

DOUG COKER

Junior-Music Education

Senior-Early Childhood Education

Freshman-Biology

“Saints. I’m not a big fan of the Colts, and I would like to see someone new win the Super Bowl.”

“Saints. I’m glad that they are going because of everything they went through with Hurricane Katrina.”

“Honestly, not a big fan of either. I was going for the Vikings, but since the Saints beat the Vikings, I have to go with the Colts.”

Editorial

OBAMA’S $3.8 TRILLION BUDGET BEING DISSECTED BY BOTH SIDES OF CONGRESS President Barack Obama’s new budget sets two goals that may be irreconcilable: a new round of spending and tax cuts to create desperately needed jobs, and deficit reduction to set the stage for a return to fiscal austerity.

It would be hard enough to do both in less politically turbulent times. But politics will surely be the main driver in this midterm election year as Congress begins to dissect and dismember Obama’s $3.8 trillion blueprint for the 2011 budget year that begins Oct. 1.

Despite new White House assurances on Monday that it is possible to confront simultaneously the nation’s stubbornly high unemployment rate and record trillion-dollar deficits, knives were already being drawn for Obama’s plan on both sides of the aisle.

“None of this is easy, but it is crucially important for the American people,” White House Budget Di-

rector Peter Orzag said as he made the rounds of Monday morning news shows. “Again, get job growth up and get the deficit down over time.”

Obama’s proposal for a three-year freeze on much of the government’s discretionary spending, for instance, quickly drew criticism from some on the left.

Republicans, newly emboldened by a crucial Senate victory in Massachusetts last month, were criticizing other parts of the plan, with some suggesting Obama’s deficittrimming features did not go far enough. “We can do much better than that,” asserted House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio.

Obama’s spending freeze, to be followed by spending caps, would hit many domestic government agencies hard. But off limits would be military, veterans, homeland security and big benefit programs such as Social Security and Medi-

care. Interest payments on the $12.1 trillion national debt would also not be affected.

Obama sought to use his new budget to underscore his shift in priorities away from health care to job creation, a shift that recognizes the depth of economic restlessness among the populace and the changed political dynamics that signal trouble ahead for Democrats.

All presidential budgets are like Kabuki dances, the highly stylized Japanese stage plays where the outcomes are known well beforehand.

The president proposes and the Congress disposes, a maxim that is seldom truer than in this midterm year when Democrats are under severe pressure and where Republicans eyeing congressional gains in November are defiant and have little incentive to cooperate with the majority.

It is Congress, and not the president, that sets spending and tax lev-

els. All the president can do is send up a budget blueprint and make it sound like his proposals are the final word. They aren’t, not by a long shot. Presidents can always veto what they don’t like, but that’s at the very end of the legislative budget road.

Furthermore, Obama, more than other recent presidents, is severely limited in what he can accomplish.

Even though Democrats still control both the House and Senate, they no longer have the 60-vote majority in the Senate needed to thwart GOP filibusters and other delaying tactics.

Perhaps more importantly, the worst recession since the 1930s and two wars have helped reduce tax revenues and swell the national debt to $12.1 trillion. This leaves little room to maneuver, either for Obama or Congress. They can only nibble around the edges.

“In politics, whatever the presi-

dent can get voters to believe becomes the truth, but in economics the numbers establish the facts.

Unfortunately for President Obama, Americans can add,” Peter Morici said. Morici is a business professor at the University of Maryland who has criticized the economic policies of both Obama and former President George W. Bush.

Lawrence Summers, Obama’s chief economic adviser, acknowledges that with an unemployment rate still hovering at 10 percent, the ability of government to help create jobs becomes supremely important.

While the economy grew strongly in the final three months of 2009 and some economists believe the worst recession in decades ended last summer, the dire jobless situation has produced “a statistical recovery and a human recession,” Summers said.

NEWS

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State Law

MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE RELOCATING TO UCO CAMPUS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE

By Tiffany Brown / Staff Writer Unlike the many people who have become death’s victims, the bill to relocate the Medical Examiner’s office to University of Central Oklahoma’s campus is not yet dead.

Just last year, Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge authored Senate Bill 738.

“The resignation of the previous medical examiner and the process of hiring a new one revealed a number of challenges that needed to be addressed within the Medical Examiner’s office,” Coffee said.

“The challenges became even more pressing upon release of the National Association of Medical Examiners report citing deficiencies in the office and revoking its accreditation,” he said.

“Senate Bill 738 was drafted in order to deal with these challenges and find ways to provide an efficient and effective Medical Examiner’s office.”

The office lost its accreditation in 2008. Officials are in the process of attempting to regain accreditation.

Senate Bill 738 was authored before Oklahoma’s ME office began to receive media attention due to the challenges it had been facing.

“The media coverage illuminated to the public and legislators the many challenges the office has been facing,” Coffee said.

“This has presented an opportunity to address many of the issues that have been in the Medical Examiner’s office for years.”

Currently the ME’s office is located in the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

If the bill is passed, provisions under Section 936 would require the Oklahoma Department of Forensic Sciences to be “located in close proximity to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations Forensic Science Center and the University of Central Oklahoma Forensic Science Institute,” Senate bill 738 stated.

The bill had passed the Senate, but failed to gain approval in the House of Representatives. It failed partially due to the provision of relocating the facility.

Representative Doug Cox, a physician who has practiced medicine for 25 years, is one of the several politicians who opposed the legislation.

“The ME office should remain on the campuses of OUHSC (OKC) and OSUHSC (Tulsa) as they presently are,” Cox said.

“Here is why: the ME office is a natural fit of a world-class medical center which OUHSC is rapidly becoming. Medical students, pathology residents and forensic pathology fellows all rotate through or spend the majority of their time at the ME facility.”

“It is deeply involved in medical education so it should remain in close proximity to the medical schools,” Cox said.

“Being located on the med school campus allows quick, easy access to specialties rarely needed to consult on some ME cases.

“Examples are a pediatric neuropathologists, dental consults (remember the dental school is also located on the OUHSC campus), etc. The convenient location and the working relationship with the med schools usually allow these consults to

Oklahoma State Senete Bill 738 is still under debate at the Oklahoma State Capitol building. The Bill would move the ME’s office to UCO. Currently the ME’s office is located in the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

be done at no expense to Oklahoma taxpayers.

“That being said, the ME office desperately needs a cash infusion to upgrade and enlarge their facilities. They have ample room at their present site to remodel and add on to their present building. This may be cheaper than what it would take to relocate to Edmond,” Cox said.

Both Coffee and Cox have recognized the deteriorating status of the Medical Examiner’s office.

“Indeed the ME office has had some problems,” Cox said.

“No. 1 is the slow speed that they are able to sign out death certificates. This is due to a personnel shortage,” he said.

“They have been advertising for a forensic pathologist for over two years (needless to say, those guys don’t grow on trees). Our salary is competitive, but the facilities make it hard to recruit, addressing the need for enlargement, modernization and more clerical personnel,” Cox said.

“We have brought in a new medical examiner. We need to give him a chance to correct some of the problems. We need to legislatively fund improved facilities (on the med school campuses where presently located),” he said.

“The current crisis presents us with an opportunity to provide Oklahomans with a nationally recognized program and office,” Coffee said.

“It is critical to have a world-class medical examiner’s office in Oklahoma—an office that works efficiently during times of turmoil for many families,” he said.

Chief Medical Examiner Collie M. Trant has toured UCO August 2009 and supported the efforts of lawmakers to move the ME’s office close to the university.

UCO President W. Roger Webb has stood in favor of the synergy the ME’s office would create if relocated.

“With the Forensic Science Institute already located in Edmond, moving the Medical Examiner’s office to UCO will create a multitude of educational opportunities, and generate synergy with the Institute and OSBI, providing an opportunity for the medical examiner to be involved in cutting-edge forensic science,” Coffee said.

UCO President W. Roger Webb has stood in favor of the synergy the ME’s office would create if relocated.

“An agreement between members of the Legislature and all parties involved in the reform process is needed to successfully pass this legislation, and we believe the campus at UCO represents the best option for the Medical Examiner’s office,” Coffee said.

Just as life is uncertain, so is the prospect of the ME’s office being relocated to UCO. However, the bill is still active so the

Countinued from page 1 The case will now be returned to the U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City for a judge to decide whether a permanent injunction against the law should be issued, said Charlie Price, a spokesman for Edmondson.

“The court overturned one provision and upheld the other two,” Price said. “Our attorneys are still reviewing the ruling, and we’ll be preparing for the issues in regards to permanent injunctions before the district court.”

Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, who authored the law, said the state has not decided its next course of action. The state can ask for a rehearing before the 10th Circuit, appeal the case to the Supreme Court or allow it to proceed before U.S. District Judge Robin Cauthron, who blocked enforcement of the law.

Terrill described as “hugely significant” the

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court’s decision to allow the state to require use of an Internet-based system of employment authorization for public contractors.

“We could potentially make it mandatory for all businesses if we wanted to do so,” Terrill said. “I have not made that decision yet.”

Business groups had argued Oklahoma was pushing immigration law enforcement onto the backs of employers. The state argued the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 was needed because “illegal immigration is causing economic hardship and lawlessness in this state.”

The plaintiffs will be allowed to challenge a provision in the law that bars businesses from discharging workers who are known U.S. citizens or permanent residents while retaining illegal immigrant workers.

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The court also rejected Oklahoma’s claim that requiring contractors to withhold taxes for undocumented workers was a tax issue and not a civil penalty.

“Its purpose is to regulate conduct rather than to raise revenue,” U.S. Circuit Judge Carlos Lucero wrote for the panel.

The judges did allow Oklahoma to require public agencies or private businesses that do work for public institutions to refer to an Internet-based government list of eligible workers when hiring. Those employers would be barred from hiring anyone who is not the Basic Pilot program list. At the national level, participation in the program is voluntary.

Oklahoma’s decision to make the program mandatory in spite of Congress’ determination that it should be voluntary indicates the

chambers of commerce will likely succeed in showing that the state has undermined Congress’ judgment, according to the court ruling.

“The balance of equities tips in the chambers’ favor, and the public interest is served by an injunction,” the decision says. “Oklahoma does not have an interest in enforcing a law that is likely constitutionally infirm.”

The harshest provisions of the law were set to take effect July 1, 2008, but Cauthron blocked enforcement a month before.

Provisions of the law that survived included a prohibition on transporting or harboring an illegal immigrant and a prohibition against illegal immigrants receiving most public assistance or taxpayer-funded benefits.

The United States receives enough average annual precipition to cover its land area to a depth of about 30 inches. This much water weighs about 6.6 billion tons.

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NEWS

Gospel Choir

International Students

GOSPEL CHOIR SINGS A NEW SONG BRONCHO BUDDIES HELP STUDENTS P H O T O B Y T I F F AY B R O W N

By Chantal Robatteux / Contributor

The Ebony Gospel Choir performs at Unity Fest last semester as part of Homecoming week.

By Tiuanna Harris / Contributor It has been six years since the Ebony Gospel Choir was reformed, and the members are happier than ever with the choir’s new identity and the direction it’s going.

According to the choir’s director, Am’re Ford, the choir enjoys going to different churches in the community and singing and fellowshipping with them. The group meets Monday nights at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry on campus to practice songs picked out

by Ford.

“There are no criteria to join. If you enjoy singing you can come out,” Ford said. “Even if you are not that good at singing you can come out and just listen to the music.”

In the past the choir has been heard at UCO’s Diversity Day and just recently performed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration that was put on by the university.

Ford stated in picking the songs that are sung, he likes to use songs that fit the group. The group members also make suggestions as to the songs they will sing, and Ford says he takes those into consideration as well.

“I try to pick songs I feel will be an effective ministry,” Ford said. “I don’t want to pick songs that only older people will get or that just younger people get. Our mission is really clear in that we want to be effective.”

According to Ford the overall response to

the music has been positive, and people are pleased with what they hear. MeShawn Conley, director of UCO Multicultural Student Services and staff adviser for the group, stated that the choir is very much in demand, and a lot of churches throughout the state request for the group to come visit.

Aside from performing and rehearsal, the group does spend time together hanging out and building a bond much like a family. According to Conley, the group is nondenominational but has a very strong religious foundation.

“The Ebony Gospel Choir is very much a family for those students,” Conley said. “Many times after practice they will share scripture and testimonies with each other.”

Conley stated she believes the choir can be accredited for a lot of recruitment into the university. Potential students see the choir perform and see the camaraderie among the members and want to be apart of it.

The choir performs during the spring and fall semesters and decided to do some events during the past summer as well. According to Ford, historically the group has not participated in any competitions but he thinks that may be a direction the choir will take in the future.

The choir is currently preparing for the Gospel Extravaganza, scheduled for April at one of the Edmond community churches.

Being an international student is a fun and life-altering experience, but there are also downsides to it. One struggles with the language, adjusts to a different lifestyle, and deals with homesickness and loneliness.

UCO’s international office is doing its best to help international students cope with this.

Marco Rodriguez came here eight years ago and was an international student at UCO himself. Now he is the coordinator for the Centre for Global Competency.

He said a program called “Broncho Buddies” has been designed by taking a mentorship program to design a whole semester program. It was started during the fall 2009 semester. “A program like Broncho Buddies did not exist when I came here,” Rodriguez said. “I wish it had.”

Tyler Butler, a student assistant for intercultural activities of the Centre for Global Competency, said it is an intercultural program that helps internationals get involved on campus and brings cultures together. Butler said Buddies who signed up will be paired by common interests.

Billy Elles, a freshman double majoring in public relations and advertising, said Butler and Rodriguez did a good job pairing him up.

“Both really followed through with their surveys in order to match the most compatible.”

The program schedules events about once a month. Butler said these events are encouraged but not mandatory. “Hopefully the students will meet up on their own,” he said.

Last semester the events consisted of meeting your Buddy for the first time, catering food, playing games, going to the art museum, and getting together for WinterGlow.

“They [internationals] will be able to learn more about America, and most of them don’t have cars, so they can have Americans show them around if needed,” Butler said.

“I really like it because most new students came to the USA without knowing anyone, and it is a great program for new students to get to know more about USA’s culture,” Chiu Yee Ong from Malaysia, a senior majoring in kinesiology, said. She has been in America since August 2007. “I have been learning more and more about USA and Oklahoma ever since I joined Broncho Buddy.”

American students also learn more about different cultures. Elles said he loved the program.

PHOTO BY GARET FISBECK

ADJUST, LEARN ABOUT CULTURES

Marco Rodriguez is the coordinator for the Centre for Global Competency, which oversees the Broncho Buddies Program.

“I loved being able to learn about other cultures and interact with people from all across the globe. It was also a convenient program because the Buddies were able to decide when they would/could meet.” He added his Buddy was from China, so he learned a lot about the one-child policy and how it’s only implemented in certain parts of the country.

Weldon Rice, an interpersonal communications major, said he learned a lot about public transportation differences from his Broncho Buddy, Ma Biao from China.

“He took a train or subway to get places. It was interesting to see the way he got around to friends in his home country compared to Edmond and my hometown, Marlow.”

Last semester there were 75 Broncho Buddies, and so far, 50 Students signed up for this semester.

Elles said he would recommend this to other students, and responded to the question if he’d sign up for it again with, “Heck yes. In fact, I already have.”

Students can sign up to be “Broncho Buddies” this semester until Feb. 12 by filling out an application form in the international office or by e-mailing Butler at tbutler9@uco.edu.

Rodriguez said the kickoff event, “Broncho Buddy Bash,” will be held 6-8 p.m. Feb. 17, where the Broncho Buddies will meet one another for the first time.

CAMPUS LIFE

Congratulations to our Living/Learning Community Academic Scholars!

Alicia Ellis Kaitlyn Soblaskey Stephanie Alexander Chassiti Dudley Kathryn Willhoite Sun Hao Delisa Young Mariah Bennett Tiana Davis Derrisha Howard Miguel Frausto Tiffany Leach Isaiah Jones Morgan Rohring Tiffany Thompson Janee Brown Patrick Harrel Tricia Dye Jessika Davis Sarah Johnson Jonnie Lacy Shaylee Kimbro Jovan Pride Sponsored by: Inasmuch Foundation For more information: www.uco.edu/learningcommunities

CAMPUS YIELDS TO WINTER WEATHER

By Tiffany Brown / Staff Writer The winter weather has put the brakes on several campus activities and events at the University of Central Oklahoma, but it has not caused sponsors to spin out of control on the ice.

Since the storm left Oklahoma in a state of emergency, many schools such as UCO canceled classes early on Thursday and closed on Friday to protect students, faculty and staff.

Events and activities were also postponed or canceled as a result.

The Beta Exodus Chapter of Beta Sigma Chi Christian Sorority Inc. is one organization that has been affected by the weather.

The Christian sorority organized a fashion show that was going to be held Jan.18.

“The purpose for the fashion show is to raise money for and let people know about a women’s program we are starting called ‘Stepping Stones,’” Brittany Bowens, president of Beta Exodus, said.

“Through Stepping Stones we want to provide women with the skills to be successful.”

Stepping Stones is a program that provides business attire, resume-writing services, mock interviews, etc, as a means to help more women achieve success in the workforce.

Beta Exodus has made the decision not to cancel its fashion show.

“We are in the processes of rescheduling the event at our next meeting, so be on the lookout,” Bowens said.

Having to reschedule an event does not come without a cost.

“The biggest obstacle will be rescheduling to fit everyone’s schedule, but I’m confident it will work out,” Bowens said.

Although the bad weather has caused a change in plan, it has not caused any additional stress, she said. “(We) just have more time to add more creative plans if we want,” Bowens said. “For instance, we came up with the idea to raffle off

a gift card to those that attend to a clothing store for one male and one female.”

The Beta Exodus fashion show will feature men and women’s fashion.

Initially a fee was going to be charged at the original scheduling of the fashion show, but the sorority has decided otherwise.

“We were going to ask for an entrance fee,” Bowens said. “But we decided to change it to a monetary donation of any amount,” Bowens said.

People can also bring clothing to donate to attend the event, Bowens said. The money will be used, in part, for the sorority’s Stepping Stones program.

While the university may be gearing up for additional winter storms that may continue to cause problems for many, Beta Exodus is looking forward to the fashion show.

“This is a wonderful way to come out and see some clothing you might like for yourself and to get some laughs. Just come to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself,” Bowens said.

“People coming out will be supporting a great cause!”

In addition to the fashion show, pink boxes were placed in places on campus such as the Nigh University Center for a business clothing drive organized by Beta Exodus.

Beta Exodus is looking to collect blouses, coats, dress shirts, dress pants, slacks, shoes and jackets.

“The boxes will be set out for people to drop clothes, shoes, accessories, etc., off until Feb. 19,” Bowens said.

Other events and activities either canceled or rescheduled due to the winter storm include football tryouts and Hamilton Havoc.

Tryouts were originally scheduled for Jan. 29-Feb.1, and have been moved to Monday, Feb 8. They will be held at Hamilton Field House from 4-5 p.m.

As of yet, there has been no word on whether Hamilton Havoc will be rescheduled.

5

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SERVICES

The Language Company: Edmond

Conveniently located on the UCO campus, offers English as a second language classes for international students/individuals.

NOW FEATURING a specially designed program with: With Strong emphasis in listening /speaking, highly interactive classes , and new and improved TOEFL program.

Enjoy small classes and the campus facilities. Contact us at (405) 341-2125 or www. thelanguagecompany.com Reporters Needed The Vista is looking for reporters to help cover campus news. Ten hours a week at minimum wage, plus invalucable experience gathering and writing news, which will result in classy cutlines for your portfolio. Stop by The Vista office, room 131, in the Mass Communications bldg, or inquire at 974-5548.

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Do the right thing.

Recycle this issue of The Vista, Go Green!

Across

Down

1. Declines 5. Awakened 10. ___ carotene 14. “Get ___!”

15. Oblivion 16. “... happily ___ after” 17. Apple variety 18. Golden Horde member 19. Weaken 20. By ultrasound 23. Hawaiian tuber 24. Reverse, e.g.

25. Too late 28. Government agency for medical research 30. Change, chemically 34. Spain and Portugal 36. Bleat 38. ___ Appia 39. Pregnancy issue 43. Sticker 44. 20-20, e.g.

45. Old measure of capacity 46. Bucks 49. “___ calls?”

51. Coach 52. Certain Scandinavian 54. The America’s Cup trophy, e.g.

56. Angiospermous plants

1. .0000001 joule 2. Bridges of Los Angeles County 3. Event attended by Cinderella 4. Untidy woman 5. Church part 6. Justification 7. “Beetle Bailey” dog 8. Chinese seaport 9. Like “The X-Files” 10. Buyer ___ 11. “... there is no ___ angel but Love”: Shakespeare 12. Be a snitch 13. Affectedly creative 21. Pie cuts, essentially 22. “Wheels” 25. Arms and legs 26. Circa 27. ___ cotta 29. “A Doll’s House” playwright 31. Deflect 32. Kid’s name 33. Electric dart shooter 35. Amazon, e.g.

37. Appear 40. State of being abnormally large 41. Moved quickly 42. See circled squares 47. Unit of inertial force 48. Order to attack, with “on” 50. “Old ___” 53. Star bursts 55. Beat 56. Soccer ___ 57. Elliptical 58. “I, Claudius” role 59. Bind 60. “Good going!”

61. Increase, with “up” 65. Driver’s lic. and others

62. “Your turn”

63. Kind of concerto 64. South American monkey 66. Artist Chagall

Rearrange the letters in each word to spell something pertaining to elections.

67. Questioner

BCNEURPLIA

69. ___ gin fizz

68. Decorated, as a cake 70. File 71. Wild edible mushrooms

SUDOKU

1

6 3 7 3 6 2 1 5 7 8 9 3 6 7 5 6 5 3 9 8 1 6 4 2 1 3 5 2 6

ANSWERS FROM JAN. 28

8 7 4 2 6 1 9 5 3

5 2 6 8 9 3 7 1 4

3 1 9 7 4 5 8 6 2

1 8 5 4 2 6 3 9 7

4 6 3 9 1 7 2 8 5

2 9 7 5 3 8 6 4 1

7 3 8 6 5 4 1 2 9

6 5 2 1 7 9 4 3 8

9 4 1 3 8 2 5 7 6

ANSWER: Republican

SPORTS

6

UCO Basketball Opinion

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PHOTO SERVICES

40 GAMES IN, WHERE DO THEY STAND?

Blake Livingston (above) leaps over defenders to shoot a jumper in the paint in Monday’s victory over Northeastern State University.

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer

The voids in the UCO men’s team were forged with the departure of graduating seniors David Thomas, DeAngelo Garrett, Adam Terneus and Lance Harper. Michael Sosanya, a promising sophomore for UCO last year, also left for greener pastures, earning himself a spot on the Oklahoma State University football depth chart as a defensive end.

Thomas started 29 of UCO’s 30 games, averaging 11.7 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. Garrett and Terneus combined for 19 starts and both averaged at least 16 minutes a contest. Sosanya played in a starting role 17 times for the Bronchos last year, averaging 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per contest.

Harper could easily have been considered the Bronchos greatest loss, having led the team in points (16.8), rebounds (8.0) and shooting percentage (55 percent).

The women’s crew entered the season faced with a daunting task as well after losing the services of Lizzie Brenner and Mallory Markus, who both started in all 33 of UCO’s contests last year. Brenner led the team in nearly every statistical category last season, setting the pace for the Bronchos in points (14.8), rebounds (8.6), steals (2.8), blocks (1.7) and minutes (31.6) per game. Markus contributed 9.5 points in 31.2 minutes per contest and led the team in three-point shooting at 40 percent.

Don’t Rebuild …

The rosters for both the men and women of UCO basketball started the season with what an onlooker might consider some substantial holes. The men lost four of their top six scorers from a successful 2008-2009 team, and the women would go into the season missing two of their top starters from last year’s strong squad.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PHOTO SERVICES

With some spare time in the wake of Oklahoma’s most recent unrelenting and regionally unseasonable winter storm, the minds behind the Vista sports page thought to review UCO’s basketball fortunes nearly two-thirds into this season.

Fresh off of wins for both teams on Monday night against the RiverHawks of Northeastern State University, the men and women of Broncho basketball have climbed to the top of their respective conference standings in the Lone Star North. With an abundance of concerns heading into the season, the Bronchos

have to this point answered many of those question marks, and in some cases, with exclamation points. So, through a combined 40 games into the Broncho basketball year, what have we learned?

Just Reload ...

Men’s head coach Terry Evans and women’s head coach Guy Hardaker both found players to fill the gaps in their rosters, with some familiar and some unfamiliar faces playing crucial roles for both Broncho squads.

In addition to the already established talents of senior Eric Cazenave and sophomores Brent Friday and Tyler Phillips, the rest of UCO’s most common starting lineup also includes newcomers Chris Rhymes and Dauntae Williams.

Rhymes, a senior transfer from the Division I Titans of Cal State Fullerton, is averaging 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds a game

Consistency: Three-peat

The past two years have seen UCO’s basketball program establish itself among the cream of the LSC North crop. The 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons culminated in a 52-12 overall record and a 21-3 mark in conference for the men, with the women not too far behind posting a 51-14 total record and going 22-4 in conference.

Both Broncho squads are on pace to challenge for their third consecutive LSC North titles, with the men (17-4, 6-0) and women (14-5, 5-1) having just gained a stranglehold on the conference season heading into the home stretch.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PHOTO SERVICES

Alyssa Fuxa (33) inbounds the ball on Monday night.

for UCO. Williams, a junior who played at Seminole State College in Seminole, Okla., has established himself as a dominant force in the LSC. Instead of just filling the shoes of Harper, last year’s team leader, Williams has thus far done one better. Williams leads this season’s Bronchos with 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 30.2 minutes and a 61 percent shooting touch.

Williams’ star status had never been more apparent than the Jan. 27 game against Texas A&M-Commerce, when his career-high 37 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists powered UCO to a 103-91 victory over the Lions.

UCO’s women have seen continued strong play from three of last year’s starters in Cristina Yarbrough, Rose Anderson, and Ashley Beckley, as well as solid contributions and development from key bench players Alyssa Fuxa and Brianne Grisham.

The men weren’t the only ones who welcomed in some fresh talent. Savannah Hamilton, who transferred from the University of Tulsa, has served as an important role player, including back-to-back 20-point efforts while filling in for an injured Beckley. University of Texas at San Antonio transfer Jordan Stark has started every game and led UCO in rebounds (6.7), free-throw percentage (85 percent), and blocks (1.1) while also averaging 12.6 points per game, good for second behind team leader Beckley.

Cristina Yarbrough (5) takes the ball down the court in UCO’s thrilling 77-74 Monday night victory over Northeastern State

SPORTS

7

Men’s Basketball

BRONCHOS STAMPEDE TO FIRST PLACE UCO took control of first place of the LSC North Division Monday with their 84-50 romp of the Riverhawks.

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer UCO’s men’s basketball team faced off against the RiverHawks of Northeastern State University in a Monday night game that featured the final two unbeaten teams in the Lone Star Conference North Division.

NSU won the tipoff. The rest of the game belonged to the Bronchos.

Powered by a ruthless three-point barrage, the Bronchos romped to an 84-50 thrashing of an NSU squad that many expected to give UCO its greatest challenge in what is now a 13-game win streak.

Before their game against UCO, the RiverHawks had held their opponents to just 38 percent shooting, including a paltry 30 percent from behind the arc. Apparently the

Bronchos took that as a challenge.

UCO shot an even 50 percent from distance, hitting a season-best 17 of 34 attempts. Seven different Bronchos hit a three-point basket, as UCO made its long-range intentions clear from the game’s onset, scoring their first 15 points by way of the trey. Courtesy of Dauntae Williams, Eric Cazenave, and Shane Carroll, UCO’s five back-to-back threes were included in an early 25-7 run that put the game out of reach seemingly before it had even started.

Head coach Terry Evans gave a simple summary of his team’s performance.

“Tonight we just came out and executed on both ends,” Evans said.

The Bronchos led by as many as 18 in the opening half, but a late surge by NSU in the first half closed the lead to 10 at 48-38 at in-

termission.

NSU’s comeback hopes were short-lived, however, as two quick layups, one by Chris Rhymes, and the other by Williams off a steal, opened the second-half scoring. From there, the Bronchos never looked back on their way to the convincing 34-point win.

Evans is especially pleased with his team’s offensive production, which at 90.3 points per game ranks fifth in the nation.

“Offensively, we can score. This is the best offensive team I’ve ever had,” Evans said.

UCO was led by Williams, whose 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists gave him the first triple-double by a Broncho player since the 1991 season. Cazenave held game-high honors with 17 points and also dished five assists.

Rhymes scored 16 points; Carroll scored 12;

and Tyler Phillips had another strong outing, notching a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The win puts the Bronchos (17-4, 6-0) alone at the top of the LSC North standings.

UCO will look to tie a school record of 14 straight wins on Feb. 10 as they travel to Weatherford, Okla. to play a Southwestern Oklahoma State team that they dismantled 96-76 earlier this season.

Women’s Basketball

UCO TIES FOR FIRST WITH THRILLING 77-74 WIN

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer UCO’s women faced off against rival and Lone Star Conference North-leading Northeastern State University in a rare Monday night matchup this week, edging out the visiting RiverHawks, 77-74.

The Bronchos and NSU battled back and forth in a crucial contest between two teams jockeying for position in the conference, and the game had all the physicality of a barroom brawl.

“We are not the most physical team, but our girls have some skill.

I know what everybody’s rule is: ‘get physical with them, beat them up, and by the end of the game they’ll be tired,’” Head coach Guy Hardaker said of his opponents’ approach to his team.

On Monday night, however, the Bronchos showed some fight of their own, attacking the basket without relent in the opening minutes. UCO scored their first 13 points from either the painted area or the free-throw line.

When NSU adjusted to UCO’s inside play, the Bronchos started playing from the inside out, starting with a corner three by Brianne Grisham that was assisted by a driving Ashley Beckley.

UCO’s solid play set the stage for a balanced attack that saw nine different players enter the scoring fray, including three that had at least 15 points. Beckley and Cristina Yarbrough both scored 15 for the Bronchos, while Jordan Stark earned game-high honors with 19 on the night.

Despite UCO’s efforts, NSU kept with the home team stride for stride in what was a tight game throughout. The score was deadlocked on 11 different occasions, and the lead, which changed hands 13 times, was never greater than seven.

After Beckley served as the driving force behind the UCO in the first half, with nine of her 15 coming in the first stanza, Stark took the reins for the Bronchos in the opening minutes of the second half.

Stark scored all 12 of her secondhalf points in the opening six and a half minutes, converting on all four of her three-point attempts. “(Stark) was in that situation where when the ball left her hands, she was already headed the other way because she knew (it was going in),” Hardaker said.

When Stark was knocked out of the game following a collision from a screen that sent her own elbow into her ribs, the game was still in a dead heat at 69 points a side. For the last 3:39, the Bronchos would need one more clutch performance to seal the game.

Of Yarbrough’s yeoman 36 minutes, none were more important than those in the game’s deciding sequence of plays.

Yarbrough dominated the final three minutes of Monday night’s contest, combining two rebounds and a steal with her six crucial points, including a layup that gave UCO their final lead with 31 seconds on the clock.

The game was clinched when NSU’s final gasp resulted in two errant three-point attempts in the

waning seconds, giving the Bronchos a well-earned three-point win.

UCO’s latest triumph pushed their record to 14-5 overall and a 5-1 conference mark, giving them a tie for the LSC North lead. The win has Hardaker’s sights set on even bigger goals than just a conference title.

“We needed (this win). We needed it for lots of reasons. We need it for the conference rank, but we also need it for a regional seed (in the national tournament),” Hardaker said.

The Bronchos may finish the week with an outright LSC North lead, gearing up for their trip to Denton, Texas to take on Texas Woman’s (11-7, 5-1).

8

SPORTS

Hockey

NO. 13 BRONCHOS FIGHT FOR PLAYOFFS UCO is fighting to keep its championship hopes alive as they travel to No. 8 Arizona State this weekend.

By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor University of Central Oklahoma athletics has built a history of winning behind the Broncho logo.

Football, soccer, baseball, softball and basketball have all had their winning ways. It is now the club sports that are rising to those expectations that come with wearing the UCO bronze and blue. Hockey in

particular has risen to the occasion.

The Bronchos are ranked 13th in the nation, and yet they are fighting for their season as we head into the final stretch. These next two weeks have big playoff implications.

“The next two weeks are huge for us,” UCO freshman defenseman Tony Bruno said. “They will decide whether or not we go to nationals, which will make or break our sea-

son.”

The Bronchos face two top-10 teams over the next two weeks, before the final rankings, which determine the playoff brackets. If UCO does not move up two spots, they will fail to make the tournament.

UCO plays the No. 8 Arizona State Sun Devils in Arizona this weekend.

They then travel to Illinois to play the No. 4 fighting Illini in a match-

up that has become somewhat of a rivalry over the years.

“We need to sweep Arizona State,” team captain AJ Alfrey said. “I’d also say we have to sweep Illinois too.”

That sentiment is shared throughout the locker room as the Bronchos are facing an uphill battle.

“If nationals were today, we would already be out,” UCO senior captain Brian Thompson said. “We

need both at Arizona State and then one, maybe two against Illinois. We have no room for error. It’s on us to win out.”

UCO is not getting any help from anybody in their pursuit of the playoffs. Kent State, ranked two slots below the Bronchos, and competing for a spot, just beat the No. 1 team in the nation. So the heat is on for Central Oklahoma who had two games canceled this past weekend due to weather.

Although UCO couldn’t get two wins against Colorado State on their resume to help keep them in the hunt, Brian Thompson doesn’t think the canceled games matter.

“I don’t think they really do,” Thompson said. “If we had won or lost, I really think we would have stayed put. So there wasn’t a benefit to those games.”

However, there is a huge benefit to wins they get this weekend and next. Both teams are ranked higher than UCO, and both games are on the road. That is a tough task, but don’t expect to see any down faces on the UCO bench.

“I am fully confident we can do it,” Alfrey said. “We need to focus on it one day at a time, and one game at a time.”

“It’s all on us. We aren’t getting help from any other teams. We never have, but I am still confident we can make nationals.”

Smart money is on the Bronchos having to win the next four games to get into the playoffs.

Three out of four may get them in. However, if they lose two of the next four, their outlook becomes bleak. Can UCO do it?

They beat the No. 1 team in the nation last year. They beat the No. 3 team in the nation on the road this season. They came up with a clutch victory against Iowa State on the road last year when they were fighting for a spot much like this season.

There is little doubt that UCO can win big games, but the margin for error over the next two weekends is so small that it puts a lot of pressure on this squad.

Speaking to some of the fans and coaching staff, it is said that when this Bronchos team is “on their game,” no one can skate with them. Well, they will have to be “on their game” from here on out.

They head to Arizona to face the ASU Sun Devils who are an outstanding 21-6 on the year with three overtime losses. Joe Schweiger leads ASU in points with 61. He also leads the team in goals scored with 27. Patrick Lind and Tim Hurst both have 20 goals on the year. Jarett Costello may not be a scoring threat with just three goals, but he has a team-high 29 assists.

Marc Schacker has played 1,727.72 minutes in net this season. Schacker has a 3.02 goalsagainst average and a 93 percent save rate.

Jonathan Cannizzo, through 31 games, leads the Bronchos in scoring with 19 goals and 35 points. Matt Cohn has scored 11 goals on the year but has 23 assists on his stat sheet. Shawn Steggles is second on the team in goals scored with 14. Steggles also has 9 assists. Patrick Higgins leads the team in assists with 24.

Senior goaltender Justin Sgro is 13-5-1 as a starter and has played 1,469.6 minutes. Sgro has a 3.06 goals-against average and a 90 percent save rate. He has a grand total of 679 saves this year. He has faced 754 shots.

UCO’s next home game is Feb. 19, against big-time rival No. 7 Oklahoma. By that time, the final rankings will have been released and the Bronchos will find out if they have made their second postseason appearance in as many years.