President’s Office announces new Vice President of
Jake Ramsey Editor-In-Chief
Art Cotton was selected as the new vice president of transformative learning for the University of Central Oklahoma on Sept. 10, making this the second cabinet position UCO President Todd Lamb has added since becoming president of the university. He officially was placed in the position Monday, Sept. 16.
In an email sent to faculty, staff and students on Sept. 10, the president’s office announced the new position, stating that UCO is the paradigm for transformative learning. The goal of this new position is to move the President’s Leadership Cabinet (PLC) and Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) closer to the president’s office.
“We are about transformative learning,” said Lamb. “We transform students at UCO.”
While this transition has been met with positivity from the cabinet and administration, some in PLC and LOT are still skeptical about the transition, with many not knowing the leadership change would be happening until the email was sent out to all members of the UCO community.
Many of the PLC and LOT members The Vista spoke with did not want to comment on their opinion of the change at this time, opting to wait until more concrete conclusions were made.
While some students remained skeptical, Cotton and Lamb were both excited about the new change.
“As I met with students and I saw more closely our PLC and LOT programs and spent time with those students and visited with them, I had a desire to be more personally involved,” said Lamb.
Lamb cites former UCO President Webb for the inspiration behind his new-found involve-
ment in PLC and LOT.
When discussing his new position, Cotton said he hopes to bring new ideas to PLC and LOT and enhance and add value to the programs and make it work-force development oriented.
“We want to give our students that opportunity,” said Cotton.
The current advisors for Leadership Central are Claire Painter and Britnee Boone. Cotton said he hopes to continue working closely with them as the semester progresses, and he seeks to learn from them about how to better lead the program.
The organization and leadership team, which was originally under Vice President Christopher Lynch, are all being transferred into Cotton’s team, according to the email sent to the UCO community.
One thing that Cotton spoke to frequently was the communication and operation with faculty, as well as students. Pointing to the Leadership Minor offered at UCO as a way he plans on engaging with faculty and students outside of PLC and LOT.
“It would not just be students in PLC or LOT, it would be open to the entire campus community,” said Cotton.
When discussing the change within the organizations, Lamb said, “It remains to be determined.”
“I wanted to have my heightened focus on these two outstanding programs, and that’s why I elevated them to a direct report on the cabinet level,” said Lamb. “And I asked Vice President Cotton to not go in and make any wholesale changes, but I’ve asked him to go and assess where we are.”
To assess the decision for a new VP, Lamb discussed the decision with multiple colleagues
Transformative Learning
across the nation, he said. Many university presidents inspired his decision, and he said multiple people on UCO’s campus were also consulted about the decision.
Vice president of transformative leadership is the second cabinet-level position President Lamb has added during his time at UCO. The first being vice president of athletics, a position that Stan Wagnon currently holds.
When discussing if he would add another vice president position, Lamb said it remains to be seen, citing his conversations with students in PLC, LOT and Greek Life for bringing the organizations to his attention, and that being the reason he wanted them closer to the president’s office.
Following the announcement that Cotton would be accepting the position for vice president of transformative leadership, a second email was sent on Monday announcing Allen Wright as the new vice president for advancement.
Bronchos upset number two ranked team in nation; 57-40
Dylan Hibbard Contributing Writer
UCO Football took down the number two ranked team in Division II and first place in MIAA, Central Missouri Mules, this past Saturday night with a final score of 57-40 putting the Bronchos with a record of 2-0 heading into their first road game of the season.
The offense was nothing short of amazing during the game with the Bronchos racking up a total 731 yards with 457 of those yards being through the air. In a game with 97 points scored in total the first quarter had no score from either side. That quickly changed with the score by halftime being 22-20.
Jett Huff took the reins of starting QB this week and showed why he should be for the
rest of the season by breaking a couple of school records. Huff threw for 457 yards with 42 completions and 3 TDs. The 42 completions is a school record and his total passing yards is second most in school history.
Terrill Davis set a new school record for most receptions in a single game with 14. He had a total of 203 yards and 2 TDs with his longest reception being 55 yards. Two other UCO receivers, Jacob Delso and Ashton Schumann, had nine receptions a piece with Schumann having 111 yards and Delso with 59 yards.
UCO’s rushing game wasn’t the star of the night but is definitely no slouch. Jaylen Cottrell rushed 20 times for 167 yards and 3 TDs. William Mason also rushed 13 times for 77 yards and 2 TDs while Huff rushed 8 times
for 44 yards. In total UCO’s rushing offense had 288 yards and 5 TDs.
The defense for UCO came up big with some momentum shifting stops late in the game and turnovers when needed. Connor Johnson led the defense with 8 total tackles with 3 being solo and a one sack. Zane Adams and Noah West both led the team in sacks with Adams having 2.5 sacks and West with 2 sacks. David Williams had the lone interception in the game for the Chos.
With this win the Bronchos are 2-0 for the first time since 2014 and first time under Coach Adam Dorrel. UCO will head on the road for the first time this season this week when they go to Nebraksa Kearney (2-0) on Saturday with kickoff time scheduled for 7 p.m.
Newly appointed Vice President of Transformative Leadership Art Cotton. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
UCO quarterback Jett Hufff (2) throws
UCO students cook dinner for Edmond firefighters on 9/11
Troy Isbell Reporter
On Sept. 11, a group of UCO student volunteers cooked a spaghetti dinner for on-duty firefighters at Edmond Fire Station 1 as part of the annual 9/11 Service Day.
For the past several years, UCO’s Office of Community Engagement has been providing an opportunity to students to contribute in cooking meals for all five fire stations in the Edmond Fire Department on Sept. 11.
“Our goal with this is to encourage students to come meet first responders, and to hopefully meet and learn some information about how people live their life in a certain way, how they help the community, and maybe how you want to help the community,” said Director of Community Engagement Nicole Doherty.
Those who participate in this event are given a chance to honor and pay respects to not only
A
of
their local fire department, but also to the lives that were lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“It’s nice to see the public paying respect to the job that we do,” said Captain Jeffery Ryan.
This year, seven UCO students; Reagan Mordecai, Rasani Shahi, Albert Chin, Kama Wyatt, Elli Ross, Neely Watkins and Emma Dooley volunteered to come to Edmond Fire Station 1 and prepare spaghetti, garlic bread and more for the firefighters working that day.
Once the food was prepared, everybody sat together at a table and shared the meal, talking about many different topics such as the firefight
Broncho Battalion Photos
The UCO Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) Broncho Battalion hosted a 9/11 stair run to honor first responders. The group climbed 110 flights of stairs, the same number of stairs first responders climbed on the historic day.
Week of 9/16/24 - 9/22/24
ers’ experiences as first responders, the students’ lives at UCO and even their favorite movies.
After the food was finished, the firefighters gave the students a tour of the fire station. They guided them through each room to showcase their equipment, and explained to the students what each item does.
When everyone was ready to leave, they shared a group photo in front of one of the fire station’s trucks, said goodbye and wished to see each other again next year.
Edited by Margie E. Burke
series
flags are displayed at the 9/11 Remberence Walk. (TROY ISBELL/THE VISTA)
Victor Lopez Photo Editor
Two ROTC members participate in the 9/11 Stair Run. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
Firefighter David Palacios, a participant of the 9/11 Stair Run, climbs Chad Ritchson Stadium. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
Civic SL/CEs and Their way to Engage Students in our Democracy
Peyton Cleek Managing Editor
Civic SL/CEs is a non-partisan group that is heading a voter registration initiative on the University of Central Oklahoma campus for the upcoming election on Nov. 5.
The group believes that everyone needs to engage in the process of sustaining our democracy. They’re providing students with resources to make voting more accessible.
Emmi Ferguson is the student who started Civic SL/CEs.
“When I was a freshman, I came into the Nigh, and there was a voter registration table right, you could register to vote on campus and it was really easy and they would send it in, and eventually you’d get your voter registration card,” said Ferguson. “I signed up and sent it in, and I got my card, and I was like oh my gosh; I’m 18, I have my card, I can vote now. But the vote came around, and it was a different job, but I was still working full time, had classes in the morning and worked at night. I also didn’t have a car so I couldn’t get to my voting location, and I didn’t have the time to go to my voting location.”
Ferguson described how the same thing happened the next election cycle, and that’s what prompted them to realize the problems with voter education and accessibility.
“I started Civic SL/CEs not to just register people to vote, which is already a part of campus but to also inform people about who they’re voting for and get them out to polls,” said Ferguson.
Roughly 50% of young people, aged 18 to 29 voted in the 2020 presidential election, according to a Tufts University study.
“There is a really big deficit in youth voting especially, and I want them to be able to start now and make sure that their voice is heard. I mean it’s our future that we’re fighting for,” Ferguson said.
Civic SL/CEs are providing resources to encourage students to vote. First, they are partnering with the debate team, and they have already helped students watch the presidential debate and have information on the candidates such as their views and values. They’re also trying to get the “League of Women Voters” to speak to students. They want to partner with as many groups on campus as possible to help get what students are passionate about out there and if it’s an issue that will be on the ballots, inform them on those issues. They are also trying to set up carpooling where they have different cars to take students to different polling places. The MidFirst bank of campus is offering to notarize absentee ballots if students bring them in. Lastly, they want to inform international students of what’s going on, but also not get them in trouble because if they aren’t U.S citizens they can’t vote.
Elizabeth Overman, a political science professor, helped with Civic SL/CEs.
She said, “I began to do some research and looked at what’s going on with students who are voting across the board and across the country and learned that the lives of students are so different from the lives of faculty and staff on campus.”
Overman goes on to describe the balancing act students have between school, work and personal responsibilities.
“We need to go deeper, and therefore, we’re trying to, we’re trying to reach more students, but we’re also asking the faculty to take this up across campus,” said Overman.
Overman talked about the importance of faculty talking to students about voting and how it has a greater impact rather than just having flyers on a table. She also said that there will be early voting at Mitch Park, and since the Citylink goes right by there, that is one option that makes voting easier for students.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 11. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is Oct. 21. Early voting is from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, and the election is on Nov. 5.
UCOSA swears in new Executive Team and holds first meeting
Mariah Vanzant Copy Editor
The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association (UCOSA) swore in their new executive members on Monday, Sept. 9 at their first meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year. They swore in President Cooper Autry, Vice President Reda Errahmouni, Chair Rylan Bolt, Vice Chair Niklas Nelson and Secretary Meleah Meyer.
“I ran on the pillars to unite, uphold, and uplift our student body,” Autry said. “So within that, one of the things we are working on is student involvement and student engagement.”
Autry said UCOSA is seeking to better facilitate communication with students through increased social media and hope to build a better following.
“We have been posting numerous reels, pictures and things like that,” Autry said. “We get great student engagement from that.”
Autry also said that he has been trying to meet with various departments on campus.
“This summer I met with the parking department,” Autry said. “This week I put out a video on some advice they gave me to pass on to students.”
Autry said the reason he is meeting with the various departments is to understand different perspectives from around campus. He plans on doing this throughout the semester in order to pass along information to students that is helpful to them.
“One thing we are doing with student engagement is to encourage students to attend athletic events,” Autry said.
Autry said this allows students to support the student athletes and gives students an opportunity to get engaged, to get involved, and to show their Broncho spirit.
“The reason we emphasize going to athletic events is because it is a great way for students to come together,” Autry said. “Even students who
Jake Ramsey Editor-in-Chief
Peyton Cleek Managing Editor
Victor Lopez Photo Editor
Mariah Vanzant Copy Editor
Isabel Contreras Digital Editor
Nicholas Borghini Sports Editor
Jiwoo Han Reporter
Britton Summers Reporter
Ella Spurlock Reporter
Callie Turley Reporter
Troy Isbell Reporter
Jessey Kollie Reporter
Zoe Gfeller Reporter
Bradie Gray Columnist
are not in student organizations. It is really a good way for everyone to come together as Bronchos.”
Autry said they are also working on partnering with food drives. They are partnering with Central Pantry to fight food insecurity on campus.
“We are really trying, through everything we do, to reach as many students as we can in as many different areas of campus as we can,” Autry said.
“Myself and the rest of the executive members are here for UCO students,” Autry said. “We want to hear from them. We want them to come visit us. We’re each in the office ten hours a week. We want students to come in and talk to us.”
UCOSA meets every Monday at 4 p.m. in the Mary Fallin Room in the Nigh University Center. The UCOSA office is on the first floor of the Nigh University Center.
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Emmi Ferguson sits on a bench by Broncho Lake. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
Old North at the University of Central Oklahoma. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
Old North through the leaves of UCO. (VICTOR LOPEZ/ THE VISTA)
The Numbers Game: Important numbers in UCO’s surprise upset vs the Mules
Ian Nikkel Contributing Writer
In the Bronchos 57-40 victory against the Central Missouri Mules. Three single school records were broken and a lot of players had a
big game too. Here are some of the important numbers from Saturday’s victory:
42: The number of passes quarterback Jett Huff completed on Saturday, breaking the previous record set by Ethan Sharp in 2011 against
North Alabama (41).
457: Passing yards Jett Huff threw on those 42 completions. Which is second best in school history.
9: This is the 9th time a Broncho quarterback has thrown for 400+ yards in a single game.
TJ Eckert did it three times, Brett Manning did it twice, Chas Stallard, Erick Johnson and Ethan Sharp all did it once.
14: The new school record for most receptions in a single game set by senior wideout Terrill Davis. Marquez Clark held the previous record, catching 13 passes two times in 2013 against Emporia State and Northeastern State respectfully.
203: The amount of receiving yards Terrill Davis, which is the 11th time a Broncho has had 200+ receiving yards.
274: The number of rushing yards the Bronchos had on Saturday. Led by Jaylen Cottrell, who had 163 yards and three touchdowns.
64: The amount of rushing yards
Central Missouri had against the Bronchos defense.
731: The new school record for total yards in a single game set by the Bronchos this past Saturday. The previous record was 673 yards against Midwestern State in 2001.
129: The number of points the Bronchos have scored in their first two games of the 2024 season.
36: The number of points the Bronchos need to average in their nine remaining regular season games to break the single-season points school record, 452 in 2017 in 12 games.
6: The number of sacks UCO had on the 2023 Harlon Hill Award winner and Central Missouri quarterback Zach Zebrowski.
2014: The last time UCO football began the season 2-0.
2: The amount of times Bronchos head coach Adam Dorrel and the Bronchos have defeated the number two team in Division II (Defeated NW Missouri in 2022).
The motivation behind Terrill Davis’s stunning Saturday night
Nicholas Borghini Sports Editor
UCO’s standout wide receiver
Terrill Davis set a school record for most catches with 14 receptions during Saturday night’s game against the Central Missouri Mules.
Davis started playing football his senior year at Choctaw High School and has not looked back since. He was receiving college offers after his first game and was awarded the 6A offensive player of the year and receiver of the year in his first season ever.
After his breakout senior season, Davis dropped basketball and focused solely on football, citing his family as his motivation.
“If I’m feeling down, or if I feel like I don’t want to do something, I just think of my family,” said Davis. “I think how much I could change and affect their lives if I do make it somewhere big.”
Davis led the Bronchos in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season. He said his ultimate goal is to play professionally and he has been training with his high school receiver coach, Ron Brown, who is now his personal
trainer.
“In the off-season we go hard. We train probably harder than a lot of guys that are on their way to the NFL,” said Davis. “So I feel like if I just continue doing that then it will get me there because he’s got some guys in the league right now too.”
As an undersized receiver by NFL standards, Davis looks up to 5 foot, 8 inch tall Houston Texans’ wide receiver Tank Dell as an inspiration, saying that work ethic can take him far.
Davis said his mom, who raised three kids by herself, has taught him how to stay positive no matter what and has been a role model for him.
“She was working a little side job trying to get by and now she owns her own business and she’s doing well for herself,” said Davis. “Just seeing that, I just know that anything’s possible.”
Davis said his mom motivates him more than anyone and he wants to take care of her.
“That’s my goal in life. That’s the one thing that keeps me going,” said Davis. “Just having that in the back of my head, I just want to make sure that she don’t got to work ever again.”
Sports Column: “I didn’t think the offense had this in them.”
Coach Bradie Gray Columnist
For the second time in three years, the UCO football team has knocked off the number two team in America. In 2022, the Bronchos beat Northwest Missouri State, 23-14. It was a game decided by defense
and time of possession as many upsets are. However
last week’s game was a very different story. The number two Central Missouri Mules, led by star quarterback Zach Zebrowski, dropped 40 points on the ‘Chos. The only problem was Adam Dorrell’s offense went nuclear as UCO scored a staggering 57 points to solidify themselves as MIAA contenders. Offense was obviously the story
in this one. Jett Huff is the real deal under center.
He went 42-54 on the night which is absolutely insane by itself, but when you add 457 yards and three touchdowns to his stat line (second most passing yards in school history), you would be hardpressed to find anyone in the country with a better night.
Wide receiver Terrill Davis also came alive for a historic night. A school record 14 catches for 203 yards and two scores to officially arrive on the national scene. Followed by Ashton Schumann’s 111 yards and a score, those two will make opposing coach’s heads spin in 2024.
And it does not stop there. On the ground, running backs Jaylen Cottrell and Williams Mason combined for 240 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Dominance. No other way to say it. Through the air. On the ground. It does not matter.
From the offensive line, to the
skill players, to one of the best quarterbacks in America.
Dominance. Truthfully, I never believed the offense had this in them. But I’m extremely happy to be wrong. Hopefully I can sit down and break down how exactly they want to attack, but until then I’m happy to sit back and watch this offense dominate.
UCO Wide receiver Terrill Davis (8) attempts a catch over defensive back Malachi Howard (23) (ARRIANA CHARQUEÑO/THE VISTA)
UCO wide receiver Terrill Davis (8) catches and carries past Mule defender (ANDREA VASQUEZ/THE VISTA)
UCO quarterback Jett Huff stands his ground against Mule defenders (ANDREA
UCO Head Coach Adam Dorrel cheers on the team from the sidelines. (ANDREA VASQUEZ/THE VISTA)
A fresh start: Tweedy and UCO Soccer look to prove themselves
Nicholas Borghini Sports Editor
Rebecca Tweedy made a game-winning shot off a cross from Madison Linavong in UCO soccer’s first home game of the season, Thursday night, sealing a 3-2 win after being down 0-2 against Angelo State.
Tweedy, a junior forward and team captain, entered this season eager to move up in the conference after working through an injury last year.
“I mean it doesn’t feel good to be ranked seventh but we all know that that doesn’t define us,” said Tweedy. “We’re just going to show everyone what UCO soccer can bring to the table this year.”
Six-foot-tall defender Callie Halbert scored the first goal of the game for the Bronchos on a corner, followed by a game-tying free-kick by graduate student Rebekah George, a transfer from Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
UCO soccer lost 3-4 at home, Sunday, against Dallas Baptist, who are ranked 12th. The Bronchos will host Southern Nazarene on Wednesday. Thursday’s game was Amel Muhamedagic’s first home win as head coach after taking over the position following Mike Cook’s retirement earlier
this year. Cook recruited Tweedy during her junior year of high school and he is still attending some practices and serving as a source of motivation for players.
“Mike Cook was an absolute legacy to our program,” said Tweedy. “Started from scratch and we’re all going to miss him so much, but Amel has been watching him over the years and has been working for him for as long as I know and I think we all trust him with our lives.”
Tweedy is a Speech-Language Pathology major and plans on taking her medical redshirt year for the 2026 season, then working in acute care in the hospital system.
“My grandpa passed away a few years ago, and I knew instantly that I wanted to be in the hospital setting to help people, especially in acute care and high-intense situations,” said Tweedy. “I just want to help people and for them to get back to where they can be able to do daily activities.”
Tweedy said that playing soccer for the Bronchos has taught her true work ethic, grit, determination and time management, all of which she plans on utilizing in her future career.
“I just appreciate that I’ve learned that because I don’t think I would take that to heart as much if I didn’t play college soccer,” said Tweedy.
UCO volleyball continues their dominance at Flagler Saints Classic
Ethan Suntken
Contributing Writer
The nationally ranked Broncho volleyball team stayed undefeated as they finished the week 5-0 to bring their record this season to 9-0.
The Bronchos swept Oklahoma Baptist on Tuesday 25-17, 25-16, 25-15 for their third consecutive sweep. The following day, the team traveled to St. Augustine, Florida to compete in the Flagler Saints Classic, where they opened by sweeping Flagler 26-24, 2516, 25-22.
The team was led by senior Jenna Karp, who continues to post impressive stats early in the season. The Bronchos moved their record to 6-0.
Day two of the Flagler Saints Classic post-
ed a tougher challenge for the Bronchos as they took on Embry-Riddle (FL). The team lost their first set in 5 matches during the second set but bounced back quickly.
After winning the first set 25-16, they dropped the second set 22-25. The third and fourth set were dominated by the Bronchos 25-21 and 25-17.
The Bronchos finished the week with two more sweeps. They ended Nova Southeastern’s six game winning streak by sweeping them 27-25, 25-21, 25-21.
The Bronchos ended the three day event 4-0 by beating Trevecca Nazarene 25-23, 25-21, 25-16.
The team moved up five rankings from No. 23 to No. 18 following their first week of the season and should continue to rise in the rankings as they stand at 9-0 going into the third week of the season.
Canales leads Bronchos to victory at Mules National
Cedric Brossie Contributing Writer
As pre-season starts for men’s golf, the UCO men’s golf team went up the turnpike to Missouri on Sept. 10 to play in The Mule, which was hosted by the University of Central Missouri.
The UCO Bronchos won the team title with a 54-hole score of 839. During the individual’s runs on the course, UCO’s own Nick Canales took his first individual title starting off the new season.
He ended the first round with 68 strokes, round two, 73 strokes and round three, 63 strokes.
“I learned that they’re ready to compete against the best in the country,” said UCO Men’s Golf Coach Derrick Thompson. “First tournament every year, you don’t always know exactly what you’re going to get. I knew our guys were
talented and we prepared really well.”
The UCO men’s golf team is currently ranked number one in the MIAA pre-season polls.
“We had a good, a really good season last year and did some pretty cool things,” said Thompson. “Most of that team is coming back and so I think that was where maybe the projection came from, is that, you know there wasn’t a lot of turnovers on our roster maybe compared to some other teams in the conference.”
Thompson’s expectation going into the season is simple, just expect his team to play hard.
“If they do that, I think we’re going to be OK,” said Thompson. “It’s just pre-preparation, put in the work, play really hard, compete and kinda let our talent take us where it can.”
Up next for the Broncho golf team, a national preview in Palm Beach, Florida set for Sept. 23 and Sept. 24.
UCO teammates celebrate a goal against Angelo State. (ARRIANA CHARQUEÑO/THE VISTA)
UCO forward Rebecca Tweedy (14) faces off against Angelo State defender Ashlyn Vick (16). (ARRIANA CHARQUEÑO/THE VISTA)
Addison Wimmer (3) on the court in Florida (PROVIDED/PHOTO SERVICES)
Nick Canales swinging on the course. (PROVIDED/PHOTO SERVICES)
Oklahomans Against Occupation Hosts a Fundraiser Concert For Palestine
raiser concert and a board member for the OAO. They have an EP out called “American Roulette” that has a song written about the Covenant school shooting and a song about the
Oklahomans Against Occupation will be hosting a fundraiser concert for Palestine Saturday at Resonant Head in Oklahoma City to raise money for HEAL Palestine.
HEAL Palestine was founded by Steve Sosebee who also founded the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, Steve Hanon, a board member of the OAO said.
HEAL Palestine involves not only food and medical aid, but also emotional support and educational resources, Hanon said. He said that in Gaza not only have their medical infrastructures been destroyed, but also their educational systems. “Every university in Gaza has been leveled and the majority of schools for younger kids are also destroyed as well,” said Hanon.
Steve Sosebee and HEAL Palestine are not just providing services of urgent medical care, but little music events, entertainers and other things to bring a smile to these children’s faces who for the past eleven months and most of their lives have not had a chance to experience life to the fullest extent, said Hanon.
and not be in terror every day of their lives, said Myra of Belle Riots.
The concert will also feature The Oklahoma Action Chorus which is a gender diverse choir that focuses on labor movement songs, Hanon said.
The lineup for the concert includes R&B singer Nia Monè, no wave electronic punk band Sheesh, alternative rock post punk band Gonzo Lebronzo, solo rap project NasGreen, solo goth and synth pop project Settling and thrash pop beach metal band Belle Riots.
Sheesh reunited after about six years of not performing together and this is one of their first few concerts after reuniting. Their set will be entirely new material, said Laine Bergeron of Sheesh. Gonzo LeBronzo is made up of lead singer and guitarist David Hanon, drummer Grant Marshall, bass guitarist Shawn Stafford. Hanon is one of the organizers for the fund-
disproportionate warfare levied against Palestine, said Hanon.
NasGreen is a Palestinian Oklahoman who is a member of indie band Chelsea days and this is his rap project on the side, said Hanon. Settling is a solo side project of Brandon Ross from hardcore band Grandpa Vern. Belle Riots is a trans queer punk band, said Hanon. They decided to be part of the Palestine fundraiser because it is something very close to their hearts and important that they show support for fellow human beings that just want their space to exist
Ayperi who is one of the heads of the Aalim Dance Academy in Oklahoma City will be performing the dabke which is a traditional Palestinian dance of resistance. Ayperi will give a brief history lesson and then get everyone in the room to do the dabke, said Hanon.
Abraar Hassany who is the director of public relations for the OU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine will be the MC for the evening, Hanon said. There will also be updates from Oklahomans Against Occupation and guest speakers Mauree Turner who was recently the Representative for Oklahoma’s 88th House District and Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon who serves Oklahoma City’s Ward 6, said Hanon. Mask Bloc OKC will also be there providing masks for everyone who attends the show. Molly’s Tamales will be there because it will be a four hour long show, Hanon said.
Oklahomans Against Occupation is an organization that is around ten months old. They were cofounded by Yasmin and Tasneem after Oct. 7, Hanon said. A couple of people got together with this idea of what they can do for Palestine in Oklahoma and came up with different ideas of sustainable solutions to organize in Oklahoma, said cofounder Yasmin. They thought of OAO as a way to do long term work for Palestine, said Yasmin. She said it was a couple of people and then the OAO grew from there.
The concert will take place on Sept. 22 at Oklahoma City music venue Resonant Head. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the show is set to start around 6 p.m. Tickets sales will be donated to HEAL Palestine. They cost $15 each and you can buy them at the door or online.
Adara Kay at Live Room Thursday, Sept. 12 at ACM
Art student prepares to be featured in OVAC art fundraiser
UCOs very own art student, Michelle Canning, will be one of 175 artists participating in the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s annual 12x12 Art Fundraiser.
The 12x12 Art Fundraiser is put on by the OVAC, a non-profit organization that supports visual art and visual artists across Oklahoma. The Fundraiser will take place on Sep. 20 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at OKC Farmers Public Market. Tickets are $60 and alongside the fundraiser, live entertainment and local catering will be provided.
All artwork on display at the fundraiser is unique and within the dimensions of 12-by-12 inches. There will be several different mediums on display for viewing and purchase. Canning talked about the medium she works in during an interview.
“I work in woodcut printmaking. For a piece this size [12-by-12 inches] the carving takes around 3 to 4 hr and printing takes another hour,” said Canning.
The artwork presented at the OVAC fundraiser has set prices for the opportunity to
purchase the work on the spot or the pieces can be auctioned online. Part of the sales made at the fundraiser go right back into the OVAC, through these profits they provide education, exhibitions, grants, resources and sponsorships to the Oklahoma art community.
“[Y]ou really get connected and find other opportunities by mingling with other artists,
that’s my goal,” expressed Canning. Connection is key in the art world and for many artists, including Canning, the goal is the same; to make a name for yourself. To become a participating artist in the OVAC fundraiser an application and sample work must be submitted. Once an application is approved, it provides a great opportunity for an artist to network, gain exposure and collaborate with other artists and the community.
Ella Spurlock Reporter
Callie Turley Reporter
The fundraiser concert for Heal Palestine will be Sunday, Sept. 22. (ART BY: DAVID HANON, INSPIRED BY: PALESTINIAN ARTIST GHASSAN KANAFANI)
Michelle Canning is participating in the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s annual art fundraiser.
(VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
Adara Kay holding up her guitar pick in the air while performing at ACM@UCO. (TROY ISBELL/THE VISTA)
Oklahoma artist Adara Kay singing for audiences at ACM. (TROY ISBELL/THE VISTA)
UCO tech store features a wide selection of Apple products
Apple’s annual event has unveiled the new iPhone 16 lineup and introduced exciting AI advancements with iOS 18. Hosted at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, this year’s event placed a strong emphasis on their cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Some highlights included the iPhone 16, AirPods 4 and the Apple Watch Series 10. Jacob Duncan, team leader at the UCO Central Tech Store, said the store works directly with Apple.
“We are an Apple-certified store, so our pricing matches what you’d find at Penn Square Mall,” said Duncan. “We also have an Apple-certified technician on campus who handles repairs for MacBooks and iPads. Additionally, we accept Apple as payment for repairs.”
Duncan also discussed the most popular products for students. He shared that the MacBook air 13-inch, starting at $899 with an M2 chip, is a top seller.
“While $899 may seem like a lot, we explain to students that they’re buying a device that will last significantly longer than a Windows device,” he said. “Windows devices typically last 3-4 years, while MacBook’s, if well-maintained, can last anywhere from 6-8 years. These are just some common points we discuss with students.”
When asked about students using iPads, Duncan shared his thoughts on the common misconceptions about iPads.
“We see a lot of students come in to get iPads, but there’s a common misunderstanding,” he said. “iPads can be a great addition; they are not a substitute for a computer. For courses that use lockdown browser quizzes and tests, iPads can encounter issues.”
“Although lockdown browser is compatible with iPads, we’ve had problems where the iPad re-
mains locked in the program after a test, causing difficulties until it is fixed. Our best advice is to invest in a MacBook during your first few years,” said Duncan. “If you have additional funds later, then consider getting an iPad.”
While the UCO Central Tech Store offers valuable support, it does have some limitations. Currently, the store operates independently of the bursar’s office and is not yet able to accept payments through student accounts. Instead, it can only process debit and credit card payments. “We’re working hard behind the scenes to integrate with the bursar’s system,” Duncan explained. “Our primary function is to serve as a convenient repair spot for Apple products and to
provide advice on resolving simple tech problems.”
Despite some current limitations, the UCO Central Tech Store remains a resource for students who need Apple product support or purchasing advice. With plans to improve payment options, the store continues to play an important role in assisting with the tech experience for students here on campus.
UCO students embark on a new journey- film production
A group of UCO theater students are embarking on a new journey–film production. Since the summer of 2023, a group of UCO theater performance majors have worked on a feature film, a short film and participated in a 48 hour film project with plans to continue working together in the future.
The group came to fruition in the summer of 2023 during the production of feature film “Getaway.” Since then, the group has competed in a 48-hour film contest where they had to produce a short film in a short 48 hours. For this project, they were nominated for best SFX makeup, best supporting actress, and best lead. Most recently, the group has completed production for a short film titled “Memento Mori,” directed by theater performance major, Maddey Grant.
Grant is the catalyst for this collaboration. After being cast as the lead in “Getaway,” she recruited fellow UCO students Cutter Acker, James Coplen, Rainey Denison, Emery Font, Cole Shoemaker and Nathan Rogers for the other roles. It just happened that director Cody Petersen chose them. During the six-day shoot,
the group quickly bonded, outrunning numerous tornadoes, hiding out in casinos and working long days. Through the wild experiences of production, it was evident that a collaborative community was being born.
“It’s so important to collaborate on every level because if one link doesn’t communicate the whole chain falls apart,” said Shoemaker.
This collaborative community is what sets them apart.
“There’s a lot of close-minded people in the film industry, and these people love to learn and are really easy to work with,” said Grant. It was evident that all members of this group are open to learning and willing to jump in where needed. They are quick to make a coffee run as a production assistant, work on lighting as a grip, or help with any department that needs assistance. What started as a friendship built on a shared love of theater has transformed into a beautiful working relationship in film.
“This group complements each other and there is no rivalry. It’s trial and error to figure out how we can better ourselves in our careers. Just friends doing cool stuff,” said Font.
While the group doesn’t have any major projects in the works, Font is in development for a short film of her own and plans to get this newly formed production team together for production.
Zoe Gfeller Reporter
Alex Taylor Contributing Writer
The UCO Tech Store is an Apple-certified store. (VICTOR LOPEZ/THE VISTA)
The production crew has worked on several projects together. (PROVIDED/MATT FOWLER)
Canon Lee, drummer Yahya Cheema and bassist Nathan Masters opening for Adara Kay at ACM@ UCO. (TROY ISBELL/THE VISTA)
Oklahoma artist Jeff Humphrey playing bass while performing with Adara Kay. (TROY ISBELL/THE VISTA)
Robots, Reboots and a Revved-Up Return: “Transformers One”
Jessey Kollie Reporter
The Transformers franchise is celebrating 40 years of history by delivering a fresh new take on some old friends this Friday, Sept. 20. It’s got heart, it’s got humor, and it’s got big robots turning into vehicles and blasting each other to bits. What more could you ask for?
Since the release of the movie “Bumblebee” in 2018, fans have long waited for a feature-length film that fully explores the planet of Cybertron before the two warring factions of Autobots and Decepticons decimated the planet in their furious feud.
“Transformers One” is a brilliant and colorful retelling of the origins of both Optimus Prime and Megatron for modern audiences who might be unfamiliar with the world of Transformers. It explores the dynamic between the two characters and what caused their bond to shatter while also fleshing out the world
that these bots come from. Unlike Hasbro’s previous attempts at creating an origin for the series, such as the poorly received Aligned Continuity in 2010, this film acts all on its own within a continuity separate from previous iterations.
Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry voice the respective bots Orion Pax and D-16 before the events of the film lead them into becoming Optimus Prime and Megatron. Hemsworth and Henry have wonderful chemistry that allows you to truly feel the connection these two characters have.
Orion Pax and D-16 feel human, despite their metallic composition, and real in a way that adds another layer of feeling to the movie when you already know what happens to them in the end.
The events of the movie transpire and there isn’t anything you can do as you’re just as much along for
the ride as they are. “Transformers One” handles the complex dynamics of friendship in a way most PG films haven’t. By the end of the movie the relationship between the two has changed irrevocably and their paths have been set.
“Speak No Evil;” Satisfying, but leaves one wanting more
Britton Summers Reporter
“Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, and don’t have any kids yourself,” said Philip Larkin.
James McAvoy’s Paddy quotes this to Louise and Ben (played by MacKenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy, respectively) when they’re out having lunch together. There’s this sense of unease and awkwardness that feels all too familiar while you’re watching “Speak No Evil.”
The best part of this film is McAvoy. Much like fellow actor Michael Fassbender, McAvoy can do unhinged very, very well and it feels completely believable. Even at his most affable, there’s this sense that something isn’t right about
him. It might not reach the levels of “Split” in terms of the range of the performance, but McAvoy showcases his abilities as a performer.
Also to be commended is Mackenzie Davis as Louise. There’s an instinctual intelligence to her character in how she sniffs out that something is amiss and eventually she acts accordingly. It might be her best performance to date, and she’s never unbelievable in the role of someone who’s dealing with a lot, and is not sure how to handle it. But when she’s pushed, she can take action.
While there are strong elements such as the aforementioned performances of McAvoy, it’s everything else that falls somewhat flat. There
are themes playing around in this film such as the disintegration of the family unit and the cost of being honest, both to others and yourself, but the film never really does anything with these topics and themes that it brings up. It’s there to get people interested, and then it just turns into a typical thriller.
It’s a very well made typical thriller, but it was frustrating that the film had the topics that it brought up and didn’t do a thing with it. It could have been a much richer film.
Overall, “Speak No Evil” is a solid thriller that doesn’t do anything that’s new or fresh, but it’s dependably made and will be satisfying to fans.
