The Vista - March 29th

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Campus Quotes

Government

Dance

Rowing

What are you passionate about?

President Obama links the nation’s job growth to his recent trip to Brazil.

Kaleidoscope Dance Company kicks off spring concert.

UCO women’s rowing team won the Varsity Eight race.

MAR. 29, 2011 uco360.com twitter.com/uco360

THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.

State Government

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMMUNITY CROWNS MR. AND MS. UCO By Ibrahim Albeedi

ACADEMIC DEPORTATION

Contributing Writer

UCO celebrated their annual Mr. and Ms. UCO International Pageant at Constitution Hall. This year, students from seven different countries competed in hopes of representing their country proudly along with getting some scholarship help as well. Those countries are: Malaysia, Kenya, Pakistan, India, Japan, Nepal and Ivory Coast. Scholarship opportunities of $750 will go to the first place winners, for the second place winners $500 and $250 for the third place winners. Tai Yean Teh from Malaysia, majoring in actuarial science, won first place for Mr. UCO International 2011. “It is an honor to be crowned as the Mr. International UCO. It has been an exciting journey. I truly appreciate those who helped me throughout the process. Frankly, I do not feel any more special than the other contestants. It is not about the pride to hold the title; it is about how we (all the contestants) represent the body of international students on campus, regardless who wins,” Teh said. Sue Lyn Tan, also from Malaysia and also studying actuarial science, won the first place for Ms. UCO International 2011. She said, “I hoped to win and in fact I participated because of my friends’ support and Tai’s support. I am glad I did this with Alvin and we both won the title. We hope to have made Malaysians proud.”

Oklahoma Senators Anthony Sykes (Left, RMoore) and Ralph Shortey (R- Oklahoma City) are the authors of two controversial immigration bills that were passed in the State Senate this month. (AP Photos)

By Ben Luschen / Contributing Writer The Oklahoma State Senate has passed a bill that would require undocumented immigrants to pay out of state tuition, even if they attended high school in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 683, which was passed March 16, would also restrict undocumented students from any form of state-provided financial aid or scholarship. Despite the possible new restrictions, those who have the desire to go to college, according to an undocumented student studying in Oklahoma who preferred to remain anonymous, cannot be stopped. “If the students and the parents have the courage and the want to go to college, it’s not going to affect them because they’re going to find a way,” the student said. “If the parents say, ‘Ok, well, you finished high school, you were going to go to work anyway, so it doesn’t matter if you’re going to go to college or not,’ then they just follow the usual typical immigrant life. Instead of trying to force themselves into something better they’re just like, ‘Hmm, well,

I’m an immigrant, nothing’s going to happen, I’m just going to work.’” According to Sen. Anthony Sykes (R- Moore) the author of SB 683, the object is not to discourage immigrants who aspire to get a college degree, but to encourage becoming a legal citizen. “There’s nothing wrong with coming here legally,” Sykes said. “We welcome you. This is about the people who cut to the front of the line and do it illegally.” Sykes’ bill is just one of several anti-illegal immigration bills that have been passed by the Senate recently, the most notable of which is SB 908, which allows police to seize property related to immigration crimes. Sen. Ralph Shortey (R – Oklahoma City) authored SB 908 and said the bill will address problems that the state is currently facing. “I authored this proposal because I care about the people of my district and have witnessed firsthand the manner in which illegal immigration can limit economic development, increase crime rates and tear families apart,” Shortey said. “Passage of this legislation is a strong step toward addressing the

issue and a victory for Oklahoma.” The passing of these recent bills in the State Senate adds additional stress to the lives of many undocumented students. “I’ve had my whole life here and my friends,” the student said. “As an adult now, I don’t have a job, I can’t drive, I’m not safe anywhere, I get discriminated everywhere I go. I can’t walk into a store with my head high up because they judge me quickly, you know. I go to an American store and they don’t think I can speak English. I go to a Mexican store and they don’t think I can speak Spanish.” Despite objecting to the passing of the recent anti-illegal immigration bills, the student agrees that those who are a burden to society should be punished. “The ones who commit crimes, rape, rob stores, the most careless things you can think of, hell yeah, send them back,” the student said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re from Mexico, South Africa, Europe, Asia, even Canada... but those immigrants who are hard working, haven’t done anything wrong, who work right, they go to school, they need some kind of justice and some kind of support.”

Campus Events

WEATHER TODAY

H 53° L 33°

‘HUMOREDIAN’ PEFORMING AT UCO TONIGHT P H OTO BY R O BY N VO N S WAN K

By Cody Bromley / Staff Writer

TOMORROW H 59° L 38°

More weather at www.uco360.com

DID YOU KNOW? The average CD can hold 74 minutes’ worth of music. That length was determined by Sony’s president, who decided that a single CD should be able to contain the longest recorded version of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Doug Benson, professional “humoredian,” film connoisseur and marijuana enthusiast is bringing his funny business to UCO for a standup show tonight. Student Programming Board is hosting the comedian and film star in the Nigh University Center’s ballrooms at 8 p.m. for a stand-up comedy show. Benson has appeared on Comedy Central’s “Comedy Central Presents” as well as recently with his own series “The Benson Interruption.” He has also contributed to the VH1 shows “Best Week Ever” and “I Love The …,” and has been a contestant of NBC’s reality series “Last Comic Standing.” Benson also rose to fame in 2007 for his stoner documentary “Super High Me,” where he used medical marijuana products for thirty days in the same style that documentarian Morgan Spurlock ate McDonalds in the documentary film “Super Size Me.” “Some schools ask me to not make any drug references,” Benson said in a Twitter message Friday. “No such rules at your school! Yay!” Also appearing with Benson is opening act Graham Elwood. Elwood has been in the stand-up scene for over 10 years and has also hosted game shows on the Game Show Network and on the USA Network. Currently, Benson stays busy hosting a half-

talk show, half-game show podcast called, “Doug Loves Movies.” Each show begins with Benson and guests discussing current movies as well as what his guests are currently working on. Benson’s guests have included comedy stars Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, Weird Al Yankovic, Zach Galifianakis, the stars and director of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and even film critic Leonard Maltin. The game show side of the podcast uses the movie reviews of Maltin for a game simply titled, “The Leonard Maltin Game.” Benson will present a theme containing a clue for a set of questions, and then give the contestants the year the film was released. Benson will then read a short snippet of Maltin’s review before contestants take turns betting how few names from the cast billing they can name the movie in. Benson’s podcast is normally recorded before a live audience at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre in Los Angeles, but Benson has also taken the show on the road. The podcast can be downloaded from his website (www. douglovesmovies.com) or from the podcast section of the iTunes store. The stand-up show tonight starts at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Benson will return to the area on June 28 for a performance at the City Arts Center in Oklahoma City. Tickets for that event will go on sale Mar. 30.

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Student Programming Board (SPB) will host comedian and film star Doug Benson for a stand-up comedy show at 8 p.m., March 29 in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms on Central’s campus. Benson is known as a regular contributor to the VH1 series “Best Week Ever” and “I Love The…” and finished sixth on the fifth season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”


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