INSIDE
Page 2 The Round Table Page 4 What Nathan Thinks Page 8 Sports
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Tuesday November January 30, 200721st
The Student Voice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since 1903
"Swimming with the guards"
Carradine wins Miss Black UCO by Aaron Wright Staff Writer
by Vista photographer Travis Marak
Master Sgt. Johnson watches ROTC members doggy paddle during the ROTC water rescue training mission in the Hamilton Field House pool Jan. 25. See story and photos on page 5.
Health Center fighting the flu by Lyndsay Gillum Staff Writer The Student Health Center dispensed 475 flu vaccinations to UCO students, faculty and staff this current flu season. Statewide, 300,000 flu vaccines were distributed, making it the largest number ever dispensed in Oklahoma. With the onset of cold weather, flu season begins. For the United States, flu season is between October and May, with
peak season lasting between late December and March. According to April Starns, LPN and immunization nurse at the health center, “So far at UCO it has been a mild season.” Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that every year in the United States, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu, on average. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from the flu. “One of the reasons that it is
important for college students and faculty/staff to receive flu vaccinations is the fact that the college campus represents a dense population of people interacting with each other and thus, numerous opportunities exist for the virus to spread,” James Allen, MPH and assistant director for Heath Promotions and Programs at UCO, said. Starns said some common signs of the flu include a sudden onset of headache, fever, body
see FLU, page 3
Korenblit speaks about surviving the Holocaust by Andrew Knittle Staff Writer Author and co-founder of Respect Diversity Foundation, Mike Korenblit, spoke to a group of around 40 students and faculty Jan. 25, in the Pegasus Theater, sending a message of community responsibility and respect for different cultures. Korenblit’s parents, both of whom were teenaged Jews living in Poland when the Nazis invaded the country in 1939, survived the ensuing Holocaust against seemingly impossible odds. Poland was the first country Hitler invaded, and his prosecution of Polish Jews was swift and near total. A Ponca City native, Korenblit first became aware of his parents’ harrowing past after he spied a tattoo (the Nazis tattooed bar code-like characters on the body’s of Jews to identify them) on his father’s wrist when he was six years old. Some time later his father took him to a local bus station and showed him water fountains labeled “whites” and “coloreds,” a crude but effective way to teach a young boy about bigotry and racism. “And my father told me, ‘Remember what I showed you today. This is why you don’t have any grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins,” Korenblit said, “because someone looked at them as less than human, inferior to others.” While it’s hard for most
"Look at the person to your right, now your left – in front of you, behind you, you’re responsible for that person, whether you realize it or not."
-Mike Korenblit
by Lyndsay Gillum Staff Writer
by Vista photographer Alex Gambill
“Look at the person to your right, now your left – in front of you, behind you,” Korenblit said. “You’re responsible for that person, whether you realize it or not.” The story of Manya and Meyer Korenblit (Korenblit’s parents), titled “Until We Meet Again,” is available at bookstores and online retailers like Amazon.com. For more information about Korenblit, Respect Diversity Foundation or his book, call 359-0369.
Andrew Knittle can be reached at aknittle@thevistaonline.com.
Oklahoma recording artist Brad Porton will serve as Master of Ceremonies as 17 UCO students vie for the title of Miss UCO 2007 at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 in Mitchell Hall Theater. Additional entertainment will include Miss UCO 2005 Keelee Bright, Miss UCO 1993 Heather Geery, 2006 “Oklahoma Star” Ragan Roark, and Miss UCO 2006 Jill Sallee. “[Sallee] has done a terrific job during her year of service,” Winston Banta, Miss UCO Director, said. “She has been a lot of fun to work with, and she represented the university well at the Miss Oklahoma Pageant.” This year’s theme will be “I’ll Be the One.” According to Brooke Wilson, assistant director of Campus Activities and Events, this is the third year in a row that the Miss UCO Board of Directors is proud to announce that each contestant will receive a scholarship for compet-
No babies born in Edmond
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by Vista photographer Laehyung Lee
Brittany Carradine wins the 23rd annual Miss Black UCO Pageant Jan. 27 in Mitchell Hall Theater. The Jackie Shaw Photogenic awarded to the most-improved award, named after the first participant. Johna Davis, biolofficial queen Jacqueline ogy major, was the recipient of Shaw, was given to Sharae’ this award as well as the $500 necia Burrell, finance major. scholarship that accompanied The audience also select- it. The parents of Lyndale Wall ed Burrell as their People’s came to present the award. They Choice award winner. hope to eventually increase the The Sherrill Simm’s Talent scholarship amount to $5,000. award was created in honor Fourth runner-up in the pagof the first woman at UCO to eant was awarded to Shayla win Miss Black Oklahoma. Cooper, nursing student, while The recipient of this award Tyria Johnson, dance perforwas Rondel Youngblood, mance major, claimed the elementary education major, third runner-up spot. Second for her dramatic monologue runner-up and recipient of a by Avalindt titled “Morn.” $1,200 UCO tuition waiver A new award was added this was Burrell. Davis received year in memory of the man the first runner-up position who had served as director of with a $1,600 tuition waiver. the Miss Black UCO pageant Aaron Wright can be reached at for over 30 years. The Lyndale awright@thevistaonline.com. Wall’s Director award was
Miss UCO to be named Mike Korenblit speaks about the Holocaust survival in the Pegasus Theater Jan. 25.
Americans to entertain the thought of their society paralleling Nazi Germany’s, Korenblit said that books and opinions are often censured by U.S. legislatures, even in today’s society. In fact, Korenblit said that one of the first things Hitler did once his Nazis assumed power was to remove books – by authors like Hemmingway and H.G. Wells – from libraries and shops before publicly burning them. “That’s why what happened to my parents 65 years ago is important to everyone sitting here,” Korenblit said. Korenblit said that speaking up against things like the removal of controversial books and bullying is crucial because letting that kind of behavior go unchecked can lead to something as terrible as the Holocaust.
“I am your beautiful contestant number 4,” said Brittany Carradine when she introduced herself to the audience and judges Saturday night at the 23rd Annual Miss Black UCO Pageant. Carradine was crowned by the 2006 Miss Black UCO Keondra Butler. She is the recipient of a $1,800 UCO tuition waiver, a sash, plaque, gift basket, and crown. “I am most excited about working with my platform,” Carradine said. “I am a broadcasting major. It is something that speaks to me directly.” Carradine’s platform is The Negative Impact the Media Has on Our Community. “This year’s theme…reflects our desire to infuse culture and glamour into the pageant production,” LaRadius Allen, pageant director, wrote in her letter in the program. The theme for the pageant was “Dreamgirls: One Night Only.” The evening began with the singing of the Black National Anthem by UCO Alumna Nakeisha McGee. Following McGee’s performance, all 13 contestants appeared on the stage in matching red dresses for the opening dance. The swimsuit competition was next, followed by the talent competition, the evening wear competition and the on-stage question. “Well, friend, it looks like it’s that time of the evening to announce our winners,” said Phillip Thomas, master of ceremonies, after a farewell from Butler. The first award winner was Raychelle Breaux, business finance major, for Miss Congeniality. The Future Business Woman award, given to the person who sells the most ads for the program, was awarded to Teara Flagg, political science major.
ing. The scholarship money is generated from fund-raising, program book advertisement sales and private donations. This year’s awarded scholarships, both tuition wavers and cash, will total more than $11,500. Miss UCO will receive a tuition scholarship as well as a cash scholarship, and a chance to compete in the 2007 Miss Oklahoma Pageant this June.
“Over the 20 plus years that I’ve worked with the pageant, I’ve known a number of girls who would not have been able to continue their college education without the scholarships they earned by competing,”
Banta said. “The contestants earn the scholarships which help with schooling, but they also learn a lot about themselves and those around them by working on their chosen platforms.” The 17 contestants will be judged in five areas. Presentation and community achievement in a private interview; lifestyle and fitness in a swimsuit; artistic expression in talent; presence and poise in evening wear; and the contestant’s overall composite. “Each year, UCO hosts the Miss UCO Scholarship Pageant with beautiful and talented contestants,” Wilson said. “This year is no exception, we have women that are beautiful, talented and well spoken vying for the honor of representing their university at Miss Oklahoma this June.” Tickets for this year’s pageant will be available at the door. The box office will open at 6 p.m. Floor seating is $10, balcony seating with a valid UCO student I.D. is $5, and balcony seating without a student I.D. is $10.
Lyndsay Gillum can be reached at lgillum@thevistaonline.com.
"We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance." - Benjamin Disraell
Tuesday 37/24
Wednesday 42/22