MARCH 15, 2012
Hockey
Electric Cars
Tyler Benson, a freshman defenseman, was selected for the ACHA all star game. Also, the offseason Broncho Cup started this week. Page 8
Oklahomans are buying more electric cars than before as gas prices start to climb. Page 3
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THE VISTA
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.
Women’s History Month
WOMEN’S OUTREACH CENTER HIGHLIGHTS HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES By Trevor Hultner / Staff Writer On Tuesday, the UCO chapter of SAFE, a GLBT advocacy group, and the newly-minted Women’s Outreach Center brought transgendered author and Oklahoma City police officer Paula Schonauer to read a passage from her short story “Hystericus.” Schonauer also discussed
how she dealt with her transition and status as the first transgender member of the Oklahoma City police force. The event was billed as part of UCO Women’s History Month, and students and staff packed room 304 in the Nigh University Center to hear Schonauer speak.
“[Hystericus] was published not long before my novel was published,” Schonauer said. “I think it will touch on some of the issues I want to talk about tonight.” Schonauer was a participant in the Creative Writing Masters program here at UCO when she came up with “Hystericus.”
“We were doing a free-write, and we had to write about something true to life, that happened to us, that was fairly profound,” she said. Hystericus, which is Greek for “of the womb,” detailed the thoughts of a newly-transitioned transgender police officer as she escorted a female prisoner to an OB-GYN ap-
pointment. “It’s a true story in my experience shortly after I transitioned,” Schonauer said. “It felt like, to me at the time, that the police department was sending me on this errand to make a point.” She said she had doubts about the
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45th Infantry
A SOLDIER RETURNS HOME Chase Southern put his music education degree on hold to go serve in the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th Infantry division. 10 months later, he has left behind the harsh condtions of Afghanistan and come home to his wife and son. By Ben Luschen / Staff Writer Ian Southern squirmed in his mother’s arms as politicians took turns addressing the crowd. The speaking men and women may be very influential in their world of government, but two-year-old Ian was not impressed. He sought only his father’s familiar face in the neatly lined rows of soldiers before him. The speeches ended. The time had come at last. “Dismissed!” came a cry that resonated through the building, into the ears of children and the hearts of mothers. The crowded hanger roared with joy as a throng of smiling friends and family engulfed the soldiers. By his mother’s side, Ian disappeared into the mass of humanity. He reemerged minutes later on his father’s shoulder. The restless kid was now at peace. Order had been restored. Daddy was home. Chase Southern, a UCO student, spent the last 10 months stationed in Afghanistan as part of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 45th’s return home on March 12 was one in a wave of homecomings as the United States continues its steady withdrawal from the Middle Eastern nation. All of Oklahoma’s troops are expected to return home within the next month. For Southern, whose wife, Christie, is managing editor of The Vista, the return home is a massive weight lifted from his shoulders. “All of a sudden, everything stops when you get here,” Southern said. “When you’re in Afghanistan in a war zone you’re always going non-stop, 24/7. You have to always be on your toes.” Though many troops are returning home, Southern says Afghanistan is currently in desperate shape.
WEATHER TODAY
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Chase Southern, of Edmond, hugs his son, Ian, 2, during the 45th Infantry Brigade homecoming ceremony at the Will Rogers Air National Guard in Oklahoma City, Monday, March 12, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck/For The Tulsa World
“It’s in a state of chaos, pretty much,” he said. Recent news headlines have told stories of a frantic and worsening Afghanistan. Many of the country’s citizens became incensed after word spread that a few American soldiers had, in error, seized and burned several Qurans.
What was merely a news story for many Americans was reality to Southern, who helped suppress rioters outside of his base. He estimates over 1,000 Afghans gathered to express their anger. “They weren’t protestors, they were rioters,” he said. “They started burning tires and
HOLI HAPPENING TONIGHT ON CAMPUS
More weather at www.uco360.com
Mark Twain wrote an autobiography and intentionally had it published 100 years after his death.
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Events
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DID YOU KNOW?
caught our FOB [forward operating base] on fire. That was a riot.” Southern says it is easy to get used to the constant violence of a war zone. When he first arrived in Afghanistan with his fellow troops,
In this March 22 File photo, students participated in UCO’s first ever celebation of the Indian tradition Holi. The Indian Student Association and Housing Activities Council are sponsoring the second annual celebration of Holi tonight at 6 p.m. in East Hall field. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista ancient Indian cultural tradition celBy Celia Brumfield / Staff Writer
More than 2,000 water balloons have been filled and paint has been shipped from India for tonight’s second annual Holi festival. Holi is an
ebrated by Hindus to welcome spring in a “festival of colors.” The event will take place at 6:00 p.m. in East Field, near Buddy’s. Traditional Indian cuisine known as “Byrianni” will be provided as well as
entertainment from Indian Student Association dancers. “It’s like a water balloon fight,” UCO senior Amanda Collins said. “This is our second year to do it this big.” Collins brought the festival to UCO last year after visiting India in a cultural exchange program. “You surveyed and met college students and asked them questions that would help you understand their culture,” Collins said. Holi was the favorite festival among her friends. Holi is hosted by the Indian Student Association, the Baha’i Association of UCO and UCO Housing. “It’s through Housing money,” Collins, who is a West Hall Resident Assistant, said. “RAs get a budget for the semester. They bought the powder and food and we’re buying the balloons, the location and the DJ. The Housing Council bought the Tshirts,” Collins said. Baha’i is not an Indian religion but originated in Iran in 1844. “We try to co-sponsor things,” Terri Angier, faculty sponsor of the Baha’i
Association, said. “Baha’i’s believe in all the religions of the world. Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jewish… It makes no difference,” Angier said. White T-shirts will be provided to the first 200 attendees, and will be a keepsake of the event, as anything worn will be stained from the paint. “It’s a very dense powder and when you throw it, it just sticks on stuff… like powdered sugar. Wear clothes like old gym shorts you don’t care about, and be prepared to go barefoot,” Collins said. The paint may also faintly stain the skin for a short period of time. “I think we’re lucky this year because we’re going to have pretty good weather,” Tabbi Burwell, Marketing Coordinator for the event, said. “If it rains, that will be extra water,” Collins said.
Holi
Tonight @ 6 p.m. East Hall Field
(First 200 Get a Free T-shirt)