The Vista Feb. 25, 2010

Campus Quotes

Caffeine Awareness

UCO Baseball

Editor’s Draft

Students answer: What is your opinion on the military’s policy don’t ask, don’t tell? Do you think it should be repealed? Why or why not?

Gov. Brad Henry has declared March National Caffeine Awareness Month.

Baseball beats Missouri and gets back to .500.

Sports editor, Chris Wescott chooses his first round draft picks on page 8.

students voice since 1903.

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TODAY

State and campus

CAMPUS FIREARM BILL SEES NEW LIFE, AGAIN A state representative from Guthrie has brought back legislation that would allow licensed gun-carriers to bring concealed weapons onto campus. This is the third attempt in as many years to pass the legislation.

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer The Oklahoma Public Safety Committee is approaching the deadline to consider legislation that could allow licensed faculty and staff to carry concealed firearms on the campuses of Oklahoma’s public universities, including UCO. House Bill 1083, a proposal held over from last year’s committee session, must be addressed by next week if it’s going to be considered by the Oklahoma House and Senate in 2010.

The bill, written by Oklahoma Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie), would grant concealed weapon rights to “any person who possesses a valid concealed handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act … and who is a member of faculty who is primarily charged with classroom teaching responsibilities,” according to Section E of the bill’s text, the most controversial piece of the firearm legislation.

“Some college populations are larger than small Oklahoma towns, and they have these red lines around them (that restrict concealed weapon possession),” Murphey said.

Murphey initially introduced the bill shortly after the Northern Illinois University shooting killed six and injured another 18 in February of 2008.

Though Murphey is a member of

PHOTO BY BYRON KOONTZ

WASHINGTON — This time the apology comes from the top. Toyota president Akio Toyoda tells Congress — and millions of U.S. car-owners — he’s sorry about safety lapses that have led to deaths and injuries and promises the company will do more to fix the problems. The chairman of a House panel blasts both the world’s largest automaker and federal regulators.

WASHINGTON — Signs grow that the recovery is sputtering as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reiterates that record-low interest rates will be needed for “an extended period,” and the Senate passes a jobs bill.

New-home sales hit a record low, and bailed-out mortgage giant Freddie Mac suggests it will need even more taxpayer money.

NEW ORLEANS — In the days after Hurricane Katrina struck, the fatal shootings by police of two men as they crossed a bridge to get food became a symbol of a city in chaos. The expected guilty plea of a former police lieutenant is raising hopes that investigators may finally have penetrated the “blue code” of silence that surrounded the case.

NEW YORK — A surprisingly steep decline in consumer confidence fuels fears that a strong economic recovery is not coming any time soon. A crucial element — greater consumer spending — is missing because Americans are morose about the struggling job market and their economic prospects.

NEW YORK — Employees at Wall Street financial firms collected more than $20 billion in bonuses in 2009, the year taxpayers bailed out the financial sector amid the economic meltdown — a payout sure to be a bitter pill to many Americans. “Taxpayers bailed them out, and now they’re back making money,” the state comptroller said.

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THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FEB 25, 2010

Representative Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie), is the author of House Bill 1083, a proposal from last year’s committee session that will allow any person with a valid concealed handgun license to carry concealed weapons on campus. This will be the third time Murphey has brought the legislation up in committee.

the National Rifle Association, he insisted he wasn’t supporting concealed weapons rights simply to promote Second Amendment rights.

Murphey said House Bill 1083 is

meant only to provide a safer college environment. “(Concealed weapons rights on campus) create doubt in criminals’ minds,” Murphey said.

The first incarnation of the bill gave

concealed weapons rights to more than just faculty.

“Originally, (the bill) had a pretty pure approach,” Murphey said.

Continued on page 3

Close to campus

CAR CRASH INJURES ONE, CLOSES 2ND STREET As a result, Second Street between Rankin and Baumann was closed from 5:20-10:45 p.m., causing vehicles to take a detour away from the road.

Jamie Carpenter, 31, driving eastbound in her SUV with two others, veered off the roadway and struck a utility pole, seriously injuring one of the passengers. The pole landed on top of the vehicle causing the vehi-

By Harish Murali and Rahul Preeth / Staff Writers One person was seriously injured in a car crash that happened Monday at 5:10 p.m. at the intersection of Garland Godfrey and Second Street in front of the UCO campus. The injured, identified as Paul Debout, 42, was airlifted to Oklahoma University Medical Center where he was upgraded from critical to serious condition.

cle to go berserk. The out-of-control SUV ran back onto the roadway and crossed into oncoming westbound traffic, striking a Mercury Marquis and then traveling on for several yards before coming to rest on the sidewalk.

Police believe Carpenter was a caretaker for two passengers in her SUV and was driving under the influence of drugs, Edmond police spokes-

woman Glynda Chu said.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority took the driver of the Mercury, Sorroco Tellez, 48 of Oklahoma City, and Dennis Cullum, 42 of Edmond, to OU Medical Center. Carpenter, who is facing custody charges for driving under the influence of drugs, was transported to Integris Baptist Medical Hospital by EMSA. All three are in stable condition.

Student group

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CAMPUS GROUP PROMOTES SUCCESS

By Jenefar DeLeon / Staff Writer

More weather at www.uco360.com

DID YOU KNOW? Human blood circulates from the heart through the body and back to the heart again in about 45 seconds on average.

The free student Success Group held its first meeting on Tuesday.

The student Success Group hosted the fourth semester of its sessions that help students who are struggling with balancing school and work, or are having conflict with classes, roommates or other problems, hoping to reduce their chances of withdrawing from school.

The group was formed for two reasons – to help reduce the number of students who will have the high risk of withdrawing from college, and to provide experience to the students participating in the counseling psychology master’s program at UCO, Dr. Janelle Grellner, licensed psychologist and supervisor of the program, said.

“Like many other universities, there is a large number of students who

PHOTO BY BYRON KOONTZ

TOMORROW

Sara Williams and Jeannie Massay (center) facilitate Success Groups at UCO. Williams and Massay hope to be effective counselors.

don’t come back to school for some reason and withdraw as the result,” Grellner said. “And our campus recognized that need and wanted to counteract those numbers.”

Grellner believes this gives her graduate students the opportunity to participate and cofacilitate the group sessions along with supervised faculty members who are licensed psychologists.

Before the graduate students could create the sessions, along with faculty help, students had to research the reasons behind why students dropped out of school.

Grellner said it was not the typical answer they thought

Continued on page 4

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

Kory Oswald, Editor-In-Chief Elina Golshani, Copy Editor Chris Wescott, Sports Editor Ryan Croft, Web Editor

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

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Steven Hyde

Byron Koontz Garett Fisbeck

Advertising Kris Graham Brittany Koster

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Stephen Hughes

Tresa Berlemann

Prakriti Adhikari

Adviser Mr. Teddy Burch

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To Student, faculty, and staff:

‘‘

In all my four years of attending this university I have never felt so embarrassed, outraged, and disappointed to be a broncho. When the picture of Barack Obama, our 44th President of the United States of American, was vandalized, I was heartbroken at the fact someone at this great institution would participate in this kind of act, not once but twice. This is not like the university’s culture to disrespect others property whether based on race or political status. As the President of the 6823 Unit of NAACP at UCO; my position is to help inform college students and the community of issues that can affect the advancement of their economic, educational, social, and political status. This incident has reiterated why our mission is just as important today as it was 101 years ago. Our hope is that this senseless act will not happen again, but our purpose is to ensure that it doesn’t. In the upcoming months we will be working with other organizations to develop suggestions on how the University of Central Oklahoma could cultivate an environment that uplift and support underrepresented students and also provide education on the importance of tolerance and inclusion. We encourage the student body to join us on our mission. The NAACP next meeting will be on Monday March, 1 at 2pm in room 201 in the Nigh University Center and are welcome to come and discuss issues on campus and in the community.

‘

Management

By Prakriti Adhikari/ Cartoonist

CAMPUS QUOTES

What is your opinion on the military’s policy don’t ask, don’t tell? Do you think it should be repealed? Why or why not?

ROBBY WOOD

LAUREN STRACAL

LAUREN NAYLAR

Psychology-Sophomore

Psychology-Sophomore

Marriage and Family-Sophomore

“I think it should be repealed, but only if they don’t have to be separate. It shouldn’t matter.”

“I would say that it matters more to others in the army since they have to deal with it.”

“I think there is way too much negativity towards homosexuals.”

Sincerely, Tabitha Terrell NAACP Unit 6823 Senior Human Resource Management and International Trade

ERIC BREWER

MALLORY TOUTELOTTE

K.J. RHODES

Business-Junior

Theatre Performance-Freshman

Theatre Performance-Sophomore

Tell us your thoughts ...

Should the “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy be repealed?

Give us your opinion at twitter.com/uco360.

“I think that the system is fine the way it is. I don’t have much to say other than that.”

“They shouldn’t be forced to say that they are gay, as if it is a problem anyways.”

“It shouldn’t be repealed because [many] people are still bigoted. I don’t think it would beneficial to homosexuals.”

NEWS State and campus continued from page 1

That pure approach gave students more than 21 years of age the right to carry concealed weapons on university campuses.

The original version of the bill soundly passed through the Public Safety Committee with a 14-2 bipartisan vote. The bill was amended to apply only to former military students 21 and older, but died between the state Senate and House.

The current form of House Bill 1083 first came out before the committee sessions in 2009, but was never brought up and was eventually postponed to this year’s session.

The bill could meet the same fate this year if not addressed in the upcoming and final week of the 2010 sessions.

Some faculty members at UCO believe allowing their piers to carry concealed weapons

“This bill ... is inconsistent with us maintaining a safe campus.”

on campus would only increase the danger of gun violence at Oklahoma universities.

Elaine Bartgis, a professor of sociology and criminal justice at UCO, is one teacher who describes herself as adamantly against House Bill 1083.

“I am against anyone carrying firearms on a university campus except commissioned, certified police officers,” Bartgis said.

Bartgis, who served for 15 years in Oklahoma law enforcement, first as a municipal officer, then as an investigator for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation before working at UCO, fears university faculty lack the proper training to carry concealed weapons at their workplace. “[Concealed weapons licenses] require minimal training. Law enforcement officers have to qualify several times a year, and they’re well trained. It’s not just ‘go out there and barely qualify,’” Bartgis said. “I’d be reluctant for even faculty that are former law enforcement officers to carry firearms [on campus].”

The steps required to receive a conceal and carry license in Oklahoma include a safety and training course, accepted application from the OSBI, a background check and a $100 application fee. An Oklahoma license only requires renewal every five years, compared to one for most states.

Jeff Harp, executive director of UCO Police Services, shares that view with Bartgis, and adds that training isn’t enough to justify faculty to carry concealed firearms.

“This bill, and any other bill that would allow anybody other than a currently employed, certified, commissioned law enforcement official to carry a gun on a college campus is inconsistent with us maintaining a safe campus,” Harp said. “It creates risks and dangers for our campus community that far exceed the value that is derived from the legislation itself.”

“Police officers, we carry (firearms) every day. We’re used to the weight of them. We handle them every day, and there’s a familiar-

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Student Health

ity that comes with our training that makes us carrying our weapons inherently safer than the general population,” Harp said.

Though Harp has his reservations, he concedes that he would abide by the law if it is passed.

“We’ll continue to monitor it, and of course if it does come out and get passed, like every other law on this issue, we’ll support it, enforce it, and we’ll move on from there,” Harp said.

David Jenkins, president pro tempore of UCOSA Senate, is one UCO student who supports Murphey’s bill.

“One in 15 Oklahomans have a concealed weapon, and can carry it anywhere in public,” Jenkins said. “But colleges seem to have this bubble around them.”

Jenkins said there are at least 10 higher education facilities that are under similar legislation, including a community college in Virginia and several Utah colleges that are under the state mandate to protect firearm possession on campuses. At those schools, Jenkins said there have been no incidents involving gun violence.

An acquaintance of Murphey, Jenkins said that today’s trepidation among legislators about bills like House Bill 1083 compares to the public fear of gun violence when Oklahoma first adapted concealed weapons rights in 1995.

“There were talks about shoot-outs over parking spots, or accidental discharges in grocery stores,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins argued that the case is the opposite for this instance, presenting his own analogy for restricting concealed gun rights on the campuses of Oklahoma public universities.

“It’s like letting a wolf into a sheep’s bin,” Jenkins said.

If 1083 does survive the committee phase, Jenkins thinks that, although the odds aren’t perfect, it may have its best chance thus far.

“Given the overall election climate,” which Jenkins noted is trending right, “I’d like to say it has a better chance.”

Those against the bill have reasons of their own to believe the bill would stall even if it did pass committee. One that they point at is the scenario at Colorado State University.

CSU had a long-standing reservation for campus carry and conceal rights until last year, when the university’s board of directors voted to restrict those rights on students and faculty on the Fort Collins campus.

Murphey said that some pundits refer to his lack of campus experience as a potential weak point in his defense of 1083.

Murphey was home-schooled and received a degree from Charter Oak State College online, but contends that his campus experience is enough to understand how students and faculty experience college life.

“I know what the environment is like.

[Writing 1083] was not like writing a transportation bill without knowing how to drive,” Murphey said.

With just one week remaining in the current committee sessions, all parties concede that the likelihood of 1083 receiving consideration in 2010 is slim.

If again passed over this year, Murphey plans to watch how firearm legislation evolves throughout the year to determine whether he will again introduce 1083, or similar legislation, in 2011.

MARCH IS CAFFIENE AWARENESS MONTH

By Jenefar DeLeon / Staff Writer Oklahoma became the second state to declare its support to the National Caffeine Awareness Month.

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell was the first to declare March 2010 National Caffeine Awareness Month, along with Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry.

“We receive hundreds of proclamtions each year dfor great causes,” Paul Sund, communication director for Gov. Brad Henry said. “The Caffeine Awareness Alliance spoke to us and we felt that this would be a postive message for Oklahoma’s as part of Henry’s pro-helath agenda.”

It is an annual initiative designed to encourage communities to focus on the awareness and education on the dependency and risks of caffeine and to bring awareness to related issues.

James Allen, assistant director of Health Promotion at UCO, said communities don’t realize the risks that caffeine has and that it relates to including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sleeping disorders.

“We drink more sugar than we actually eat,” Allen said. “Start asking yourself ‘What else can I drink besides a energy drink or coffee?’”

“When people think of the word diet, they think of food instead of what they are drinking, which is part of the problem.”

Henry made his support to the cause. All 50 governors have received the request to help their communities to become aware of the problem.

The effort was launched in 2002 by the Caffeine Awareness Alliance. The nonprofit organization calls attention to the risks of caffeine addiction and withdrawals, a disorder recognized even by the psychiatric community.

The founder of the alliance is Marina Kushner, who has written two

books regarding the issue with a third book on its way this spring called “Confessions of a Caffeine Addict,” which is a collection of 40 real-life stories of everyday people. Her other books are called “The Truth About Coffee” and ‘The Truth About Caffeine,” which expose the ‘drug,’ as Kushner would call it, in the beverages, food and medicines taken every day and sold in local supermarkets.

“Once you start to stop drinking caffeinated drinks, your body begins to react like someone with a smoking or alcoholic addiction. Your body begins to feel irritable, and you begin to get a headache along with it,” Allen said.

Allen believes that much like any other addiction, it needs to be gradually taken away.

For instance, he recommends drinking an energy drink just once a day, then slowly take it every other day, and this should break the cycle.

One eight-ounce can of Monster Energy has an estimate of 70 milligrams of sugar.

“Caffeine is a [stimulant],” Allen said. “It will give you that drive at that moment, but you then feel the effect afterwards. You begin to feel anxious, and you can’t sleep as a result.”

Allen recommends alternative forms of beverages instead of the typical caffeinated drinks. He recommends milk and a good breakfast to start the morning. It will provide the energy needed instead of a quick boost.

Good rest is a vital part of conserving energy, and drinking plenty of water is always helpful.

“National Caffeine Awareness gets people talking, looking at labels and start asking the question ‘What am I drinking?’” UCO has provided plenty of options of healthy choices, and it is up to ourselves to moderate our caffeine intake.”

Allen said that moderation is the key. Begin blending half the amount of coffee you usually drink with some milk. Look at ways to moderat.

Caffeine facts

Caffeine can be found in 60 different plants 10g of caffeine is considered a lethal dose It’s the most popular drug in the world. Ninety percent of Americans consume it in some form every day Over 450,000,000 cups of coffee are consumed in the USA every day Darkly roasted coffee has less caffeine than lightly roasted Contrary to popular belief, caffeine (or coffee) won’t help someone sober up if they have had too much to drink

Donor drive

DRIVE HELPS EDMOND CITIZEN FIGHT CANCER

By Tiffany Brown / Staff Writer

Central’s community volunteered to become Bone Marrow donors,during a campus event hosted for Dee Dee Dixon Rund.

Just as individuals have been giving the motivation to live, University of Central Oklahoma’s students, faculty and staff have been inspired to give. Many have been tested to possibly help Dee Dee Dixon Rund fight cancer.

Rund is president of The Oklahoma City Abstract and Title Co., located in Edmond.

Along with the new year in January, came new challenges.

Only for Rund that challenge meant the possibility of death.

Rund was diagnosed with leukemia on Jan. 10, 2010. It was an aggressive form of cancer.

As she is undergoing cancer treatment, Rund will be in need of a marrow transplant and blood transfusions. Her family has been tested, but none of those who tested is a match.

“Dee Dee underwent chemotherapy last week and is in good spirits,” Kim Thompson, spokesperson for Rund, said.

“She will complete 8 months of intravenous and spinal chemotherapy and then the search for a match can begin.”

Recently, a bone marrow drive has been held for Rund in the Wellness Center.

The bone marrow drive at UCO was held Feb. 17, the day before Rund’s birthday.

“Feb. 18 is Dee Dee’s birthday; finding a marrow match for her would be an incredible and lifesaving gift,” Amber DixonPatterson, Rund’s sister, said in a press release.

“We are in awe of how quickly Dee Dee’s friends and colleagues have coordinated the marrow and blood drives. They

are not only helping Dee Dee’s chances, but getting 2,000 people to register as donors will increase the chances for others who are also waiting to find a match.”

Volunteers took a DNA cotton swab test to potentially be donors for individuals with terminal illnesses, such as Rund.

After their contributions, donors are placed on the National Bone Marrow Registry list, Quintrel Burris, bone marrow coordinator at the Oklahoma Blood Institute, said.

Individuals won’t know if their bone marrow is a match until the swaps are analyzed and matched by doctors, Burris said.

“By increasing the number of registered donors in the database, we’re increasing Dee Dee’s chance for finding a donor more quickly.” Thompson said. “In the ten drives held from 2-11 through 2-20, we had more than 500 people register to be a marrow donor.”

Although Central students, faculty and staff donated to help Rund, they could possibly help others who need a transplant to save their lives.

“You don’t donate to anyone until it is needed,” Burris said.

“You’ll never know who that person is until it’s time.”

All donors are required to register. Donors must meet certain health guidelines before donating. Also, they must meet the minimum age requirement The last bone barrow drive for Dee Dee Rund Dixon was held Feb. 20 at McCaleb Homes. However, anyone who wants to help, but may not have had the opportunity, can do so by visiting http://www.marrow.org/.

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NEWS

Perspective

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXPERIENCE

By Anuj Sirvas and Prashanti Ganesh / Staff Writers Big. If there’s one thing that every foreigner experiences as soon as he or she sets foot in America, it’s the enormity of what America truly is. The buildings are bigger, the people are bigger, the food is bigger, and the whole American Dream is to dream bigger. Coming from India, where everything looks like it’s on a permanent diet, except the buildings of course, we find the enormity of things difficult to digest. We are here on an exchange program for one semester and are wondering how much bigger things can get at the end of six months.

Most international students who come to America go through three stages of culture shock. First, is the “honeymoon stage,” in which students generally fall in love with every little thing about this country. In the honeymoon stage we’re amazed by everything we see, whether it’s the wide, clean roads, the friendly people or a general openness that is a characteristic of the American people. I love the way the traffic here is managed. We have to push buttons to even cross the road, Rahul Preeth, a student from India exclaimed.

The second stage is the more frightening ‘What am I doing here?!” stage. Simple things start to bother some of us. For instance, when somebody asks us “How’re you doing?,” they’re not really asking “How’re you doing?”

It’s just a way of trying to say hello. Or when some student says “We should really do lunch sometime.” It’s code word for “bye.” It was scary at the beginning, and it really takes getting used to, especially the culture, Nader Alharbi, a student from Saudi Arabia and vice president of International Student Council, said.

Other things start to annoy as well. Coming from a tropical climate, the cold weather here

makes us want to go back home!

The final stage is acceptance. That’s when we learn to nod to the hellos without making a big deal out of it, get past the general loudness of Americans, get used to the concept of eating o u t for breakfast (In India, if we didn’t have time to make breakfast, we’d just skip it and eat brunch.), drinking coffee during every waking hour in fancy thermoses, the fact people here won’t honk unless they are really annoyed (Oklahomans never seem to run out of patience.), and every other little thing that’s characteristic of Americans. We get used to freedom and the fact we can make our own decisions. We have more independence here, Pratik Chauhan from India, who is the secretary of the International Student Council, said.

Febrina Christ Rudolf, a broadcast major from Indonesia, thinks the people here are much more open than in her country. She, like many other international students, also thinks American kids get more freedom than others around the world. It’s true because most of us international students can’t imagine moving out of our parents’ homes till we get proper jobs and settle down, unless we plan on getting disowned.

The classes here are very different compared to the ones we had back in India. For one, we are not used to having computers in class. The teachers are also extremely helpful in making us comfortable, and we enjoy the extra attention that we sometimes get just because we are inter-

national students.

The classes here are more interactive, and the learning process is different. The experience the teachers have is tremendous and is reflected in the way they teach the classes. The classes here are easier to grasp, and we have more time to study, Chauhuan added.

The campus life in UCO is very interesting, and we’re constantly amazed at seeing how many events there are that represent the cultures of the student body. The campus is diverse, and there is always something interesting going on to keep me engaged!, Alharbi explained. On weekends, David Nelson, assistant chair of the Department of Mass Communication, shows us around Oklahoma City and places nearby.

Incidentally, the Oklahoma City bombing is used as a plot device in one of our South Indian movies, and we were enthusiastic about visiting the memorial.

Nelson also drove us out to Tulsa to visit the aquarium in Jenks. Trying Americanized versions of Indian food was a fun experience!

Thank you, Dr. Nelson, for taking time to be with us and make our stay comfortable.

Are we coming back? “Why not? If my parents are ready to pay again!” Harish Murali, one of the other Indian students who came with us, said. “As long as I find an Indian store that sells our spices, yes!” Rahul chimed in.

Anuj Srivas and Prashanti Ganesh are students majoring in journalism from SRM University, Chennai, India, who are here on a student abroad program for six months.

Awards

PROFESSORS AND ALUMNUS WIN BLOG AWARDS

By Tiffany Brown / Staff Writer University of Central Oklahoma faculty members and alumnus wins recognition for blogging in a statewide competition.

The Okie Blog Awards was established in 2005. According to its Web site, “The purpose of the awards is to recognize the hard work and talent of Oklahoma bloggers, as well as to raise awareness about the growing significance of blogs as important sources of news, information and entertainment, etc.”

Mass communications professor Dr. Terry Clark won the 2009 Best Writer Award. Various topics are discussed in Clark’s blogs, including the New York Times coverage of Tea Parties.

Also, some of Clark’s watercolor art pieces are featured on his blog. This includes landscape portraits accompanied by narratives

and creative writing such as poetry.

“The Black Dog,” “Tuareg” and “Book Burners” are the titles of a few of the watercolor paintings featured on Clark’s blog.

Clark describes his blog as, “A taste of home, a journal of living, spiced with wit, an old-fashioned newspaper personal column, where metaphors and journalism and art are crossbred.”

His blog is called “Coffee with Clark.” It can be found at http://www.clarkcoffee.blogspot. com/.

Dr. Kurt Hochenauer, an English professor, is the author of “Okie Funk: Notes From The Outback.”

Hochenauer’s blog won the 2009 Okie Blog Award for Best Political Blog (Liberal). He has won the award for three consecutive years.

The focus of Hochenauer’s blog is Okla-

Screening of ‘Inside North Korea,’ March 10 Central’s GIVE (Global Impact Volunteer Effort) student organization will host LiNK (Liberty in North Korea) at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 10, in Constitution Hall.

LiNK will show “Inside North Korea,” a National Geographic documentary featuring Lisa Ling, the field correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show and the sister of Laura Ling, one of the two American journalists recently detained in North Korea. The documentary explores life inside North Korea. Learn more about LiNK at http://www.linkglobal.org/ <http://www.linkglobal.org/> .

homa legislations and legislatures, including debatable topics such as abortion and guns.

On his blog, Hochenauer commented on his winning an Okie Blog Award saying, “One thing I always enjoy about the award contest is clicking through the list of the winners.”

“Oklahoma has a vibrant and diverse blogging community that enhances the culture here, and it’s only going to get better in the years to come,” he said.

Hochenauer’s blog can be viewed at: http:// www.okiefunk.com/.

Former UCO student Zach Nash won the award for Best Photography Blog. He graduated from UCO’s Department of Mass Communication.

Nash’s blog offers a glimpse of Oklahoma through photographs, among many other im-

ages, including wedding portraits and event portraits. Nash describes his blog as a “new creative outlet for photography and writing.”

Nash’s blog can be found at http://www.zachnash.com/blog/.

Participants in the Okie Blog Awards are nominated by e-mail. Bloggers are allowed to nominate themselves. From the nominees of each category, the top 10 are chosen. There are 24 categories for bloggers to enter.

More information about the Okie Blog Awards can be found at http://oklahomablogawards.blogspot.com/.

Winners of the 2009 Okie Blog Awards were announced Monday Morning on Feb. 22. The winners were selected by their peers.

Members casted votes through a ballot system.

Student group continued from page 1

it would be, including cost. Instead the research that they did showed students dropped out of university due to the lack of connection with the campus and its people.

“Some research said that the students don’t feel a connection or feel they are not experiencing the college life,” Grellner said. “Some students had said they had trouble communicating with their professors or making new friends, making them feel unvalued and keeping them from being successful.”

Currently there are five small groups with two graduate students conducting the sessions. They will meet once a week, for a total of eight sessions, an

hour and a half each, in Room 307I on the third floor of the Education building.

“We hope to help those students in ways including how to communicate, and relaxation techniques,” Grellner said. “Then we have them test those techniques with each other, so they can get feedback from each other.”

Students who are shy can benefit from the group, Grellner said. “We can teach how to keep eye contact and the tools to communicate effectively.”

In the past semesters, both graduate and undergraduate students gave positive feedback about the sessions.

“It has been a good experience for both the graduate students and those

who are participating,” Grellner said.

“At the end of each session, the students participating in the sessions fill out an evaluation regarding the methods used and the effectiveness of the session.”

The feedback given will help improve the sessions and suit the needs of the students for upcoming years, and continue providing graduate students the opportunity to gain experience in their field, Grellner said.

UCO also offers a counseling clinic at no cost to the students, which is also available to the community. Community members pay only $10 per session.

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NEWS

facts you should know about UCO...

Today’s University of Central Oklahoma is the oldest institution of higher learning in Oklahoma dating back to Dec. 24, 1890, when the Territorial Legislature voted to establish the Territorial Normal School.

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Today, the Territorial Normal School has grown from 23 students on the frontier in 1891 to a metropolitan, four-year university with an enrollment of about 15,500 on a 200-acre campus.

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The Territorial Legislature located the new school in Edmond, provided certain conditions were met. First, Oklahoma County had to donate $5,000 in bonds, and Edmond had to donate 40 acres of land within one mile of the town. Ten of those acres had to be set aside for the new school. The remaining land had to be divided into lots that would be sold to raise money for the new school.

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The conditions all were met, with the city of Edmond donating an additional $2,000 in bonds. The first class, a group of 23 students, met for the first time Nov. 9, 1891, in the Epworth League Room, located in the unfurnished First Methodist Church. A marker of Oklahoma granite was placed in 1915 near the original site by the Central Oklahoma Normal School Historical Society. It can be seen at Boulevard and Second Street.

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UCO ranked number one in resident satisfaction among 79 peer universities in a recent survey conducted by the Association of College and University Housing Officers International.

UCO is home to the innovative Lessons in Leadership class, taught each fall by President Webb. Local, regional and national leaders share their experiences each week with UCO students, and the class is broadcast to partner institutions in the Collegiate Leadership Network.

The UCO Cheerleading Squad won back-to-back national titles at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 National Cheerleading Association competition.

Work started in the summer of 1892 on Old North Tower, the first building on campus. Occupancy began Jan. 3, 1893. The school first operated as a normal school with two years of college work and a complete preparatory school. In 1897, the first graduating class - two men and three women - received their Normal School diplomas.

In 1904, Territorial Normal became Central State Normal School.

Statehood was still three years away. On Dec. 29, 1919, the State Board of Education passed a resolution making Central a four-year teachers’ college conferring bachelor’s degrees. It was renamed the Central State Teachers College.

In 1954, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education gave Central permission to offer the Master of Teaching Degree, which became the Master of Education in 1969. In 1971, the college was authorized to grant the Master of Arts in English and the Master of Business Administration degrees.

On April 13, 1971, the state legislature officially changed the institution’s name to Central State University. On May 18, 1990, during the university’s Centennial Year, legislation was passed changing the name to the University of Central Oklahoma.

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UCO is an official training site for the U.S. Paralympics, with the men’s and women’s national sitting volleyball teams training on campus, along with Paralympic track and archery athletes.

The UCO Jazz Lab is voted the best place in the Oklahoma City Metro Area for live jazz music by various surveys, and is home to the renowned Jazz Studies program.

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CLASSIFIED

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Reporters Needed

Accountant And The Vista is looking B o o k K e e p e r for reporters to help Needed Urgently cover campus news.

For more information contact okadatakesh@gmail. com

Server Positions Available

Perculs Lakeside. Apply within. 748-6113

Shogun’s Steak House Of Japan

Hiring for waitstaff, busers, dishwashers, host, bar tender. Apply in person at Northpark Mall (NW 127nd N. May) after 5:30 pm. 7490120

Ten hours a week at minimum wage, plus invalucable experience gathering and writing news, which will result in classy bylines for your portfolio. Stop by The Vista office, room 131, in the Mass Communications bldg, or inquire at 974-5548.

SERVICES

Teacher Needed The Language Immediately For Company: EdEdmond Daycare mond FT/PT experience preferred. Competitive wages.

Apply in person @ 24 NW 146th or call Camelot CDC @ 749-2262

Part Time Job

Senior Services of Oklahoma is looking for students to fill part time positions.

Several from 9a.m.-1p.m. shifts and 1:30p.m.5:30p.m. shifts are available for Monday- Friday. We pay $10.00 per hour for energetic phone work educating senior citizens on healthcare issues. No experience is needed; We will train. Business is located at 1417 N.W. 150th St. in Edmond. Call 879-1888 to set up interview. Ask for Megan Parris.

Live In Nanny

Work approximately 30 hours per week. Three young children. Separate nanny quarters. Call 405-606-4002

Part-time giver

Care-

Looking for part-time caregiver for a 21 year old male.

He has autism and is very high- functioning. Need help with transportation to and from his activities and work.

Please call Magro Price at 850-7603

Summer Employment Fun Valley Resort South Fork Colorado

Needs students for all types jobs: kitchen, dinning room, housekeeping, stores, maintenance, horse wangler, office and other.

Salary/room and board/ bonus. For Information and application write to: Studemt Personnel Director 6315 Westover Drive Grandbury TX 76049 or Call 1.800.548.1684 or email: rafain@sbcglobal. net

Housekeeping Position

Bed & Breakfast next to campus. Must be available all holidays, weekends, schoolbreaks. Hours 12-4pm. Apply in person. 328 East First.

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

FOR RENT

New Townhouse APT, 3 bd, 3 ba, w/d Hookup

NO PETS! 1-1/2 blk from UCO. 1107 E. Campbell.

NO PETS! $1125/mo, plus deposit. Tenant pays all utilities. 641-0712

House for Rent

350.00 + utilities. No pets!

No smoking! Call Patty 4088765

Vail Colorado

Four-star condo sleeps FOR SALE

six. Available March 20, 2010-March 27, 2013 for $1,000. Contact 341-0943 or 274-9628

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Furniture for Sale

Full size bed, mattress, box spring and frame, couches, and coffee table. Need to sale asap. Email if interested mcstar1186@sbcglobal.net

V

Across

Down

1. In things 5. Swiss psychologist Jean ___ 11. “Monty Python” airer 14. Biblical shepherd 15. Inevitably 16. Moray, e.g.

17. Fruity-flavored beverage 19. “I” problem 20. Common solvent 21. Printing error 23. Gloomy 24. “Check this out!”

26. Gymnast’s feat 27. Bar, at the bar 29. Believe 32. Food sticker 33. Drops on blades 35. Acknowledge 37. “20,000 Leagues” harpooner ___ Land 38. Revel 41. ___ few rounds 43. Thailand, once 44. “... ___ he drove out of sight” 45. Almond 47. Accordingly 49. Musical composition for practice 53. Ado 54. Hit the road 56. Caribbean, e.g.

57. Capacity of a merchant vessel 61. Back-to-school purchases 63. “The ___ Daba Honeymoon” 64. Providing safekeeping 66. Darling 67. Stir 68. Bro 69. Bauxite, e.g.

70. Dress adornments 71. Little, e.g.

1. Pretense 2. Device for arithmetic calculations 3. Make mad 4. Coin opening 5. Nuisances 6. Most sick 7. Cow, maybe 8. Box office take 9. Appraiser 10. Boris Godunov, for one 11. Scurrying 12. Dance in Bolero rhythm 13. Walked heavily 18. Floor cleaners 22. Astern 25. Fowling net 28. “___ to Billie Joe” 30. Egg cells 31. Got up 34. Habeas corpus, e.g.

36. Bug 38. Soak in sauce 39. Cry of disgust 40. After expenses 41. German state secret police 42. 10th month 46. Ashes holder 48. Tease 50. Depletes 51. ___ Park, Calif.

52. Break time 55. Lets go 58. Says “When?”

59. Greek earth goddess: Var. 60. New newts 62. Fizzy drink 65. Addis Ababa’s land: Abbr.

Do the right thing.

Recycle this issue of The Vista, Go Green!

SUDOKU

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ANSWERS FROM FEB. 23

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SPORTS

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Baseball

UCO BASEBALL GETS BACK TO .500

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer UCO’s Luke Yost was able to feel both the lowest of lows and the highest of highs in the thrilling 6-5 Broncho win over Missouri Southern University on Tuesday.

Yost came in to close out the contest nursing a 4-2 lead, but gave up three runs in the top of the ninth on three hits, a walk and an error, giving the Lions what appeared to be a game-sealing 5-4 lead going into the game’s final frame.

Then, with everything on the line in the home half of the ninth inning, Yost had a rare opportunity to redeem himself just moments after handing over the lead. With two outs and with two runners in scoring position, Yost tucked the game’s final pitch – on two strikes – just inside the right-field line, scoring Tucker and Taylor Brown to wrench

victory from the jaws of catastrophic defeat in dramatic fashion.

UCO opened the scoring, notching the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Schoonover drew a walk with two outs, then stole second base before being brought home on John Bryant’s RBI single to right field.

The Lions didn’t wait long to answer, scoring a run on three hits in the top of the second, and another in their very next frame to take a 2-1 third inning lead.

UCO brought some more offense in the bottom of the fourth, when Jordan Mullin stole second and was brought home on Taylor Brown’s RBI hit. Taylor Brown crossed the plate on the very next batter when Tucker Brown singled to left field, giving the Bronchos a 3-2 lead at the contest’s halfway point.

The Bronchos would tack on one insur-

ance run in the bottom of the eighth on Arrow Cunningham’s sacrifice RBI, and UCO would have a 4-2 lead going into the final two frames.

Yost came in to close out the game in the top of the ninth, but struggled on the mound, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk to go with an error at first base by Cody Cole.

Down two in the bottom of the ninth, Yost would come up to bat with something that athletes rarely get through the course of one game: a second chance. In the end, Yost would deliver.

“We made a couple of big mistakes in the ninth to let them get the lead, but fortunately we were able to come back,” UCO head coach said to bronchosports.com. “We had some guys come through for us at the end when we really needed them to.”

Yost led the offense for the Bronchos on

Tuesday, finishing with two hits in five at bats and two RBI. Cunningham went two for three with an RBI, and Taylor Brown went three for five and batted in one RBI. Tucker Brown and Bryant each had one RBI, and Mullin and Schoonover each stole a base.

Nine different Bronchos pitched against Missouri Southern, but Yost (1-0) would notch the win after being attributed with a blown save and being the only UCO hurler to give up more than one run.

The win brings UCO back to even at 3-3 on the season, and the Bronchos are 2-0 within the friendly confines of Broncho Field.

The Bronchos are back in action at home tomorrow against the 7-5 Javelinas of Texas A&M Kingsville.

THUNDER’S WINNING STREAK ENDS

By Ryan Costello / Staff Writer A packed Ford Center moaned in unison as a last gasp effort from Jeff Green caromed off the back rim to seal a 104-102 victory Tuesday night for the visiting Phoenix Suns.

Still, the fans had plenty to reflect on following the loss. Among the particularly lively bunch in section 302 in “Loud City,” I had brief discussions on a foray of Thunder topics, from Kevin Durant’s chasing of Michael Jordan to “why don’t they make the ‘Chewbacca’ noise when Serge Ibaka comes into the lineup anymore?”

Yes, by the way, I said Durant was chasing Michael Jordan. For those not keeping track, as of Tuesday night’s game, Durant had scored at least 25 points in 29 consecutive games. No active player has managed the same achievement, and Durant is just 11 games short

of “His Airness,” who in the 198687 season scored 25 or more in 40 straight games.

K.D., the Junkyard Dog, the Durantula. Call him what you will, but at just 21, Durant is thought by nearly every NBA pundit to be in the top three in the MVP race, and most have him at second behind Cleveland’s LeBron James. What’s more, Durant’s 36 points against the Suns brought his per game average on the season to 29.9, passing James (29.8) for best in the league. Durant’s rebounding is up substantially from last season, as well snatching 7.5 boards a game compared to 6.5 in 2008-09.

One more thing about the kid (I can say that because I have two years on him.): none of the individual stats seem to matter to the young superstar. Talking to postgame reporters about the 25-point streak after the 109-107 win in

Minnesota, the Thunder’s ninth straight, earlier this week, Durant said, “It’s cool, but I’m glad we got nine (wins) in a row. That’s a first for me in my career, and I’d rather have that.”

There are plenty of individuals to consider on the youngest team in the NBA. Russell Westbrook is another growing star in the association.

Westbrook has silenced several of the doubters who say he’s not fit to play the point, that he’s not a “floor general.” Westbrook is dishing 7.7 assists to 3.2 turnovers this season, and his last three games he’s averaged 24.7 points and 11.3 assists.

Jeff Green, who rounds out the “big three,” has had a bit of a dip in his stats this year as he shares the floor with Durant and Westbrook.

Green though, is beginning to establish a new identity as a physical presence as a defender. In a 99-86

win over Dallas, Green was almost always defending Maverick All-Star Dirk Nowitzki in the second half, who shot a dreadful 2-12.

The Thunder also have a stockade of rookies that get regular play time.

Along with the defensive prowess and growing offensive awareness of Ibaka, the Thunder also have firstround picks James Harden, whose perimeter defense and shooting seem to improve by the game, and Eric Maynor, who has served as a more than reliable backup to Westbrook since coming over from Utah in a December trade.

Even head coach Scott Brooks is getting national attention, and is widely thought to be the NBA’s coach of the year for guiding a young Thunder team to a 33-22 record to this point, and an almost certain playoff berth at season’s end.

Finally, the fans have fulfilled their end of the bargain. The faint

cries of “It’ll never work,” from the Pacific Northwest are slowly fading as the Ford Center is almost guaranteed to be packed on a given night.

Oklahoma City’s 98.4 percent average attendance is good for ninth in the association despite a pair of games during the state’s worst blizzard in more than a decade.

It helps that in 2009-10, the fans have something tangible to cheer about. Last season, the good people of Oklahoma City were screaming for joy just to have the NBA in their city. This season, a young, talented team is likely headed to the playoffs, and could even secure home court advantage for a first round playoff series if they can finish strong enough to oust Dallas for the fourth seed in the West.

I’ll keep my eyes glued to this squad for long after that. Care to join me, UCO?

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8

SPORTS

NFL

SPORTS EDITOR’S MOCK DRAFT 1.0 A S S O C I A T E D P R E S S D AV E W E AV E R

7 8 Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh prepares for the next play in this Aug. 5 file photo in Lincoln. Nebraska’s star defensive tackle says Kansas State’s run-oriented offense might be just what he needs to break out of his min-islump.

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine begins today, and the draft is coming up pretty fast.

Major media outlets that cover sports have begun releasing early mock drafts. It’s time for me to try my hand at a draft. This is my pre-combine opinion of how the first ten picks of the first round of the 2010 draft will play out.

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St. Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska The Rams pick first overall, and there are a few ways they could go. They have lacked a franchise quarterback for a while now. I would not count Marc Bulger as a franchise quarterback. So they need a signal caller, but with questions about Jimmy Clausen’s attitude and overall upside, and Sam Bradford yet to throw publically since his shoulder surgery, I don’t think the Rams would risk the first overall pick on a QB. Suh is arguably the best talent in the draft. If his knees check out as good to go, he is the pick here.

Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida Best cornerback in the draft being drafted by a team that needs a ton of help on defense seems like a no-brainer, but you never know. With new front offices come new styles of drafting.

Oakland Raiders: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma Super athletic kid, but his work ethic and regression his final year at Oklahoma are being questioned by draft sites, scouts and media members across the nation. His freakish athleticism, however, may make Raiders owner Al Davis see past possible red flags.

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Buffalo Bills: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Sure, I am a Bills fan. Sure, I want Bradford to drop. But, I am also being realistic. This mock draft is based off precombine information, and as of Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, Bradford still hasn’t thrown publicly for scouts since his surgery. Therefore, I have him dropping. Buffalo hasen’t had a franchise quarterback since Jim Kelly left more than a decade ago. In the past ten seasons, Buffalo haven’t made the playoffs once. If Bradford is available at nine, they will pick him. No doubt in my mind.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech Morgan is an amazing player. That being said, I doubt the Jaguars franchise is smart enough to pick him. This is the same franchise that said they would be interested in picking Tim Tebow at ten to sell tickets. Will they pick Tebow? Maybe. But that would be a mistake.

Morgan is a great player and one who could come in and contribute right away.

Detroit Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma He is a great player and an immediate contributor, especially against the run. Detroit would love for the Rams to pick a quarterback and have Suh drop, but pre-combine, this is who I have being picked.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee Berry is an Ed Reed clone, and that is a huge compliment. Berry is a star safety and one who will go high in the draft. I think it is just like Tampa to take a player like Berry and take him high.

Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State A lot of people think this is where Bradford will go. I am not buying it.

I personally believe Bradford is good enough to go No. 1 overall, but with questions about his arm, and the fact he missed almost all of last season, and will miss the combine, could make him drop. The Redskins’ offensive line last season was atrocious, and Okung can come in and anchor a better one for the new regime.

Get Y

b e D O C our U

oda T d r a it C

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Kansas City Chiefs: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State Kansas City seems like a great place for Bryant. He is more than likely the most explosive offensive player in this draft. He is a deep threat at wide receiver, can make a man miss in space, and can take a return to the end zone on special teams. KC quarterback Matt Cassel would love to have Bryant.

Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame If any team in the top ten falls in love with Clausen’s swagger, it is the Seahawks or Raiders. The Seahawks could also pick Bradford or a left tackle at this spot, but I have a feeling Bradford will slip due to a deep offensive tackle pool and shoulder issues. Clausen will be the heir apparent to Matt Hasselback. I don’t think Clausen is better than Bradford, but stranger things have happened in the draft.

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