TheVista March 27, 2012

MARCH 27, 2012

Volleyball

Campus Quotes “Did you see The Hunger Games?

What did you think?”

Page 5

UCO’s new volleyball coach hails from Albania but is settling into the routine and taking the team back to basics.

Page 8

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THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.

Drugs

OKLAHOMA RANKED NO. 1 IN DRUG ABUSE UCO’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse

By Josh Wallace / Contributing Writer tion, although he believes that once of those are imprisoned for drug re- dents with prescription drug use addicted, an individual will continue lated offenses. Christie believes that problems. I’d say it’s one of our Prevention Office can offer assistance Drug abuse in Oklahoma is noth- to have the disease for life. money spent on the incarceration of most common, marijuana is prob- to those who might be facing a struging new, but a new trend has ranked One of the issues for those seek- drug users would be better spent on ably higher, some of the other street gle with drug addiction. Services the state number one in the abuse of ing treatment is funding; the lack treatment and education programs. drugs might be generally lower, but range from evaluation and counselprescription painkillers in the nation. of funding has forced the closure of He added, “While we find it’s hard it’s variable,” Dr. Michael J. Hirschel, ing to group support and referrals to According to the National Survey three out of five of state supported to take a dollar away from there to Program Coordinator for the Alcohol treatment centers. on Drug Use and Health’s latest sur- residential treatment programs. give to the people in treatment, we and Drug Abuse Prevention Office, For more information on UCO’s vey data, up to eight percent of Okla- Oklahoma’s budget for substance find is that for every dollar spent in said. drug and alcohol treatment services, homans have abused prescription abuse treatment pales in comparison treatment we save seven dollars in For Hirschel, the largest compo- students can call (405) 974-2209, painkillers at one time or another, to other programs such as the Okla- the other costs to the state.” nent of the treatment process starts visit the Student Counseling office in within a 12-month period. homa Department of Corrections.

The trend of prescription drug with the user. the Nigh University Center in room While this number may seem rela- Oklahoma is well-known as having abuse has become an issue on UCO’s “The first thing is that you need 402, or visit their website at http:// tively low, it is important to note that one of the highest incarceration rates campus as well. somebody wanting to make a change www.uco.edu/student-affairs/adap/ the eight percent is an average of all of women, and around 40 percent “I’m seeing a fair number of stu- in their life themselves,” he added. index.asp age groups 12 and up. When broken down, the number changes for those aged 12-17 to around 10 percent; for ages 18-25, the number jumps to nearly 20 percent.

According to Art Christie, Coordinator of the Substance Abuse Studies Program, the problem can be tied to a multitude of issues. With the state of modern medicine, our society has become used to the idea that when facing an ailment, simply find a doctor and ask for a pill.

“Our doctors are becoming more informed about the hazards of these things, but they’re working for a public that they’re trying to please, we need a major, although it’ll have to be gradual, we need a major shift in the attitude of society,” Christie said.

While doctors might have only the best intentions as far as treating their patients, some of the medications commonly dispensed are extremely addictive substances. Prescription drug addiction is indiscriminate as far as class, race, and gender.

To Christie, addiction is a large risk when using certain medications.

“A substance that’s capable of alleviating major pain will also have another property, it’s addictive.

Anything that’s powerful enough to kill pain is going to be addictive,” he said. “Addicted people are good people with a bad disease; we need more specialists in the area of pain management.”

Over Spring Break four new stop signs were erected along North Baumann Ave., just east of campus. The new signs will alllow for stuOnce addicted, it can be a diffidents to cross the street to and from the adjacent commuter school parking lots without having to wait as long for cars to stop or the cult journey for many on the road to roadway to clear. Many students got their first glance of the signs on Monday, March 26, 2012, including this one at the intersection of recovery. Christie believes anybody East Cambell St. and North Baumann Ave. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista is capable of recovering from addic-

STOP SIGNS POP UP ON BAUMANN

Campus

BLUE RIBBON DAY AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE

By Ben Luschen / Staff Writer Blue Ribbon Day, a day that aims to raise awareness of child abuse and promote its prevention, was Monday, March 26. UCO’s Child Development Program spent the day collecting signatures and selling baked goods to raise money for children in need.

The signatures the group collected will be presented to the state Capital on April 3rd in

order to encourage more anti-abuse legislation.

Kaye Sears, the department chair for Human Environmental Services at UCO, said the organization has been stockpiling signatures since last year, and estimated they have already collected several hundred names.

Though Sears wasn’t sure how many they could collect that day, she hopes to collect as many as possible before they go to the Capital.

WEATHER

Children march in a parade to promote child abuse awareness for Blue Ribbon Day, Monday, March 26, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista

“We’ll shoot for 1,000,” Sears said.

The Child Development Program also held a bake sale to raise money for Infant Crisis Services in Oklahoma City. Andrea Hinkle, a Child Development major at UCO and organizer of the program’s Blue Ribbon Day, wanted to make sure the proceeds went to a good cause.

“ICS is having a diaper drive, and rather than them buying diapers we wanted to be able to give them as much money as we can,” Hinkle said.

The baked goods were all donated from bakeries around Edmond and the metro area.

There was also a donation box for passersby who didn’t want the sweets. Hinkle was excited about the chance to raise money for infants in need.

“We really want to hand them a big envelope of money,” she said.

The program also tied blue ribbons onto trees around the Human Environmental Services building to raise further awareness. Children from the Child Study Center paraded

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briefly outside the building with blue ribbons in hand before wrapping them around the branches of a tree.

The Child Development Program will be receiving some distinction from the Capital when they visit on April 3. The program was recently named the 2012 Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention Program Award by the Interagency Child Abuse Task Force for its “excellence in child abuse prevention.”

Robyn Sears, who works for the guidance clinic at the Oklahoma City County Health Department and the daughter of Kaye Sears, will help present the award at the capital and also spent some time at UCO’s Blue Ribbon Day. Robyn Sears said she hoped the day, which is observed across the state at schools, child care centers and other agencies involving children, would raise more attention for an issue which is often overlooked. “[Preventing child abuse] is what my life is all about,” Robyn Sears said. “It should be more important to our community because the children are what our future is.”

TOMORROW H 82° L 61°

DID YOU KNOW? A dog named Bosco served as mayor of Sunol, California for 9 years

More weather at www.uco360.com

OPINION

2

MARCH 27, 2012

THE VISTA 100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034 (405)974-5549 vistauco@gmail.com

Did you see The Hunger Games? What did you think?

AUSTIN GRAHAM

TRACY LOFTON

ALISON HOWARD

Music Education-Sophomore

Music Education-Sophomore

Forensic Science/Psychology-Sophomore

The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, semi-weekly during the academic year except exam and holiday periods, and only on Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.

EDITORIALS Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO. LETTERS The Vista encourages letters to the editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters must be typed, double-spaced, with a maximum of 250 words, and must include the author’s printed name, title, major, classification and phone number. Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of questionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters.

Address letters to: Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Dr., Edmond, OK 730345209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be emailed to vistauco@gmail.com.

STAFF

Management

Editorial

Cody Bromley, Editor-In-Chief Christie Southern, Managing Editor Brittany Dalton, Copy Editor Bryan Trude, Sports Editor

Ben Luschen, Staff Writer Josh Hutton, Staff Writer Mervyn Chua, Staff Writer Trevor Hultner, Staff Writer Celia Brumfield, Staff Writer

“I didn’t. I just haven’t had the chance but it sounds like a great movie.”

“No, I didn’t. I haven’t read “Yes. It’s probably the best the book. I rather read the movie based on a book I’ve book first.” seen in a long time.”

WILLIAM HENDRICKS

CHELSEA BRYAN

KYLER DAUGHERTY

Personal Finance/Accounting-Freshmen

Nutrition and Dietician-Senior

Exercise and Fitness Management-Junior

Graphic Design Michael McMillian

Advertising

Photography

Kylee Turner Brittany Eddins

Garett Fisbeck, Photo Editor Kathleen Wells Cyn Sheng Ling

Circulation

Editorial Comic

Joseph Choi

Evan Oldham

Adviser Mr. Teddy Burch

Editorial

“No. I haven’t gone. I’m too busy.”

“No, not yet. I’m going to see it tonight.”

“No. I didn’t. I have too much to do. I want to see it but I don’t have time.”

ALL OF THE ABOVE IS THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER Last week President Obama made a very publicized trip to Oklahoma to tout his “all of the above” energy plan. In front of the pipes that will be used to construct the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline, Obama laid out what he see in America’s energy future and it includes more than domestic drilling.

“The fact is, producing more oil at home isn’t enough by itself to bring gas prices down. And the reason is we’ve got an oil market that is global, that is worldwide,” Obama said. “And I’ve been saying for the last few weeks, and I want everybody to understand this, we use 20 percent of the world’s oil; we only produce 2 percent of the world’s oil. Even if we opened every inch of the country, if I put an oil rig on the South Lawn, if we had one right next to the Washington Monument, even if we drilled every little bit of this great country of ours, we’d still have to buy the rest of our needs from someplace else if we keep on using the same amount of energy, the same amount of oil.”

President Obama has been taking heat for months from the four republican presidential candidates who paint him as soft on energy or against drilling. Last month, Romney blasted Obama over the Keystone XL pipeline decision in front of an audience in Lansing, Mich.

“Every year we send hundreds of billions of dollars out of our country to go buy energy from other nations,” said Romney. “I think this president faced a number of easy decisions that he missed, but this one is perhaps either at or near the top of the list: How in the world could he have said to Canada ‘No, don’t bring in that Keystone pipeline, we don’t need your oil.

At a time like this, when we’re seeing gas prices like they are, we need to get that energy into this country.”

But Romney is wrong. The entire point of the Keystone pipeline is so companies can sell their domestic oil overseas. We can’t blame them either. Why would you sell oil to Americans for one price when you can twice that on the world stage?

The only way America can leverage our lack of drillable oil is to lead the charge in alternatives. Any other plan is just foolish.

CNG, solar, hydrogen fuel cell and other alternative forms of energy are going to be how we fuel our future. Critics attacking the president’s plan are not just out of touch with reality, but also the future.

By Evan Oldham / Cartoonist

NEWS

MARCH 27, 2012

3

Protest

OKLAHOMANS JOIN IN PROTESTS OVER SLAIN FLORIDA TEENAGER

By Josh Wallace / Contributing Writer and he’s just walking around lookBy now, most of the U.S. has heard ing about.”

Later in the call, Zimmerman can the story of Trayvon Martin, the be heard mumbling something unSanford, Fla., teenager shot dead in der his breath, what many now belate February. The events leading up lieve to be a racial slur. Shortly after, to his death have sparked outrage the dispatcher asked if Zimmerman across the country, specifically the was following Martin, to which he fact that the shooting was deemed replied that he was, leading the disjustified initially by the Sanford Popatcher to comment, “we don’t need lice Department under the state’s you to do that.”

“Stand Your Ground” law.

Martin, the subject of ZimmerAs the details surrounding Marman’ s call, was returning from purtin’s death have come to light, many chasing an iced tea and a bag of across the country are questioning Skittles from a nearby convenience the validity of the law and protesting store to the residence of his father’s the fact that no charges have been girlfriend, when Zimmerman spotfiled against George Zimmerman, ted him.

Martin’ s phone records the man who shot Martin. Zimmerman, a volunteer in the communi- show he was on the phone while ty’s neighborhood watch program, Zimmerman was following him claims he was acting in self-defense through the neighborhood.

On the other end of the phone when he fired his gun. was Martin’s girlfriend, whose name has not been released since she is a “I think all of us have to minor. She has been subpoenaed by do some soul searching the Florida State Attorney’s Office to appear in front of a grand jury April to figure out how does 10. something like this She has come out describing the conversation between her and Marhappen.” tin the night of the shooting, telling ABC News, “He said this man was President Barack Obama watching him, so he put his hoodie Zimmerman’s claim has been on, he said he lost the man. I asked called into question, as calls placed Trayvon to run, and he said he was to Sanford Police by Zimmerman going to walk fast. I told him to run have been released. After watching but he said he was not going to run.”

She added, “Trayvon said, ‘What Martin and making the call to the are you following me for?’ And the police, Zimmerman can be heard man said, ‘What are you doing here?’ describing the teen as being “a real Next thing I hear is somebody pushsuspicious guy,” and that “This guy ing, and somebody pushed Trayvon looks like he’s up to no good or he’s because the headset just fell. I called on drugs or something. It’s raining

Crys Mitchell, 23, of Lawton, holds a sign during a protest for the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Florida teenager killed in February. Photo by Tiffany Gibson, The Oklahoman

him again and he didn’t answer the phone.”

The release of these details has led to protests across the country, including in Oklahoma City.

On March 25, a crowd of protesters lined the intersection of N.W. 23rd and Classen Blvd., voicing their anger over the killing of the unarmed teenager. Protesters chanted slogans such as “no justice, no peace” and held signs that read “justice for Trayvon” and “black or white, it’s just not right.”

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who signed “Stand Your Ground” into law, has weighed in on the case, speaking March 23 at the University of Texas-Arlington. Bush said, “This law does not apply to this particular circumstance. Stand your ground means stand your ground. It doesn’t mean chase after somebody who’s turned their back.”

Speaking at the White House on March 23, President Obama was introducing Dartmouth President Jim Kim as the soon to be head of

the World Bank, when he was asked about his thoughts on the Martin case. Obama responded by calling Martin’s death a tragedy and that he thought about the issue personally, thinking of his own children.

Obama went on to add, ““I think all of us have to do some soul searching to figure out how does something like this happen, and that means we examine the laws and the context for what happened, as well as the specifics of the incident.”

Opinion

By Josh Hutton The In Between Blues in Sunny San Diego Somewhere between the beach and the clear sky of San Diego – between a busy seafood restaurant and a busy boardwalk – I paused to let a bubblegum, rollerblading girl glide past. Somewhere between the regret of a trolley tour and the growing anticipation of a nighttime exploration stroll, I caught a glimpse of a yellow surfer being rocked then tucked into a blue ocean. Somewhere between Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, I felt like a myth blended with teenage haste into another myth. I was an old man. I was rusting in salty wind as the fine-tuned, sun painted people kept in front, beside, and behind.

I’m in college. I’m in between. The polish of San Diego made me radiate guilt. I entered a world that is reserved for those who have arrived. My spring break was like windowshopping for a future. I daydreamed of potential me in present San Diego – I rode bikes with my sassy, big-eyed children, I retired to Coronado with a soft-talking wife and an arthritic dog; I died peacefully in a small boat with salt in my beard.

It’s difficult to dream in the modern era.

Hope is dashed through social-networked cynicism, the pressure of a reoccurring paycheck, and an onslaught of wiser ones foaming at the mouth to say, “Just wait until you

get in the real world.” The real world? I’m stuck in a fake one? The doldrums of in between blues strike hard.

Being in between is not reserved for college students. It resides in the fast food worker, the CEO, the minister, and the drug dealer alike. Everybody boasts bright futures, but unless there is a constant chipping away at goals and a dedication to self-renewal the hopes are in vain.

I took off my shirt and sandals somewhere between Mission and Pacific beach – between the sand and the sky. I walked straight and slow toward the ocean. The water was empty save a few surfers down the shore.

The water came up to my ankles. The water came up to my knees. The water came up to my waist, my chest, and finally I was submerged. I walked alone. A lone idiot swam in a cold, violent ocean. As the waves rose and fell around me, I heard nothing but the symphony of water. As the symphony played, I saw nothing but the eternity of the ocean.

I realized that just because I’m in between doesn’t mean my ambitions should halt. For me to overcome the discouragement of an elusive diploma, I have to make myself new.

I have to be washed clean in the ocean or by the endless highway.

Comment on this column on UCO360.com Follow Josh on Twitter @purposenomadic

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NEWS

MARCH 27, 2012

Edmond

EDMOND DISCUSSES PLAN FOR A BIKE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY MODELED AFTER UCO’S BUM-A-BIKE

By Alexandra Cifuentes/ Contributing Writer With gas prices predicted to surpass $4.00, UCO students are looking to alternative transportation in order to keep their costs down.

Lucky for them the City of Edmond and Oklahoma City are gearing to be much more bike-friendly.

On March 8, The Edmond Bike Committee held an open house to begin planning ideas for a more bike-friendly community. “The main goal is to promote cycling in the city of Edmond,” said Chip Nolen, UCO Manager of Field Parking Services.

During the open house, the Edmond Bike Committee introduced an outline of what they hope to achieve with this plan. This includes bike lanes, biking facilities, enforcement of bicycle laws, and new bike trails all throughout the city of Edmond.

“It started because the city was looking to do a bike share program, and they found out UCO had one, so they sought out our advice” Chip Nolan

UCO Manager of Field Parking Serviced One of their most exciting projects underway is the paving of a trail that would surround Lake Arcadia. “Representative Lewis Moore and David Tew, the Chief Operating Officer of Mercy Health Systems are partnering with the city… to build a multi-use trail around Lake Arcadia in two years,” said Edmond City Planner Jan Ramseyer-Fees.

James Coburn of The Edmond Sun wrote that Tew has said, “I’d like very much to see if we could create a Hefner Park type of paved parkway around the perimeter of Lake Arcadia.” A trail like the one being planned would help to draw much needed attention to the cycling community in Edmond.

Along with these new developments in Edmond, are plans for Oklahoma City to create a bike share program modeled directly after UCO’s own Bum-A-Bike, named Spokies. “It started because the city was looking to do a bike share program, and they found out UCO had one, so they sought out our advice,” said Nolen.

Bike riding has become popular among college students but the Edmond Bike Committee has plans to expand the cycling options for the whole Edmond community, Monday, Mar. 26. Photo by Cyn Sheng Ling, The Vista

The 95 bikes were built and will be maintained by UCO’s Bum-A-Bike technician Bill Harpster. The city will have 6 locations throughout Oklahoma City. The rental stations will be located at: Midtown north of 10th and Walker, the Northwest corner of Walnut, the Southwest corner of the Bricktown Ballpark, outside the Downtown Library, Reno and Robinson, and on 6th outside of the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The launch date for this program will be May 1, 2012.

Users of Spokies can buy memberships for the program. The costs of the memberships will be $75 for an annual membership, or $20 for a month membership. This membership will allow users to rent the bikes for 30 consecutive minutes for the duration of their membership. Those looking to use the pro-

gram on an occasional basis will also be able to rent the bikes for a daily cost of $5 for 30 minutes.

Although Oklahoma City has taken many strides in becoming a more biker friendly community, there is still a need to remind those using Spokies to be cautious when riding. “We do want to encourage the use of helmets, with people bringing their own helmets,” said T.O. Bowman of Oklahoma City’s Sustainability Office. Spokies will not offer helmet rentals with the bikes, but has hopes of partnering with other agencies to provide them.

Shortly following the launch date of Oklahoma City’s bike share program will be National Bike to Work Day. On May 18, bicyclists are encouraged to join the City of Edmond in a group ride throughout the city. The ride will

begin at 8 a.m. at the Festival Marketplace in downtown Edmond, and will end at Hafer Park.

Students looking to find out more information on Bike to Work day, and The Edmond Bike Plan can find more information at http:// edmondok.com.

Cycling is becoming a widely accepted mode of transportation. Paired with the health benefits that cycling can provide, and the generally low costs of maintenance, cycling can be a perfect fit for students.

Students with any bicycle related question can visit the Bum-A-Bike shop located in the basement of Murdaugh Hall. Bill Harpster, the lead technician at the shop, has vast knowledge regarding all aspects of bikes, and can help to decipher what bike would best fit each student’s needs.

NEWS

MARCH 27, 2012

5

UCOSA Elections

UCOSA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE SEEKS THE OFFICE OF UCOSA PRESIDENT

By Trevor Hultner / Staff Writer Mackenzie Hall, a Political Science and Forensics senior and Chief Justice of the UCO Supreme Court, announced his candidacy for UCOSA President for the upcoming year before a handful of supporters in a town hallstyle meeting in the Heritage room in the Nigh University Center on March 15.

He briefly introduced himself before revealing his platform: greater student government accountability, enhanced sense of campus community, improved academic atmosphere and, as Hall put it, “being more Bronchos.”

“He has a really strong desire to have change around the campus,” campaign manager Britton Adams said, addressing the gathered students. “So make your voices heard. You’re the voice of the people.”

Hall said that he didn’t want to wait until he was sworn in to get to work.

“Today I just wanted to take this time to get some feedback from you guys and lay out my campaign,” he said. “I don’t want to start when I enter office; I want to start before, and start getting information from you guys.”

He stressed that his campaign is really “our campaign” – it is the student body’s campaign.

“I say our campaign because this is not just about myself,” he said. “This is about the students on campus, this is about each and every one of you guys that are here.”

The first campaign point Hall hit was campus pride. He wants it to increase, because, he said, “We don’t have enough pride on campus, according to our alumni.”

Hall said that a football coach told him that an alumnus had refrained from donating to the university because of the lack of pride in the school’s sports teams. It was not mentioned which coach told Hall this.

Hall said that he saw more people on the visitor’s side of Wantland Stadium at games than on the home side.

“What does that look like on our campus?”

Hall said. “It’s like going to your first recital and your dad and mom aren’t there.”

His next point was improvement of UCO’s

MacKenzie Hall, senior in Political Science and Forensice Science, speaks during the Townhall meeting at Heritage Room NUC, Tuesday, Mar. 13, 2012. Photo by Cyn Sheng Ling, The Vista.

academic atmosphere. According to Hall, 68 percent of bills paid at UCO come from the students, so “We need to start taking back and taking control of our atmosphere.”

“We as students need to start building those bridges [between clubs],” he said.

Third, Hall talked about building a better community on and around campus, and offered a simple way of getting started with that.

“Let’s ask questions, let’s find out about the individuals around us that we just walk past all the time in the Nigh, or see occasionally at Buddy’s,” he said. “Let’s actually get to know them: what can that person help you with in

Events

PI SIGMA ALPHA TO HOLD ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT THIS SATURDAY

By Racheal Steverson / Contributing Writer Pi Sigma Alpha will be hosting their fourth annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 31st from 1-3 p.m. The egg hunt will take place on Hamilton Field for children in the surrounding areas, as well as local elementary kids and children of deployed personnel stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, to give them a memorable Easter.

Between 1,500 and 1,800 children participated in the Easter egg hunt last year. Pi Sigma Alpha is hoping for an even bigger turnout this year, the first time they extended invitations to children of deployed personnel. Pi

Sigma Alpha uses most of their budget, if not all, to provide candy and eggs for the children.

This is the first year Sean Rose, a senior at UCO, has assisted in planning the Easter egg hunt.

“I enjoy the whole thing,” he said. “Planning it has been fascinating and seeing how happy it makes people is always a very humble and gratifying feeling.”

This event is usually only hosted by Pi Sigma Alpha members, but in the past they have collaborated with other groups, organizations and local businesses. Anyone else who helps with the Easter egg hunt is recruited, members of the community, or volunteers.

the future?”

“College is supposed to be about connections,” he added.

Hall’s fourth and arguably most important campaign point was increasing UCOSA’s transparency and accountability.

“You guys need to know what your elected officials are doing. What are they doing, how are they doing it and why don’t you know about it?” he said.

He talked about how there are always blinds drawn in the UCOSA office, and how he didn’t believe there should even be blinds in elected officials’ offices. “It doesn’t seem in-

viting,” he said. “We should have hours that we’re in our office where students, the Vista, faculty, anybody could come in and ask for help. We need to be more inclusive rather than exclusive when it comes to our government.”

Hall is up against tough competition against UCOSA Senate President-Pro-Tempore Lacie Larschan, current VP Josh Gonshor and more.

Voting will take place on April 10th and 11th on UCONNECT. The Vista will cover more candidates as the election nears.

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RANDOM FACTS During the 38-week stretch from June 9, 1990, to March 1, 1991, either M.C. Hammer or Vanilla Ice had Billboard’s #1 album every week but one. The only

9

12

68

Now Hiring

3

33. LP player 67. ___ lab

album to sneak into the top spot during that period was Step by Step

by New Kids on the Block.

Al Capone’s WWI draft

card stated his occupation as “paper cutter” The hole in your shirt that you put your arm through is called an armsaye.

16. Animal with a mane

34. Make, as money 68. Beside

17. On the safe side, at sea

35. E.P.A. concern 70. Dash

18. Copy

36. Coagulate 72. Radar image

19. “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice ___ Agin)” (#1 hit of 1970)

37. “Aquarius” musical 73. Ark contents 38. Bad marks 74. “___ on Down the Road”

20. “Is that ___?”

FREAKY FAST

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40. Call for 75. “All ___ are off!”

21. First name?

44. Cousin of -trix 76. Balance sheet item

23. “Are we there ___?”

47. E or G, e.g.

77. Do, for example

24. Essential†oil obtained from flowers

49. Dash 78. Bawl 51. Hooter

26. Egg cells Down

53. Clod chopper

28. “___ De-Lovely” 55. Black billiard ball 30. Bug out

1. Constructed

32. The Beatles’ “___ Leaving Home”

2. High up

57. Do-nothing 58. Accord 3. Appetite 36. Blacken

59. They may provide relief 4. Breakfast, lunch or dinner

39. The “O” in S.R.O. 41. Thailand, once 42. Anita Brookner’s “Hotel du ___”

60. ___ grass 5. “___ be a cold day in hell ...”

61. Slog

6. Morgue, for one

62. Bolted

7. Aspect

64. Astute

8. Bolshoi rival

65. “___ of Eden”

9. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir.

66. “Trick” joint

10. Catch a glimpse of

69. Apprehend

11. Daughter of Ma’uike

71. ___-tzu

12. “Guilty,” e.g.

72. “Monty Python” airer

43. Freetown currency unit 45. Away 46. Farm call 48. A long, long time 49. Engine knock 50. Certain surgeon’s “patient”

15. Crib sheet user

51. “That’s ___ ...”

20. “If the ___ is concealed,

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RANDOM QUOTE Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.

- J. R. R. Tolkien

SPORTS

MARCH 27, 2012

7

Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL GOES BACK TO BASICS

By Anna Kochigina / Contributing Writer

In the two months since Edgar Miraku became Central Oklahoma’s new volleyball head coach, he has given up his career at Edmond Memorial, where he guided the Bulldogs to an impressive 205-48 record and four Class 6A state Championships.

He also surrendered the head coaching position with the United States Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team, whom he led to the 2010 World Championships, the 2010 World Cup, and the 2011 Continental Cup. In the end, Miraku preferred to come back to his alma mater.

“It was one of those life opportunities for me,” Miraku said, “I would never want to look back five or 10 years from now and say I should have given it a try.”

At UCO, Miraku completed a bachelor’s and a master’s of International Business and worked in “the same building, and the same office” as a student assistant, volunteer assistant, and graduate assistant for the volleyball team.

“He’s obviously familiar with our program and knows what it will take to succeed at a high level,” Joe Muller, UCO athletic director, said.

In spite of his extensive coaching pedigree, Edgar does not like to look at numbers.

“You need to do your best every day, every hour, and every minute,” Miraku said. “When a coach works hard, a player sees it and consciously thinks that he or she should work just as hard as the coach does. As coaches, we are given an opportunity every day to correct something in a positive way and to give a positive feedback to the players. One is as valuable as another. It reassures the players that we are paying attention and it means a lot.”

The volleyball team’s season will not begin until next fall, so Miraku is getting a chance to know the players better and to get ready for the season. He is not emphasizing pressure and intensity at practices, but working on generic volleyball skills so far. Passing, middle hitting, serving, and defense are things that “you always want to sharpen.”

There are also four new team members

recently signed by previous UCO volleyball head coach Jeff Boyland, and Miraku is looking for more recruits.

When asked, UCO players generally like their new coach.

“He is very knowledgeable,” Bella Romero, sophomore setter, said. “He explains everything in details and tells us what we are doing wrong and why it is wrong. I am very impressed by him so far.”

Miraku experienced volleyball from many different sides. His father was a professional coach, so since childhood Miraku has been playing a lot of volleyball. He played professional volleyball in his native Albania, and won a silver medal in the 1993 Balkan Championships with the Albanian Junior National Team.

“When a coach works hard, a player sees it and conciously thinks that he or she should work just as hard as the coach does.”

Edgar Miraku

Head Volleyball Coach

In 1995, he came to the US and spent five years at UCO as a volleyball student assistant, graduate assistant and volunteer assistant.

The next step was a head coach position at Edmond Memorial, Oklahoma Peak Performance junior club team and the U.S. Men’s Sitting National Team. “My experience brings to UCO a better, more complete Edgar as a coach,” said Miraku. “I have seen another prospective of volleyball and have been exposed to another level of the game.”

Miraku tries to moderate his life and be a humble person in life.

“Sometimes we have a lack of compassion because we become very competitive, especially in sports,” Miraku said. “We think we are on top of the world because we’re winning a tough match and feel that nothing can be touched. There are always bigger things in life and we should try to save this human feeling.”

UCO Head Volleyball Coach Edgar Miraku during a practice March 15. Photo by Anna Kochigina

Continued from Page 8

THE BEN ZONE of the Spurs, who have beaten the team twice. The Thunder have also yet to play Chicago, who has the best record in the NBA. Still, it’s a good sign that they have been so good against the teams that are really considered to be championship contenders. Most of the Thunder’s losses have come to middling Western Conference teams in spots where the

the hometown team probably just got bored.

As mentioned before, the Thunder will face a treacherous stretch of games in the coming week or so, starting tonight against Portland, a potential trap game. If they can navigate through all the booby traps in the next five games, the Thunder should be in prime position for another run at the championship.

8

SPORTS

MARCH 27, 2012 Baseball & Softball

Opinion

THE BEN ZONE

By Ben Luschen

SOFTBALL EXTENDS WIN STREAK; BASEBALL FALLS

Vista Columnist

QUALITY WINS LIKE CHICKEN SOUP FOR ATHLETE’S SOUL The Thunder played its best game of the season Sunday night. Maybe its best ever.

Oklahoma City outscored the opposing Miami Heat, who boast the NBA’s third best record, in nearly every quarter of the game. The only quarter of the game that the Thunder lost was the third, and that was only because of a miracle 65-foot shot from Dwyane Wade boosted Miami up to a 2020 tie in the period.

One can only wonder what such a dominant win can do for a team’s psyche. This may come as a shocking revelation to you, but I’ve never played in the NBA. I don’t know how wins like this affect their state of mind, if at all. However, there is something else I do know a little about, and that’s taking tests. You know, scantrons, blue books, those sort of tests.

Whenever I take a test and do exceptionally well, my overall confidence level for that class goes up. Likewise, bombing my midterm will lead to a lack of faith in my ability.

A confidence boost isn’t always to my advantage, however.

Sometimes an outstanding test score can make me think I know the material better than I actually do. This may lead to a drop in my studiousness. Also, a low test score may motivate me to work harder than I would have otherwise.

The Thunder just got an A+ on their test in Dominating An Elite NBA Team On National Television, and I expect they are feeling pretty good about themselves. Will their success come with an ego trip? I don’t think so.

First of all, the Thunder players seem like a bunch of levelheaded guys. Could you imagine Kevin Durant stepping into the post-game press conference and saying something like, “This proves we’re going to win the championship. Chew on that Charles Barkley!” It isn’t as if this team has never defeated the Heat before.

Though they are known for their youth, Oklahoma City has been through enough of the playoffs to know the real season doesn’t start until the playoffs. Last year, these players were stopped just short of an appearance in the NBA Finals.

Don’t kid yourself by thinking they were happy just to have gone that far. The Thunder has unfinished business.

Since over-confidence will likely not be a factor for this team, the Thunder can only benefit from a win like this.

There’s nothing arrogant about knowing you’re among the best teams in the league, especially heading into a murderous stretch of games that features the Lakers, Bulls, Grizzlies and a Miami rematch.

Curiously, the Thunder haven’t lost to any team with a record currently in the league’s top six, with the exception

Continued on page 7

Junior Eric Garza (16) celebrates a two-run home run with seniors Tucker Brown (4) and Jacob Zinn (11) during the first game of a doubleheader against East Central University Saturday, March 24 at Wendell Simmons Field. Photo provided.

Timmermans’ team-leading 14 homers same was seen as the Tigers scored on

By Chris Brannick / Contributing Writer

UCO’s softball team gained four victories over Spring Break, stretching their school-record winning streak over one month to 25 games. The baseball team however, lost three games over the break against East Central University, dropping two on Saturday and another on Sunday.

The softball team won two games in Bolivar, Missouri on Saturday, March 24, defeating Southwest Baptist 9-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. Rachael Steverson tossed a one-hitter in the second game and the Bronchos won 11-0.

On Sunday, the Bronchos made their way to Warrensburg, Missouri to take on the Jennies of Central Missouri. The Bronchos took both games in the doubleheader. Central Missouri was the last team to defeat the red-hot Bronchos on Feb. 17.

The last 25 games have been enjoyable for the Bronchos and now the records are starting to roll in. Sunday, the Bronchos Nathalie Timmermans tied the school record for homerun’s with 14.

Kacie Edwards has 12 of her own and already has the record for runs batted in with 49. Edwards broke Staci Dickerson’s 16 year old record of 48 Saturday against SBU.

to go with Edwards 12 have helped the Bronchos to a team record 46 homeruns this season. In 2008, the Bronchos hit 43 in 52 total games. This season, the record was tied in half that time.

The Bronchos host Northwest Missouri State for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 31. The first game will be played at 2:00 p.m. The Bronchos won the only meeting this season 8-2 on March 2, the ninth win of their current streak.

The baseball team cancelled a matchup with Newman University on March 20 due to rain. On Saturday March 24 East Central University came to Edmond for a doubleheader with the Bronchos.

The Tigers won 8-4 and 11-10 respectively. Sunday March 25, the teams met again for one game in the Tigers home of Ada, Oklahoma. ECU again came away with a victory 9-5. The three victories for ECU doubled their season-best winning streak.

In Saturday’s opener, the Bronchos got off to an early 2-0 lead with a homerun from Eric Garza. However, in the third inning the Tigers answered by scoring four runs, all unearned.

In contest number two, more of the

six unearned runs in the second inning.

The Bronchos tied it up at six in the third inning and led 9-6 in the fifth inning. Even leading 10-9 with two outs in the ninth the sporadic miscues from the Bronchos reappeared and back-toback wild pitches scored the tying run for ECU. The Tigers got another two-out score, this one off of a homerun, and won the game 11-10.

The Bronchos are 15-12 this season and meet Saint Gregory’s University today at 3 p.m. in Shawnee, Okla. After a March 27 doubleheader with Arlington Baptist College the Bronchos return home, where they boast a 6-4 record, for four home games beginning Friday at 3:00 p.m. at Wendell Simmons Field against Lindenwood University.

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