INSIDE page 2 Did You Know That page 5 News In Brief page 12 Sports
www.thevistaonline.com
The Student Voice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since 1903
April 10, 2007
Native Americans dance to the rhythm of spring
by Vista photographer Laehyung Lee
Kerri Larney from Seminole tribe, left, and Cecil Gray, business management senior, dance during UCO powwow April 7 at Wantland Hall.
by Aaron Wright Staff Writer
The drums from the 37th Annual Spring Contest, hosted by the Native American Student Association, could be heard throughout
Wantland Hall on April 7. The festivities started at noon and lasted until 11 p.m. that night. The day started with gourd dancing. Vendors scattered the corners of the dancing arena, selling everything from T-shirts to artwork to jewelry. Brightly colored fab-
rics and elongated feathers decorated the body of dancers as they circled the drummers in their traditional regalia. Joseph Blanchard, president of NASA, said the planning started last fall. By the time the group members finished their Big Fall Dance in
November, they had ideas for the Spring Contest, he said. The association, with about 12 active members, is in charge of publicity, such as sending fliers to local powwows or securing advertisements. They also solicit donations from various tribes. The event is also partially funded by student activity funds provided by the university. Another important task the group handles is the selection of the head staff for the event. "Basically, we take recommendations from members. Usually, the head staff is chosen based on their knowledge of the area," said Blanchard. The drums are in the center of activity and the arena is everything circling the drums. The membership votes on head staff. The head staff constitutes key players in the powwow. The positions are the Master of Ceremonies, the head singer, the head man, the head lady, the color guard, head gourd dancer and arena director. This year's head man was business management senior Cecil Gray. He has been dancing for about 10 years and specializes in men's fancy dance.
see Powwow, page 3
by Vista photographer Alex Gambill
Sage Lamebull dances during the first grand entry at the UCO Spring Contest powwow April 7 in Wantland Hall.
Students take batting practice on mailboxes
by Vista photographer Alex Gambill
This mailbox on Jim Robinson Drive is one of 48 in the Smiling Hills neighborhood near Bryant and 33rd street.
by Andrew Knittle Staff Writer
Three UCO students who allegedly played an epic game of mailbox baseball early March
31 won't face federal charges, Postal Inspector Ray Santiago said. "The local police department is handling the cases," Santiago said. That's about where the good news ends for the three men. Richard Reed, Kyle Parsons and Alfred Parsons will still face 28 counts of Malicious Mischief/Destruction of Property, one count of Receiving Stolen Property and one count of Public Intoxication in Oklahoma County, Edmond Police spokesperson Glynda Chu said. The charges stern from the predawn hours of March 31, when Edmond police reports state the three men went on a destructive spree in the Smiling Hills neighborhood, which is a few miles south of the UCO campus, police reports said. According to the reports, the
trio prowled around the modest enclave near Bryant and Smiling Hills Blvd. for some time as they damaged or cornpletely destroyed 48 mailboxes. The men were also attempting to steal a street sign when Edmond police arrived at the scene, reports said. Police reports said a search of the suspects' vehicle yielded three mailboxes, three pieces of mail, an opened bottle of Merlot and an opened can of beer — things one might expect to find under the circumstances. All three suspects were taken to the Oklahoma County Jail following their arrests in Edmond, reports said. Chu said the men's game of "mailbox baseball" was the worst of such cases she'd seen while at the department, add-
see Students, page 3 by Vista photographer Alex Gambill
UCOSA president Michael Goodman discusses the UCO student survey and its possible effects on the university.
'Much Ado,' update to Shakespeare classic by Justin Langston Staff' Writer
During the past week, the UCO Department of Theatre, Dance and Media Arts put on a production of William Shakespeare's comedy "Much Ado About Nothing." This version, directed by Dr. Robert McGill, was set in 1907 at the fictional east coast University of Messina. "Much Ado" is a story about a young couple so in love with
the idea that they hate each other, they haven't rualized they fell in love with each other a long time ago. University faculty wrangle with love and fidelity until everything ins neatly wrapped up when graduation rolls around. The conversion from the play's original setting of Italian nobles in the early 1600s to university professors some 300 years later is fairly seamless. There are, of course, a few minor changes to the script for the sake of setting, but nothing
Watch News Central Channel 6 @ 5 P.m.
President Goodman to step down after term by Abha Eli Phoboo Staff Writer
As the semester draws to a close, Michael Goodman, president Of UCOSA, prepares to step down. Goodman is putting the finishing touch by Vista photographer Alex Gambill on the projects he began as Theatre students unveiled a statue of Shakespeare by Gary Lee his term ends. Elections for the Price in honor of theatre professor Doug Getzoff who died of lung new UCOSA president will cancer in Oct. April 6 in front of Mitchell Hall. be held April 18 and April 19. "I'm sad that I have to leave that changes the overall narsee ADO, page 6 but I know that it's the best for rative or meaning of the play. UCO. I feel like I've done a good
job, or a job, whether people think it's good or bad. I can't wait to see who gets the job next and to help them," said Goodman. On the wall in his office are charts with little boxes with crosses on them. Each item is a target that Goodman set for UCOSA. "I'm a nerdy teacher kid," he said as he read the list. "I've got tons of projects and every single time one is
done, I check off one of them."
see Goodman, page 3
"In peace the sons bury their fathers, but in war the fathers bury their sons."
TUE. 65/46 WED. 72/48 - Croesus