The Vista Sept. 19, 2013

University of Central Oklahoma

THEVISTA The Student Voice Since 1903

SEPT 19, 2013

Asian Moon Festival Shines On UCO Tyler Talley

people can make memories at the event and have it (photos) as a souvenir to remind them to come next year,” Ma Staff Writer said.

Traditional Asian cuisine UCO will once again host will be served at the event, the annual Asian Moon Fesprovided by Kang’s Sushi Bar tival at 6 p.m. on Sept. 20 at and Bistro. Children who atPlunkett Park on Central’s tend the festival will receive campus. goody bags while supplies Inspired by the Chinese last.

Moon Festival, which is a Ma stated that organiztraditional celebration for ing the festival is not a one the fall and harvest season, month process and actually the festival looks to spread began during the summer.

Asian awareness and culture The festival is collaboration throughout the community between the AASA and the and has been a staple on the Office of Diversity and IncluUCO campus for the past 12 sion. years. Director of the Office “The planning process of Diversity and Inclusion took three months of weekMeShawn Conley said that ly meetings and rough draft the festival’s transformaideas,” Ma said. “My execution and expansion over the tive board and I split up into years is impressive. committees for the Moon “The program started off Festival and reached out to under the blue tent by Bronthe community for all the cho Lake. We put a strong material we needed for this emphasis on also inviting event to happen.” members from the Edmond Ma went on to say that and Metro area. We started the collaboration between taking flyers to Edmond el- Attendees of UCO’s Asian Moon Festival watch dacing costume lions during 2011’s event. Photo by Ishaia Gonzales, UCO photo services. everyone is one of the most ementary schools and prerewarding aspects of organizschools, as well as advering the festival, along with tising in metro magazines experiencing the end result and newspapers.” Conley with all of the attendees. said. “Before we knew it, Conley added that AASA we couldn’t fit everyone by are able to find new additions Broncho Lake and we exto include in the festival, evpanded to Plunkett Park.” ery year.

President of the UCO “Each year the organizaAsian American Student tion adds small touches that Association (AASA) Jeff Ma makes it bigger and better listed some of the activithan the year before. A few ties that will be available at years ago they added the lanthe festival this year. Ma tern contest. Last year they said activities will include a performance by Miss Asian Energetic costume panda interacts with the crowd from UCO Students prepare for the Asian Moon Festival at The had a hamster run and gave UCO 2013 Mariz Escobar, a The 2011 Asian Moon Festival. Photo by Cyn Sheng Ling, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Sep 17. Photo by Quang away the hamster to good Pho, The Vista. homes. This year they have dragon dance performed by The Vista. a game, which allows parthe St. Andrews’ line dancticipants to win a gold fish,” ers, a traditional dress fashwebsite. All entries must be completed before participant will receive a participation prize. ion show and the third annual hand-made the festival and submitted by 6:30 p.m. to the A new addition to the activities will be a Conley said. “It just keeps getting better.”

The Asian Moon Festival is a free event and lantern contest. designated contest area. Attendees, ages four photo booth that Ma said will enhance the exis open to the public. In case of inclement To enter the lantern contest, one must cre- and up, are allowed to enter the contest and perience for attendees. ate a lantern that is original and school ap- will be placed in three age groups. Winners “The photo booth is one thing I wanted weather, an alternate location of the festival propriate, according to the festival’s official will be selected from each age group and each to bring to the Asian Moon Festival, so that will be announced later.

Big Air: Three X-games Champions Ride at UCO Colore Lincoln

Staff Writer The UCO Department of Athletics hosted a Big Air Motocross jump show at 5 p.m. on Sept.14, featuring three X-Games champions.

The event was held on the west side of Wantland Stadium, as part of the tailgate festivities before Bronchos kicked off their first home game for the 2013 football season against the Pittsburg State Gorillas.

“Cowboy” Kenny Bartram said, “Anytime I get to perform in Oklahoma, it’s nice. I got to sleep in my own bed last night since we’re just 45 minutes from home. Got some family and friends that are going to come down, and football crowds are awesome. A lot of them don’t see freestyle all the time so they’re really ex-cited about it.”

He went on to

say, “ E v e n though we’re going to do some of the gnarly tricks, just a jump to jump and they’re like ‘holy cow!’ The excitement on their face is just really fun to see.”

The show fea- tured ten-time X-Games medalist, “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram, and two fellow X-Games champions Cody Elkins and Matt Buyten.

Buyten, from Yukon, Okla., grew up racing with Bartram and has been a free-style motocross rider for 10 years.

During the show, they did a jam session of showing a variety of jumps, a mini-contest to get the crowd involved, and a small showc a s e of each rider. They were jumping about 75-80 feet in the air.

Bartram said, “The backflip whip, where you do a backflip and turn the bike sideways, it’s considered one of the harder or scarier tricks I do.”

Bartram is from Stillwater, Okla. and usually performs wearing orange (one of Oklahoma State University’s school colors), which is where he gets his nickname “The Cowboy.”

He is a professional free-style motocross rider, but also has the most wins, 57, for Oklahoma State Series MX Races. According to Bartram, he has had many injuries including 22 broken bones, seven knocked out

teeth, a steel plate in his jaw and a damaged blood vessel in the brain.

Bartram has a signed contract with KTM bikes. He has received media coverage including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and acted as himself in the feature film, Fantastic Four, in 2005. Bartram officially retired from racing in 2006 and now owns his own freestyling tour company, Steel Rodeo tour.

“I just love riding and racing- I’m very competitive. So while I’m winding down my freestyle motocross career, I want to see where life is going to take me next. But in the meantime, I’ll race anything with wheels and a motor!” Bartram said on his official website www. cowboykenny.com.

*Photos by Cyn Sheng, The Vista.

2

SEPT 19, 2013

OPINION

THE VISTA 100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034 (405)974-5549 vistauco@gmail.com The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, semiweekly 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.

What do you think is the main reason mass shootings keep occurring?

TEMPEST RANKIN

GLENN BROWN

ANDREW SCHMAUCH

Broadcasting - Senior

Psychology - Senior

Child Development - Senior

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.

ADVERTISE WITH THE VISTA The Vista is published semiweekly during the fall and spring semesters, and once weekly during the summer. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both classified, online and print ads.

Email your questions to ucovista.advertising@gmail.com for rates.

“Lack of gun control laws, State and Federal should do something about it.”

“No gun laws to seek out the people. I like how Obama is trying to push for gun laws to be passed.”

“I think our society. In my opinion, people are not taught to work through their problem.”

JARED SHILLING

KATELYNN DAWSON

DELANIE MCCALEB

Bio-Medical Engineering - Sophomore

Elementary Education - Freshman

Speech Pathology - Freshman

STAFF

Management

Editorial

Sarah Neese, Editor-In-Chief Lindsey Rickards, Managing Editor Stevie Armstromg, Copy Editor Cody Johnson, Sports Editor

Michael McMillian

Brooks Nickell, Staff Writer Josh Wallace, Staff Writer Alex Cifuentes, Staff Writer Tyler Talley, Staff Writer Olanrewaju Suleiman, Staff Writer Colore’ Lincoln, Staff Writer Austin Litterell, Sports Reporter

Circulation

Photography

Kevin Choi

Aliki Dyer, Photo Editor Cyn Sheng Ling, Photographer Quang Pho Duc Phuongg,

Graphic Design

Adviser

Photographer

Mr. Teddy Burch

“Because we’re not regulating laws for guns. There are Digging up old roots gun shows, when there’s not enough background checks, Editorial by: Lindsey Rickards (Managing Editor) guns get into wrong hand, It was a light gray over- further. She continued to cast day. A thin layer of play the game with me for and shooting happen.” clouds spread farther than the eye could see. At 12:15 p.m. it was an afternoon post and pre rainfall. It felt muggy and cool. Not muggy enough to cause a shortness of breath, but muggy enough to inhale the moisture.

My dog, Cali, was wound up for her regular mile to two-mile walk around our neighborhood’s edge. We started at a nice pace together, she not feeling pushed and I not feeling pulled.

I stared down at Cali with her over the top, tongue out of mouth, panting smile. She was genuinely happy. This was the highlight of her day and she would smile this way our entire traipse.

I wanted to smile like that, to effuse my cares and relish in the simple moments.

I challenged her mentality by picking up my pace.

Her smile never faded as she recognized my provocation.

Cali is the kind of dog that enjoys a challenge.

She is athletically relentless, ambitious, and competitive. All of the qualities that I misplaced as an athlete concluding my high school days.

We raced at a steady stride; Cali only allowing me to progress to her hind legs before advancing

half a mile as I couldn’t help, but felt a smile creep across my face at our comical situation.

It was real, it was genuine and it was a moment that’s memory still sets a smile on my lips.

As we reached the intersection corner that concludes our neighborhood’s edge, I unleashed the beast and challenged Cali further to a footrace.

We rounded the corner, each taking off on an empty stretch of a sidewalk.

We ran together side by side, like partners or teammates, with our smiles spread wide.

I hadn’t run in years, due to reoccurring injuries. I had quit running when I quit cross-country, but in that moment I felt great. Not one splint in my shin or ache in my knee could stop me from finishing our run.

From my former years of running experience, I knew we had ran close to a mile when we reached our street’s end.

In the final stretch I dug in, just like old times at the end of a race, I gave it everything I had left and as fast as I could. Surprisingly Cali allowed me to beat her to our driveway by two feet.

I looked up at the sky panting then rested on my legs with my hands on my

“I think people just don’t really care about other people’s lives, and how it affects their family.”

“I don’t know their motives, maybe been raised wrong.”

Cartoon by Matthew Gossom

knees. Cali stretched in the yard, sniffed the grass, and noticed my lowered stance. She smiled all the way over to me until she was smiling in my face. I

smiled back, patting her on the head and laughing.

I felt exhilarated by my regained love for an old pastime. I felt reconnected to a part of me that I

forgot I had because I had been so afraid of physical aches and pains.

“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and cul-

ture is like a tree without roots,” Marcus Garvey. I am happy to have reconnected to old roots.

SEPT 19, 2013

NEWS

3

Opinion

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends I try to make it a point in my columns to keep things light, keep them happy and somewhat meaningful.

There are plenty of avenues these days for anyone and everyone to voice their opinion.

Opinion columns are what they are, and that is someone’s opinion.

But I feel they should be a peaceable and enjoyable read. Your audience shouldn’t feel like their ideals just caught the short end of nine rounds with a prizefighter. There is a sensible way to present your argument.

I intend to do just that, lovingly share my opinion with you. In the wake of the D.C. Naval Yard shooting that occurred Monday morning Sept. 16, someone shared with me an article from the Washington Post. It shed light on a study, commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which in all honesty wasn’t as surprising as it was sickening.

The U.S has seen one mass shooting every month, since 2009. That’s believable; I’d go as far as to say it’s expected.

And the real disheartening thing of it all is that it isn’t surprising.

This can’t go on. I know that there are problems globally, locally and within various forms of communities. I know that America has many problems that intertwine with this issue and many others that some might consider to be more important or necessary to fix as a precursor to this issue. But I believe there is a simple beginning to a remedy.

There are many arguments, bodies of research, even whole organizations that are solely dedicated to alleviating what they think is causing these acts of mass violence and destruction. But, I consider myself a humanist and humbly suggest that it’s time we focus a little more attention on ourselves, specifically the region that involves the treatment of others.

Let’s shuck aside the “violent video games being linked to gun violence” argument, lose the “have we lost our Christian morals” debate and really examine why this is happening.

How can we be a great nation if we can’t be great to each other? How can we be great when so many people are hungry and cold, when it becomes more and more common to be the product of an inadequate D.I.Y home?

How can we be proud of anything when we contribute to the suffering of others until it reaches the breaking point and is violently projected back on us? The real issue isn’t Grand Theft Auto Five or Marilyn Manson. If you want to see what is responsible, or rather who, then join me and take a look in the mirror.

By Brooks Nickell

I’m above no one else and no one else above me. I have been the bully. I have been the bullied. Both are painful, both are brought on by a barrage of cancerous issues in America that are debated more than they are resolved. But I believe that this is the true answer to the question, why do people become unstable and commit mass shootings, why do they kill innocent people?

The easy beginning to the fix starts in your day-to-day life, in the humdrum step-by-step of your average schedule.

I urge you to take the time out of your day and recognize the people around you as human beings. Take someone’s hand and feel life. Give the person you sit next to a hug. Do good deeds and expect nothing in return.

But above all, be a friend to everyone and hold yourself no higher than the lowest of our lows, because it’s a ride we are all on together. The next time you feel hateful or ugly towards someone, instead, step back and remember that what people really need is a human connection, a chance to feel equal.

Everyone everywhere has a problem, or multiple ones, but not everyone has someone to help them with those problems, even if it is just moral support.

Ringo Star sang it loud and proper, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Truer words have never been spoken and as a nation, no, as a species I feel we need to propagate that idea now more than ever.

Follow me on Twitter @JbrooksNickell

Big Pink Volleyball Chair Applications Due Friday Brooks Nickell

Staff Writer The 4th Annual Big Pink Volleyball Tournament at the University of Central Oklahoma, hosted by Campus Activities, will be happening from Feb. 24-27, 2014. Applications for Big Pink committee chairs are due

by Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at 5 p.m. and Interviews will occur the week of Sept. 23-27, 2013.

Committee chairs include; Paint the Campus Pink Week Chair, Sponsorship Chair, Education/Logistics Chair, Marketing and Public Relations Chair, Registration Chair, Referee Chair, Campus and Community Recruitment Chair, Greek Recruitment Chair and Resident Life Recruitment Chair.

UCO Coordinator of Campus Activities Nicole Doherty outlined just what Campus Activities was looking for in committee chair applicants.

“We are looking for people who are excited to be part of the planning process, people that have a passion for getting awareness out there for breast cancer and how it affects people, who it effects and just people who are really excited to get going and get planning for the event,” Doherty Said.

According to the Big Pink Volleyball Executive Committee Application, 2013–14, the Paint the Campus Pink Week Chair will have

activities each day of Paint the Campus Pink week, to raise awareness for the tournament and support the cause of raising money and awareness for breast cancer research. This person will also be in charge of planning events for the week and must be available the entire week of Feb. 17–20, 2014.

The Sponsorship Chair will solicit sponsorships in the form of money or other items from local area businesses for the Big Pink Raffle and Big Pink activities.

The Education/Logistics chair will aim to make people more aware of the prevalence and affects of breast cancer, who it affects, and how many people it impacts. This will be done through various educational programs throughout the school year. This person will also fill a role of helping with logistics and organization during the week of the tournament.

The Marketing and Public Relations Chair’s main goal will be to increase awareness of the event and its philanthropic cause, by overJamie Jekel, Paint the Campus Pink Week Chair, poses with the volleyball to be used seeing all aspects of marketing and promo- in the tournament, Feb. 20, 2013. Photo by Aliki Dyer, The Vista tion for Big Pink. Campus Activities would The Campus and Community Recruitment participants from campus residence halls. prefer someone with graphic design skills for Chair recruits student organizations and orBig Pink is a four-day philanthropic volthis position.

The Registration Chair is in charge of orga- ganizations from the Edmond community to leyball tournament. All proceeds will be donizing the registration process, packet distri- support Big Pink through their participation nated to breast cancer research. as a team or by raising money.

“Apply if you’re interested,” Doherty said. bution for all teams and T-shirt orders.

The Greek Recruitment Chair will do the “If you just want to participate as a team, wait The Referee Chair organizes and trains all referees for the tournament and conducts the same within Greek organizations and the a little bit and we will have the team applicaResident Life Recruitment Chair, through tions out late in the fall or early in the spring team captain meetings.

Alpha Xi Delta Raises Awarness for Autism

Photo by Cyn Sheng, The Vista

Olanrewaju Suleiman

Staff Writer The University of Central Oklahoma chapter of Alpha Xi Delta is hosting their second annual “Dance Your Boots Off” and the “Walk Now for Autism Speaks” fundraisers for autism awareness.

Autism is the local and national philanthropy for the Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

Elly Martinez, a junior clinical laboratory science major, is a member of the sorority who promotes autism awareness.

“Autism Speaks is an organization that helps better the lives of people and families affected by autism,” she said.

Martinez and her sorority sisters help families with autistic children.

“There is no cure for autism,” she said.

“We want to help families cope with their circumstances.”

The women of Alpha Xi Delta support the autistic community by raising money and awareness of the illness. The puzzle piece is the symbol for their philanthropy.

“It represents each piece of the puzzle,” Martinez said. “Piece by piece and little by little, we will find a cure.”

Alpha Xi Delta debuted “Dance Your Boots Off” and “Walk Now for Autism Speaks” last year. They became such a success that they decided to have them again.

“Last year was out first year and it was pretty successful,” Martinez said. “We thought we would try it again.”

Multiple restaurants donated food to their event and radio host DJ Jake FM was present, as well.

“We have more planned for this year,” Martinez said. “It will be bigger and better, so I hope everybody goes.”

It is her hope that the community’s perspective and knowledge on autism will be enhanced through these events.

“We want the UCO community to know that Alpha Xi Delta wants to help the community, both locally and nationally,” she said.

Jamie Poplin, a senior special education major, is also a member of Alpha Xi Delta.

She was pleasantly surprised by how the campus embraced their cause.

“It started last fall with a few small events that just grew larger,” she said. “Autism is one of the fastest growing diseases in the nation.”

Poplin and her sisters have been planning their events for the campus over time.

“I’m super excited,” she said. “It is one of the biggest philanthropic events at UCO.” “Dance Your Boots Off” will be held Thursday, Oct. 3 from 7-10 p.m. in the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority house. The house is located at 1000 N. Chowning and admission is $5.

“Walk Now for Autism Speaks” will be Saturday, Oct. 5 at 10:30 a.m. There is no registration fee for that event.

“We like to advocate a lot,” Poplin said.

“Hopefully people will leave our events with a new found perspective on autism.”

4

SEPT 19, 2013

NEWS

London Fashion Week Jumps Straight to Spring Sylvia Hui

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — There were bursts of sunshine yellow, blooms evoking tropical gardens, and lots of pastel confections: As the rest of us unpack our warm coats and hunker down for the wintry season, the fashion elite are already looking ahead to the trends for the spring shown at London Fashion Week.

The 5-day style event wound down Tuesday after a whirlwind of next season’s womenswear preview shows, from the commercially driven big fashion houses like Burberry Prorsum, Tom Ford and Paul Smith to young and emerging talents such as Peter Pilotto and Christopher Kane.

Although London is known for being the most eclectic and unpredictable of the fashion capitals, there were a few themes that emerged from the dozens of runways. Romance was in the air for many designers, with many catwalks awash in pretty pastels, petal appliques and floral prints and embellishments. All shades of pink were popular.

Temperley London went for the kind of classic old Hollywood glamor it relishes, with grand silk ball gowns and matching opera coats in shades of rose, powdery carnation pink, and rich fuchsias, while at Burberry feminine sheer lace pencil dresses in sugary pastels were worn with soft cashmere sweaters and coats for a sophisticated and sexy look. Preen chose to feature a bright neon pink, Model Cara Delevingne wears a design created by Burber- which appeared on plastic and rubry Prorsum during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer berized dresses and raincoats.

2014, at Kensington Gardens, central London, Monday, Sept.

Volume was big, too, with many 16, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP) trapeze shapes and floor-sweeping

gowns and wide-leg trousers seen at shows including Mulberry and Erdem.

This being London, many designers were impossible to fit into any talk of trends.

Christopher Kane, known for his quirky and imaginative designs, showed futuristic dresses that looked like they could be Star Trek costumes and floral prints that looked like biology text book illustrations.

Bay Garnett, a stylist for British Vogue, said that Kane and Meadham Kirchhoff, which showed Tuesday, stood out as two of her highlights of the week because they were so creative.”It’s so imaginative. It’s the kind of eclecticism, the kind of spirit of Britishness, I think,” she said.

Asked which looks she expected to see copied in shops in spring, she said: “I haven’t gotten that far yet. I’m just looking around and taking in the ideas.”

Many in attendance must be thinking the same, as they pack up and head for two more weeks of preview shows in Milan and Paris. ___ ADIDAS BY STELLA MCCARTNEY McCartney ditched the catwalk and took her audience to the gym instead for her new season sportswear collection for Adidas.

The British designer had her models wear cropped sweatshirts, stretch bodysuits and daisy print shorts in bright yellow, aqua and tropical lime as they danced, cycled and performed aerial yoga.

A team of four synchronized swimmers sporting black bathing suits with side cutouts even put on a performance in a small swimming tank.

“I love it. They are amazing. It’s not the kind of thing you see at London

Fashion Week is it?” McCartney said.

McCartney, who showcases her main womenswear collection in Paris, has been designing high-performance sports gear for Adidas since 2005. Her brand got a big boost in international recognition last year when she won plaudits for her Union Jack-inspired designs for Britain’s home team at the 2012 London Olympics.

“Some people just wear black on black, put their head down and get on with their sport and then get changed,” she told The Associated Press. “To me this is a celebration of who you are when you’re working out, and not sacrificing in any way your style.” ___ MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF Anglo-French design duo Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff’s show rounded off the week with a typically theatrical collection that mashed up Victorian lace, beautifully tailored blazers, whimsical apron dresses and lots of quirky accessories.

Set to a soundtrack more fitting for a horror movie — heart beat pumping, the sound of scissors snipping and other disturbing noises — the designers sent out models in dolllike blouses and slips, wide brim hats and polka-dot chiffon dresses. Shiny, oversized leather coats in black, gold or snakeskin and gloves that reach up to the shoulders added to the artfully chaotic mood.

Meadham Kirchhoff has a big fan base among the fashion crowd for their creative and uncompromising designs, but several pieces here — like the intricately embellished gold pleat skirt and the black blazers that opened the show — are also surprisingly wearable.

A Different Side of Syria Brian Murphy

Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Inside the gallery, artworks by Syrian artists were drawing auction bids from collectors.

Outside on the street, the artists traded the latest gossip from Syria and checked their smartphones for news from the civil war.

So goes the divided world for a cadre of Syrian artists brought to the safety of Dubai by their gallery to continue their work but still remain deeply connected and influenced by the bloodshed they left behind.

The Syrian refugee diaspora — now at 2 million and growing — has fanned out across the region and beyond for more than two years from tent camps in Jordan to others trying to rebuild lives in cities such as Beirut and Istanbul. But the Gulf states present a paradox: Deeply involved in the war as some of the strongest backers for the Syrian rebels yet holding firm to tight entry controls that effectively block most refugees.

The auction Monday in Dubai’s evolving art district — tucked inside an industrial zone of warehouses and businesses — served as a window into a small but forward-looking effort to save one niche of Syria’s artistic community with no end in sight to the civil war that has already claimed more than 100,000 lives.

“It’s a tragedy what is happening there now, but it would be an even bigger tragedy if all this art and culture that Syria has so much of would be lost,” said Hisham Samawi, whose Ayyam Gallery moved from Damascus to

Dubai in late 2011 as the Arab Spring rebellion widened.

“For us,’” he added, “the artists are part of our family. We had to do it. It was for us and for them.”

Step by step for nearly two years, the gallery operators moved 15 artists and their families to Dubai — hiring them as employees to obtain visas in line with United Arab Emirates’ system that requires a person or company to act as sponsors. Meanwhile, Ayyam crews managed to ship about 3,000 paintings, sculptures and other pieces as fighting intensified in the Syrian capital.

Among those under the gallery’s wings in Dubai is one of the rising stars in Syria’s revolution-inspired art world, Tammam Azzam, a Damascus-born painter who has shifted to prints and multimedia work seeking to draw attention the horrors of conflict. One piece, “Freedom Graffiti,” superimposed the goldenhued sensuality of Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece “The Kiss” over a shattered and bullet-scarred apartment wall near Homs. The image became an Internet sensation with hundreds of thousands of views and established the 33-year-old Azzam as one of the artistic voices of the civil war.

Another piece done since his arrival in Dubai is “Syrian Olympics,” a digital print of stick-figure stencils in the shape of Olympic event logos. The shooters aim like snipers at the runners.

A signed copy sold for $12,000 at the auction, attended by more than 300 people. A copy of “Freedom Graffiti” brought in $6,000.

“I have to do something for the people there,” said Azzam. “I want to do anything to

In this Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 photo, people view works of art, including a silkscreen print titled, “The Stam” by Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem, middle, and another titled, “Yellow Cow Cheese,” by Saudi artist Ahmed Mater, right, during an auction at the Ayyam gallery, that moved from Damascus to Dubai in late 2011, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The auction Monday in Dubai’s evolving art district served as a window into a small but forward-looking effort to save one niche of Syria’s artistic community with no end in sight to the civil war that has already claimed more than 100,000 lives. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

In this Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 photo, auctioneer Hisham Samawi auctions a digital print by the Syrian artist Tammam Azzam, titled “Syrian Olympic,” which hangs behind him, during an auction at Ayyam gallery, that moved from Damascus to Dubai in late 2011, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The auction Monday in Dubai’s evolving art district served as a window into a small but forward-looking effort to save one niche of Syria’s artistic community with no end in sight to the civil war that has already claimed more than 100,000 lives. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

send any message to people around the world about what happened in my country: People dying every day, every minute, and nobody can stop that.”

Azzam struggles with the frustrating feeling that “art doesn’t make sense” in the middle of a war.

But conflict has always been an incubator for creativity: The political cartoons of the American and French revolutions in the 18th century, the powerful canvases inspired by the 1930s Spanish Civil War such as Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica,” and now the Web-driven protest art of Middle East uprisings.

In Iran, songs, videos and artwork followed onto the Internet during the unrest after the disputed presidential re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009. In the latest election this June, Iran’s art community and others rallied around the fictitious candidacy of “Zahra,” the heroine of a graphic novel narrative begun in 2009.

Since 2011, dozens of prominent exhibitions have showcased the work of Arab Spring artists, including Egyptian Ahmed Basiony, who was killed during clashes in Cairo during the final days of Hosni Mubarak’s rule.

Street battles this summer in Turkey, meanwhile, stirred a kind of mass performance art as antigovernment protesters mimicked the “Standing Man” sentinel of choreographer Erdem Gunduz, who stood motionless amid the skirmishes around Istanbul’s Taksim Square.

“The artists are paramount so

we had to get them out,” said gallery owner Samawi. “There was no question about it. It wasn’t like: We’ll go find other artists. These are our artists. We believe in them and believe they have a voice.”

He said there are plans to try to bring other Syrian artists out of the country, but the efforts are made more complicated by the deepening battles and the increasing lockdown atmosphere in Damascus over threats of possible U.S.-led military action.

“It’s a good thing we started when we did,” said Samawi, “because it becomes more and more difficult as every month passes.”

The artist Azzam said he has friends watching his abandoned studio in Damascus.

“But who knows if it will be there when I return,” he said. “And who knows when I can return.”

SEPT 19, 2013

NEWS

5

U.S. News

A look into Mass Shootings in America Twenty Nine of the Dedliest Since 1999 Analyzed The Regional Operations Intelligence Center in part with the Homeland Defense recently conducted an analysis on the 29 deadliest mass shootings in the past 13 years, starting with the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999, to identify commonalities and trends. These 29 incidents include shooting incidents in which at least five people were killed.

* An analysis of 29 mass shooting incidents in the United States since 1999 indicates that nearly half were workplace shootings. *All of the shooters but one were males between the ages of 17 and 48. All but one of the 29 incidents were conducted by single shooters. * Most of the active shooters took their own lives or were shot by responding police officers. * Only four of the shooters were current or former members of the military. * Semiautomatic handguns were the most commonly used type of weapon in the mass shootings

July 2012: James Eagan Holmes shoots and kills twelve people and wounds approximately 38 more after opening fire in a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a showing of the Batman movie.

Holmes allegedly enters the Century 16 movie theater through an exit door about a half -hour into the premiere.

August 2012: Wade Michael Page fatally shoots six peopleand injures three at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek,Wisconsin, before taking his own life after being shot by a police officer. Page was a member of several neo-Nazi music bands.

May 2012:Ian Stawicki walks into Café Racer in Seattle, Washington, and opens fire with two handguns, killing four patrons and wounding one. Shortly thereafter he kills another woman in a parking lot while carjacking her SUV. Later that afternoon, he commits suicide.

April 2012: One L. Goh, a former student at Oikos University, a small Christian college in California, opens fire in the middle of a classroom, leaving seven people dead and three wounded.

January 2011: Jared Lee Loughner shoots Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Gifords in the head during a meet and greet with constituents at a Tucson supermarket.

Six people are killed and 11 others wounded.

April 2009: Jiverly Wong shoots and kills 13 people and seriously wounds four others before committing suicide at the American Civic Association, an immigration services center, in Binghamton, New York

October 2011: Scott Dekraai, apparently enraged over a custody dispute, walks into a crowded Seal Beach, California, hair salon where his former wife works and opens fire. Eight people are killed, including a man sitting in a truck outside the salon. Another person is critically wounded.

August 2010: Omar S. Thornton, a driver for Hartford Distributors in Manchester, Connecticut, emerges from a disciplinary hearing and begins shooting, killing eight people and injuring two at the familyowned distributorship and then shooting himself.

A Waller County Sheriff’s Deputy aims his gun at the home of a suspect in a stand off with police in Brookshire,Texas, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013. Valerie Robinson was fatally shot Friday morning as she arrived for work in the cafeteria at Tompkins High School in Katy, west of Houston.

March 2009: Robert Stewart opens fire on a nursing homein Carthage, North Carolina, where his wife worked, killing seven elderly residents and a nurse, and wounding four others. Stewart’s wife was not in the facility at the time.

June 2008: Wesley Neil Higdon opens fire at his workplace in Henderson, Kentucky, killing five coworkers and wounding another. Higdon was reprimanded by a supervisor for having an argument with a coworker before the attack.

December 2007: Robert Hawkins enters a shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska, and opens fire. He kills eight people and wounds four others before taking his own life.

February 2007: Sulejman Talovic opens fire in a Salt Lake City, Utah, shopping mall, killing five people and wounding four others. An off duty police officer exchanges gun fire with the Bosnian refugee before other officers arrive and fatally wound Talovic.

April 2007: Seung-hui Cho, a Virginia Tech senior, opens fire on campus, killing 32 people in a dormitory and an academic building in attacks more than two hours apart. Cho takes his life after the second incident.

February 2008: Steven Kazmierczak steps on stage in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University and opens fire on a geology class, killing five students and wounding 16 others before killing himself on the lecture hall stage.

October 2006: Charles Carl Roberts IV, a milk truck driver armed with a small arsenal, bursts into a oneroom school house in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, killing five Amish girls and injuring another five. He kills himself as police storm the building.

February 2008: Charles Lee Thornton opens fire on a City Hall meeting in Kirkwood, Missouri, killing five people and wounding two others. Thornton had a history of disputes with the city government and had been arrested twice at council meetings.

January 2006: Jennifer San Marco shoots her neighbor, then drives to the mail processing plant in Goleta, California, where she was previously employed, and kills six employees of the plant with a pistol before taking her own life.

In this 2011 photo provided by the Pine Bluff Commercial, Monroe Isadore poses for photos on his 105th birthday in Pine Bluff, Ark. Authorities in Arkansas halted a standoff on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, when they shot and killed Isadore, 107, who opened fire at them. (AP Photo/Courtesy Pine Bluff Commercial)

6

SEPT 19, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT CONT.

Help Wanted Blessed Ones Childcare is now hiring for part-time positions, no phone calls please. Apply at 1130 Chowning Avenue Edmond, ok 73034

Now Hiring Real estate company hiring receptionist.

For more information please call Alex 990-0488

Now Hiring Comet Cleaners is hiring for full time and part time positions.

Apply in person: 1401 S. Kelly Ave. Any questions, call: 359-5958

Help Wanted Residental construction company has openings for motivated, dependable individuals, not afraid of hard work or getting dirty. No experience necessary.

Carpentry experience A+. Full time/part time/flexible hours.

Call 405-824-8954 to schedule an interview.

Help Wanted Student to clean vacant apartments, small office and private home.

P/T near UCO. Call Connie: 641-0712.

Help Wanted HANDY STUDENT. Lawn maintenance, painting, general maintenance and repairs. P/T near UCO. 641-0712.

Help Wanted NOW HIRING PART TIME KITCHEN STAFF RON’S HAMBURGERS EDMOND 216 S SANTA FE AVE

FOR RENT House for rent, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car. Walking distance to UCO. $1100/month Call Alex 990-0488 RANDOM QUOTE Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

- Lao Tzu

CROSSWORD Across 21. Agitated state

1. Supply available for future use 5. Biology lab supply

23. “Baloney!”

9. Instant

25. A-line line

13. Small buffalo of the Celebes

27. Way, way off

14. Eurasian tree with orange-red berrylike fruits

28. Of a hair

16. Gulf of ___

29. Expire

17. Part of a nuclear arsenal, for short

31. Blow out

18. 747, e.g.

32. Drawing

19. Network of intersecting blood vessels, nerves or lymph vessels

34. Arid

20. Fertile soil

36. Endurance

22. Metal plate bolted along sides of two rails

39. Cloak-and-dagger org.

24. Contact, e.g.

40. Burglar

26. Traditional Japanese gate

43. Ref’s call

27. Utilized

54. Jets or Sharks, e.g.

Down

30. Muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel

55. Screwball

1. Give

59. Contends

2. To a remarkable degree

33. Emergency care given first 35. Compound radical, C6H13, used as a modifier for containing compounds 37. Ryan’s “Love Story” co-star

44. Anger, with “up”

3. Award

62. Handbag

4. Young unmarried†women

63. “E pluribus unum,” e.g.

65. Brawl

53. Bar, legally

66. “We the Living” author

41. Bind

67. Chip away at

7. Anticipate

42. Gillette product

68. Christiania, now

45. Tending to give in

69. “___ quam videri” (North Carolina’s motto)

8. Money demanded for the return of the captured

70. Gush 71. Harpy

11. Remaining after all deductions

Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.62) SUDOKU

5

8

3

9. Hawkish 10. “I had no ___!”

52. Narrow gorge with a stream running through it

49. Gown fabric 50. Maybelline mishaps

38. Compassion

51. Acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time

47. Informal term for money

5. Dadaism founder 6. Game played on a course with 9 or 18 holes

48. Fits†out again

46. Book part

55. Arid 56. Flight data, briefly 57. Women in habits 58. Fries, maybe 60. Money received from the state

12. “Trick” joint

61. Fill by packing tightly

15. 1940’s-60’s world leader

64. “What’s ___?”

RANDOM FACTS

7

1

Worcestershire sauce was invented accidentally by Brits trying to recreate the flavors in Indian food.

6

4

5

The Three Stooges worked fast. Early shorts were shot in just four days, while later adventures could be filmed in just two.

Not only are all automobile taillights in the U.S. red, they’re a specific shade of red (with a specific color wavelength and intensity) mandated by the federal government.

1 7 5

1

3

5

2

8

1

4

6

6

8 1

8

6

RIDDLE

9 8

I am not alive, but I grow; I don’t have lungs, but I need air; I don’t have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?

6

- Answer in the next issue

4 7

9

Advertise with us!

Contact Maranda Thurm for details.

1-405-974-5918

SEPT 19, 2013

SPORTS

Soccer

7

Soccer Starts important four game road trip Rick Lemon

Contributing Writer

The season might only be five games old, but UCO soccer is arguably entering its most important stretch for the year; a four game road trip including games against conference foes Missouri Southern State and Lindenwood.

With the Bronchos currently sitting at 2-3 on the season, this road trip could decide the complexion of the rest of the season and give a good estimation of

just how focused our team is.

The trip starts this Friday against conference rival Missouri Southern State University.

The Lions were able to get their first win of the season last Sunday, making them 1-3 to start the year.

The Bronchos will have to work hard to get through Missouri Southern’s stout defense. The Lions have only allowed more than two goals, once this season. Be on the lookout for the Lions offense to get to work early in this game

too, as their 28 shots last game is larger than the total of their other three games combined.

Missouri Southern will try and continue this offense against the Bronchos, Friday.

Next, this Sunday the Bronchos make stop number two of the road trip in Weatherford, Okla. to face the SWOSU Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are 2-11 on the season and have just been voted 24th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s weekly poll.

SWOSU is coming off of a 20-

1-1 season last year, where they were ranked as high as 8th in the NSCAA polls. The Bulldogs have nine returning seniors and are favorites to repeat as Great American Conference champions. For the Bronchos to do well, they will have to rely heavily on their defense that has played well this season and on the steady goal-blocking abilities of their goalkeepers.

The Lady Bronchos then get a week break to rest and get ready before they finish their road trip against conference

competitor Lindenwood in St. Charles, MO on Sept. 29 and Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas on Oct. 1.

The worry with these games is the quick turnaround, going from a road game in the Saint Louis suburb of Saint Charles and then having to drive directly from there down to Wichita Falls.

These four games can really turn the tide of the season for the Lady Bronchos and get them started in the right direction as conference play opens.

Volleyball

Record Start EDMOND (Sept. 17) – Central Oklahoma celebrated its 2013 home opener with a record-tying win Tuesday night at Hamilton Field House as the unbeaten Bronchos started Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play with a sweep of Pittsburg State.

Edgar Miraku’s crew improved to 9-0 in tying the 1994 team for the best start in school history. The nine straight wins is also UCO’s longest winning streak since a 12-match run in 2007.

“We had some up-and-down moments, but overall we played very solid and came out with a good win,” Miraku said. “Our girls were ready to finally play a home match and it was important to get our conference schedule started off the right way.”

The Bronchos indeed started the MIAA slate off right, overcoming small deficits in each set to complete its sixth sweep of the young season.

UCO had a solid .298 attack percentage, making 10 hitting errors to 21 for the Gorillas. Barbara Jackson led the Bronchos with 16 kills and 10 digs, while Juliette Smith hit .360 with 12 kills and just three errors in 25 attacks.

Freshman Allison Barr chipped in eight kills and Taylyn Schwartz handed out 37 assists in addition to making a team-high 15 digs. Tate Hardaker contributed in 13 digs and two service aces.

UCO trailed most of the opening set, but came on to take the lead for good at 18-17 on a Smith slam at the net that started a 4-0 run and Barr soon ended it with her fifth kill of the set.

The Bronchos went ahead 8-2 early in the second set only to see PSU rally to take a 13-11 lead, but UCO pulled even at 13-all and took the lead for good at 17-16 on a Gorilla hitting error.

PSU had a 10-9 lead in the third set when Smith’s hard-hit shot down the middle ignited a 5-0 run that ended with a Hardaker ace and put the Bronchos in control.

UCO goes back on the road this weekend for two league matches, traveling to Fort Hays State Friday and to No. 5 NebraskaKearney.

UCO women’s volleyball team huddles up between sets in their game against Pittsburg State on Sept. 17, 2013. Photo by Cyn Sheng Ling, The Vista.

Follow the Sports Writers

Bronchosports.com

@alitterell729

@ch_johnson91

@lemon_rick

8

SEPT 19, 2013

SPORTS

Football looks to bounce back against Emporia State Austin Litterell

Sports Reporter UCO will be looking to bounce back at home again this week when they face MIAA foe Emporia State.

The Bronchos come into this game with a 0 and 2 records on the season and in MIAA play. Emporia State comes into this game undefeated and will be looking to stay that way.

Good football teams have to be able to regain their focus following a tough loss. They need to get last week out of their minds and focus on the game this week. Coach Nick Bobeck feels his team has that ability.

“We have good kids that want to be successful. It is not difficult to get them focused on the next game.

We are very honest with them and they know what the expectations are, no matter what happened the week previous,” said Bobeck.

Emporia State is no slouch coming into this matchup. The defense will have to be able to handle another talented MIAA offense. The Hornets have a dangerous duo on of-

fense in quarterback Brent Wilson and receiver Austin Willis. Wilson has thrown for seven touchdowns in two games, five of which have been caught by Willis. The Hornets rolled up over 500 yards of offense last week against Nebraska-Kearney in a 34-21 victory.

“They are 2-0 and will be a tough matchup. We don’t have any easy match-ups on our schedule and will need to approach all of them with a great deal of focus,” said Bobeck.

The Hornets defeated the Bronchos last season 42-14, but the game was closer than the score indicated. UCO had plenty of chances on the road. The Bronchos had eight possessions inside Emporia’s 20-yard line that came up empty.

Four of those lost possessions were because of turnovers, so that will be a key for UCO in this one.

The Bronchos will need to cut out the mistakes, like turnovers and penalties, to keep up this season.

Another stat that has hurt the Bronchos this season, which they will need to improve on for this game, is their third down defense.

Too many conversions have result-

A crowd of students cheer on the Bronchos versus Pittsburg State on Sept. 14, 2013. Photo by Quang Pho Duc Phuong, The Vista.

ed in long drives. Sixty-two percent of third downs have been converted. The Bronchos have given up 18 conversions on 29 third downs, so far this season.

“Lowering the 3rd down conversion percentage is vital for us to be successful. Those are key plays that require a heightened sense of purpose,” said Bobeck.

The offense has converted on third downs 44 percent of the time, so it is important to increase that number to help keep the other offense off the field. Third downs on both sides of the ball will play a tremendous role in the outcome of this game.

UCO has shown the ability to move ball down the field. Joshua

Birmingham is off to an impressive start as well as wide receiver Marquez Clark. The X factor in this game will be quarterback Adrian Nelson.

The game is set for an evening kickoff, once again. Kickoff will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. at Wantland Stadium.

A cheerleader yells to the crowd through a megaphone to get them excited for the football game against Pittsburg State on Sept. 14, 2013. Photo by Quang Pho Duc Phuong, The Vista.

Runningback Joshua Birmingham, No. 21, goes out for a short pass from quarterback Adrian Nelson, No. 18 in the game versus Pittsburg State Sept. 14, 2013. Photo by Quang Pho Duc Phuong, The Vista.

PA S S P O RT T O

Mondays at 7:30pm, Pegasus Theater, Liberal Arts Building

Sept. 23 Shinobi: Heart Under the Blade (2005) 107 min. Directed

by Ten Shimoyama, based on the novel by Futaro Yamada, this film is the Romeo and Juliet of ninja lore, set between two rival ninja clans: the Koga and the Iga clans, two actual clans that changed Japanese history.

No fee, just show up and enjoy the films about Japanese culture and history.

Each film is worth one stamp on your passport. Seating is limited so plan accordingly and check often to see changes and updates.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T

www.uco.edu/central/passport/films.asp Co-sponsored by L.I.P. (Literature in Performance), a UCO Student Organization U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

C E N T R A L

O K L A H O M A