Volume 115, Issue 13
the VISTA
BSA Educates Students on Appropriation
“Our Words, Your Voice.”
ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017
UCOSA Taps Into Reserve Fund
Megan Thele @1bigtime
Copy Editor
The University of Central Oklahoma's Black Student Association (BSA) hosted a Cultural Diversity Fashion Show to address the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation on Nov. 9. The fashion show highlighted different types of cultural wear from student groups on campus. Representatives who served as models were from BSA, Native American Student Association (NASA), Hispanic American Student Association (HASA), Asian American Student Association (AASA), Arab Student Association, Indian Student Association and African Student Association. "The fashion show [attempted] to bring about awareness in hopes of fostering unity," said Kellie Robertson, graduate adviser to BSA and NASA. "[Participants] were proud of their culture and where they're from, and were rooting on other cultures." Members of the participating organizations hoped to raise awareness of and explain the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation. Representatives introducing each organization explained specific ways their culture can be appropriated and appreciated. Chrishell Seals, BSA community service coordinator, said taking another culture's traditions as one’s own, especially as a costume, is cultural appropriation. "Wearing a culture as a costume will never be okay," Seals said. According to a card given out by BSA members at the show, cultural appropriation is the adoption of the continued on pg 3
MISS UCO
Newly crowned Miss UCO 2018, Alana Hughes, poses for photos after winning the pageant on Nov. 11. (Ryan Naeve/ The Vista) on pg 8
Stockton Duvall, UCOSA President, presents legislation to move money out of the Reserve Fund and put it to use on campus, for a conference and at the new International House during the UCOSA Congress meeting on Monday, Nov. 6 in the Nigh’s Will Roger’s Room. The legislation would take a total of $133,200 from the Reserve Fund. Congress members left to right, Kalina Popova, Vice Chair of Congress, Remington Dean, Chair of Congress, and Mario Figueroa, Secretary of Congress. (Cara Johnson/The Vista)
Kateleigh Mills @kateleighsuz Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association passed several pieces of legislation last week that would pull money out of the Permanent Reserve Fund, which is made up of student activity fees that go unused each year. The four financial resolutions would pull a total of $133,200 out of the Reserve Fund. The money would pay for a UCO Veterans Memorial, a stress reduction room, the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) next April and improvements to the International House, located off-campus at Central Plaza. UCOSA President Stockton Duvall said he talked with representatives
STATE BUDGET FAILS
on pg 6
across campus from the Center for Counseling and Well-Being, Veteran Student Services (VSS) and the International Student Council (ISC) on how to use the funds to improve campus. During the UCO Student Congress meeting, Duvall said he was working to fulfill his campaign promise of using SAF money to benefit current students. "While we definitely feel that the money that is in the Reserve Fund is paid in by students from years past, they are not benefitting from that money," Duvall said. "So, we want to go ahead and put it in play for some of our organizations and offices on campus." CFR17-107 allotted $60,000 to the construction of a UCO veteran’s me-
morial, the highest projected amount of money out of all four proposed resolutions. Duvall said the money would be the start of the project, since he plans on working with the VSS in order to gain additional financial support. VSS spokesman Brad Ward said having the memorial on campus will further UCO's reputation of helping veterans transition into higher education. "I think this memorial will help not only signify, but helps illustrate that the student body, as well as staff and faculty, are behind the student veteran population here on campus," Ward said, "We are the only public institution [in the state] that does not have one." continued on pg 10
BRONCHO SPORTS
Bronchos Make the Inaugural Corsicana Bowl on pg 13
Nov. 14, 2017
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the
VISTA
CONTENTS
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BSA............................................................................3 AroundCampus/Pantry.....................................................4-5 Budget/St. Gregory’s.........................................................6-7 Miss UCO.........................................................................8-9 UCOSA/Humor Column.................................................10/11 President’s Cup/Bowl Game............................................12-13
Contents
The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both classified, online and print ads. For information or questions contact at: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@gmail.com
Basketball..............................................................14-15
STAFF
Peter Agnitsch Elizabeth Spence Austin Moseley Cara Johnson Megan Thele Kateleigh Mills Christian Tabak Vy Luong Alejandro Gonzalez Jonathan Goudeau Dylan Brown Michelle Pennza Ryan Naeve Hayden Barzditis Teddy Burch
FROM COVER: Bottom Middle: Legislatures look displeased as a house budget bill was denied during a special session at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday Nov. 8, 2017. A plan to hike taxes on tobacco, alcohol, fuel and energy production in order to plug a hole in Oklahoma’s budget and to stabilize state spending has fallen five votes short in the House amid bipartisan opposition. The full House voted 71-27 on Wednesday. (Jessie Wardarski/Tulsa World via AP) Bottom Right: Chris Pogi, No. 9, shields off a blocker to get a tackle during the Saturday, Nov. 11 football game against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. The Bronchos won the game 62-21, advancing the team to the Corsicana Bowl which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Corsicana, Texas. They will play Tarleton State. (Provided/Tom Denning Photo)
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Sports Reporter Humor Columnist/Reporter Graphic Designer Photographer Photographer Adviser
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BSA
Nov. 14, 2017
3
BSA Educates Students on Appropriation Continued From Page 1,
elements of one's culture by members of another culture. Cultural appropriation, often framed as cultural misappropriation, is sometimes portrayed as harmful and is claimed to be a violation of the collective intellectual property rights of the originating culture. “[Participating] organizations said we want to show our culture because it's often misunderstood and misrepresented,” said Hana' Ahmad-Coleman, BSA cultural events coordinator. "They made sure we understand their country and made sure we understand in depth their culture." Outfits in the show were authentic traditional garments from the various countries covered by the participating student associations. The outfits came from around the globe, from El Salvador and Guatemala to Morocco, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Some outfits were closer to home, as multiple Native American outfits were showcased from tribes in Oklahoma and around the United States. For the last segment of the show, the difference between black and African culture was highlighted. BSA members showed black culture by styling items from Ocean Forth, a clothing line by the night's guest designer, D'angelo Todd. “Aspects of black culture inform American life in a multitude of ways," said Kedriuna Townsend, BSA vice president. "It's everywhere." "A lot of black students don't really know how to appreciate African culture and still embody American culture," Robertson said. Although the show covered an array of cultures and countries, freshman Alexandria Hymes said it was disappointing that mixed cultures were not highlighted. Hymes said she appreciated the cultures represented, but it was difficult for her to relate as she is Hispanic, Filipino and African American. "I decided to come and see exactly how many cultures they were going to cover and see if mixed cultures were going to be highlighted," Hymes said. "But, I would've really liked to see mixed cultures represented." The event’s purpose was to educate students on cultural appropriation in today’s society. Savannah Anderson, NASA public relations chair, said that education plays a large part in the appropriation vs. appreciation debate. “Honoring [a culture] requires that you show you’re valuing that culture and that you recognize and appreci-
Akshay Sadalge, right, and Teena Varghese, representing the Indian Student Association, model traditional clothing during the Cultural Diversity Fashion Show on Thursday, Nov. 9 in the Nigh Ballrooms. (Cara Johnson/The Vista)
ate them,” said Andy Reza, coordinator of diversity education. Education in the culture and why they do or wear certain things can help make the line between appropriation and appreciation clearer, according to Anderson. “If you’re willing to be educated, it changes that line,” Anderson said. “Appropriation is a one-time thing; appreciation is a continuous daily thing.” Ahmad-Coleman said the idea came during a meeting in July, but planning started in September. The detailed planning, rehearsals and getting models took about a month before it all came together. The fashion show is part of a series of events on cultural appropriation. On Oct. 3, NASA and HASA hosted a Cultural Appreciation & Appropriation Forum to discuss how cultures can be misrepresented through Halloween costumes and the media. The panels included students, faculty and staff from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Muslim Student Association, NASA, HASA and AASA. Alayna Johnson, representing the Native American Student Association, models a modern Native American skirt during the Cultural Diversity Fashion Show on Thursday, Nov. 9 in the Nigh Ballrooms. UCO’s Black Student Association coordinated with other cultural organizations on campus to educate students on cultural appropriation. (Cara Johnson/ The Vista)
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Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 SAF Budget Applications Informational: This is an event to help train University of Central Oklahoma organizations on how to apply for funding. The event is from 10-11 a.m. in Room 202 of the Nigh University Center. There will be other sessions from Nov.13-17 at different times.
SPB Mythbusters: Students can place
pins on third world countries to learn information about them and receive a keepsake. The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Broncho Lake Clock Tower.
Flash Mob Meditation: At 1:15 p.m. in
the Quad Fitness Room, representatives from the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will offer meditation, tai chi, yoga and relaxation. UCO counselor Jeff Jones will lead the group every Tuesday.
Miss Black UCO Rehearsals: This is a
chance for those participating for Miss Black UCO to rehearse for the upcoming pageant. The rehearsal is from 7-10 p.m. in Room 320 B of the Nigh University. Center.
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 Muscogee (Creek) Nation Campus Meet and Greet: The event is mean't for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to be introduced to UCO. The goal is to network and meet with current Muscogee (Creek) students. The meet and greet is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Will Rogers Room.
SPB DIY OklaHomea: SPB will provide a students with a cutout of the state of Oklahoma. Students can decorate the cutouts however they want. The event is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Clock Tower. Native Fitness Class: The Student
Transformative Learning Record (STLR) are holding fit classes. The purpose of the classes is to teach health and wellness components to students. The event is from 5-6 p.m. at the International House Ballrooms.
Non-Traditional Student Support Group: The group is hosted by the Center for Counseling and Well-Being to help non-traditional students find support at UCO. Attendees can talk and relate their life experiences with one another in order to help meet their personal needs. The group meets from 2-3 p.m. in Room 402 of the Nigh University Center.
Nov. 14, 2017
The LeaderShape Institute Vision Showcase: Campus Activities is sharing their
visions that participants created and developed at the LeaderShape Institute from 5-7 p.m.
SPBe Entertained with Kazual: The Student Programming Board presents male quartet Kazual. They will perform original songs and covers. The show starts at 7 p.m. in Center of Transformative Learning’s Radke Theater.
Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 Life Skills Around Eating: This is a group that offers an affect regulation approach to eating disorders. The group focuses on skills that increase mindfulness and to teach appropriate emotion regulation. Life Skills Around Eating meets from 10:30-11:30 a.m. SPB Throwback Thursday: SPB will
provide students with some of their favorite childhhod crafts that include: paint spinners, iron beads, velvet coloring pages and slap bracelets. The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Broncho Lake Clock Tower.
Passport to Germany's Fashion Show:
This is the closing ceremony for the Passport to Germany series. UCO Fashion Marketing students from the Department of Human Environmental Sciences present their focus on German influences in the world of fashion. There will be a grand prize drawing and giveaways. The Fashion Show is 12-1 p.m. at Constitution Hall.
Intimate Violence Forum: The forum is about intimate violence within the Native community and providing resources for women. The event is from 12:30 -2 p.m. in Room 201. Networking Workshop and Reception:
Leadership Central will host Chief Office of Magellan Executive Partners, David Woods. He will help lead the interactive workshop on all things networking. The event is from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the Nigh University Center.
Trauma Recovery: This workshop addresses topics like self-soothing, the mind and body connection, effects of trauma on relationships and healthy relationships. The event is from 2-3 p.m. in Room 402 of the Nigh University Center. SPB Capture the Night: SPB will host a campus wide game of capture the flag. Students will be divided into two teams and then compete in multiple games. The event will meet first at the Human Environmental Building/ Clock Tower. SPB will provide light refreshments. The event is from 6-8 p.m.
Around Campus
Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 All You Can Eat Pho Nights: The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host their annual Pho Night. They will serve bowls of Vietnamese rice and noodles. Pho is a type of Vietnamese soup that can be made from chicken or beef stock with spices. The event is off campus at Pho Ben and Snopea from 6-8 p.m. Grief Group: the Center for Counseling
and Well-Being is holding a grief group for anyone grieving. The Group and individual session are from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Room 402 of the Nigh University Center.
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 Edmond's International Festival: The International Student Council will showcase their cultures by having booths with information and food. There will also be a live cultural performance competition taking place. The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Edmond Festival Marketplace.
Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 Learn to Pray and Heal: The event is 45-minutes to talk about the healing effect of faith, spiritual understanding, and unselfed love. International speaker Nate Frederick, C.S. will speak about his own experiences with healing effects from faith. The event is at the Edmond Fine Arts Institute, on 27 E Edwards St at 2 p.m. Miss Black UCO Rehearsals: This is a
chance for those participating in Miss Black UCO to rehearse for the upcoming pageant. The rehearsal is from 7-10 p.m. in Room 320 B of the Nigh University Center.
Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Support: The Center for Counseling and Well-Be-
ing and Mosaic Mental Health are teaming up to offer a gender affirming therapy group for UCO students. The group offers attendees a chance to connect with others having similar experiences. The session is from 3-4:30 p.m. in Room 402 of the Nigh University Center.
Mind Strength: This is an open group for students to learn skills and activities on enhancing awareness. The group meets from 12-1 p.m. in Room 104 of the Wellness Center.
UCO
Nov. 14, 2017
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Central Pantry Celebrates Five Years Vy Luong @TheVista1903 Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma's Central Pantry is celebrating its fifth anniversary of serving those in need on Nov. 17. The pantry was opened in November 2012 as the first college food bank in Oklahoma, which serves UCO students, faculty and staff. The celebration will include a reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony. It will be at 4 p.m. outside of Room 203 in the Nigh University Center, where the pantry is located. “[The cooking challenge] is something fun to celebrate and to get students and faculty involved,” said Jackie Dobson, administrative assistant for the UCO Volunteer and Service Learning Center. Five students will compete in the challenge at 1:30 p.m. in the Human Environment Sciences test kitchen. Dobson said the winner will receive an apron with a UCO logo and a gold spatula. The idea of the cooking challenge comes from the “Chopped” TV
show. The competitors will receive some common food items and will have an hour and a half to prepare their recipes and cook a main entrée and dessert item. “They are the items you can find in Central Pantry, but we will buy all of those instead of getting from the resource of the pantry,” Dobson said. Khuyen Bui, a graphic design major, said she goes to Central Pantry at least once a month. “I’m grateful that UCO offers this service for free, as college students are often on a budget,” Bui said. Dobson said Central Pantry runs completely on donations, rather than student fees. People can donate cash or non-perishable food and hygiene items. “We will use the donated cash to buy something like rice and pasta, because people don’t usually donate those items,” Dobson said. Dobson said they get the donation from Homeland grocery store and pick up food there every Friday. They get fresh produce from the UCO-YMCA community garden.
The Central Pantry is located near the Constitution Hall on the 2nd floor of the Nigh University Center. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
Dobson said the pantry has storage on the fourth floor of the NUC so they can restock items as often as they need. “The stock does get low sometimes,” Dobson said. “But we have donations from a lot of people in Edmond and many UCO organizations also host food drive events for Central Pantry.” The pantry is open from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. Monday through Friday. All people who work there are volunteers. Jocelyn Sanchez has volunteered at the Central Pantry since the summer. She said the volunteers will help people check-in and restock the food. “I’m a Psychology major, so working here is a good way for me to talk and get to know people,” Sanchez said.
Gold Medalist To Speak At UCO Kateleigh Mills @kateleighsuz Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association and Leadership Central are partnering to bring a U.S. Women's Gymnastics Olympic gold and silver medalist for the UCOSA speaker series on Nov. 14. Laurie Hernandez was the first U.S. born Latina to make the 2016 U.S. Women's Gymnastics Olympic team since 1984. Hernandez's nickname is the "human emoji" for her facial expressions. Hernandez specializes in floor exercise routines and the balance beam. She won the gold and silver at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She won her gold medal as a member of the “Final Five”. After the Olympics, Hernandez was on season 23 of "Dancing with the Stars" and won the Mirrorball Trophy. She is a New York Times best-selling author for
Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez will speak at the University of Central Oklahoma Nov. 14. (Provided/University Communications)
her first book "I Got This: To Gold and Beyond" that was published in January and chronicles her journey thus far. "We picked Laurie because we wanted to partner with Leadership Central," UCOSA President
Stockton Duvall said. "I think she is a great example of leadership at a young age." Hernandez will talk in Constitution Hall at 7 p.m. about her Olympic journey and tips for success, followed by a moderated
45-minute question and answer session with Duvall. Following the speaker series, there will be a meet and greet with the gymnast. The event is free and open to the community, however the 325 community tickets were sold out on Nov. 4 according to UCOSA's twitter profile. UCOSA is providing 175 student tickets, which can be picked up at their office in the Nigh University Center. Tickets for the rest of available seating can be reserved online and picked up in advance at the Mitchell Hall box office or at their booth before the event. The event is paid for by student activity fees used for high impact money managed by the UCOSA executive board. According to Duvall, the executive board is working to bring in one more speaker for the series sometime next semester.
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Nov. 14, 2017
State Budget
Oklahoma’s Declining Budgets Christian Tabak @TheVista1903 Reporter
State agencies continue to struggle to maintain critical social services programs across Oklahoma in the face of declining budgets. The latest budget proposal to emerge from the ongoing special session failed to gain enough support within the House to advance. A measure that would have brought in an estimated $132.9 million over the next eight months, House Bill 1054X failed to gain the 76 votes on the House floor required by the state constitution to approve tax hikes. The state legislature is once again left without a clear plan to address the state’s current $215 million shortfall and the more than $400 million deficit projected for next year. The failure for legislators to pass the measure was condemned by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, who has been calling for both parties to set aside their differences throughout the ongoing special session she invoked in September to address the crippling budget crisis. “It is discouraging that some members have chosen politics over taking care of people by refusing to vote for this budget package and have shown they are not willing to move our state forward,” Fallin said. “As a result of their no votes, our state will not have enough funds for agencies to deliver services that work for people, especially with our state facing a $400 million shortfall next session.” If approved, the measure would have included a 4 percent increase on the gross production tax on new oil and gas wells, a $0.06 per gallon tax on gas, a $1.50 tobacco fee and an increase in the tax on beer. Revenue raised would also have provided for teach and state employee pay raises. The final vote for the measure ended at 71-27, with five Democrats and 22 Republicans voting against the bill. The results displayed a surprising reversal of the special session’s trends, with House Republicans failing to deliver the majority vote promised. “As we have said throughout the session, the 75 percent super majority requirement [for tax hikes] is a high hurdle," said Speaker of the House Charles McCall. "We heard from our constituents more on this bill than any other in a long time, and it was clear that the House listened and voted the way their constituents encouraged them to vote.” While McCall had previously stated that he had at least three-quar-
Representatives Kevin Wallace and Eric Proctor congratulate each other after the House budget bill was denied during a special session at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday Nov. 8, 2017. A plan to hike taxes on tobacco, alcohol, fuel and energy production in order to plug a hole in Oklahoma’s budget and to stabilize state spending has fallen five votes short in the House amid bipartisan opposition. The full House voted 71-27 on Wednesday. (Jessie Wardarski/Tulsa World via AP)
ters of House Republicans backing him in supporting budget measures, Republican opponents of the bill expressed a refusal to back the tax increases included in the bill. "I cannot, in good conscious, vote to increase a tax burden on my fellow Oklahomans until all cost cutting measures in reducing the inefficiency have been taken and explored," said Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Slaughterville. "Until then, my vote must be a no." For the first time during the special session, House Democrats provided majority support for the bill and expressed disappointment in the Republican’s inability to deliver on the majority promised. “After more than 80 percent of our caucus held their nose and voted yes for this far from ideal revenue bill, we found out [that at least 75 percent of House Republicans backed McCall] isn’t true," said Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman. "The House Republican Caucus delivered 48 votes or less than 67 percent of their caucus.” The bill’s failure comes at a time when state agencies are at a risk of ending vital social services programs. Facing a $30 million shortfall as a result of financial mismanagement, the Oklahoma State Department of Health will officially end financial support for 25 community health centers across the state and cut contracts for nine statewide child abuse prevention
programs. The department has already implemented furlough days for more than 1,500 employees and has discussed the possibility of reducing more than 12 percent of its workforce by next year. “We cannot allow this agency to fail. This agency is the health safety net for the state and its citizens,” said ODHS Interim Director Preston Doerflinger. “We must take the necessary steps to ensure that this vital work can continue in our state.” The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse is also facing a budget crisis, with funding projected to be depleted by mid-December. While legislators are also considering measures that would provide agencies with carryover cash from last year’s budget and have approved measures to provide funding from the state’s Rainy-Day Fund, the use of such funding threatens to leave the state vulnerable to other financial crises. "If we spend everything we have now, there won't be any money left for other emergencies that could arise,” said Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz. "And spending even more one-time money now makes next year's budget deficit, already forecast at $560 million, even larger." The state’s use of one-time revenue sources and inability to reduce its deficit has not only left the budget in a precarious position, it has also negatively impacted its credit score as well.
Moody’s Investor Service, one of the nation’s top credit rating agencies, also issued the state a “credit negative” warning last week for its inability to balance the budget. The rating not only threatens to negatively impact potential investments by businesses in Oklahoma, it also could impact interest rates for bond loans used by school districts and local governments. “I have warned lawmakers for the past three years that we need to address our budget’s structural deficits instead of continuing to kick the can down the road by depleting available cash and using one-time funds," Fallin said. "Proposals to do just that will not provide enough funds for agencies to deliver essential core services for the remainder of this fiscal year.” Following the bill’s failure, state legislators announced that they will continue their work to create a proposal that will receive backing from all parties. Instead of starting over, Fallin has called on legislators to consider putting the failed bill back up for a vote. “The House leadership captured the bill, which with 71 votes was within a razor-thin margin of passing," Fallin said. "The speaker should put it back up for a vote, and I call upon Oklahomans to continue to contact their representative. We can’t set Oklahoma up for failure by not facing our budget problems.”
St. Gregory’s
Nov. 14, 2017
7
St. Gregory’s Closes Down
Dylan Brown
Senior Grace Dorsin walks across campus a day after finding out St. Gregory’s University would be closing at the end of the semester. The private Catholic university is shutting down due to a lack of funding. (Dylan Brown/The Vista)
@TheVista1903 Reporter
St. Gregory's University announced that due to lack of sufficient funds, it will close down at the end of the fall semester. Faculty, students and staff are trying to figure out how students can transfer to other schools in the upcoming spring semester. Many of the students’ credits would not transfer properly because it is known as a private coed catholic private liberal arts college, but the school is trying to get the students' bible classes to transfer to other schools. "Everyone was crying when we found out, it was really sad," said Grace Dorsin, a senior at St. Gregory's. "Basically, at the end of the semester, they're going to be closing down the school." A statement released by the school stated that that it is giving some exceptions to student-athletes, but not for those that aren't. That means Dorsin and over 700 St. Gregory’s students received the news last week and are trying to figure out what to do. "They gathered all of the teachers and students at 3:30 p.m.," said Dorsin. "We met and basically they told us that they couldn't financially afford to keep the school open. I guess the staff and coaches received the news only a couple minutes before all the students did. Nobody knows what's going on, so they just told me to stay strong and stick with it." The school was in the process of getting a loan from the Department of Agriculture, until it was denied.
However, Duncan Michael Tiemeyer, an alumnus of St. Gregory's started a GoFundMe page in order to get the money necessary to keep the school from shutting down completely and it already has 500 shares and raised $2,000. The GoFundMe states, “we are pulling together leftover funds in order to relieve some of the financial burdens many will face as the Christmas season approaches.” Besides the GoFundMe page, St. Gregory’s wants to be able to transfer students credits to other schools. “I guess they’re trying to do teach-out agreements so that our credits will transfer,” said Dorsin. “Because we’re a private liberal arts school, a lot of our credits won’t transfer out to other schools. So, they’re trying to make agreements with other schools so that hopefully they will.” Some student-athletes are worried about what they will do next. "I run track out here, so it went from running track practice one day, to not having a university the next," said freshman Sagan Christopher. "I'm from Atlanta, I live far away so if I lose this, I don't know what I'm going to go back to." It's Christopher's first semester at St. Gregory's and now he has to try to find another school he can attend. "I'm a long way from home," said Christopher. "If this never happened, I would continue my track career and I'd get a business marketing job. As it stands now, though, I'll probably have to move back to Georgia."
Benedictine Hall, St. Gregory’s University (Provided/WikimediaCommons)
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Nov. 14, 2017
Miss UCO
Miss UCO 2018 Crowned
Vy Luong @TheVista1903 Reporter
Alana Hughes, a 21-year-old senior, was crowned as the 2018 Miss UCO in Constitution Hall last Saturday. “It’s hard to believe that a threeyear-old dream has now come true," said Hughes. "It feels surreal." Besides winning the crown, Hughes won the swimsuit/fitness award and the outstanding talent award. The prize money she won totaled up to $3,400. “This past week was very busy for me, attending pageant rehearsals, attending my classes, working on my homework, studying and taking tests,” Huges said. Hughes said she wants to be able to attend and help out with as many campus events as she can. “One thing that I love doing as a titleholder is going into schools and speaking about my platform,” Hughes said. Hughes chose teen volunteering as her platform for the Miss UCO Pageant. She said volunteering makes an impact in somebody’s life, and changing her own life in the process. “I started volunteering in middle school,” Hughes said. “After realizing that we had packed many meals for others, I wanted to carry that on throughout the rest of my life.” Hughes wants to encourage people
The 2018 Miss UCO contestants stand on stage in Constitution Hall as they wait to hear the results of the pageant on Saturday, Nov. 11. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
to volunteer in an area that they are passionate about. She said people will have fun doing that and are more likely to volunteer again. Being a contemporary music performance major with a focus on piano and vocal, Hughes performed
a piano piece entitled “Whitewater Chopped Sticks” in the talent stage. “I chose this piece after seeing Teresa Scanlan play it during Miss America 2011," Hughes said. "I instantly knew that I wanted to learn the piece and play it for pageants. I
Haley Jill McKinzie takes to the stage in Constitution Hall of the Nigh Universty Center during the evening wear portion of the 2017-2018 Miss UCO pageant. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
made that dream a reality." She said she wore a white dress with different colors of blue rhinestones to represent the water flow from the piece. She had three other Miss Outstanding Teen crowns, which are Mustang in 2011, Tulsa County in 2012 and Moore-Norman in 2013. “I began competing in pageants when I was 14 years old,” Hughes said. “I am an only child. I was very shy.” Hughes also held the titles of Miss Eastern Oklahoma County 2015 and Miss Moore-Norman 2016. “With my new title of Miss UCO 2018, it will be my third year to compete in Miss Oklahoma [in June],” Hughes said. “Through the pageant organization, I have grown a lot as an individual. I would not be who I am today without the Miss Oklahoma organization." She said she has gained experience with public speaking and learning how to think on the spot. She also has to be up to date with current events and learn how to live a healthy lifestyle. “I feel that I will carry everything that I have learned into job interviews or college interviews,” Hughes said.
Miss UCO
Nov. 14, 2017
9
Stephanie Nutter performs “Reflection” during the talent contest in the Miss UCO 2018 Pageant. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
Stephanie Nutter walks past Lacey Williams, Miss UCO 2017, during the physical fitness in swimsuit portion of the competition. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
Chelsea Smith, Miss UCO 2016, performs a song during a break at the Miss UCO 2018 pageant on Saturday, Nov. 11. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
Tarren Land performs “Desperado” during the talent portion of the Miss UCO 2018 pageant. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
Constance Haynes responds during the on-stage question competition portion of the Miss UCO 2018 pageant on Saturday, Nov. 11 in Constitution Hall. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
Lacey Williams crowns Alana Hughes as Miss UCO 2018 in Constitution Hall on Saturday, Nov. 11. (Ryan Naeve/The Vista)
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Nov. 14, 2017
UCOSA
UCOSA Taps Into Reserve Fund Continued From Page 1,
The UCOSA held a tabling event where they surveyed 162 students about their thoughts on having student activity fees pay for the memorial, according to the Chair of UCO Student Congress, Remington Dean. From the survey, about 87.7 percent of students felt that UCO should have a veterans monument on campus. The survey found that 61.1 percent of students supported using student activity fees to pay for the construction. Another resolution, CFR17-106, allotted $20,000 for a stress-reduction room that would be located in the Nigh University Center. Center for Counseling and Well-Being Director, Julia Reed, said the room will have massage chairs and biofeedback stations for students. She said the plan is to have the room ready by January. "Stress, anxiety and depression are all really high on our campus," Reed said. Reed said every two years UCO conducts the American College Health Association's (ACHA)
National College Health Assessment. The 2016 assessment had 655 respondents and showed some of the top academic impacts, or factors that affected performance, were stress at 28.8 percent, anxiety at 19.7 percent, work at 18.2 percent and depression at 14.9 percent. The legislation, CFR17-104, passed for NCUR 2018 would pull $35,000 out of the Reserve Fund for a sponsorship for the UCOSA that would secure speakers such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and John Herrington. "It is a huge deal for our university," Duvall said. Duvall said the money would also go towards a luncheon for 25 students, Abdul-Jabbar and UCO President Don Betz. The sponsorship would also ensure tickets for speaking events that UCOSA could offer students. "We will work with the Student Affairs Office to make sure that those are given out as fair a way as possible," Duvall said. "With this sponsorship, it allows us to give our students an opportunity to hear from these
Vice President of the International Student Council Alexander Le, left, and UCOSA President Stockton Duvall explain why UCOSA proposed to pull money out of the Reserve Fund during the Nov. 6 Congress meeting in the Will Rogers Room. (Cara Johnson/The Vista)
speakers that we would not be able to afford on our own. " The last resolution passed, CFR17105, would pull $18,200 for International House additions, such as new ovens and a computer lab in Central Plaza so students do not have to walk to campus to access a lab, Duvall said. All four pieces of legislation also
received a "do pass" recommendation from the UCOSA Art Committee. The passed legislation will need to receive signatures from UCOSA advisor Cole Stanley and Vice President of Student Affairs, Myron Pope, before money can be taken out of the Reserve Fund.
Humor Column
Nov. 14, 2017
Key Lime Not Sublime in Fall
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Warning: This is a Fictional Column Intended for Satire Twenty-two-year-old Jessi Laine made a life-changing decision yesterday to wear her favorite lime green shirt in the middle of fall, shocking the Edmond community. "I threw orange paint on her the other day, and not in a fun way, a totally serious way," said Dan Laine, Jessi's father. "Orange, red and brown. These are the colors you wear during fall," said Anna Belle, Laine's best friend before the incident. "When I saw her shirt, it was disgusting. I had to cancel all of my plans and spend the rest of my day at Bed Bath and Beyond. That place makes makes me feel so much better after a long and difficult day like today." Laine had originally planned on matching her wardrobe with the colors of the season, but she saw her
lime green shirt and decided against it. She said she felt adventurous. "That's just it, I decided not to. Didn't realize I would receive so much hate," said Laine. "My own dad threw orange paint all over me and then he started calling me a disgusting pig. He even took it a step further by making pig noises at me while holding up his nose like a pig. I would say it was definitely too far." A recent article in Vogue Magazine found those who wear orange, red and brown during the fall season have better chances of blending in with the foliage a lot better. "You're supposed to wear the colors of the season," said Belle. "That way, whenever you find foliage outside, you can blend in with it a whole lot better." Austin Farraday, one of the leading
scientists at the Edmond Ivy League College University (EILCU) decided to wear colors that Vogue Magazine suggested and test out their transparency with the foliage outside. "If my calculations are correct, Ms. Laine will need to immediately start wearing fall colors again," said Farraday. "You should always listen to Vogue Magazine when it tells you to blend in with fall foliage." Farraday and a few of his scientists went out to a wooded glen to test out their hypothesis. Farraday began wearing Vogue's Chanel Fall 2017 Couture Collection and hiding out in the woods. "My scientists had the task of trying to find me," said Farraday. "The results were outstanding, they could never find me. Literally, I was lost for six days out in those woods. I
only survived those six days because I used the Chanel Fall 2017 Couture Collection to survive. So, fall colors are perfect for this time of year, especially if you get lost in the woods with women's clothing." Laine refuses to wear fall colors, even though scientific evidence provides proof that fall colors provide safety during this time of year. "I actually felt pretty safe in my lime green shirt, especially after my dad threw orange paint on it," said Laine. "I was like a traffic cone at night, people could see me for miles. As for Anna, she can suck an egg, all she wants to do is go to Bed Bath and Beyond and buy fresh linens."
A girl leans against a rail while wearing fall clothing. Most fall clothing consists of orange, red and brown, the same color the leaves change to during the months before winter. (Provided/Pixabay.com)
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Nov. 14, 2017
Football
SPORTS
President’s Cup Stays in Edmond Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg
Sports Reporter
The University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos defeated their arch rival the Northeastern State University Riverhawks 62-21 to keep the President's Cup in Edmond for the fourth straight season. "Beating Northeastern means a lot to this team," UCO Head Coach Nick Bobeck said. "It's our only game against an Oklahoma school and you end up with a lot of familiarities there. It was big for them." Quarterback Chas Stallard and wide receiver J.T. Luper both broke UCO single season records in the game. Stallard broke the school record for passing touchdowns in a season with 26. J.T. Luper's six catches for 88 yards and one touchdown gave him the school records for most receiving touchdowns with 12 and the most receiving yards with 1,544 yards. For the first time in his career, Stallard caught, ran, and threw a touchdown in one game. Stallard went 16 of 24 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 44 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Josh Crockett led in receiving, hauling in six catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Bruce White and backup quarterback Chandler Garrett led in rushing with 74 yards and a touchdown each. "I don't think we did that great on offense," Bobeck said. "We had a lot of things not work out the way we wanted to. We still did good and were able to find the holes and get over the top, but we didn't have our best game." On defense, the Bronchos forced four turnovers and registered six sacks. Cornerback Stephan Robinson recorded his team-high fifth interception of the season. Defensive end Noah Ingram had the Bronchos' first interception of the game. The interception was the second by a defensive lineman this season. Alex Figueroa and defensive tackle Carson Smith each forced a fumble.
H-back Daxton Williams, No. 88, dodges Northeastern State linebacker La’More Wise, No. 10, during the Saturday, Nov. 11 football game in Tahlequah, Okla. (Provided/Tom Dunning Photo)
"The defense has been key to this whole thing," Bobeck said. "They keep winning the battle up front and getting pressure on the quarterback and forcing turnovers. They've been really strong." The Bronchos struck first as Stallard connected with Crockett for a 79-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. NSU quarterback Cade Yaeger's pass was tipped by Jonathon Preston and intercepted by Ingram for the Bronchos second touchdown of the game, 14-0. On the next series, Stallard found Luper for a 38-yard touchdown to take a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Stallard ran for a 15-yard touchdown to give UCO a 28-0 lead early second quarter. Stallard threw his second touchdown to Crockett to take a 38-0 lead. Later in the quarter, White extended the lead to 45-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run. NSU scored their first touchdown with 1:45 left in the first half. When Yaeger hit wide receiver Gary McK-
night for a 34-yard touchdown. UCO responded quickly, as wide receiver Derek Reeves hit Stallard from 7-yards out on a double-reverse pass to take a 52-7 halftime lead. NSU started the third quarter strong as Yaeger connected with McKnight from 26-yards out and found McKnight again from 31-yards to outscore UCO 14-3 in the third quarter as Dodd hit a 27-yard field goal. Garrett scored the final touch-
down on a 6-yard run to end the game 62-21. "I'm really proud of the way these guys responded," Bobeck said about the early season struggles. "When you're 2-4, it's pretty easy to give up. That didn't happen with this team and I'm really proud of that". The Bronchos finished the season 7-4 and will play Dec. 2 in the inaugural Corsicana Bowl.
Football
Nov. 14, 2017
13
Bronchos Make Corsicana Bowl Austin Moseley @Austin_Moseley Sports Editor
The University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos have accepted an invitation to play in the Corsicana Bowl against Tarleton State University on Dec. 2. This is the inaugural game for the Corsicana Bowl, which will be played in Tiger Stadium in Corsicana, Texas. The Bronchos accepted the invite after ending the regular season on a five game winning streak and finishing with a record of 7-4. This will be UCO’s third bowl game in four years, after failing to make it to one last year. “We’ve overcome some great adversity this year with injuries,” UCO head football coach Nick Bobeck said. Bobeck said that the team had 22 players suffer season ending injuries this year, so he’s really happy about what they have been able to accomplish. “A big part of winning is having the confidence that you can,” Bobeck said. “We definitely have some con-
fidence about us right now with the way that we’re playing.” Bobeck said that the defense has been playing excellent football lately, with the team forcing 17 turnovers during their winning streak. “It speaks to the character of these kids to not blink and just continue to grow,” Bobeck said. UCO head coach Nick Bobeck has ties to Tiger Stadium, as it is the facility of Navarro Junior College, where he spent four years as the head coach. “I’ve got a lot of great memories at that place,” Bobeck said. “It’s gonna be a unique experience bringing this football team down there.” UCO’s opponent, Tarleton State, faces UCO after finishing the regular season with a record of 6-5. UCO has played Tarleton State 10 times, where the Bronchos own a 6-4 advantage. The last time the two teams played was at Wantland Stadium in 2010, where the Bronchos won 3721. “They’re gonna be a good football team,” Bobeck said. “I expect a great challenge.”
Defensive end Trey Wormington, No. 99, celebrates after a tackle to force a fourth down during the last home game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 28. (Hayden Barzditis/The Vista)
Bruce White Seizes His Opportunity Peter Agnitsch @peteypete33
Editor-in-Chief
“I’ve been short my whole life. It’s not all about size,” Bruce White told the Tulsa World in 2016. “It’s about how much fight you have. I believe I have a lot of heart. If you hit me, you’re going to have to put a lot of effort into it.” The past three weeks, walk-on freshman White has taken full advantage of the opportunity of being the University of Central Oklahoma's starting running back. Even with White's success at the end of the season, the Bronchos have not decided whether or not his play earned him a scholarship. "We’ll see how he finishes this semester in the classroom and on the field," head coach Nick Bobeck said. White has had 58 carries for 294 yards and three touchdowns in his first three games. "He’s allowed us to have a run game, which is huge in this offense," Bobeck said. Last season, White played at Tulsa East Central High School, where he didn't have any scholarship offers,
Bruce White, No. 22, is lifted by his teammate Nick George, No. 52, after scoring his first career touchdown on a 13-yard run during the home game against Central Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 28. (Hayden Barzditis/The Vista)
but chose to walk-on at UCO. Bobeck said White was recruited by Nick Graham, assistant football coach and defensive backs coach, to walk-on to UCO's football team. White has become the new UCO starting running back after the team lost four running backs due to injury or quitting. Running back Clay McKenzie ranked 10th and Jake Gandara
ranked 11th in UCO all-time purpose yards. Both tore their ACL's during the early stages of the season. Redshirt freshman Jake Standlee suffered a concussion against Missouri Southern State University and redshirt freshman Quan Hogan suddenly quit the team. "You never expect to lose kids and anytime you lose one, it hurts the team no matter whether it is injury
or they decide not to play football anymore," Bobeck said. The team was left with a gaping hole at running back, which was filled by the 5-foot-5-inch freshman, who has started the past three games for the Bronchos. "We figured he would have success because he can hide behind the offensive line and pick his way through the defense," Bobeck said. In White's first collegiate start, he ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead the Bronchos to upset then ranked No. 23 University of Central Missouri. "It was huge as he was able to give us a boost, not only physically, but emotionally," Bobeck said. "Everybody was excited to see him have success." White ran for a team high 86 yards on 18 carries in UCO's victory over Washburn University. This weekend in the President's Cup, UCO defeated their rival Northeastern State University 61-21, where White continued his success on 18 carries for 74 yards and rushed in his third touchdown of the season. "He has played unafraid and confident," Bobeck said.
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Nov. 14, 2017
Basketball
Bronchos Take on Challenge
Women’s Basketball Starts Season 2-0 Ryan Jackson @TheVista1903
Contributing Writer
The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team defeated the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm and the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers this past weekend to start their season 2-0. UCO's first regular season game of the season was a 70-62 victory against Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Oklahoma in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/Great American Conference Challenge. Senior guard Melinda Murillo put the Bronchos over the edge in their first game in the MIAA/GAC Challenge. She finished the game with 32 points, five assists, and three steals, with 15 of her 32 points coming from the 3-point line. UCO got the win, but assistant coach Heather Davis said that first game was a little rough for both teams. "She was the only one making anything," Davis said. "We didn’t shoot it very well. She came up huge for us when the others weren’t really making any shots. We only made six threes and she made five of them. The second game of the challenge
Guard Shatoya Bryson runs the ball down the court during a game on Jan. 12, 2017 in the Hamilton Field House. (KT King/UCO Photo Services)
went a lot smoother, as the final score was an 88-50 win over Northwestern. Davis said she liked how her team handled the defensive looks from Northwestern, as well as how they shared the ball and moved it around
as UCO ended the game with 29 team assists. "It was a pretty good game for us," Davis said. "We actually shot a lot better from the first game. It was an all-around good team win and good team performance offensively and
Guard Melinda Murillo, No. 22, dribbles the ball during a spring game on Jan. 12, 2017 in Hamilton Field House. (KT King/ UCO Photo Services)
defensively." The Bronchos played great defense in the 2nd quarter of that game as they held Northwestern to only 2 points. The 6-5 forward, Jesheon Cooper had a part to play in the great defensive play as she had two blocks in that game. "She makes a total difference on defense," Davis said. "If she’s not blocking a shot, she’s altering a shot because people don’t want to go in there and get blocked so they have try to change their shot to shoot it over her." Cooper recorded a double-double in both games with 12 points and 15 rebounds in the first game, and 14 points and 10 rebounds in the second. Even though UCO held Northwestern Oklahoma State to 50 points, Davis said that she would still like to see her team improve on their defense. "I know they only scored 2 points in the second quarter, but in the second half we didn't play as good defensively," Davis said. "We didn’t keep that mentality that we did from the 1st half. I think that’s one big thing we need to work on is our mentality. UCO's next game is on the road Tuesday against Oklahoma Christian University at 5:30 p.m.
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Basketball
Nov. 14, 2017
15
UCO’s Polar Opposite Games Austin Moseley @Austin_Moseley Sport Editor
The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team split their games in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/Great American Conference Challenge this weekend, as they move to 1-1 to start their season. After beating Southeastern Oklahoma State University 78-51 on Friday, the Bronchos lost to Northwestern Oklahoma State University 77-60 on Saturday in a game where they only led for 23 seconds. “It was kind of two completely opposite games,” UCO head coach Tom Hankins said. “I think we started feeling that we were really good after winning that Friday night and we were kind of feeling ourselves and didn’t think we had to come out with a whole lot of intensity.” In the first half, the Bronchos allowed Northwestern Oklahoma State to shoot 56.7 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from 3-point territory. “We’ve got to get better defensively,” Hankins said. UCO, on the other hand, shot only 32 percent from the field and was 1 of 10 from 3-point range in the first half. Corbin Byford finished the game with his first double-double of the season, notching 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Jordan Hemphill also chipped in 14 points. “[Hemphill] stepped up and he grew up in the second game,” Hankins said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player here.” UCO started the game up 2-0 off a Jake Hammond jump shot, but the Bronchos never regained the lead and went into halftime down 44-24. The Bronchos started the second half on a 24-16 run to cut the Rang-
Forward Corbin Byford, No. 23, blocks Northwestern Oklahoma State University player Greg Minor, Jr., No. 10, from shooting the ball during a Saturday, Nov. 11 game at the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/Great American Conference Challenge. (Olivia Brock/NWOSU Athletic Communications Intern)
ers lead to just 13. Hemphill led the charge, scoring eight points in a span of three minutes. However, that was the closest UCO would get. The Rangers went on a quick 10-0 run to put their lead back to 20. Their lead did not fall below 16 for the rest of the game. UCO shot better in the second half, 42.3 percent from the field, but they missed nine attempts at the freethrow line. Northwestern Oklahoma State had another 50 percent shooting half as they moved to 2-0 on the year. Against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday, the Bronchos shot
9-15 from three, which helped lead them to a 27-point victory over the Savage Storm. UCO had three players score double-digits. Marqueese Grayson led the team with 17 points; Marquis Johnson had 13, while Byford finished with 12. From the opening tip, it was all Bronchos. UCO started the game on a 21-4 run and Southeastern Oklahoma State could not recover from the early deficit. “What I was most proud of is how we shared the ball,” Hankins said. UCO had 18 assists in the game, compared to the seven they had
against Northwestern Oklahoma State. “We were highly unselfish and we were shooting the ball really well,” Hankins said. The Bronchos relied heavily on scoring in the paint, as 38 out of their 78 points came in the restricted area. UCO turned defense into offense, forcing 17 turnovers, which they turned into 22 points. UCO’s next game is against the Oklahoma Christian Eagles on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Oklahoma Christian’s court is named after current UCO assistant coach, Dan Hays, who coached at OC for 33 years.
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