the
VISTA
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com
THE FINAL QUEEN! After 44 Years, Miss UCO Pageant Comes To An End Volume 117, Issue 12
Haley Humphrey @HaleyBHumphrey REPORTER
James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Eleven contestants waited on stage as the judges tallied the final scores. After 44 years of pageants, the Miss University of Central Oklahoma board of directors hosted their final competition. After a pause, Miss UCO 2019 Shelby Love Cargill crowned Alana Hughes as the winner. This isn’t new territory for Hughes. She was also named Miss UCO in 2018. “I was able to be crowned Miss UCO before and so just being able to go back to be the last Miss UCO, as of right now, is kind of overwhelming and sometimes I don’t really know exactly how to feel,” Hughes said. “But I’m just excited to be able to have this opportunity and go on to compete for Miss Oklahoma.” Hughes chose to compete for Miss
“Our Words, Your Voice.”
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
UCO again because of the support she has from the university. She said she is also heartbroken that the pageant is ending. “This is such an amazing sisterhood and I know every single person who has been Miss UCO before me,” Hughes said. “I looked up to them, I admired them, I wanted to be them one day.” Hughes said when she was growing up, she was not a strong communicator and the pageant industry helped her become more confident speaking in front of crowds and in interviews. Hughes has her associate in Contemporary Music Performance and is working to obtain a Pre-Medical Imaging and Sonography degree. Her social impact pitch for the pageant focused on teen volunteering. Hughes played “Variations on a Chop Waltz” on piano as her talent. Eleven candidates competed for the Miss UCO title in Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center comContinued on Pg. 6
Right: University of Central Oklahoma student, Alana Hughes, is crowned 2020 Miss UCO by 2019 Miss UCO Shelby Love Cargill in Constitution Hall on Nov. 9. 2020 Miss UCO, being the last Miss UCO ever, consisted of 11 candidates. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
The Canine Medication That Beat Small Cell Lung Cancer Haley Humphrey @HaleyBHumphrey REPORTER
Joe Tippens, a small cell lung cancer survivor, poses for a photo at a golf tournament party in 2016. Joe’s cancer spread throughout his entire body and was given a one perecent life expectancy. (Provided/Joe Tippens)
At 115 pounds, his cancer-ridden body didn’t resemble his former self. With three months to live, hope had all but burned out. But this isn’t a story about losing, or giving in. Rather, this story is about getting up and getting busy living. Sixty-two-year-old Joe Tippens has been in remission for three years. His journey didn’t take him through the traditional path of chemotherapy or immunotherapy, instead his path included positive thinking and a regimen of canine dewormer pills. Canine dewormer pills, an anthelmintic, or parasite-killing drugs are not recommended as an anticancer protocol by some of the most
sought-after oncologists in the world. The Weatherford native’s “Get Busy Living” blog went viral globally about a year ago, but he is still sharing his story every day and the stories of others. Through his anecdotal blog, more than 100 success stories of cancer-free patients have been recorded, from bladder to pancreatic cancer, the deadliest of all. In 2016, the father and new grandfather was told by a local medical group, which will remain unnamed to “protect the guilty,” as Tippens said, that the cancer he had was a tumor the size of his fist in his left lung. For many, this news would instigate hopelessness. For Tippens, he remained unfazed by it. “Fifty percent of my story is positive thinking, not just chemicals,” Tippens said. Continued on Pg. 8
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November 12, 2019
Contents
VISTA
Content
UCOSA/Edmond International Festival........................................3 Around Campus...........................................................................4 Campus Chat...............................................................................5 Miss UCO/Local Food Summit......................................................6 Joe Tippens Feature.................................................................8-9 Editorial.....................................................................................10 Games Page...............................................................................11 Football....................................................................................12 Basketball.....................................................................13 Volleyball/Soccer.......................................................................14 Bucking Broncho........................................................................15
Staff
James D. Jackson Jeff Elkins Derek Parker Tanner Laws Megan Thele Lauren Morris Michelle Pennza JaNae Williams Haley Humphrey Gerald Wing Yi Leong Teddy Burch
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Design Editor Reporter Reporter Photography Adviser
THE VISTA
is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, 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.
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On the Cover:
Left: Two University of Central Oklahoma students pose together for a Campus Chat portrait in the Max Chambers Library on Nov. 7. (Tanner Laws/The Vista) Left Middle: The University of Central Oklahoma football team celebrates the President’s Cup at Wantland Stadium on Nov. 9. (Tanner Laws/The Vista) Right Middle: The University of Central Oklahoma’s Korean Student Association serves food to attendees alongside a cultural art display at the 2017 International Festival. (Provided/International Student Council) Right: Pumpkins are displayed for sale at Urban Agrarian in Oklahoma City on Nov. 5. (JaNae Williams/The Vista)
UCOSA/International Festival
November 12, 2019
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UCOSA Passes Bill for Rep in University Committee Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 ONLINE EDITOR
The 10th University of Central Oklahoma Student Association meeting of the semester saw three bills passed, including one concerning the Alignment and Allocation Committee the university has created. CR19-107 was created by Chair of Congress James Limbaugh, UCOSA President Emily Grim and Senator Kamron Speed. The bill was a statement “urging” the Alignment and Allocation Committee to include a student voice as a part of the committee and its functions. The current student proposed to be on the committee is Grim. Limbaugh said that any student on the committee would have to be available or on campus during the summer, as this is when committee will meet. The student on the committee is not required to be the UCOSA president. Grim said that the student on the committee can rotate and be a sounding board of student interest. “We can have anyone on our executive board, as long as we are having someone who is attending,” Grim said. The legislation will be sent to: Kevin Freeman, vice president for Finance and Operations and co-chair of the committee; Provost John Barthell, co-chair of the committee; Anne Holzberlein, vice president for Advancement; Charlie Johnson, vice president for University Communications; Diane Feinberg, vice president for Peo-
Secretary Dillon Rasberry (left), Vice Chair Emma Sawyer and Chair of Congress James Limbaugh stand at the front of the Nigh University Center’s Will Rogers Room as a bill is passed. UCOSA passed three bills during the Nov. 4 meeting. (Lauren Morris/The Vista)
ple and Culture; Mark Kinders, vice president for Public Affairs; Drew Duke, interim vice president for Student Affairs; Sonya Watkins, chief information officer; and Kendall Parrish, general counsel. CFR19-109, created by senators Marcus Ting and Deveron Shannon, will give the Food Science Club $1,000 as supplemental money for a symposium, as well as food for the event. CB19-108, created by senators Ashley Wools and Alex Galaviz, changed attendance rules for senators in the congress. It states: “If a senator is found to have lied, intentionally or not, it is up to the discretion of the executive board to remove them and appoint the next in line senator to fill that opening.” Currently, a senator must have four
absences before legislation for their expulsion can be created. Wools said the point of the bill is that if a senator realizes their schedule does not work with the UCOSA schedule, they can be removed and replaced immediately instead of having to wait over a month before doing so. “This was only brought up because of issues where senators were like, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize I had a class at this time…now you have to wait four weeks to remove me,’” Wools said. “We’re skipping that process and saying, if you can’t make it to congress… you’ll be removed from the election process.” A few small committee updates were also given. The Academic Affairs committee is trying to form legislation about an accountability system
with professors, and the Campus Development committee is solidifying scheduling for a night walk around campus, which was created to help find dark spots on campus. The Diversity and Inclusion committee is working to get more sanitary products in the UCOSA office, as it was a suggestion UCOSA received during “Talk to Us Tuesdays.” During the event, senators sit in the Nigh University Center asking for questions, comments or concerns for students. The committee is also talking with Housing and Dining on the situation of any international students who will be staying on campus over the winter break. UCOSA meets at 4 p.m. every Monday in the Nigh University Center‘s Will Rogers Room 421.
UCO to Host 44th Annual International Festival Jay Mayes @jaymayes95
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The 44th annual Edmond International Festival, hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma’s International Student Council, will honor International Education Week on Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
the Edmond Festival Marketplace. The festival celebrates the diversity of UCO’s international students and showcases 14 country and regional student associations under ISC through cultural displays, food and performances. Han Seth Lu, ISC president, said the festival is a great way for UCO inter-
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Vietnamese Student Association performs as part of the 2017 International Festival. (Provided/International Student Council)
national students to represent their culture and to pay back the community. It is an opportunity for the UCO and Edmond communities to come together and celebrate the diversity at UCO and learn cross-cultural understanding and ideas, Han said. “This event means unity,” Han said. “The unity in having differences but still coming together as one big community.” The countries, cultures and regions highlighted at the festival include Africa, Arab, China, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Southeast Asia and Vietnam. Jared Scism, assistant director of International Programming, said that the festival is UCO’s way of celebrating International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and Department of Education. Events like this, according to Scism,
allow others to learn more about international culture and experience a variety of countries at the same time. “This event provides citizens of Edmond the opportunity to learn about some of the largest populations living in their community firsthand without needing to leave Edmond,” Scism said. The ISC works to increase international student involvement within the UCO community through building dialogue for cross-cultural communication. It also works to involve international students in campus activities, encourage an understanding of the democratic process, develop a strong voice for international student concerns and develop internship and scholarship opportunities for international students. The festival is free and open to the public. UCO students can gain STLR (Student Transformative Learning Record) credit in the Global and Cultural Competency tenet.
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November 12, 2019
Around Campus
Therapy dog Tallulah, lays on the floor as students pet her during the Stress Paws event at the Nigh University Center on Nov. 7. Tallulah was provided by the Human Animal Link of Oklahoma Foundation. (Serene Russell/The Vista)
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 2019-2020 Student Organization Registration Training: This will take place in the Nigh University Center room 201 from 1-3 p.m. for student organizations who want to become active. Student organization leaders and on-campus student organization advisors must attend training to activate their organization. Grand Rounds: An Introduction and Experience in IPP: From 4:306:00 p.m. in the Robert S. Kerr room of the Nigh University Center, join medical-based peers from across campus in an introductory experience with Grand Rounds. In a collaborative setting where students learn by, from, and with each other, they will examine a case study from different professional paradigms. Wesley House Bible Study: From 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Wesley House, there will be a student led bible study. Attendees will talk about interpreting scripture and using the bible to find one’s place in the world.
Wednesday, Novemer 13, 2019 Scholarship Workshop: Sponsored by Chickasaw Nation as a part of Native American Heritage Month, at 10:30 a.m. inside room 213 of the Nigh University Center, students having trouble finding scholarships, confused by the application process
or just curious can join the Chickasaw Nation as they host a workshop with the intention of guiding students in the right direction. This will be a lunch and learn style event. Central Improv Practice: From 1-3 p.m. in room 211, UCO’s improv group, Central Improv will hold their weekly practice. HEART: Hope, Empowerment and Recovery from Trauma: From 2-3 p.m. in Thatcher Hall room 339, a workshop with the intent of reducing trauma symptoms and increasing coping strategies will take place. This workshop includes self-soothing, the mind and body connection, effects of trauma on relationships, healthy relationships, and more. UCOSA Sponsorship Funding Meeting: From 4-5 p.m. in room 105 of the Nigh University Center, there will be a weekly meeting for student groups to speak to the ways and means committee of UCOSA to ask for additional funding for their organization. Local Food Summit: From 5:00-7:30 p.m. inside the Nigh University Center Ballrooms, this vendor fair and public education event will be held with the intent of emphasizing the importance of locally sourced food. Participants can expect to a complimentary dinner with locally sourced ingredients and discussion about food
and food-related topics. This event is put on by Students for Sustainability. WBB vs Arkansas-Fort Smith: Broncho women’s basketball will take on Arkansas-Fort Smith inside Hamilton Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online at Bronchosports.com
Thursday, November 14, 2019 Miss Asian UCO Pageant Practice: From 7:30-8:30 p.m. inside the Nigh University Center room 421, there will be a practice for participants in the Miss Asian UCO Pageant. Global Voices: Unfiltered: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Forensic Science Institute, an event will be held to reintroduce and redefine international students’ identities by highlighting their personal, social, and/or academic experiences in the United States via their respective unique and unfiltered voices. The project will advocate the importance of tolerance, empathy, and diversity within the University of Central Oklahoma community and work to cultivate global perspectives. The project will culminate in an interactive exhibit that consists of student submissions to be held on the United Nations’ International Day for Tolerance.
Friday, November 15, 2019 SNA November Monthly Meeting: In Coyner Room 104 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., the Student Nurse Asso-
ciation monthly meeting will provide information regarding specialized areas of nursing, how to get involved in the specialty, and what the specialty nursing career is really like. UCO Hockey vs Lindenwood: Broncho Hockey will take on Lindenwood University inside Arctic Edge’s Broncho Barn. Tickets are $5 with UCO ID and $7 for general admission.
Saturday, November 16, 2019 Edmond International Festival 2019: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Edmond Farmer’s Market, the UCO International Student Council will host Edmond International Festival 2019. This event celebrates diverse cultures. There will be food to sample from all around the world and opportunities to learn about these cultures. In the event of inclement weather, this event will be moved to the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. Miss Native UCO Scholarship Pageant: From 7-9 p.m. inside Constitution Hall, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host Miss Native UCO Scholarship. The Miss Native UCO Scholarship Pageant recognizes Native American culture and celebrates these women for their academic achievement, community involvement, talent, and knowledge of Native American heritage and current events. The pageant provides contestants an opportunity for leadership development.
Campus Chat
CAMPUS CHAT Haley Humphrey
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November 12, 2019
Reporter
Opinions From UCO Students
@HaleyBHumphrey
What's the first thing you notice when you look at someone?
Emily Fellend, senior, Psychology: “It’s usually the teeth actually.”
Brandon Queri, first semester graduate student, Electrical Engineering: “How they’re dressed — how casually or dressed up they are depending on what kind of situation it is. It’s the most obvious thing, it’s the majority of the person’s body.”
Thomas Alvarado, freshman, Nursing: “Smile. That’s the thing that I notice more because I used to have messed up teeth until I got braces and so I was really insecure about that, so I finally got my teeth straight and absolutely loved it and that’s the first thing I see in other people.”
Wendy Enriquez, sophomore, Math Education: “The eye color because I have light brown eyes and I just want to see everyone else’s.”
Trenton Mooney, first year graduate student, Forensic Psychology: “Probably their emotion that they have on their face currently. People tend to carry their emotions on their face, so the face is the most common thing people look at when they’re looking at a new person to see if they’re approachable or not.”
Nalani Mccrary, freshman, Kinesiology: “Their teeth or their smile. It’s one of the biggest parts of someone’s face.”
Kristina Bradford, sophomore, Nursing: “Teeth, I feel like they illuminate your face.”
Jayda Cabrera-Harris, freshman, Nursing: “Personality because when someone first starts talking to you, it just gives off everything, you can just tell how they are by the way they talk and carry themselves.”
Jake Garcia, freshman, Mechanical Engineering: “Their facial features. If [they’re] a woman, that’s the first thing I look into and if [they’re] a guy, it’s how well-dressed he is, like what kicks he’s wearing.”
Treasure Valdi, junior, Nursing: “Probably your shoes. I’m just a huge shoe person, like I got to see what you wearing today.”
Skyler Lockard, junior, Psychology: “How they’re dressed. I never judge how they’re dressed, but I always look because it’s always a good way to get an idea of who someone is. A lot of people, especially now, put their personality into the way they dress.”
Ebanie Miller, freshman, Nursing: “Looks because the first thing you see is their appearance when you look at someone.”
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November 12, 2019
Pagenat/Food Summit
After 44 Years, Miss UCO Pageant Comes To An End Continued from pg. 1
pared to 16 last year. Morgan Money won first runner-up and the On-Stage Interview Award; Tobie Mitchell won second runner-up; Marilyn Segura-Morales won third runner-up and the People’s Choice Award; Emily Yannatone won fourth runner-up and the Outstanding Talent Award; Madison Sturgill won the Directors Award; and Hannah Morrison won the Congeniality Award. Hughes received a $2,100 UCO tuition waiver; a $500 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals scholarship; a $500 cash scholarship provided by Robinson Park, a property management firm in Oklahoma City; a $100 Versona gift card, a boutique chain; and a $500 wardrobe allowance for the Miss Oklahoma competition. Money received a $1,250 UCO tuition waiver; a $300 CMNH scholarship; and a $100 cash scholarship provided by the Lamb family
in honor of Charles Lamb, former Edmond mayor. Mitchell received a $1,250 UCO tuition waiver and a $300 CMNH scholarship. Segura-Morales and Yannatone both received a $1,000 UCO tuition waiver and a $200 CMNH cash scholarship, with Yannatone also receiving a $100 cash scholarship provided by the Banta family in honor of Paula M. Banta. Sturgill received a $100 cash scholarship. Miss UCO and Mr. Central are ending due to budget constraints as a result of low university enrollment. The Miss UCO Board of Directors and the Office of Student Engagement said in a university statement they are allocating their resources to other campus initiatives, which was reiterated Saturday night. “Our Student Engagement Office had to evaluate our budget alignments to student organizations and the decision was made from there,” said Kate Reeder, coordinator of Student Engagement and director
of finances and competition coordinator. “The board is not a student board — it is a board of alumni who volunteer to be on the board every year.” The tuition waiver scholarships that Miss UCO supplies will go back into “the larger pot of tuition waivers,” according to Reeder. A student affairs committee will take over allocating where the scholarship money goes from there. The amount of Miss UCO scholarship money has remained “roughly the same,” however Reeder said it may have slightly differed in the last 10 or 15 years. Reeder said there will be a reception in the spring as a final farewell event for former Miss UCO, board, university and community members to attend. A date or time has not been determined. Other scholarship pageants, such as Miss Latina, Miss Asian, Miss Black and Miss Native American are under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and will continue.
Mr. and Miss UCO International is under the Centre for Global Competency and will also continue. Adriana Gonzalez, who won the Directors Award in the 2018 Miss Latina pageant said it would be possible for future contestants to put on their own pageant. She said she was required to sell up to $250 worth of ads to help fund the event and that if the contestants continued to do that, it would be possible for the pageant to continue. Although, she understood there would not be a scholarship award. “I don’t know how much money you spend on a pageant, but if each of [the contestants] paid $250 or more, it could work,” Gonzalez said. Miss UCO began in 1977 and Mr. Central began in 2015. With Miss UCO 2020 being the last competition, many of the former Miss UCO and Miss Central State University were present and recognized on stage.
Students for Sustainability to Host Local Food Summit JaNae Williams @janaebwilliams REPORTER
The University of Central Oklahoma Students for Sustainability will host the second annual Local Food Summit Nov. 13 from 5-8 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms. The Local Food Summit brings together the campus community and greater Oklahoma City for conversations about food production, access and sustainability, according to Mary Bixler, project manager for the Office of Sustainability. “The first summit was just some-
thing [the other students and I] wanted to put on to advocate for and [create] a place to have conversations with all of these different stakeholders,” Bixler said. The inaugural summit was so well attended that the group has received revolving funding, Bixler added. “It wasn’t just a one-off thing where we did this event and had dinner together,” Bixler said. “We’re building on the conversations and the relationships that we had and trying to find real, meaningful solutions that benefit a lot of people.” This year’s event will begin with a vendor fair and once again include a
Apples from Livesay Orchards are on display at Urban Agrarian’s Oklahoma City location on Nov. 5. Livesay Orchards and Urban Agrarian are both sponsors of the 2019 UCO Local Food Summit. (JaNae Williams/The Vista)
meal for those in attendance. “We definitely wanted to make it a plant-based dinner. Especially because when you get into anything with meat and dairy, there’s a lot more guidelines and certifications you have to have,” Bixler said, regarding the menu for this year’s meal. Oklahoma farmers will provide most of the menu, with a few ingredients sourced from Texas due to weather issues, Bixler said. This year’s dinner menu includes an autumn salad, followed by a pasta dish with mushrooms and greens and a sweet potato-centered dessert. During the meal, Oklahoma City Councilwoman Nikki Nice will provide a keynote address. Nice presides over Ward 7, which includes the part of Northeastern Oklahoma City that recently closed down its last grocery store. “[Councilwoman Nice] incorporates a really great piece of this, which is food justice and ties in with environmental justice and how this issue doesn’t affect all people the same,” Bixler said. “We see that across the communities in Oklahoma, like who has three grocery stores within a square mile and who’s in food deserts.” The Local Food Summit also connects attendees to community businesses and organizations that
sponsor the event. This year Urban Agrarian, a locally owned and operated grocer founded in 2008, is one of the event’s main sponsors. “We are helping to source some of the food served at the dinner,” said Sarah Hache, store manager of Urban Agrarian’s Edmond location. “We’re [also connecting the organizers] with Livesay Orchards in Porter, Oklahoma to provide some awesome, funky pumpkins for the centerpieces.” Urban Agrarian came from owner Matt Burch’s desire to provide more access to locally sourced food, according to Hache. The store began with a series of pop-up events prior to opening its first location in 2011. “Urban Agrarian now has a [second] store in downtown Edmond,” Hache said. “Our aim and mission is to be able to provide this local food access to people outside of the traditional farmer’s market season.” Urban Agrarian’s Edmond location just celebrated its one year anniversary. It hopes to continue growing and connecting the entire metro community with local, independent producers, according to Hache. For more information on this year’s Local Food Summit, contact the Office of Sustainability at 405974-3526.
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November 12, 2019
Feature
The Canine Medication That Continued from Pg. 1
American biologist Bruce Lipton has a series of lectures on YouTube about the power of thinking and its effects on the body, which Tippens recommends. “When you have positive thoughts, you’re going to send positive signals to your cells and when you have negative thoughts, you’re going to send negative signals to your cells,” Tippens said. “That’s what I believed anyway, literally, when I was told ‘go home and hire hospice.’ It didn’t faze me — I knew I was going to solve the problem.” The certified public account, who has connections all over the world, ventured to get a second opinion from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, one of the best cancer research centers in the world, where he would spend months enduring chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “That came closer to killing me than the cancer ever did,” Tippens said. A radiation expert at MD Anderson, which Tippens said he believes will be the next head of the Food and Drug Administration, told him the cancer located in his left lung was gone, however it had spread throughout his entire body. If small cell lung cancer spreads to vital organs and bones throughout the body, it is deadly, and life-expectancy is 1 percent. Tippens was left with about three months to live. The next option the MD Anderson doctors had was a clinical trial of immunotherapy, a treatment option that can either activate or suppress the immune system to attack cancer, according to Cancer Treatment Centers of America. The best-case scenario
From left, Joe, Doug, Tom, Terry and Darryl Tippens reunite in Tampa, Flordia on Nov. 8. The Tippens brothers celebrated each other’s company. Joe Tippens was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and had a tumor the size of his fist in his left lung, but cured his cancer by taking Panacur C, a canine dewormer. (Provided/Tom Tippens)
for Tippens now looked like 12-18 months of life. “With them telling me that was my best case, that wasn’t the right answer for me,” Tippens said. Tippens’ older brother Tom said when he was on the immunotherapy drug, Tippens was “literally walking death.” “He was down to 115-120 pounds — he had no energy, he was just dried out,” Tom said. Days later, Joe called family friend David Sturgeon, a large animal veterinarian, after reading a post on an Oklahoma State University sports board. Sturgeon informed Tippens about an unnamed scientist at Merck Animal Health who was conducting
research on cancerous mice by injecting them with fenbendazole, a canine deworming product line. The scientist ended up being diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, herself and decided to take the fenbendazole. She cured her cancer six weeks after taking it. “I decided on the spot, I have nothing to lose, so why not try,” Tippens said. Tippens, who is the youngest of six siblings, has always had a “no fear attitude,” which runs in the Tippens family, according to Tom. When Joe told his family that he was going to take fenbendazole, Tom said “it didn’t feel like such a crazy idea” to them. Joe began taking his protocol of
Many common medications are packaged in the same materials as fenbendazole. Fenbendazole is a canine deworming product that Joe Tippens and others have used to cure various types of cancers, including small cell lung cancer. (Provided/Pixabay)
Panacur C, the canine dewormer, in mid-January 2017, which he still follows today and will follow for the rest of his life. He also takes vitamin E, CBD oil and curcumin, a supplement that has anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, according to WebMD. Tippens spent months taking the canine medication, unaware of what was happening to his body. In May 2017, he went in for a positron emission tomography scan. The results were cancer free. “So, a PET scan three and a half months earlier [that] lit up like a Christmas tree from head-to-toe was now gone,” Tippens said. While many were questioning whether it was the fenbendazole or the experimental drug he was on, Tippens is assured he is cancer-free because of the canine pill. Tippens was the only patient out of 1,100 on the immunotherapy clinical trial who had success because he was the only one taking the pill, not known by the specialists. “I am convinced, and quietly and privately, my oncologist at MD Anderson agrees that it’s not the immunotherapy drug that saved me, it was fenbendazole,” Tippens said. Tippens’ story cascaded from one person to the next, as news organizations covered his story worldwide. He was answering 20-40 calls a day. That’s when the blog came in 2018. “I started the blog selfishly, just so I wouldn’t have to tell the story over
Feature
November 12, 2019
9
Beat Small Cell Lung Cancer
Joe Tippens, middle, poses with his two daughters, Lindsay Cola, left, and Natalie Deffenbaugh, right, for a photo in 2016 when Joe was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. (Provided/Joe Tippens)
and over again,” Tippens said. “I never intended for the blog to go viral.” Tippens said everyone knows someone who has cancer, so that is the main reason why his blog reached millions of people across the U.S. to more than 90 other countries. Just in the last three weeks, Tippens said South Korea has skyrocketed to second behind the U.S. in readership of the blog. Additionally, the blog has been translated into two Chinese dialects and has been read by 3.5 million viewers in China. The editor-and-chief of the Beijing News called Tippens and
told him there are between 30,000 and 40,000 patients in China using his fenbendazole protocol based on the amount of people buying the product after his blog’s translation. Tippens said he asked the editor-and-chief if he could talk to China’s government about funding a medical review of the Chinese patients who are taking fenbendazole. “He thought that was a good idea and he was going to run it up the flagpole, but I haven’t heard back from him [and that was about three weeks ago],” Tippens said. Tippens still answers about 200
emails a day from all over the world and occasional phone calls. While he is not a qualified doctor, Tippens said he is qualified to tell his story, which is not monetized. “When you get someone calling you saying ‘hey, look, I’m still alive because of you,’ that’s a pretty rewarding phone call,” Tippens said. Tom said he is most proud of his brother’s “absolute desire to share [his story] with the world.” “Joe is the right person for the job,” Tom said. “He’s put together with his makeup of dogged determination, his ability to process information, to research information and to collate information and do the things [necessary to] make people feel comfortable [trying the protocol].” While he is not making any money off his blog or Facebook account with the same name, Tippens said he might have to. As of right now, he has six volunteers moderating his Facebook page for people who do not use it appropriately. Tippens said he could employ four people and it would not be enough because it is a full-time job. He said he could either monetize his story or shut everything down because “it is too much for [him] to handle [alone].” Since the blog is completely ‘he said, she said,’ to become more medically legitimized, Tippens began having discussions with local medical groups. One being with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation [OMRF], who has agreed to do a retrospective clinical review of cases where a patient has been taking fenbendazole to treat their cancer. Tippens will then post OMRF’s review on his blog to start a credible audit of cases. OMRF will review 40 to 50 cases out of 100, which Tippens said he believes will be more than enough to establish the credibility his blog needs to not be ignored or forgotten. Tippens said he wants the project to focus on at least 25 patients where fenbendazole is the
only medication they are taking. Despite being one of the most hopeful men alive, Tippens said he does not believe the U.S. will see a human trial come from fenbendazole because trials are expensive, and no medical group would shell out money for it to have generic competition the next day. Chemotherapy can be millions of dollars, whereas a box of Panacur C starts at $8. Because the medication is 30 years off patent, anyone can make it, Tippens said. There are different brands of fenbendazole that make the medication in either a pill, paste, liquid or powder form. Tippens still dreams though. The Rotary International nonprofit organization that cured polio could take on funding a fenbendazole human trial as their next project, Tippens said. He also said he will work on seeing if a trial could take place in another country, such as India. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, one in every 200 Americans are needed for any clinical trial. Tippens said there are places around the world and in the U.S. in the last two weeks where fenbendazole is getting more difficult to buy because of his blog’s reach. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they come swoop in and take it off the market,” Tippens said. While he has not received any direct death threats, Tippens said he has been told to watch his back. “I’m not a paranoid type,” Tippens said. “When you’re told you’ve got three months to live, that should freak you out.”
The second portion of Tippens’ story and research will continue in next week’s edition of The Vista. The full story is currently available online at ucentralmedia. com.
The skeletal formula of fenbendazole shows the organic compound’s molecular structural formula. Fenbendazole is a canine deworming product that Joe Tippens used to cure his cancer after seeing a story of a scientist with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, that cured her cancer six weeks after taking the product. (Provided/Wikipedia)
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November 12, 2019
Editorial
Opinion: “OK, Boomer,” What Worked Then Won’t Work Now Jeff Elkins @JeffElkins12
MANAGING EDITOR
The quip “OK, Boomer” has emerged from the internet as the response to baby boomers who dismiss the plight of younger generations. If you use social media, it is likely that you have seen the phrase that essentially means “yeah, sure, whatever,” to dismiss the criticism and worldview of people born between the mid-1940s and mid-1960s. It probably has many boomers wondering, “gee, what did we ever do to them, other than call them lazy and entitled?” While this instance of ‘fight fire with fire’ may seem calloused and further divisive, younger generations are simply sick of the nostalgia and the condescending recollections prefaced with “back in my day.” Back in their day, resource availability was different. The economy was different and, well, it doesn’t take an economist to see there were/are direct and indirect boomer forces at play here. Boomers were the largest generation of children in the U.S. Now, they are all retiring. This lowers the amount of taxes coming in but increases the amount of money being spent by the government and businesses to cover their expenses, like social security and pensions. The largest generation is now getting old, thus putting the most strain on healthcare that there ever been. Prescription drug plans, surgeries and emergency services are all under unprecedented strain because of the large number of ailing baby boomers. Higher costs are the direct result of lack of services and these higher costs are straining the economy. Their generation has and does put
A smiling baby boomer sits on a rock near the ocean. The increasing number of boomers leaving the work force could have an impact on the future of the Social Security program. (Provided/Wikimedia Commons)
the largest demands on government spending. Then, that same generation voted in large numbers to lower taxes, which increases the debt to be given to their children. It is well documented that boomers are the beneficiaries of a golden moment in U.S. economic history. The oldest boomers born post-World War II had the greatest job market in American history. Brookings Institution Economist Robert Shapiro tracked the lifetime earnings paths for Americans who entered the job market in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. What he discovered was a distinct generational divide. The typical U.S. household headed by someone who was 25 to 29 years old in 1975 saw their real income increase by 60 percent until it peaked and began to gradually drop off before retirement. For a similar household in 1982, lifetime income peaked 70
percent higher than its starting point. These are pipe dream numbers to millennials and Generation Z. Forbes Finance Editor Lawrence Light researched salary comparisons between millennials and baby boomers from age 25 to 34. He found that when you adjust for inflation, millenials earn 20 percent less, $40,581, than boomers, who averaged $50,910 in that age range. Student Loan Hero reports that millennials and other generations have benefited from a 67 percent rise in wages since 1970. However, these increases were not enough to keep up with ever-inflating living costs. House, rent and college costs have all increased at a quicker pace than incomes in the U.S. According to Student Loan Hero, millennials buying their first home will pay 39 percent more than boomers did decades ago. The value of homes has increased by 73 percent
A millennial poses for a photo. “OK, Boomer” has become a viral retort for Generation Zers and millennials who are fed up with baby boomers. (Provided/Pixabay)
since the 1960s when adjusted for inflation. The median price of a home then was $11,900, which is equivalent to $98,681 in today's dollars. In 2000, the median price of a home rose to $119,600, more than $170,000 in today's dollars. Any millennials and Gen Zers out there sick of hearing about wanting free stuff? Well, as it turns out, boomers are going to get more out of Social Security than they put in and there may not even be any scraps left for us. Looks like that’s what happens when you want to pay no taxes and at the same time benefit from social welfare programs. My age group entered the job market during and after the Great Recession, a time when there was high unemployment and older workers were competing with less experienced young people for jobs in the $27,000 to $45,000 range. This period exacerbated the college debt crisis because young people felt they needed it to compete. Over 70 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients take loans to pay for higher education, with an average of $29,400 at graduation. One could reasonably assume it’s pretty difficult to stimulate an economy with that kind of financial burden, but it’s worth the old college try. A boomer once told me about a time when college was less than $1,000 per semester for out-of-state tuition. He spoke of a time where a decent house could be bought for under $50,000 and a nice car in the garage of that house cost a few thousand. Trades and hourly wage jobs built savings in a market with little outsourcing and privatization. That does sound like quite the time, doesn’t it?
November 12, 2019
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ABBEY BARN BUNKHOUSE CATHEDRAL COTTAGE DORMITORY FIREHOUSE GREENHOUSE HOSPITAL MANSION MILL MOSQUE SHED SKYSCRAPER WAREHOUSE
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A long-sought workplace change could be happening soon. Consider reworking your ideas and preparing a presentation just in case. A personal relationship takes a new turn. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your persuasiveness doesn’t really start to kick in until midweek. By then, you can count on having more supporters in your camp, including some you doubted would ever join you. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your workload is still high, but -- good news! -- you should start to see daylight by the week’s end. Reserve the weekend for fun and games with friends and loved ones. You deserve it. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Regardless of how frustrating things are, keep that “Crab” under control. A cutting comment you might think is apt right now will leave others hurting for a long time to come. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Be more sensitive to the emotions of loved ones who might feel left out while you’re stalking that new opportunity. Be sure to make it up to them this weekend. A nice surprise could be waiting. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The gregarious Virgo rarely has a problem making new friends. But repairing frayed relationships doesn’t come easily. Still, if it’s what you want to do, you’ll find a way. Good luck. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A misunderstanding with a partner or spouse needs to be worked out before it turns into something really nasty. Forget about your pride
CROSSWORD Answers
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
COLORADO Answers
(Week of Nov. 11, 2019)
for now and make that first healing move. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Communication dominates the week. Work out any misunderstandings with co-workers. Also get back in touch with old friends and those family members you rarely see. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) As busy as your week is, make time for someone who feels shut out of your life. Your act of kindness could later prove to be more significant than you might have realized. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Congratulations. Your busy workweek leads to some very satisfying results. Sports and sporting events are high on your weekend activities aspect. Enjoy them with family and friends. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Your generosity of spirit reaches out once again to someone who needs reassurance. There might be problems, but keeping that line of communication open eventually pays off. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You are among the truth-seekers in the universe, so don’t be surprised to find yourself caught up in a new pursuit of facts to counter what you believe is an insidious exercise in lying. BORN THIS WEEK: You believe in loyalty and in keeping secrets. All things considered, you would probably make a perfect secret agent. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
Weekly SUDOKU Answers
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November 12, 2019
Football
Bronchos Break Wantland Record in Win
University of Central Oklahoma President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar and the UCO football team pose for a photo around the President’s Cup after Central’s record breaking day against Northeastern State University. The Bronchos scored 82 points, a record for the most ever by a UCO team since Wantland Stadium opened. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)
James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The University of Central Oklahoma set a series of records in their senior night as they hoisted the President’s Cup for the sixth consecutive time on Saturday, topping Northeastern State University 82-14 at Wantland Stadium in the final home game of the season. “I’m happy for that senior group to have a win in their last home game and get to keep the cup,” said head coach Nick Bobeck. “That group has never lost the cup and that’s a big deal, that’s hard to do and it’s really good to send them out with the win.” Central set a record for most points ever scored by a UCO team at Wantland Stadium and the second most overall points scored by a UCO team since they played Carver College in 1922. The 68-point margin of victory is also a record in the stadium since UCO started calling Wantland its home in 1965. The Bronchos also finished with 646 yards of total offense, which is the fifth most in school history. UCO broke these records just one week af-
ter quarterback Chandler Garrett set a record for most total yards of offense in one game with 487 yards. “I say it all the time, we are really talented,” Bobeck said. “You can see it. I’m proud of the kids for fighting.” Garrett and backup quarterback Will Collins sat out Saturday, which gave Brandon George his first start at UCO. With just under two minutes left in the first quarter, George had his first passing and rushing touchdown as a Broncho. He finished his first start with three touchdowns, 257 yards on 13 of 20 passing and two interceptions through the air. George also rushed for a touchdown, 121 yards on 13 carries. “[He’s] raw but really talented,” Bobeck said. “There’s some things from an operation standpoint that were really muddy. He did a good job, he’s just raw.” Along with George, who rushed for more than 100 yards, Taj Griffin rushed for one touchdown and 114 yards, his first time over the 100 mark as a Broncho since transferring from the University of Oregon. “Taj [Griffin] has all the talent and potential in the world,” Bobeck said. “This was his kind of game with the
ball on the edge. He did a good job. Obviously, Brandon [George] operated it well, as well, but Taj did a good job.” Starting running back T.J. Roberts finished just shy of 100 rushing yards with 95, and three touchdowns. As a team, the Bronchos racked up 389 yards rushing while the NSU RiverHawks were held to negative five yards rushing by the Broncho defense. “I’m proud of those guys being able to hold anybody under a yard rushing for an entire game is really good,” Bobeck said. “We have a group of kids that have the potential to play really good football. They’ve just got to be consistent, you can see flashes of it. The guy I keep seeing flash probably over the last three weeks is Drequan Brown.” Brown, who was moved from linebacker to defensive lineman and had three tackles and two sacks in last Saturday’s game against Missouri Southern University, had four tackles and forced a fumble as he brought the quarterback to the ground at the twoyard line. He picked it up and scored. “Kids have a knack, and [Brown’s] knack is rushing the passer,” Bobeck said. “He’s a really explosive kid and sometimes we think we can coach
kids into something that they’re not. But he’s not a space football player. He functions better in those tight alignments and whether he’s going forward rather than having to decide whether he wants to go forward or backward. He looks like a linebacker and moves like a linebacker, but he does not necessarily see the game like a linebacker.” The UCO defense forced four turnovers on Saturday as Brown and Bryan Burns forced fumbles that were recovered by Brown, Jeremiah Hill and Isaiah Major. Kolby Underwood also nabbed his team-leading fourth interception of the season. UCO will be playing to keep their bowl game hopes alive as they travel to Emporia, Kansas to try and avenge last season’s 34-28 loss to Emporia State University at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16. “We’ve just got to play consistent,” Bobeck said. “If we continue to play this thing consistent, we’ll finish this thing out the right way and we’ll be in good shape.” With their record now sitting at 5-5, UCO will need a win to turn a winning season. Bobeck has coached UCO to a winning season and postseason appearance in four out of the past five years.
Basketball
November 12, 2019
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Broncho Basketball: A Tale of Two Timelines
University of Central Oklahoma guard Carson Calavan shoots the ball during the UCO Bronze & Blue Game on Oct. 20 at Hamilton Field House. The Bronchos shot 35 percent from the floor in the Perefull Fieldhouse Conference Challenge on Nov. 8-9. (Provided/BronchoSports)
James D. Jackson @JamesDJackson15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The University of Central Oklahoma men’s and women’s basketball teams had opposite starts to the season as the women won both of their games and the men lost both of theirs at Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Percefull Fieldhouse Conference Challenge Friday and Saturday in Alva, Oklahoma. The Challenge hosted teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Great American Conference and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The UCO teams squared-off with the University of Mary on Friday and Northwestern on Saturday. The women’s team scored 80 points or higher in each game, while the men were held under 56 in both. “I was pleased with the way we started and really the way we played for the first three quarters,” said women’s head coach Guy Hardaker after their win over UMary. “We may have let up a little in the fourth and we don’t want to do that. But we got the win. I’m proud of Micayla [Haynes] for coming out and leading the team and I’m happy for Jaci [Littell] to be able to score 20 in her first game, that's pretty cool.” The returning All-MIAA selection Haynes scored the first 11 points of the game for the Bronchos. She was able to get started with a layup, an and-1 layup, then knocked down a pair of threes. This gave UCO an 11-3 lead after the first four minutes. Haynes’ start catapulted the Bronchos to a 53.5 percent first half
shooting percentage, making 16 of 30 shots. The Bronchos also shot 64 percent from behind the arc with nine of their 14 shots dropping. This gave UCO a 43-23 lead going into the half. UCO would hold the lead the rest of the way, even after UMary went on a 13-0 run at the end of the third and the start of the fourth. The closest UMary was able to cut the lead down to was eight with four and a half minutes remaining in the game. The Bronchos finished them off, winning 80-72. Haynes finished with 23 points on nine of 15 shooting, four assists and three rebounds. The next scoring leader was Littell, who made her NCAA debut as the freshman finished with 21 points on eight of 12 shooting. She converted on five of eight 3-pointers from behind the arc. After scoring 80 points on Friday, the Bronchos topped it with an 82 point performance against Northwestern. The Bronchos shot 45 percent from the floor and 44 percent from behind the arc by knocking down 12 3-pointers. Every UCO player who played contributed to the score. Again it was the Haynes and Littell pairing, leading the Bronchos. Haynes finished with 14 and Littell with 12. Just like the game before, UCO jumped out to a lead as they led 23-5, which they rode to a victory. The Bronchos women’s team will make their home debut on Wednesday night with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. The men’s team was the complete opposite as they got off to an eight minute and 20 second scoreless
start. However, their season opener went into overtime on Friday afternoon, despite never holding the lead in the game. Central was able to get back into the game, trailing 19-18 going into halftime. “They did a really good job getting into us,” said first-year head coach Bob Hoffman after Friday’s game. “We’re learning how to win, we’re learning how to play. What I’m really proud of is the way they battled back when they could have given up.”
After UMary went up 49-43 by knocking down a 3-pointer, the Broncho scored the final six points of regulation to tie the game and UMary was unable to hit the game winning shot at the buzzer. UCO’s momentum did not carry over into overtime, as the Bronchos shot one for seven from the floor in the five extra minutes. They would fall 64-56. On Saturday against Northwestern, the Bronchos continued to struggle shooting as they shot 35 percent from the field and hit just three of 14 from behind the arc. They also shot only 58 percent from the free-throw line. “We played hard tonight, we just couldn’t make enough shots,” Hoffman said. “I know we can score more than what we’ve done in the first two games. We’ll get better. We need to continue to grow together and stick together and fight the way these guys did this weekend.” UCO extended their streak of consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 940 over the weekend. This streak dates back 32 seasons. The Central men will travel to Oklahoma City to play Oklahoma Christian University on Tuesday. They won’t hold their home opener until Nov. 20 against Midwestern State University.
University of Central Oklahoma guard Micayla Haynes dribbling the ball at Hamilton Field House. Haynes led UCO in points in the first two games of the season that took place on Nov. 8-9 in the Perefull Fieldhouse Conference Challenge. (Provided/BronchoSports)
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November 12, 2019
Soccer/Volleyball
Soccer Opens Door To Quarterinal With Shutout Win Derek Parker @DParkOK SPORTS EDITOR
In the second period of the University of Central Oklahoma’s Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association postseason quarterfinal game against Fort Hays State University, Meredith Wilson dashed upfield with the ball and launched a pass over 40 yards to Hayley Post, who sent it into the back of the net for the Broncho goal. Wilson’s assist to Post earned the Bronchos their third and final goal of the night, as UCO defeated Fort Hays State 3-0. The win will advance Central Oklahoma soccer to the semifinals of the MIAA Postseason tournament. The Bronchos now face topranked Missouri Western State University Nov. 15 in Warrensburg, Mo. “We played well tonight,” said head coach Mike Cook. “That really is the level we need to play at on a consistent level. We got really good play from our midfielders, we got a lot of looks from our forwards and it’s always good to get a shutout. Our
defenders and our goalie played well tonight too.” The first half featured junior Kelsie Eason and the Bronchos defense, who badgered the FHSU offense all night.
Eason’s first goal came in the 28th minute, when she scored on a penalty. Asha Haile was sent to the ground inside the box, and Eason landed her shot to the bottom left corner with precision.
The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team hudled together. The soccer team advanced to the MIAA Quarterfinal Nov. 8. (Provided/BronchoSports)
Her second goal came just six minutes later, when Taryn Kedzior assisted her with a cross, with Eason yet again sent to the bottom left of the goal. Her goals on Friday were her 16th and 17th of the season, which moved her to eighth place on the single season record at UCO. Kaitlyn Asher was in goal all night for the Bronchos, finishing with three saves in her third straight shutout. She’s now allowed just one goal in her last five games, a promising stat as they move on to face the top-ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies. In their last matchup in October, UCM defeated the Bronchos 2-1 in Warrensburg. Central will be looking to avoid that same result this Friday. UCO is the lowest seeded team remaining in the bracket, but is riding a five-game win-streak, outscoring their opponents 16-1 in those games. No. 3 Emporia State University and No. 2 Northeastern State University will face off at 4 p.m. Friday to advance to the MIAA championship and play the winner of UCO’s game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Broncho Volleyball Splits Weekend Missouri Matches Derek Parker @DParkOK SPORTS EDITOR
University Central Oklahoma volleyball split their Missouri matches on Friday and Saturday, losing to University of Central Missouri 3-1 before turning around and beating Northwest Missouri State University 3-1. The Bronchos committed a season-high 16 serving errors against UCM, losing in four sets 12-25, 25-21, 25-22 and 25-23. “We competed hard, but just made too many mistakes and you can’t do that against good teams,” said head coach Edgar Miraku following Friday’s loss. “It’s a tough loss because we had plenty of chances and just didn’t capitalize.” Courtney Lane led all Bronchos with 15 kills, followed by Amanda Desch with nine and Lauren Jenkins with seven. The Bronchos cruised in the first set, getting a 5-1 run from Desch that secured their win. In the second, they jumped out to a 10-4 lead before letting it slip through their fingers. They then lost their final two sets by a combined five points. UCO had more kills, a higher hitting percentage, earned more points, more assists and more aces, but was
hurt by the serving errors. Central came back on Saturday with a huge upset over No. 14 Northwest Missouri, winning 25-22, 25-19, 15-25 and 25-15. This marked the 11th straight win for UCO over the Bearcats. In her final home game as a Broncho, Dominique Lipari finished with a career-high 41 digs, the seventh best performance from a libero in school history. She now has the fourth most
digs in a single season with 702, and is second all-time in career digs with 2,380. “I couldn’t be more proud of our team for the way they played tonight,” Miraku said. “They came out really ready to go and just kept fighting. It was a great win over a really good team.” The same three Bronchos led the team with kills on Saturday, as Lane finished with 13, Desch with 10 and
Jenkins with nine. UCO has now moved to 18-11 ahead of their final match of the season against Missouri Western State University Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. in St. Joseph, Missouri. Following the end of their regular season, UCO will participate in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament Nov. 21 through Nov. 23 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The University of Central Oklahoma volleyball team hudled around head coach Edgar Miraku during Friday’s game against the University of Central Missouri on Nov. 8. The Bronchos fell to the Mules before topping the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats Nov. 9. (Songsong Wang/The Vista)
Bucking Broncho
November 12, 2019
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Has Alabama Been Robbed of a No. 1? It’s finally here. The time to endlessly debate each college football team’s best wins and best losses, in an effort to try and make a case for their College Football Playoff spot. On Saturday, in an epic Clash of the Titans, Louisiana State University defeated University of Alabama 4641 to claim the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll. If LSU can win out, it also effectively kicked Alabama from the Southeastern Conference Championship campaign. Alabama’s loss has birthed the first true argument of the season. After losing, they dropped from No. 2 to No. 4 in the AP Poll. If this was the CFP ranking system, they would be the last team to enter the playoffs. For teams like the University of Oklahoma and University of Oregon, who could end the year with one loss and their respective conference championships, this was bad news. While this was just the AP Poll, and the CFP ranking could be vastly different, it has still sparked the annual debate: does Alabama deserve to get in over a one-loss conference champions Oklahoma or Oregon? The short answer: yes. Unfortunately for Sooners and Ducks fans, if it comes down to it, the Crimson Tide should be the final team in. Fortu-
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron celebrates with his players after defeating Alabama 46-41 in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Tuscaloosa , Ala. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
nately for those fans, this is very specific to this season. After watching the LSU-Alabama game on Saturday, you will have a very, very hard time convincing me that Alabama is not one of the top four teams in the country. For starters, Alabama starting quar-
terback Tua Tagovailoa was blatantly not healthy. He limped around, and has been dealing with an ankle injury for about three weeks now. With a healthy starting quarterback, who knows how that game would’ve gone. The Crimson Tide’s case over Oklahoma is simple. The Sooners loss
Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) dives in for a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game against LSU, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Tuscaloosa , Ala. LSU won 46-41. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
came to what will most likely end as an unranked Kansas State University, Alabama’s came to the No. 1 team in the country and it was by five points. OU’s offense is the best in the country, but their defense, the same one that has earned them their 0-3 record in the playoffs, has relapsed. It would far and away be the worst unit in the playoffs, and quite simply the Sooners just aren’t ready. Alabama’s case over Oregon is slightly more tricky, but still apparent. If Oregon finishes as a one-loss Pacific-12 champion, their only loss was to Auburn University 27-21 in their first game of the year. The problem with this is that if the Crimson Tide are still in the conversation at the end of the year, they will have beaten the very same team that Oregon lost to, and possibly convincingly. On the eye-test alone, the Pac12 is the worst conference in football and Oregon couldn’t hang with LSU, Alabama or Ohio State University. In the end, Alabama is going to be an interesting asterisk on college football. Did they steal someone’s spot or get their spot stolen? The debate has gone both ways before, and this year holds that option yet again.
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