University of Central Oklahoma
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Buying Finals Week Focus UCO students seek drugs during finals week stress
APR 8, 2014
Election season: UCOSA to hold presidential vote
Top: (From Left to Right) Vice Presidential candiate Kiki Pierce and Presidential candidate Josh Jarrett present their platform at the UCOSA debate on April 7, 2014 in Constitution Hall. Bottom: (From Left to Right) Vice Presidential candidate Kalisa Mora and Presidential candidate Chisholm Holland present their platform at the UCOSA debate on April 7, 2014 in Constitution Hall. Photos by Aliki Dyer, The Vista.
Michael Moore
Contributing Writer
In recent years, college students across the nation and at UCO have been buying Adderall and other similar medications in order to perform better on final exams. Photo by Aliki Dyer, The Vista.
Emily Hahn Contributing Writer “Yeah I could perform without it, but I don’t think I would do as well or accomplish as much,” said junior speech pathology major with a minor in deaf education. A self-prescribing exercise and sports
science major said, “With Adderall, it sort of just took away all other distractions and let me focus on my main tasks. It was like I had blinders on.” In college, it is said that you can choose two of three things: good grades, efficient sleep, or a social life. For decades, college students have tried, to no avail, to obtain all three. According to The University of Buffalo’s First Year Student Resources,
it is important for you to realize that you must plan to spend not one, but at least two hours outside of each class on homework in college if you want to be successful. Therefore, you will be spending approximately 15 hours in the classroom and 30 hours outside of class studying, equaling at least 45 hours per week. “Before Adderall, I would get distracted fairly easily and then it would
take a good 15 minutes to get myself back into the zone. But with Adderall, it was easier to study and I got more out of my time spent studying,” said UCO junior. Some students have turned to prescription drugs, prescribed or not, to aid themselves in becoming the successful scholar they once predicted they would be. See Buying Focus on Page 5
Oklahoma earns poor rating in mental health Tyler Talley
Staff Writer Oklahoma now ranks as one of the worst states in the nation for overall mental health according to a report released by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In the report released last month, more than 630,000 Oklahomans suffer from some form of mental illness. The figure represents 22 percent of the population. The state trails only West Virginia in percentage of residents with a severe mental illness, and Utah in the percentage of citizens suffering from any kind of mental illness. Oklahoma Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Terri White told Adam Kemp, of the Oklahoman, that the report is startling and that the numbers would be even
higher of those younger than 18. That state also lacks the resources to combat the problem and more than 70 percent of adult Oklahomans with mental illness receive no treatment because of this. It is not uncommon for potential patients waiting to see a psychiatrist or counselor can take three months, according to Traci Cook, the executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Cook told Kemp in an interview, that the state lost a valuable resource with the closure of Deaconess Hospital in Bethany, last December. The hospital held 60 desperately needed psychiatric beds, according to Cook. “When I see numbers that were in this report, I start to panic,” Cook said. “Access is an enormous problem already. Unfortunately, my staff and I have gotten very good at helping people put their loved ones in a holding
Oklahoma is one of the worst states for overall mental health. Photo by Aliki Dyer, The Vista.
pattern until help is available to them, instead of getting them immediate help.” White compared the situation to an emergency room, where people with the direst conditions are seen and treated first. “Can you imagine if we didn’t treat other diseases until they got to that critical stage?” White said. According to White, Oklahoma spends roughly $53 per capita on mental health treatment, while the national average is about
$120. Thus, the financial rewards for individuals in the profession or seeking employment in it are low, according to Dr. Caleb Lack. Lack serves as an assistant professor of psychology and the Counseling Practicum Coordinator in the Department of Psychology at UCO, as well as a licensed clinical psychologist. Lack stated that students seeking a degree in psychology must have a passion for the subject if they chose to pursue it.
The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association (UCOSA) is electing a new student body president Wednesday by way of majority votes cast by the student body. Students can vote via Current Broncho Central Surveys tab on the UCOnnect home page. Josh Jarrett, a sophomore finance major and Chisholm Holland, a junior organization communication major, are the two candidates running for 2014 UCOSA President. Jarrett is running with vice president candidate Kiki Pierce, a sophomore interpersonal communications major. “We wholeheartedly believe that more is not always better; we want to continue effectively executing the great, already established, programs at UCO. Consistency in our programming is the key to success here,” said Jarrett. Pierce said, “We ran because we love this campus.” Jarrett and Pierce hope to bring back free scantrons to students. This service was once implemented in 2012 by former UCOSA President, Alex Braden, but was abandoned by the proceeding president, Zach Milvo, the following year. “We’ve done it before, and we can do it again. There are departments on campus that provide free scantrons to professors to hand out for their test and quizzes and we believe the student government should be able to do the same for every Broncho, regardless of their major,” said Jarret. They also hope to promote the existing program of Bronchos Helping Bronchos Book Program, which is a service that allows students to donate their used books to other students who cannot afford textbooks. Opening the tennis courts for all students, designating rest areas on campus with hammocks, using golf carts as a taxi service for students, joint programming with surrounding universities, providing Ethernet cables in all dorm rooms to improve Wi-Fi connection and speed and live-streaming of UCOSA congress meetings are all plans that Jarrett and Pierce say they hope to implement if elected. Kalisa Mora, a junior legal studies major, is running for vice president, along side Holland. Holland and Mora say their platform is based on honesty, clarity and ambition. “The president only gets the ability to spend $16,000.With that money we have to fund events for our cabinet and there is only so much a person can do with $16,000, especially considering the impact we were wanting to make. We didn’t want to come here and tell you all about these great programs we were going to do and then not be able to achieve those goals. Is this a politically sound campaign strategy? Absolutely not. We decided we didn’t want to promise candy to the students and then not be able to deliver the candy if it came down to it,” said Holland. UCOSA’s annual budget is $940,000, according to Holland, which funds all student activities. “We want to voice the student opinion, while also remaining realistic. We would also like to bring the program to the students, instead of the students to the program,” said Holland and Mora. The voting times advertised by both candidates are false. According to the UCOSA Constitution, Article V, section 2, the president shall be elected by a majority vote of the ballots cast in a spring election on the second Wednesday of April. The times advertised were 9 a.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Polls are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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APR 8, 2014
OPINION
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Captain America The Brave Editorial by: Sarah Neese In March 1941, Marvel Comics created Captain America. Captain America served as a hero in both comic books and reality as Americans, mainly children, rallied around him to help beat the Nazis in World War II. Fast forward to July 2011, when Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures released Captain America: The First Avenger. The times had changed and so had Captain America, now becoming only a symbol of history instead of a symbol to take action against the country’s enemies. The first Captain America movie was a good kickstarter to the continuation of Marvel Studios’ portrayal of the Avengers. Fast forward again to April 2014, when Captain America once again found his way onto the big screen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The first Captain America film was simply a re-introduction to America’s hero, for those who may have not ever experienced the story of Captain America. The sequel, though, was bigger than just a hero’s story. The introduction had been made. Now was the time for Captain America’s personal character to shine and his journey as a hero to serve as social commentary
to the backdrop that is the modern picture of the United States. You might be asking yourself why some college-aged girl took a Captain America film so seriously. Well, there’s more to Captain America than his grade-A muscles and his indestructible shield. In fact, there always has been. It just might have gotten lost after America no longer felt the need to defend their freedom. Freedom for Americans was solidified after the end of World War II, right? Captain America in this day and age, or at least in his latest movie, is facing a struggle. When the world is busy changing, becoming more technologically savvy and S.H.I.E.L.D. is launching a surveillance operation to stay one step ahead of any major catastrophes on earth, Captain America is still clinging to the mentalities he formed in the 1940s. An internal struggle ensues on whether he should change his ways in the changing climate or maintain his true identity and the principles he once held dear. So, why does this matter to the audience of today? Captain America, once a national hero representing all that America was and wanted to be, now holds a different purpose. Instead, Captain America now serves
“Everybody come see how good I look. - Anchor Man”
“I said, Brrr it’s cold in here. There must be some Toros in the atmosphere. - Bring It On”
“You can’t sit with us. - Mean Girls”
CAMPUS CARTOON
Cartoon by Brenda Chavez Quintero
as the symbol of what America used to be and still needs to be. We may no longer be afraid of the powers that be in other countries, those that could have the power to yank our freedom from
us, like we once were. But, our freedom is again in danger. Not by external sources but by internal ones. Does the S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance initiative sound familiar? Monitoring the
citizens of Earth to protect us from ourselves? The great United States of America still needs Captain America, and it may need him more than it ever has.
APR 8, 2014
Opinion
NEWS
, y l e r e c n i S e i v e St
A Season to Stay By Stevie Armstrong
I rest back, sunglasses on and torn jean shorts hiked up. The warm sun soaks into my skin, resulting in a tingling feeling that only occurs when everything is just right. The chirping of a Carolina Wren and the rustle of blooming Redbud branches sing through the Oklahoma wind. It’s been much too long since the last time I got to hear this song. Spring has been long awaited. Everything that was dead has resurrected, including me. As the sun shines every day now, so does my out-
It’s a Two-Way Street: Central Assistant Biology Professor’s Point of View on teaching Rachel Brocklehurst
Staff Writer Assistant Biology Professor Chad King started working at UCO August 2013. Before coming to UCO, he was working on his doctorate at the University of Missouri. He got his B.S. at Wayne State (NE) College, his M.S. at the University of South Dakota, and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, as well. He lived in Missouri for the last 12 years. He said, “I’m a new person in Oklahoma.” He said he’s most passionate about is studying how trees grow, as well as the things in the environment that might have affected how they grow. “Over time, I’ve been trying to expose students to that type of research, because it’s new here,” King said. “They never really had anyone before that did that type of research. I’ve been trying to work and get students exposed to something that they probably haven’t been exposed to before.” When he was an undergrad, one of his professors was named Mr. Schock. Due to Mr. Schock being his advisor in the department, he helped King pick out classes to take. “He was one of the most challenging, rigorous professors I’ve ever had,” King said. ”He influenced me, probably more than anybody else, in terms of enjoying biology.” That was his first real inkling of being interested in biology in his undergraduate career. UCO has a system where you come in as an assistant and based on your teaching ability, your research that you do and the service you provide to the university, members of the department and the college can recommend whether you get to be moved up to a higher level of professor.
It goes from assistant, to associate, to full professor. “I think it was my first teaching experience. I was an undergrad and I had taken a zoology class, and my professor at the time invited me to come back and be the teaching assistant for the lab, part of that,” King said. “That was my first sense that I actually enjoyed doing that. That was a long time ago.” But, ever since then, he’s been doing something related to teaching. He teaches his own classes, like a lot of the other professors at UCO. The most rewarding aspect of teaching for King is the general interest that he sees from the students. “It’s kind of a feedback to me that I enjoy talking about what I do and talking about the subjects that I enjoy, and it’s one of the best methods of working with students, is seeing responses to that,” King said. “Often, when I talk, something will lead to a question from students, which helps to make me know that they’re thinking about it and have an interest in it,” King said. King wishes there were more hours in a day. He challenges to get everything prepared the way that he wants them to be prepared for teaching. “I try to be a perfectionist, so I feel like I run out of time trying to get things set and ready for class,” King said. ”Specifically, I would say, along with the level of interests from the students, the second best thing is the other professors that I work with,” King said. In August, King said he was anticipating getting started. “I hope my students remember me as being a professor who shows interest in what they’re interested in,” King said. “There’s always those opportunities for professors like us to learn from students as well, it’s not just a one-way street for us.”
look on life. Perhaps, it’s the vitamin D hitting my system. There are only about four weeks left of the semester and if we’ve all been able to make it this far, we can push through the rest. For many, that means surviving until that final walk across the stage, strutting a blue wrap-around cape and awkward hat, created as a joke that never died. With the arrival of a new season, comes a new season in our lives. What it contains is a mystery, but excitement, nonetheless.
Perhaps a relationship ended for you and you’re starting this season off with two less feet than before, but stronger independence. Or maybe you just unexpectedly met someone and it kicks off your new season with positive surprises. You may be a freshman who just survived their first year of college. Or you could be graduating and shedding off an old reputation in place for a professional one. Or, you’re like me and have no idea what’s ahead. And for once, you’re okay with it.
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Good times, struggles, people and life all come and go in seasons. It’s how you live each season that determines if it is enjoyable or not. No one can make you be happy. And no one can make you be unhappy. That season is in your control. Seasons come and go, but your outlook on life can last for as long as you want it to. Sincerely, Stevie
Follow me on Twitter @StevieArmstrong
Relay for Life 2014 Austin Rabon
Contributing Writer The fight for cancer has been going on for quite some time now. It is time to join together and throw a knockout punch against cancer. On April 12, UCO will host a Relay for Life event on campus. Brett Barnes, relay specialist with the American Cancer Society, said, “This event is going to be a condensed version to show students what Relay for Life is all about.” Relay for Life is designed to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who have died. It also raises money to help find a cure for cancer. “Normally, these events last for 12 hours because cancer doesn’t sleep, so neither do we,” Barnes said. Relay for Life is a cancer fundraiser that takes place The Relay for Life movement at UCO on April. 12. Photo by Aliki Dyer, The Vista. features community and campus events that offer an inspiring oppor- on campus,” Barnes said. Relay for Life donated $18,000 to the tunity to honor cancer survivors, promote American Cancer Society, last year. how individuals can reduce their cancer Today, with the support of thousands of risk and raise money to help end cancer. volunteers, the American Cancer Society The night of the event, there will be food, is helping save more than 400 lives a day. games, entertainment and general informaThey said they won’t stop until the fight tion about preventative cancer measureagainst cancer is finished, according to rements. layforlife.org/edmondok. There will be a Luminaria ceremony “We always need help setting up an event, where students can buy a white paper sack or if an organization wants to sell hotdogs in honor or memory of someone who has or crafts to help raise money, we would had cancer. Everyone with a sack will stand greatly appreciate it,” Barnes said. in a circle and light them. Relay for Life is partnering with Sigma “A Luminaria really shows that every Alpha Lamda and would like for any UCO candle has a name and how many people students wanting to get involved in the have been affected and touched by cancer,” upcoming event or future events to email Barnes said. Barnes at brett.barnes@cancer.org. The event will take place at Plunkett Park Barnes said, “Relay is one of those things starting at 6 p.m. and lasting until 8 p.m. If that if you can just get people there once, weather does not permit, the event will be they will want to come back because it is so in the field-house gym. much fun and so memorable.” “Our long-term goal is to have future events on the UCO campus that will last a full 12 hours and involve different groups
Relay for Life donated $18,000 to the American Cancer Society, last year.
T h e p h o t o features Central Assistant Biology Professor Chad King. Photo by Quang Pho, The Vista.
Chambers Library Book Sale Jordan Ensminger
Contributing Writer UCO’s Chambers Library will be selling library books, DVDs and curriculum materials for the 14th Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale April 11-13. The book sale will be hosted in the basement of the library. Members of Friends of the Library will be invited to a pre-sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 11, while non-members can shop from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 12 and noon to 6 p.m. on April 13. Memberships will be available at the door for $10 for students and $25 for non-students. “The Friends of the Library Book Sale raises money to help buy new items for the library’s collections and to support library programming throughout the year,” Carrie Bond, assistant development manager of Chambers
Library said. A variety of popular novels, non-fiction books, educational materials and DVDs will be for sale. Hardback books will be $2 and paperbacks will be 50 cents. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the library and its collections. “We offer a large selection of books, both fiction and non-fiction, at very reasonable prices. Because we receive many donations throughout the year, we are always able to offer new, exciting selections each year,” said Bond. The Friends of the Library is an organization dedicated to enriching the services of the Chambers Library to the university community. Chambers Library is located on the southeast corner of University Drive and Ayers Street in Edmond.
The photo features UCO’s Chambers Library located on the southest corner of University Drive and Ayers Street in Edmond. Photo by Aliki Dyer, The Vista.
NEWS APR 8, 2014 Mr. & Mrs. UCO International Pageant 4
Olanrewaju Suleiman
Staff Writer On Friday April 4, the International Student Council hosted their annual Mr. and Miss UCO International Pageant. The pageant, which is scholarship based, had 15 international students from 13 different countries. There were nine female contestants and five men. The ceremony was hosted by UCO graduate student Kory Atcuson and the reigning Miss Black UCO junior Botswana native Boikgapo Bolelang. There were four categories. Traditional wear and talent held the weight of 25 percent. Evening wear was 20 and the on-stage question was worth the most, at 30 percent. The pageant began with traditional wear. Each contestant wore a gown or outfit from their country. It ranged from wedding attire to costumes worn at parties. After this section, UCO Vice President for Student Affairs Myron Pope gave some remarks on the pageant and the importance of international students at Central. The talent portion had a variety
of performances. There was singing, dancing and piano playing. One contestant even did a mini magic show. Evening wear was after the intermission and then came the final category of on-stage questions. Before the crowning, the 2013-2014 Mr. and Miss UCO Inter national said their final goodbye with a collaborative performance of The Beatles’ song Let it Be. Atcuson and Bolelang then announced the winners in each category, as well as the new Mr. and Miss UCO International. Mr. and Miss Congeniality was an award voted on by the pageant contestants. Mr. Congeniality was awarded to South Korea native
Juhyuk Do. Miss Congeniality was Vietnam native Tran Huyen. The People’s choice award, which was voted on during intermission as well as on Facebook, was given to Oon Feng Lim from Malaysia and Rajana Taludhar from Nepal. The second r u n n e r- u p s were given a tuition scholarship of $400 and an official Mr. and Miss UCO International plaque. They were Tan Le Timba from Vietname and Miss Ani Sargsyan from Armenia. The first runnerups were also given an official pageant plaque and a scholarship Oon Feng Lim (left) and Adalaida Tembo (right) were crowned Mr. & Mrs. UCO International on April 4, 2014. Photo by Quang Pho, The Vista.
of $700. They were Ben Soumahoro and Prisca Gnamitche. They are both from the Ivory Coast. Oon Feng Lim was crowned Mr. UCO International and Zambia native Adalaida Tembo was crowned as Miss UCO International. They will each receive a $1000 scholarship. Both winners will spend the next year promoting their platforms. Lim’s is the importance of counseling and Tembo’s is positive body images for women. “I thank my friends and family for helping me,” Lim said. He was grateful to everyone who was part of the pageant, as well. “I also thank the directors and the other contestants for their encouragement.” Tembo had many of the same sentiments. “I feel really good,” Tembo said. “I wasn’t expecting it.” She credits her family and the pageant directors for helping her to be successful. She has these words of wisdom for next year’s contestants. “Believe in yourself and be focused and determined in whatever you do,” she said. “Never give up.”
Food stamps in Oklahoma: helpful or hurtful?
dren in the state of Oklahoma live in households receiving SNAP benefits. Both Newcomb and Merrick knew others that had benefited from the program. Contributing Writer Merrick’s older sister also enrolled in Many people have strong emotions about SNAP and Newcomb knew of other sinthe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance gle parents that used it, some of whom Program, also known as food stamps. were not employed. One of the big political arguments made In 2013, SNAP grew from the previous is whether or not this program is neces- year’s 953.1 million, to over 957 million. sary or an example of government over- Martin explained the increase may have spending. been caused by residual impact of the The state of Oklahoma Department of national recession. Human Services in the fiscal year of 2013 Merrick and Newcomb believe that they spent $958,694,710 on SNAP. could have survived without the program. Eight hundred and 89 thousand, 137 peo- However they said that it made it easier. ple received SNAP benefits from DHS “I know people have mixed feelings in 2013. about it, calling it a “ghetto program” but, Debra Martin Communications Manager when you’re in debt from being in school, for DHS discussed the background of it makes everything a little easier,” said SNAP. Merrick. “Some form of food assistance has exist- The SNAP Annual Report Table on ed since the depression. It has been in monthly averages in counties and ethniciits current form since 1996, as part of ties in 2013, provided demographics on the Welfare Reform Act of 1996,” said those actually using the program. Martin There were 7,915 Asian, 50,519 Hispanic, SNAP users are able to purchase food and 80,602 Indian, 102,085 black and 375,438 food items with the program. white persons on food stamps in 2013. Some of the provisions include not Newcomb and Merrick encourage othusing the supplements to purchase non- ers who need assistance, to enroll in the approved items and selling the benefits program. for cash. “If you’re worried about embarrassment “Sometimes, low-income families need a or judging, don’t be. You are in college, *This image was taken from the Department *This image was taken from the Department of Human Services 2013 Annual Report. of Human Services 2013 Annual Report. little bit of help putting food on the table. that’s all that matters,” said Merrick. Photo provided. We just want to help them,” said Martin. Newcomb said, “Yes, there will always Photo provided. Martin said that DHS doesn’t track the be an abuser of something that so many number of people that would qualify for need and depend on.” the program, but don’t apply. They only DHS’s Office of Inspector General inveskeep records of those who qualify and tigates issues of fraud and abuse within use SNAP. SNAP. University of Central Oklahoma stu- Martin said that they receive information dent Alicia Merrick has been using SNAP on potential instances of fraud from their since around the end of January. Merrick tip line. Anyone can call in and report files her taxes as an independent. SNAP fraud. “I have to pay for everything on my own, Those that are found guilty must repay though, without emotional support from any misused funds. family. It helps with paying for healthier Newcomb expressed that she doesn’t feel food in the dorm life,” said Merrick. that SNAP has been taken seriously by better appreciate international students and Kanesha Brown Lisa Newcomb received SNAP assistance the public, but added even though there their cultures after experiencing them. for about three years. She used it to help may be stigma, it’s a reliable form of Broncho Buddies is intended for UCO Staff Writer support herself and her daughter. assistance. students and international students to “I was a single mother making little She also said that she would not hesitate teach each other about their own culThe Global Leadership Ambassadors team money, so I needed assistance so that my if the need arose again. tures through various activities. Broncho at UCO coordinates the different internadaughter and I could eat,” said Newcomb. Newcomb said, “I’m not ever too proud Buddies are paired according to similar tional programs for students to be involved According to Martin 30 percent of chil- to ask for help.” interests. with. The team is open to both domestic and The programs listed on the UCO international students. website include: CRISP (Community The requirements to be apart of the team, Responding to International Students according the UCO website are: Program), Broncho Buddies, MERGE - Participation for the Fall 2014 - Spring (Making Experiential Research Globally 2015 academic year. Engaging), and Ignite. - Students must be in good academic MERGE is designed for faculty memstanding. bers to work along with international stu- Exhibit strong communication, leaderdents. Together, they work to incorporate ship and interpersonal skills. the prospective of their cultures for UCO - Be able to attend scheduled mandatory students. training and agree to the time commitment The international students work with to fulfill ambassador duties. other students on academic projects - Support as many CGC and Office of regarding their country. Global Affairs events as possible. Families in Edmond/ Oklahoma City - Attend all scheduled meetings. interested in learning about another cul- Serve as a “spokesperson” for the globture are paired with international students al initiatives at the University of Central through the CRISP program. It also gives Oklahoma. international students the opportunity to - Development of leadership, group learn about the American culture. dynamics, communication and public The goal is for them to spend time speaking skills. together, at least month. Those who are interested in being apart The ignite program sponsored by Centre of the Global Leadership Ambassador for Global Competency is the opposite of team can apply through the UCO website CRISP. The American students spend time or contact Jared Scism at 405-974-2131 with an international family to learn their or jscism@uco.edu for more information. culture and practices. Free rides to anywhere on campus were given out to UCO students on April 7, The goal is for American students to Xavier Jackson
Central Ambassadors go global with CRISP
Free rides around campus
2014. Photo by Aliki Dyer, The Vista.
APR 8, 2014
NEWS
5
Buying Focus
UCO students turn to medications for focus help during finals week The pressures every college student undergoes on a daily basis are not for the faint of heart. Now, try and imagine going through the most chaotic four years of your life and not being able to pay attention. Doctors have been prescribing stimulant drugs to people suffering from ADHD for years. Addictiontreatmentmagazine. com described the process of psychostimualants: prescription stimulants produce their intended therapeutic effects by gradually increasing the normal rate of communication between the primary cells in the brain and spinal cord. The stimulants also allow students to stay awake for long periods of time without losing the ability to focus on their subject matter. The abuse of prescription stimulant drugs among non-prescribed students is a fairly new practice. One might question: since when has abuse of psychostimulants become an issue? One UCO student said, “I split the 30 milligram pill in half, so I was just taking 15 milligrams to study for my final.” This particular student has never been diagnosed with ADD and knowingly admitted to having no symptoms. “When I took it, I like read the whole book and then I cleaned the whole apartment and got a 100 percent on my test the next day. It was awesome.” As stated on tandfonline.com, 35.5 percent of undergraduates had used prescription amphetamines illicitly (defined as use without a prescription), with men reporting more use than women. Undergrad enrollment for the University of Central Oklahoma for the spring of 2014 was 14,060 students. Therefore, according to the study done, it is possible that roughly 4,991 students are engaging in use of legal or illegal stimulants at UCO.
In order to understand how such a large number of students abuse prescription stimulants, we look to the prescription process. When asked if she thought prescription drugs such as Adderall and Vyvance have become too easily accessible Dr. Rhonda Naus of Dallas, Tex., a psychologist for 10 years, and psychiatrist for the past three years said, “The problem is that physicians are prescribing them that are not psychiatrists, they are giving them faster acting methamphetamines. They (physicians) commonly misdiagnose patients.” In some diagnosis cases, patients undergo substantial testing, while other students simply have to mention the inability to focus in class, while studying or doing homework. “I went in consistently for a couple of weeks where they would keep me for two to four hours at a time with a bunch of tests that focused on my attention, cognitive processing, auditory processing, and short and long term memory,” said junior psychology major with particularly severe symptoms. On the other hand, a student who openly admitted to having minimal symptoms said, “I just went to a doctor and told him I couldn’t focus, then he gave me Adderall. It was easy.” “It’s easy to fake it. I can’t do a blood test to confirm your diagnosis. You can read symptoms off of the Internet and come in and tell me those. I have to use my judgment as a professional when it comes to that,” said Naus. The other side of prescription drug abuse is the street buying crowd. These students have not been diagnosed with ADHD and do not have prescriptions for any type of psychostimulant. On campus, the drugs are either sold or given away by people with prescriptions, or students
who have learned to navigate the psychiatric exams offered by campus health centers, which usually provide the drugs at a discounted price, procure them. A senior student at The University of Tulsa said she cannot go a week without someone offering to buy her medication. “I’m kind of a dead giveaway for my ADHD, so people I don’t even know or like have never talked to, will hit me up and ask, or the same person repeatedly will ask me. They say $5 a pill, but I have never actually received any money for it.” The student said they generally tend to give their pills away, allotting themselves enough of their own pills to take on a daily basis as their doctor recommends. As stated above, some students choose to give out their medication to friends. That is how one student without a prescription got pills from their roommate and stated with a laugh, “I wouldn’t even know how to buy it.” This self-prescribed student said they did not want to go to a doctor and be diagnosed as ADHD to receive a prescription. They believed because ADHD ran in their family, they had it as well, because of some symptoms experienced, “I have forced myself to live without it and I wouldn’t want it to be easily accessible to me.” Another Central Oklahoma student who has struggled with ADD for his whole life, said he just purchases his Adderall from whomever he hears has it, whenever he feels he needs it. This student was prescribed for four years of his life as a child with Ritalin and said, “It made me feel like a zombie, I hated it. I would trade not being able to focus, over feeling like a zombie.” So, when he takes Adderall, he only takes 15 milligrams, as the student earlier said he did as well, by splitting the pill in half and sav-
UCO to host historical photographic exhibit
ing the other half for later. For a patient without health insurance, one prescription of Adderall can cost anywhere around $200. James Kent of the Huffington Post, did a study in his article “Adderall: America’s Favorite Amphetamine,” where he found common street costs and deals of the drug selling business. “Street-level Adderall dealers (or “traders”) can distribute to college students at cheaper-thanretail prices. For uninsured students, the retail price of a monthly Adderall prescription works out to $6 to $8 a pill. If they buy 10 at a time from the dealer, however, they get them for $3 to $5 a pill.” Our student prescribed with Ritalin as a child does not currently have health insurance; so street buying is the only affordable way for him to go. “Usually I buy five pills for like $15, but sometimes if it’s a friend they’ll just give them to me.” A UCO sophomore who sells their prescription of Adderall said they range from selling them for $8 a pill to $20 a pill, depending on their relationship with the buyer. If the buyer is a really good friend, “I’ll just give them the pills. But if it’s someone I don’t like or don’t know, I’ll charge probably 20 bucks a pill.” They never said they struggle with buyers opposing to their price, no matter how high because, “Well they don’t really have an option outside of me.” If demand is high, sometimes dealers can receive as much as $20 per pill or more. With roughly 20 pills per prescription, the profit adds up for the dealer. What students may not realize is that these amphetamines are more than a study aid, they are drugs and come with side effects. “I took it (Adderall) if I knew I had to pull an all-nighter to retain the information for my tests the next day. But it caused me to
crash horribly after my exams and took the rest of the day and following night to recover from it,” said a UCO student. Naus said, “Usually when issued a prescription, your doctor educates you on the drug and risks involved. With the danger of taking too much medication, or dosages too high, you are at risk for heart arrhythmias, insomnia, weight loss, and for people with bi-polar disorder, it can make them very aggressive.” Another student said, “While I was taking it, I felt great and so much more focused, but I could feel my heart rate going up and continue to stay high, and that worried me.” Some things you can do as a student to prevent the urge to partake in study d r u g s without a prescription, among many others, include: • Getting at least eight hours of sleep nightly. • M a i n taining a healthy diet, and exercising for energy. • Being attentive during class, preventing the need to cram before exams. • Be organized (ex: get a planner, write assignments down, etc.) • Make a study schedule and stick to it. • Read the textbook. • Master the art of time management.
Spring is in the air
UCO will host an exhibit by the Photographic Society of america on the first floor of the library, exhibiting around 5,000 pictures. Photo by Quang Pho, The Vista.
Brittany McMillin
Contributing Writer The fleeting memories of the past are kept alive by photographs that tell a story. UCO will host an exhibit from the Photographic Society of America (PSA) until May 31, with a collection of around 5,000 pictures. The collection will be shown in the elevator lobby on the main floor of the library and is free and open to the public. “Without question, the PSA collection is unique, important and valuable on many levels,” said Nicole Walker, director of Archives and Special Collections for the library. The collection holds historical photographs that date back to 1917 and transcend into the present. PSA was established in 1934 in Philadelphia. In 1945, a charter was created for a permanent print collection. Donations from
PSA members were made in great abundance. “It is a world-class collection. International recognized photographers such as Edward Steichen, Ansel Adams, Aubrey Bodine and Arthur Rothstein have all been PSA members and donated to the cause,” said Walker. PSA takes on any photographer and serves over 6,000 photographers in 70 countries. UCO has the collection for 10 years and in that time, it is planned to use the collection as a research and teaching tool. “What characterizes it as a unique collection in the history of photography is its focus on pictorialism and the fact that virtually every photographic process invented for the medium represented is represented by superb examples,” said Walker. Pictorialism is a style of photography that appears to have a loss of sharp focus and in deep and dark colors. “This is truly a great collection of photographic art that will benefit our students and faculty,” said Walker.
Edmond’s Hafer Park showed signs of life as spring arrived and flowers bloomed. Photos by Quang Pho, The Vista.
APR 8, 2014
CLASSIFIEDS
6
EMPLOYMENT Now Hiring Looking for an energetic teacher for our one year old classroom. If you are interested in this position please apply at Ms. Felicia’s Blessed Ones Childcare 1130 Chowning Avenue Edmond, OK. No phone calls please. Now Hiring Become a distributor in the direct sale of energy. Energy Deregulation is law. Now is the time to become an Energy Consultant.Call 405.474.7708 SLIM CHICKENS NOW HIRING All positions Flexible hours and schedules. Competitive pay. Apply in person at: Slim Chickens 555 S. Kelley or online at slimchickens.com Sales Tuxedo Junction at Quail Springs Mall needs part-time help for our busy prom & wedding season. Some sales or customer service exp. needed. Salary + incentives Call Ms. Roberts for appt. 946-7853 CAR FOR SALE “2006 Nissan Sentra, 91,000 miles”, “sales price: $5,900”, “phone contact: 214-717-7074”
Help wanted Student to clean vacant apartments, small office and private home. Part-time near UCO. Call Connie: 641-0712. Help Wanted KickingBird Golf Club Restaurant is now hiring friendly, smiling, outgoing staff. Restaurant and Beverage Cart positions available. Apply at City of Edmond 7 N. Broadway. Drug free workplace. Now Hiring MAZZIO’S PIZZA IS NOW HIRING, DELIVERY DRIVERS, COUNTER SERVERS, AND DISHWASHERS. NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS. TOP PAY FOR EXPERENCE. APPLY IN PERSON 1132 S BROADWAY Help Wanted HANDY STUDENT. Lawn maintenance, painting, general maintenance and repairs. Will train. P/T near UCO. 641-0712 RANDOM FACTS There are 293 ways to make change for a U.S. dollar. Grover Cleveland is the only U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms. He was the 22nd AND the 24th U.S. President. Whiskey is clear when it is first distilled. It gets it’s color and much of it’s taste from the oak barrels in which it is aged.
RANDOM QUOTE Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. - Oscar Wilde
Caffeine serves the function of a pesticide in a coffee plant.
CROSSWORD Across
10. Be nosy
1. Chesterfield, e.g.
11. Assign a value to
5. Kind of line
12. Sideboard
10. Synthetic thermoplastic material
16. Came out
(acronym)
18. Family head
13. “Miss ___ Regrets”
22. Mollify
14. Series of six balls bowled from
25. “Buona ___” (Italian greeting)
one end of a cricket pitch (pl.)
26. Dogwood trees, e.g.
15. Pink, as a steak
27. Back
17. Detachment
29. Deception
19. Original matter prior to the Big
31. Cheerful
Bang
33. Quality of just coming into being
20. Modified car for speed (2 wds)
34. One registered in a class
21. Dance bit 23. “To Autumn,” e.g.
35. For a limitless time
24. Association of Southeast Asian
36. Biblical verb
Nations (acronym)
37. “Dang!”
25. Professional beggar
38. End
28. Course
42. Arab, e.g.
29. “Seinfeld” uncle
50. All excited
Down
44. House with steeply angled sides
30. Setting at an oblique angle
51. “A Nightmare on ___ Street”
1. Used to express lack of interest (2
(hyphenated)
31. Whirring sound
52. Australian runner
wds)
45. Marine gastropod with low coni-
32. Shallow dishes mounted on a
53. Aviator
2. Good-for-nothing
cal shells
stem and foot
54. Coin opening
3. Tailor, at times
33. Hand sewing items (3 wds)
56. Chinese characters, e.g.
46. Creator god in Hindu
4. Religious community where Hindu 47. Has a hunch
39. Brief stanza concluding certain
59. Arid
forms of poetry
60. Church donation
40. Ashtabula’s lake
61. Same: Fr.
41. Usurps forcefully
62. Moray, e.g.
43. Drink from a dish
63. Character
44. Priestly garb
64. Flight data, briefly (pl.)
48. 45 degrees clockwise from N
WE WON’T
PULL A FAST ONE
WE’LL DELIVER ONE!
FREAKY FAST DELIVERY! ©2011 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
holy man lives
49. Sit in on
5. 128 cubic feet
50. Balloon filler
6. Egg cells
53. Long, long time
7. “What’s ___?”
55. ___ el Amarna, Egypt
8. Pie chart, e.g.
57. Addis Ababa’s land: Abbr.
9. Cockeyed
58. “Look here!”
APR 8, 2014
7 University of Central Oklahoma
VISTA Sports The Student Voice Since 1903
Baseball
Offense shows up for the Tigers and Bronchos Trey Winfrey
Contributing Writer The UCO baseball team was back in action this past weekend against Fort Hays State at Wendell Simmons Field. The Bronchos, who came in with a record of 22-7 and 17-7 in the MIAA conference, looked to build on a five-game winning streak. In game one, fans saw a total of 12 pitchers and 40 total runs scored in a thrilling 21-19 loss for the Bronchos. The game was a back and forth slugfest until the fifth and sixth innings, when Fort Hays State scored 15 unanswered runs in a variety of ways from hits, walks and errors. The Bronchos answered down the stretch and scored 11 unanswered runs in the final three innings, but they would fall short in the first game. Philip Wilson led the way for the Bronchos at the plate; he went 5-for-6 with two doubles, a homerun and three RBIs. Game two, was the first of a double header Friday afternoon. Ricky Reeves took the mound and he was stellar once again, going six and one-third innings, allowing only one earned run on two hits. This game was really close, but it took a Brad Lamberti RBI single in the sixth inning, to give the Bronchos the lead. They go on to win game two, 2-1. In game three, Fort Hays scored five unanswered runs and Austin Unrein was stellar on the mound as he shut down the Bronchos’ bats for six innings. The Bronchos rallied, but would fall short in game three with a final score of 5-4. In the final game of the four-game series, the Bronchos used a seven-run third inning to jump on Fort Hays, 11-1 and would not look back and go on to win this one, 16-6. Wilson and Matt Johnson led the way for the Bronchos, as they combined for five hits, five RBIs and a homerun, each in the rout. Wilson also picked up the win on the mound in relief of Jared Sterling. The Bronchos are now 24-9 on the year and 19-9 in conference play. They will be on the road for six straight games this coming week at Austin College and then head to St. Charles, Mo. to face Lindenwood University for the weekend four-game set, starting Thursday.
UCO Senior Wacey Henderson tracks a fly-ball torwards the right field foul line. The Bronchos split their series with Fort Hays State last weekend with both teams winng twice in the four game series. Photo taken from The Vista archives.
UCO Senior Robbie Hoffman squares his stance and brings his bat up to bunt while the Broncho dugout watches. The Bronchos split their series with Fort Hays State last weekend with both teams winng twice in the four game series. Photo taken from The Vista Archives.
Softball
Softball sweeps the Riverhawks at home and away Austin Litterell
Sports Reporter The softball team got back to their winning ways over the weekend by sweeping the Northeastern State Riverhawks, both at home and away. The teams split the series with two games being played in Edmond for Senior Day on Friday and two games on Saturday in Tahlequah. The Bronchos won their games on Friday by a score of 3-1 and 7-4. Kalynn Schrock pithed seven innings, while only giving up one run in the game. Tori Collet and Ashleigh Tramel started the offense with a late rally of two backto-back singles, followed by a Hannah Justus walk to load the bases. Devyn Frazier came through in the clutch with a single to left field to score the go-ahead runs. Schrock managed to work her way out of jams in the sixth and seventh to seal the victory. UCO would have to rally in the second game, after falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, but were able to even the score with three runs in the bottom of the first. The Bronchos then went ahead in the fifth inning be-
hind an Ally Dziadula RBI double and Brooke Zukerman sac fly. Nicole Brady stepped up in relief after entering the game in the fourth inning, holding the Riverhawks scoreless in three innings and improving to 7-0 on the season. The Bronchos routed NSU in the second doubleheader held on Saturday in Tahlequah. UCO won both games easily, 13-0 and 12-4. Kalynn Schrock was excellent from both the pitcher’s mound and the batter’s box. Schrock threw a five-inning no hitter in the run-ruled first game. Zukerman went 4-4 batting in the game and Emily Ditmore added four RBIs to the offensive attack. Schrock handled the offensive duties as the designated hitter in the second game and did not disappoint, hitting a grand slam. Kaylee Brunson tied the record for stolen bases in a season, adding two more to make her total 33. Brady earned her eighth consecutive victory, as the Bronchos improved to 31-9 on the season and an outstanding 17-1 in conference play. The Bronchos will have their last home games of the season this week when they face Midwestern State on UCO Sophmore Ashton Smith swinging at the pitch. The BronTuesday.
Upcoming Broncho Games Tuesday Women’s Golf at the First Federal Bank Invitational (Hosted at Big Creek Golf Club in Mountain Home, Arkansas) Women’s Tennis vs. Oklahoma Baptist University 2:00 p.m. Softball vs. Midwestern State University 2:00 p.m. / 4:00 p.m. (Doubleheader) Baseball at Austin College 4:00 p.m. / 6:00 p.m. (Doubleheader)
chos swept their series last weekend with the Northeastern State RIverhawks. Photo taken by The Vista’s Quang Pho.
Follow The Vista sports writers on Twitter
Wednesday Women’s Track at the Cowley County Decathalon (All Day) Thursday
Women’s Track at the Cowley County Decathalon (All Day) Friday Women’s Tennis at Lindenwood University 2:00 p.m. Softball at Emporia State University 4:00 p.m. / 6:00 p.m. (Doubleheader) Baseball at Lindenwood University 6:00 p.m. Women’s Track at KT Woodman Invitational (All Day) Saturday Women’s Track at KT Woodman Invitational (All Day) Softball at Washburn University 1:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. Baseball at Lindenwood University 1:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.
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@alitterell729
Austin LItterell
Rick Lemon
@treydog_2
Trey Winfrey
8
APR 8, 2014
SPORTS
NCAA
A look at the pecking order in college athletics Mark Emmert
AP Sports Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — An NCAA proposal would give the five biggest conferences a chance to make their own rules, a nod to the revenue their football and basketball programs produce and their need to help players close the gap between the worth of a scholarship and the price of attending college. Those conferences, the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, all have major football programs and reaped huge payouts as part of the BCS, which is being replaced by a fourteam playoff system starting next season. In
almost every case, football revenue pays the bills for athletic programs that often field close to 20 teams. All those, except for football and men’s basketball, are often considered “non-revenue-producing” sports. The schools with smaller football programs operate on much slimmer margins. For instance, the Mountain West Conference has football teams and some stake in the new college playoff but the teams and their conferences don’t have the same lucrative TV contracts as those in the biggest leagues. A look at the pecking order in college sports: THE BIG BOYS: The ACC, Big Ten, Pac12 and SEC have all been expanding in recent years, while the Big 12 has had teams
poached from its league but has worked hard to stay in the mix. Eleven years ago, the ACC was considered a great basketball conference with a few good football teams. Seeing where the future was, it started asking others with big-money football programs — Syracuse, Boston College and Louisville — to join. That triggered huge realignment across the country. THE NEXT TIER: The Mountain West, Conference USA and Mid-American Conferences are examples in this group. They play football but don’t make nearly as much money as the biggest conferences. Their basketball programs are among the so-called “midmajors.” Their football programs are eligible for the new playoff and often find themselves
Women’s Tennis
in BCS bowl games, but only if their ranking is high enough. EVERYONE ELSE: There are the 22 Division I conferences that don’t play football. Examples: Missouri Valley Conference, Big East. These conferences have little interest in adopting rules that would force more expenses on them — say, paying stipends to players. In any negotiation about rules changes, they have leverage, because they make up what many people consider the heart and soul of the NCAA basketball tournament. Almost every underdog that’s done well — Butler, Wichita State, Gonzaga — comes from this group and helps make March Madness what it is: An event that generates around $750 million in TV revenue every year.
OKC Thunder
Tennis coming down to the wire in MIAA Emily Hahn
Contributing Writer University of Central Oklahoma Tennis opened this past weekend with a shutout from three different Bronchos against Fort Hays State on Friday afternoon. Senior Petra Pesic, a top ranked MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletics Association standout, started the wins with a 6-0 victory in rounds one and two against Michele Miller of Fort Hays State. Following Pesic’s lead, sophomore Anna Braun, and freshman Emilie Semo earned single shutouts to help lead the Bronchos to victory, both winning their matches 6-0. “This is the final stretch for us in conference matches, so we want to finish strong to remain in the top three,” said Coach Natalia Nikitina-Helvey. UCO had victories in all three doubles matches as well as singles victories from Alina Gorina, Kristin Richardson, and Lauren Allison. On Saturday afternoon the Bronchos fell to the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at the Broncho Courts.
Central was put into a compromising position after losing the all three doubles matches to start the game. After also losing the first singles match however, the Bronchos were able to rally back, winning the next three matches to bring the score to 4-3 Nebraska- Kearny. The deciding factor that ultimately handed UCO their loss was the match between Emilie Semo and UNK’s Britni Norfolk. In the first set Norfolk handed Semo a 6-2 loss, only for Semo to come back and win the second set 6-4. The third set ended in a 4-4 tie and Norfolk ended the back and forth match with two final wins. The three successful Bronchos from Saturday’s competition, Alina Gorina, Petra Pesic, and Anna Braun, all won their singles match in straight sets. Kristin Richardson lost her first set 3-2 but came back winning the next two sets 6-3 to win the match. In the MIAA, UCO stands at six wins and three losses, for an overall record of 12-8. Tuesday will be the final home game for Central Oklahoma as they face rival school, Oklahoma Baptist at 2 p.m. Pesic and Richardson with both be honored during the Senior Day ceremonies.
NBA Playoff Watch
Portland clinches playoff spot Joel Fowlks
AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Given an opportunity to clinch a postseason berth, the Trail Blazers made the most if it. LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and 18 rebounds and Portland earned a playoff spot for the first time in three seasons with a 10094 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Wesley Matthews added 21 points, Damian Lillard 20 and Nicolas Batum had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Portland (50-28). The Blazers are in fifth place in the Western Conference with four games remaining. “Fifty wins is always a big honor in this league,” Aldridge said. “Especially being in the West with so many good teams. It’s definitely not something to take for granted. Guys are happy about it and we’re definitely happy to be locked into the playoffs.” Memphis’ loss to San Antonio earlier in the evening cleared the way for Portland to clinch. It appeared the Trail Blazers might fumble the chance when New Orleans took a 10-point second quarter lead. But the Blazers blew past the Pelicans with a 25-6 third quarter run and never trailed again. Reserve Anthony Morrow scored 17 for New Orleans and Anthony Davis had 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting. New Orleans got within 97-94 with 35.9 seconds left when Morrow nailed a jumper, but Lillard scored on a driving layup and then made one of two free throws. “They made runs - that’s what they do,” said Morrow, who is averaging 19.4 points in his last seven games. “We know when this team is at home they are going to make runs, they are going to hit shots.” Portland had won four in a row before running out of gas Friday and losing 109-93 in Phoenix. Clinching a playoff spot at home
was an important step for a team that won just 33 games last season, but the Blazers weren’t whooping it up in the locker room after the game. “We were happy for about five minutes,” Batum said. “But we have four more games and then the playoffs start.” The Pelicans, last in the Southwest Division and out of the playoff race, have lost five straight games. Davis started the game despite back spasms that kept him out for long stretches of the past two games. He limited Aldridge to 6-of16 shooting in the first half. “He’s just trying to do everything he can to help his team and tonight was no different,” coach Monty Williams said. “That’s why we love him.” Davis had 11 points in the first quarter, but the Pelicans went on a run with their All-Star on the bench in the second, going up 39-29 as reserve big men Al-Farouq Aminu and Alexis Ajinca combined for 10 points in a 14-4 run. Portland trailed 55-48 at the half. The Blazers picked up the pace in the third, as Aldridge regained his shot and Lillard, Matthews and Batum each scored in transition. Portland led 77-67 just before the end of the third. Several players scoffed at suggestions that the Blazers rest some starters with the playoffs in hand, and coach Terry Stotts indicated there were no plans to change focus. “We’re not prepping for the playoffs,” he said. “We want to keep going in the right direction.” NOTES: Portland’s last playoff appearance was in 2010-11, when the Blazers lost a firstround matchup to the Dallas Mavericks in six games. ... New Orleans G Eric Gordon missed his ninth straight game with knee tendinitis, and is not with the team after traveling to Los Angeles for a medical examination. . The Pelicans are 12-27 on the road this season. Their last win in Portland was in 2010.
Left: Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, left, looks for an opening against New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Sunday, April 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Right: Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1), of Slovenia, dishes off as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, right, of Congo, defends, during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Phoenix. The Suns won 122-115. (AP Photo/ Matt York)
KD better than MJ?
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives against Phoenix Suns guard Gerald Green (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, April 6, 2014,in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Bob Baum
AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — For the 41st game in a row, Kevin Durant scored at least 25 points. Not even Michael Jordan ever did that. Even so, Durant would probably trade his 38 points for a win. P.J. Tucker, who had to guard Durant most of Sunday night, scored 11 of his career-high 22 points in the fourth quarter and Phoenix beat the Thunder 122-115, giving the Suns a critical victory in their drive to make the playoffs and dealing a blow to Oklahoma City’s tenuous hold on the No. 2 spot in the West. Goran Dragic scored 26 points, Gerald Green 24 and Eric Bledsoe 18 for the Suns, who shot a season-best 58.4 percent. With Memphis’ loss to San Antonio, the Suns are a game ahead of the Grizzlies for the No. 8 spot in the West and a half-game behind No. 7 Dallas. Durant’s streak surpassed Jordan’s 40 in a row of 25 or more and is the longest since Oscar Robertson did it for 46 straight games in 1963-64. Wilt Chamberlain did it in all 80 regular-season games in the 196162 season. And Durant is totally unimpressed his streak. “I don’t really care about it,” he said. “I can’t wait until it’s over.” Russell Westbrook scored 33 for the Thunder, who lead the Los Angeles Clippers by a game for the West’s No. 2 playoff spot. Oklahoma City took its final lead, 112111, on Durant’s two free throws with 2:39 to play. Phoenix scored the next 10, the first four by Markieff Morris and the last four on free throws by Bledsoe, to lead 121-112 with 20.7 seconds to play. Durant sank a 3-pointer with 12.9 seconds to go, the only Thunder field goal in the final 3:49. “It’s all or nothing right now,” Green said. “We don’t have a month left to try and make up. We only got a few more games, so it’s win or go home for us.” Tucker was a career-best 4 of 5 from behind the arc. After struggling at the line all night, Phoenix made its last eight free throws. “Everybody is trying to win at this point,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “It was a good test for us and one that these guys passed.”
Phoenix won the season series against Oklahoma City 2-1. “We feel like very game we play we can win, throughout the league,” Tucker said. “We have confidence that we can play with anybody in the league.” Phoenix plays its next three on the road — at New Orleans, San Antonio and Dallas. “It’s a big win for us,” Dragic said. “We’re a step closer, but we’re still a long way from our goal.” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said Phoenix’s great shooting was not solely the result of poor defense. “They’re a very good offensive team,” he said. “They give you trouble because they’re small, they attack, they get to the free throw line, they can make 3s, and they’re desperate right now. They’re fighting for their playoff lives.” Still, he said, the Thunder “didn’t do a good enough job closing out their shooters.” “When you have good shooters you can’t have mistakes,” Brooks said, “and we had too many mistakes on the defensive end.” The Suns led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, the last time at 85-71 on Green’s 14-footer with 6:10 left, and were up 92-83 after consecutive layups by Dragic and Bledsoe with 4:04 left. But the Thunder outscored the Suns 8-2 the rest of the quarter, Durant’s driving dunk with 13 seconds left cutting Phoenix’s lead to 94-91 after three. Durant and Nick Collison scored to start the fourth quarter and Oklahoma City led for the first time since the first quarter, 9594, with 11:06 to play. The lead bounced back and forth after that. Tucker’s reverse layup put Phoenix up 111-110 with 1:52 to go. Marcus Morris sank a pair of jumpers in a 12-4 run that put Phoenix up 38-29 early in the second quarter. Oklahoma City cut it to 44-41 on Reggie Jackson’s driving layup, but Tucker sank a 3, Dragic converted a three-point play then scored on another drive and the Suns were back up 52-43 with 3:53 to go and led 6253 at the break. NOTES: The Suns are 20-0 when shooting at least 50 percent from the field. ... Dragic scored all 19 of his first-half points in the second quarter, Green scored 17 in the second half. ... Phoenix plays four of its final five games on the road. Its home game is against Memphis on April 14.