The Vista Jan. 11, 2011

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Campus Quotes

5 Things

iPhone Malfunction

Basketball

What is the most bizzare thing you saw or heard over the break?

The five things to know about getting this semester started right.

A software bug leaves thousands unintentionally sleeping in.

Midwestern State and the Bronchos battled it out this weekend, ending in a 68-61 UCO win.

JAN. 11, 2011 uco360.com twitter.com/uco360

THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.

Military

JOB MARKET PROMISING FOR MAY GRADS

By Brittany Dalton Staff Writer

WOUNDED SOLDIERS TAKE A SEAT TO COMPETE IN WARRIOR GAMES Thirty-eight wounded U.S. Army soldiers participated in a three-day camp, focusing on sitting volleyball skills. UCO was the host of the 2010 Sitting Volleyball World Championships.

P H OTO BY K AT H L EEN WEL L S

This May’s graduating class will have a more promising job market to look forward to, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The findings of the survey have shown that the job market, which had been hit hard by the recession, is beginning to improve in all regions of the United States. The findings state that employers expect to hire 13.5 percent more graduates from the class of 2011 than from the previous class.

Graduating Bronchos can expect to see signs of this prosperity close to home; while the West is the region reporting the largest hiring increase, the Midwest trails not far behind.

Beth Adele, director of Career Services, explains how Oklahoma was affected by the recession. “We have felt it in Oklahoma,” she said. “However, we are slowly but surely climbing out from that low point.”

Adele adds that different majors have been affected more so than others.

“There is a big push in the state in energy, so that benefits students majoring in math, science and even business,” she said.

“We lose the federal stimulus this year,” Adele said.

“That means that education majors must diversify themSgt. Daniel Lopez of Ft. Eustis, Virginia practices drills for the upcoming volleyball games. selves. But certain fields of education, like Special Educa- By Christie Southern / Staff Writer Warrior Games. tion, foreign languages, and The three-day camp focused on teaching and UCO hosted a sitting volleyball training camp math or science education are enhancing participants’ sitting volleyball skills last weekend for approximately 38 wounded, ill always in demand.” through individual and group instruction. On Friand injured U.S. Army soldiers from around the day, the soldiers were split into two groups and reworld to prepare them to compete in the upcoming

ceived individual training by Army and USA sitting volleyball coaches. On the second day of training, the athletes participated in a team-based training session and on the final day they held a round-robin tournament.

In the end, 10 will be selected to represent the Army May 16-21 during the second-annual Warrior Games held at the Colorado Springs, Colo., Olympic Training Center where 200 wounded service members from all branches of the military will compete in a variety of sports. The events will include shooting, swimming, archery, track and field, cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball. The competition is open to military members and veterans with bodily injuries as well as mental wounds of war, such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.

The Army will be represented by 100 competitors, chosen out of a pool of more than 9,000 active-duty soldiers recovering in Warrior Transition Units. The Marine Corps will send 50 competitors, the Air Force will send 25, and the Coast Guard and Navy will combine to send 25, according to the U.S. Department of Defense website.

“We like to focus on ability not disability,” Army Warrior Transition Command public affairs officer Erich Langer said about the motto they uphold for wounded soldiers.

“When we focus on ability, rather than disability, we see that physical fitness and sports can have a healing effect on the mind and on the body and on the soul,” admiral and chairman of the joints chief of staff Mike Mullen said during a press conference earlier this year. “The athletes that compete in the Warrior Games demonstrate that regardless of circumstance, physical fitness and a passion to win remain at the core of our military culture…and while these values are certainly important on the battlefield, they’re certainly important in the recovery process of our wounded, ill and injured troops.”

“If they can spend two hours not thinking about their injury, that’s two hours of freedom for them that helps them get back into an athletic and competitive setting and learn a new sport,” Kimo Aweau, military sports coordinator said.

He agrees that this training and competition help with the healing process tremendously.

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International

WEATHER H 32° L 16°

SCHOLARSHIPS SEND STUDENTS ABROAD

By Chantal Robatteux / Staff Writer

TOMORROW H 33° L 18°

More weather at www.uco360.com

DID YOU KNOW? In 2010, Forbes estimated Scrooge McDuck’s net worth to be $33.5 billion.

Good year for gold.

A new semester begins, and while some are getting back in the old routine, others will take a whole new step into a different lifestyle.

Marco Rodriguez, coordinator for the Centre for Global Competency (CGC), said eight UCO students will be studying abroad. Five of these students received a scholarship.

One student, Andrew Johnston, received the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Department of State, which is approximately $4,000, and four students received the Global Transformative Learning Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 each, which enables these students to study abroad. The money for the Global Transformative Learning Scholarship comes from the Office of Academic Affairs.

The four students who received this scholarship are Amanda Berry, Anish Peringol, Thai Linh and Naoma Serna. These students are going to France, Taiwan and Spain.

Rodriguez said it is very important for students to have global competency.

“Companies want someone who is bilingual; they want people who can overcome obstacles, who know how to set priorities, who are reliable, responsible and flexible. This is what you learn when you are in a study abroad program because you are out of your comfort zone and adapt to a new envi-

ronment,” he said.

He added as soon as the students come back, they will have a great advantage over those that did not go abroad nor speak another language.

“Also, there will be a lot of professional, as well as personal development,” Rodriguez said.

Amanda Berry, a Spanish major, will be going to Jaén University, a university in Spain.

“I hope to translate and interpret for hospitals here in the U.S. and hopefully in other countries,” she said.

She has studied Spanish since middle school and for one year in high school, and has completed three semesters of Spanish in college so far.

Berry said she decided to study abroad because she wants to learn and live the life of other cultures, specifically Spanish. “[Also,] I want to be emerged into the language.

There is no other way to really get to know and learn another culture unless you personally experience it. Also, I know that studying abroad will teach me more than any book ever will,” she said.

She said she applied for the scholarship shortly after she received the email on Oct. 25 which told her she was accepted to study abroad.

“I made an appointment to meet with Marco [Rodriguez] to discuss the scholarship and what I needed to do to get it,” Berry said.

When she found out she was one of the recipients, she was very excited.

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TODAY

Marco Rodriquez (left), coordinator for the GCC, holds the Spanish flag with Amanda Berry, one of the five who received a scholarship with the program.

“I just couldn’t stop smiling! This was my first scholarship to get and I was very happy and proud of myself. My parents were thrilled for me as well,” she said.

Berry used the money for her classes.

“I was very excited to have the option to spend my scholarship how I wanted and I knew it would benefit me most by paying for my classes first.”

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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.

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OPINION

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JAN. 11, 2011

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CAMPUS QUOTES

What is the most bizzare thing you saw or heard over the break?

ANNMARIE CLEAR

STEVEN SENKOWSKI

LAUREN SELDENRUST

Junior- Biology Education

Senior- Computer Science

Freshman- Nursing

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 150 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 e-mailed to vistauco@gmail.com.

STAFF

Management

Editorial

Jenefar de Leon, Editor-In-Chief Ryan Costello, Managing Editor Samantha Maloy, Copy Editor Chris Wescott, Sports Editor Garett Fisbeck, Photo Editor

Kory Oswald, Senior Staff Writer Cody Bromley, Staff Writer A.J. Black, Staff Writer Chantal Robbateux, Staff Writer Michael Collins, Staff Writer Brittany Dalton, Staff Writer Christie Rawlins, Staff Writer Josh Hutton, Staff Writer Nicole Ford, Staff Writer

Graphic Design Steven Hyde

Advertising Brittany Koster DeOren Robinson

Photography

Circulation

Editorial Comic

Jack Chancey

Prakriti Adhikari

Adviser

Administrative Assistant

Mr. Teddy Burch

“Pants-less New Year’s toast .” “People eating sushi in a Pizza Hut.”

JOVIN JOSE

SAJAN JOHN

Senior- Biology

Freshman- Biology

“My grandma told me that VICKS is the best acne medicine.”

ANTONIA FOMUNYAM

Sophomore- Pharmacy

Kathleen Wells

Tresa Berlemann

Editorial

THE CASE FOR POLITICAL CIVILITY

By Ryan Costello / Managing Editor Limitless questions follow an event like Saturday’s shootings in Tucson, Ariz., that killed six and left Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 13 others injured.

Questions of whether the alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, had too easy of access to the semi-automatic Glock 19 pistol he used to fire 31 rounds in 15 seconds. Questions of whether politics were the motive in Loughner’s actions. Questions of whether Lougner acted alone.

One question that needn’t be asked: Who’s to blame?

Loughner, and a yet unnamed potential accomplice categorized as a “person of interest” by investigators, are the only ones responsible.

Keeping that in mind, the deaths of U.S. District Judge John Roll, nine year-old Christina Green and four others offer some sobering perspective for those of the flame-fanning ilk that would listen.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is under widespread criticism for displaying the district held by Giffords, a Democrat, as one that she “targeted” for Republicans to retake in November’s mid-term elections. She marked each of the 20 districts on her list with a gun sight. But Palin is not alone.

Sharron Angle, the Tea Party-backed Republican who was defeated by the Nevada Democrat and Senate majority leader Harry Reid in November, implied that frustrated constituents could resort to “Second Amendment remedies” to deal with “Harry Reid problems.”

Rush Limbaugh likened President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler. Alan Grayson, a Florida Democrat, called his opponent Daniel Webster “Taliban Dan.” Of course, Palin wasn’t pulling the trigger. Neither were Angle, Limbaugh or Grayson.

But maybe now is a good time to rethink some of the strategies used over the air and at rallies.

“When politicians and news commentators use nasty, violent rhetoric, it revs up the base and it fills campaign coffers, but there are repercussions,” Daniel Shea of the Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. said to USA Today. “No one wants to make a direct connection between this fellow’s actions and a single political speech or event, but we have to worry about the climate.”

It’s unclear yet as to what exactly influenced Loughner to target Giffords, but what if someday words spoken to stir support ended up doing much worse?

The real question to ask now is whether American votes are worth mortgaging against American lives.

“I saw a chicken inside of a “I saw NASA in Houston.” turkey wrapped in bacon. It had 65,000 calories.”

“Someone still had Halloween decorations up during Christmas.”

By Pakriti Adhikari / Cartoonist

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NEWS

JAN. 11, 2011

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Take advantage of UCO’s new College Success Advisors. These are advisors that have been hired by the Liberal Arts Department to improve the advisor to student ratio. If you do not have time to see an advisor, don’t forget to utilize the online live support. You can get questions answered within minutes.

Meanwhile, keep your eyes and ears open for the Advisortrac (an appointment tracking and information management system, enabling students to schedule their own advising appointments online).

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Things to get the semester started off right

By Nicole Ford / Staff Writer

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Tired of working extra hours to pay for tuition?

The campus has already started posting scholarships, research funds, and grants opportunities and will continue to do so. It is important to frequently check your e-mail inbox, the student financial services website, and the bulletin boards in each department. If students do not apply for these awards, the foundations may think there is no use for them.

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UCO’s 2011 Spring Career and Internship Fair is coming to campus on Feb. 2. Students should come in professional dress and have updated resumes on hand. Career Services can help students with resumes and other careerrelated questions.

Due to a high demand, the Mass Communications department has added another Intro to Human Communications and Broadcast News course.

This will allow more students to get their requirements out of the way.

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If you are looking for something to do during Spring Break, look no further. UCO gives students a chance to travel, have fun and earn college credits.

Don’t hesitate because slots fill up quickly. Enjoy study tours to Wales and other cultural sites this semester.

Check any department and ask about upcoming study tours.

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The UCO Business Administration department has formed a team of qualified accounting students to help individuals tackle the hassles. The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is dedicated to providing free income tax preparation and e-filing for students, staff, and the public. The service is offered beginning Feb.1 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 105 and is on a first come, first serve basis.

MARTIN LUTHER KING ENTERPRISE ORATORY COMPETITION JANUARY 19, 2011 NIGH UNIVERSITY CENTER, BALLROOM C AT 2 P.M. Refreshments will be Served

For more information contact Multicultural Student Services at 974-3588

MARTIN LUTHER KING

DAY OF SERVICE JANUARY 17, 2011 VOLUNTEER WITH INFANT CRISIS SERVICES OR THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK

VISIT VOLUNTEER SERVICE LEARNING CENTER IN THE NIGH UNIVERSITY CENTER ROOM 212 TO SIGN UP For more information contact the Volunteer and Service Learning Center at 974-2621

TM

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA M U LT I C U LT U R A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S · A D E PA R T M E N T O F S T U D E N T A F F A I R S • U N D E R G R A D U AT E A D M I S S I O N S A M E M B E R O F E N R O L L M E N T M A N A G E M E N T • T H E D E PA R T M E N T O F M A S S C O M M U N I C AT I O N V O L U N T E E R & S E R V I C E L E A R N I N G C E N T E R · A D E PA R T M E N T O F S T U D E N T A F F A I R S

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NEWS

JAN. 11, 2011 P H OTO BY K AT H L EEN WEL L S

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JOB MARKET what a student ought to major in.

“We don’t push students into a field they won’t be interested in,” Adele said. “We’re not here to force students into something they hate.”

The average college student changes their major two to four times. Adele notes that this is natural, and a student need not stick to a major simply based on the amount of money For more information on the report, use your smartphone to scan this tag:

Beth Adele, director of Career Services at UCO, says that Oklahoma has felt the recession but it is now climbing out of it. Retiring Baby Boomers will open opportunities for this year’s set of graduates.

tronic portfolio, self-managed by students.

“We’re getting fewer recruiters who actively come to the university to seek out students.

The students have to go to them,” she said.

“Many people say ‘I’ll never go into sales,’ but every student does. You have to ‘sell’ yourself to the employers: what makes you better for the job than someone else?”

Lastly, the office offers help for students with their resumes. The office will accept and critique students’ resumes, and offer input.

This Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Nigh University Center Room 202, a seminar over resumes will be held.

“Human Resources professionals from various career fields will also be in attendance,

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WARRIORS

SCHOLARSHIP P H OTO BY K AT H L EEN WEL L S

it will guarantee, or the ease of the classes.

“I changed my major only once, from music performance to journalism,” Larsh said. “It had a lot to do with the prospective job market. Actually, there’s not a lot of jobs available for someone majoring in vocal performance.”

He added that, like the Career Services office encourages, he made his decision based on personal interests. “I like to write, that interest was there. It also seemed like something new.”

One thing the office encourages all students to do is seek out internships and practicums wherever possible.

“The graduate needs to make the effort wherever possible,” Adele said. “A job search is a full-time job.”

Career Services hosts an online database on which students can create a profile and elec-

P H OTO BY K AT H L EEN WEL L S

Bronchos, regardless of their major, can look toward their future with optimism- and many do- though they may not land their dream job immediately upon graduation.

“I’ll have to work at it and build my way up a bit. I think it’s unrealistic to hope for your dream job right out of college,” Ethan Larsh said. Larsh is a graduating senior, majoring in journalism.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to get a decent job with my degree,” he said. “I’m up in the air about what specifically I’d like to do, but I’m going to hope for the best. If I don’t get a job in the field of journalism, I’ll just find something else.”

Adele has seen students within the college of Liberal Arts experience career difficulties, though she notes the difficulty is not finding a job.

“The problem for Liberal Arts majors is that they have more difficulty finding their ideal job at the entry level,” Adele said.

Starting this January, the first of the “baby boomers” will start to retire. Adele said that this will open more job positions, but with a catch.

“They [employers] will want to replace those retirees with an employee who already has experience,” she said. “Experience is what will set a prospective employer apart, not necessarily their degree.”

Adele and the rest of the Career Services office are trained to help students in ways that include knowing the trends of the job market.

“For example…for journalism and broadcast students, there are many entry-level positions currently available,” Adele said. “You just start there and work your way up.”

The office of Career Services is centralized, meaning they can help students at any stage in their schooling. They help students with self-assessment, as well as trying to figure out

so the students can hear directly from their potential employers, what the employers are looking for,” Adele said.

For students who would like additional guidance on possible careers after graduation, the office has two counselors with their masters’ in counseling. The office, located on the third floor of the Nigh University Center in Room 338, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome on Wednesday afternoons.

“We are here for any student, whether they just need help in choosing a major, or are nearing graduation and would like to know about future careers. We are working for the student first,” Adele said.

Amanda Berry was one of five scholarship winners to study abroad by the Global Competency Center.

UCO became an official U.S. Olympic Training Site in July 2009, and has been an official U.S. Paralympic Training Site since 2005.

Athletes from the Warrior Games can go on to compete in the Paralympics, the Olympics-style games for disabled athletes. At the same time, the competition is considered a rehabilitative tool for troops with severe combat-related injuries.

“It feels like a great opportunity,” said Spc. Tim Martin from Fort Lewis, Wash., who suffered a spinal injury while serving in Baghdad. “It’s been a great experience altogether.”

This is Martin’s first time trying out for the team. Martin said being chosen to represent the Army at the games would be one of his greatest honors.

“It strengthens not only my body but my mind and emotions as well,” Martin said in regards to the athletic rehabilitation program.

At the inaugural games last year, the Army team took second place overall, losing their sitting volleyball match against the Marines.

If selected for the team, Martin expects to go all the way this year. The 2011 games already promise to be more competitive than last year.

UCO became an official U.S. Olympic Training Site in July 2009, and has been an official U.S. Paralympic Training Site since 2005. At Central, athletes can train for Olympic volleyball and archery, and any Paralympic sport. Currently, UCO hosts 16 resident athletes in the Paralympic sports of sitting volleyball, archery and track and field.

Rodriguez said the students will not live together because they want the students to experience the culture; furthermore, this way the students will not speak English which will help them with the foreign language.

She said she is the first in her family to go study abroad, and she will be going by herself.

“I am going alone and I do not know anyone attending Jaén, but I will definitely know some people after the first week,” Berry said.

While her mom is a little worried about her safety, her parents are happy for her as well.

“My father is very excited for me and he is impressed with my strong desire about studying abroad. Now my mother is very excited as well and feels the same as my father, but she worries about my safety. Which is completely normal and I know it is because she loves me,” she said.

Both her parents cannot wait for her to share her stories, “and speak to them in perfect Spanish when I return home,” Berry said.

She will stay one semester in Spain. “The semester is February-July,” she said.

Berry said she expects to learn everything about their culture such as food, art, museums, traditions, cathedrals and of course, the beaches. “[Also] I expect to make a lot of friends and sightsee over the weekends with them. I can’t wait to learn about the people and especially their family traditions. I also expect to be great at speaking their language,” Berry said.

She also said she hopes this will make her speaking and listening skills better.

“I know this experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am very lucky to get to live it. I know this will help my

future tremendously. I know I will be well experienced and I want people to see that. I want to be great in my professional career and use what I have learned in Spain and apply my skills here,” she said.

Also, she said she knows this will mold her into a much better person and make her see and understand the world.

“I want people to see that I have had a semester of studying abroad and I am knowledgeable, experienced and reliable. I want to influence others to study abroad and I want to advertise how great it is and how beneficial it can be,” Berry said.

She will leave Jan. 18, and will return sometime after the semester in July.

Berry said she will be staying with a host family and she is very excited.

“I have not yet heard anything about them, but I should within the next few days. I am happy to live with a family…I wouldn’t want to live in the dorms because living with a family will help with not getting homesick,” Berry said.

All of her classes are Spanish relative and she does have one class that will be taught in Spanish.

“I am a little nervous, but I know I will do just fine and the professor that is teaching it will accommodate me with additional help if needed,” she said.

She added she is ready to head to Spain.

Berry said, “I have waited all semester for this. Not to mention the two years before this semester I have been thinking about studying abroad. I can’t believe it is just around the corner. It’s like a dream come true and I can’t wait to share my stories and experience to everyone here when I get back!”

Rodriguez said about 70 percent of students who study abroad receive some kind of scholarship.

There will also be a Study Abroad Orientation Feb. 8.

NEWS

JAN. 11, 2011 Technology

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Opinion

IPHONE MALFUNCTION A WAKE-UP CALL FOR APPLE PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

Users of Apple’s latest iPhone were given extra hours of sleep on New Year’s weekend when the alarms on their phone failed to go off.

On New Year’s weekend, thousands of iPhone users awoke to find that their alarms had not gone off. The software bug has since fixed itself, but some users are still upset about the incident.

By Cody Bromley / Staff Writer While the iPhone has the ability to do many things, on New Year’s weekend, its alarm clock function took a few days off.

Starting on Jan. 1, owners of Apple’s popular smartphone noticed their alarms were not working. The issue spanned the globe, and yet the company has remained relatively quiet about the alarm failure.

“We’re aware of an issue related to non-repeating alarms set for Jan. 1 or 2,” Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison told media over e-mail.

The bug has since corrected itself, but not before causing a trail of problems. British newspaper The Daily Mail reported that due to the malfunction, thousands of Britons were late for work, flights and trains.

Teresa Witt, UCO senior Spanish major, was one of the thousands of affected iPhone owners who missed their alarms on New Year’s weekend. She missed her alarm, but she said it was not a big deal.

“I didn’t work until the afternoon that day, so I woke up early enough anyway. I missed taking my medicine on time because I set alarms on my phone to remind me,” Witt said.

She said that her iPhone’s alarm has since returned to normal.

Other users were hurt by the malfunction in much stronger ways, and many expressed their dissatisfaction online. In an open letter addressed to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, a Massachusetts woman claimed that the malfunction caused her to lose her job.

The letter, posted on news website The Huffington Post, was written by Lindsay Garvey, a 28-year-old server from Somerville, Mass., whose alarm did not go off and was fired from her job for tardiness.

“If you had warned me about the glitch, I could have at least picked up a $5, battery-operated alarm clock that would have

saved my job,” Garvey said in the open letter.

This is not the first time iPhone users have experienced alarm clock issues. Last November, some users were awakened an hour later than scheduled when the alarm clock had not adjusted itself for daylight saving time. Shortly after that incident, Apple released a software update that they said would permanently fix the issue.

Tech analysts have said that these latest incidents, the most recent in the series of alarm failures, will likely harm Apple’s reputation. Kyle Wiens, manager of the Apple repair site iFixit, said that this bug is actually an indication of how thorough the changes in the new software used by the latest iPhone are.

“Apple is having to do a lot of foundational work over again,” Wiens said, “they’re really going back and rewriting a lot of stuff from scratch.”

Witt said that her confidence in Apple or her iPhone have not shifted as a result of the alarm failure.

“Every software has glitches from time to time. Now if this was a regular occurrence, then my opinion would change,” she said.

For the extra safe approach, scan this tag to find alternative iPhone alarm clock apps.

OPINION LACED WITH

FACT

BY

A.J. BLACK A day is what we make it. The week could just as easily start on a Friday and then end on a day called ‘go cut yourself.’ And I think it is safe to say that none of us alive today had much input on how things were established, but it appears that most of us are more than happy to maintain order and preserve our past traditions.

However, the concept of time is not completely made up. The universe is subject to laws, and the patterns and motions of the celestial bodies could be compared to the inner workings of a clock. The calendar, most holidays, and time in general are concepts that the human race has developed to reflect the movements of the earth and moon in relation to the sun.

Many holidays began as celebrations surrounding the changing of the equinox or growing seasons. Today they mean increased sales, fourth quarter earnings, and a three day weekend. But regardless of their original intent, or even the overwhelming exploitative force behind big business, to many the holidays still symbolize the one or two times a year when people can get together with family and friends or be coerced to sit through a sermon without snoring.

As we continue to progress technologically and steadily develop more ways to alienate each other, the holidays take on a more important role in maintaining the deteriorating bonds of friendship and kinfolk alike.

When everything is going by so fast it comes at you in a swirl of blurs and indistinguishable color it is easy to rely purely on instinct. To keep moving is victory enough, since there is little time left to think about anything else but surviving.

We live in a world that revolves at a break-neck pace and keeping up is appropriately metaphored as a race of rats. There are bills to pay, lovers to meet, and deadlines to push. We have appointments and responsibility and when a breath of fresh air begins to take shape on the horizon it may just turn out to be a mirage, as something important will surely arise unexpectedly and show up to spoil a good time.

So, whether it is Christmas, Thanksgiving, or a New Year’s resolution, the important thing is not that it should take place on a Tuesday at midnight, the third Sunday of a particular month, or the moment when the stars happen to align with the coming Age of Aquarius. In fact, it doesn’t have to mean anything at all.

We shouldn’t need an excuse to sit back and relax. It is a scary feeling when you realize that you have given so much of yourself to a job or an endeavor that when you finally do find the time to breath you don’t know what to do with yourself. We should ask ourselves When did it get to the point when the only times we are able to do things for or with the people we care about are when we are told it is the appropriate time of year by our employers, institutions, and government? When did our lives begin to revolve around an hour commute, a half hour lunch break, and a one week vacation out of fifty-two working weeks a year? At what point did we simply become wageearning consumers and quit being the things that make us uniquely human?

I am starting a new holiday. I like to call it: It Can Wait, I’m Busy Being Lazy and Kickin’it with the Famdamily Day or Two, or possibly a week – I will get back to you; A holiday for heroes.

- Light it Up, A.J. Black

NEWS WITH A FLASH

On Monday, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observe a moment of silence for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and the other victims of an assassination attempt against her. The shooting at a town hall-style event outside a supermarket in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday left six dead, including a federal judge, and critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin waves to the crowd following her inaugural speech at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Monday, Jan. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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EMPLOYMENT

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JAN. 11, 2011 CROSSWORDS

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John Batterson Stetson improved upon the basic design of the ten-gallon hat by formHefner Grill, Hiring all po- ing the brim so that it kept the sitions. Apply within. wind out of his face, and the rain off of his neck. He also allowed for an air chamber above the head to help keep it cool, and constructed the hat in such a way that it could be used to haul water and fan Hiring for waitstaff, busers, fires. dishwashers, host, bar tender.

Apply in person at Northpark Google, the Internet search Mall (NW 127nd N. May) af- company founded in Septemter 5:30 pm. 749-0120 ber 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, got its name from the word Googol, which represents number 1 followed Need college student to pick with hundred zeros after it. up 7th grader after school and drop off at home.M-F, pickA sardine is not a species of up is at 3:15, except Tue is fish, but a name that can apat 4:00. Generous salary. Call ply to many small varieties of Karen at 201-1331 if inter- pickled fish, including herested. ring and pilchard.

Shogun’s Steak House Of Japan

Help Wanted

From 1908-1927, the price of a Ford Model T decreased Now hiring part-time serv- from $850 to $300, owing ers at Ron’s in Edmond. Sat- mostly to improvements in urdays are a MUST! Come in the manufacturing process. to apply, 216 S Santa Fe Ave. Francis Galton, the inventor of fingerprinting, had many other notable ideas: SERVICES the weather map, the phrase “nature vs. nurture,” and the silent dog whistle.

Help Wanted

The Language Company - Edmond

The first automobile accident in the U.S. happened when a car struck a bicyclist in New York in 1896. The driver spent the night in jail, Conveniently located on the and the cyclist suffered a broUCO campus, offers English ken leg. as a second language classes for international students/inWorcestershire sauce was dividuals. NOW FEATURING invented accidentally by Brits a specially designed program trying to recreate the flavors with: Strong emphasis in lis- in Indian food. tening/ speaking, highly interactive classes, and a new and Both of Baltimore’s major improved TOEFL program. league sports teams have bird Enjoy small classes and the nicknames (baseball-Orioles campus facilities. Contact us and football-Ravens); both at (405) 341 - 2125 or www. franchises relocated from oththelanguagecompany.com er cities, and both were formerly nicknamed the Browns.

FUN FACTS

Clifton Keith Hillegass is the “Cliff” behind Cliff’s Notes. He started his company in 1958 when he published 16 Shakespearian study guides.

Hawaiian Punch was originally developed in 1934 as a tropical flavored ice cream topping.

Tuesday Island, Wednesday Island, Thursday Island and Friday Island all exist in the Torres Strait off the coast of Australia.

Fifty years ago, the average man first became married at 23, and the woman at 20. Today, those ages have increased to 27 and 25, respectively.

GET CONNECTED GET CONNECTED

UCO UCO 360 360 COM COM

Across

Down

1. Follow 4. Stellar 10. Affirmative action 13. Endure 14. Garam ___ (Indian spice mixture) 15. “Much ___ About Nothing” 16. Black cat, maybe 17. African animals similar to giraffe 18. Abbr. after a name 19. Very short dress 21. What “it” plays 23. Arm 24. Tennis great Gibson 27. Coquettish 28. Burgle 31. Great height or amount 32. Indic language of the Marathas 34. Aquatic plant 35. Decides beforehand 38. ___ du jour 39. Spoiled 40. Deer meat 42. Title given to monks 43. Alliance that includes Ukr. 46. Milk protein 47. Trash hauler 49. Sun, e.g.

50. Attacker 54. Doublemint, e.g.

56. Chicken 58. “Don’t bet ___!”

59. “... ___ he drove out of sight” 60. Hispanic girl 61. “Do ___ others as...”

62. Armageddon 63. Stubbornly oldfashioned 64. Blonde’s secret, maybe

1. Half mask 2. For all to see 3. Magical wish granter 4. Crazily 5. “The Open Window” writer 6. Boris Godunov, for one 7. Absorbed 8. “Aladdin” prince 9. Finally 10. Water pipe for smoking 11. “___ to Billie Joe” 12. “i” lid 13. Strip 20. A specific violin (abbrev.)

22. Nearby 24. Like some arms 25. Baker’s dozen?

26. “Bingo!”

29. Salem’s home 30. Object passed by relay runners 31. Bit 32. One’s area of expertise 33. Big ___ Conference 35. “Guilty,” e.g.

36. Released after money received 37. Poets’ feet 38. Polymers used in plastic pipes 41. Fortunetellers 43. Small, narrow opening 44. Set aflame 45. Begin 48. For all to hear 50. A chorus line 51. Tried to get home, maybe 52. Spiritual, e.g.

53. “Shoo!”

54. “Fancy that!”

55. Ashes holder 57. “Dig in!”

SUDOKU

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.85)

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DEC 9 ANSWERS CROSSWORD

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TARGETED. FLEXIBLE. EFFECTIVE! Contact us: (405) 974-5918 or vistamedia@yahoo.com

7

SPORTS

JAN. 11, 2011

7

UCO Hockey

By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor The No. 18 UCO hockey team got some encouraging news over winter break when they learned that a familiar face would be rejoining the roster for the remainder of the season. Last year’s senior Erik Jansen discovered in November that his freshman season was credited with only two games, making him eligible to return to UCO and play for a “second” senior season.

“Erik actually had petitioned the (American Collegiate Hockey Association) when he found that he had a chance to get his first year back,” UCO head coach Craig McAlister said by phone from Indiana following the Bronchos’ 6-1 win over Indiana University on Saturday. “According to the statistics, Erik Jansen only played in less than 10 games which puts him less than 20 percent needed for redshirt.

So the commissioner sent me an eligibility email saying that he could play again.”

Jansen has quietly put together a solid career in a Broncho uniform. Starting in 2007, Jansen appeared in 36 or more games in each of his last three seasons with UCO. Jansen posted seven goals and six assists during his sophomore campaign in 2007 while appearing in 36 games.

In 2008, Jansen’s numbers improved.

While he scored only six goals, his assist total jumped to 13. But it was Jansen’s senior season in which the forward out of Lindenhurst,

Ill., peaked.

Jansen suited up for UCO in 39 games last season, scoring a career high of nine goals, while adding 11 assists.

It is on special teams where Jansen excels.

During his three full seasons as a Broncho, not including his freshman year, Jansen scored six shorthanded goals and two power play goals.

He is widely considered one of the better penalty killers the Bronchos have had.

Jansen’s return to the Bronchos comes at a critical point in the season. Ranked No. 18 in the nation, UCO is an unofficial four spots out of the playoff bracket. With a young roster, dominated by freshman and underclassmen, UCO has lacked the maturity level they enjoyed last season.

Coach McAlister believes Jansen brings back some of that lost leadership and maturity.

“I think he’s a natural born leader for us.

He brings a lot of energy and brings a lot of maturity to the roster and that’s going to help out these guys.”

The Bronchos swept Indiana last weekend, outscoring them 12-2 in two road games.

UCO begins a four-game home stand this weekend. They host No. 6 Arizona State on Thursday and Friday night at 7:30 p.m. They host Navy on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. All UCO home games take place at Arctic Edge Arena in Edmond.

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

JANSEN RETURNS TO NO. 18 BRONCHOS

UCO’s Erik Jansen (15) splits the Oklahoma Sooner’s defense in a game at Arctic Edge Arena in Edmond last season. Jansen is scheduled to make his return to the Bronchos’ lineup against No. 6 Arizona State this weekend at home in Edmond. Jansen has 52 career points for Central Oklahoma.

Continued from page 8

PHOTO BY PHOTO SERVICES

SOFTBALL

UCO softball head coach Genny Stidham (above) plays catcher and warms up the pitcher in between innings in a game last season.

The Lady Bronchos will then head to Durant to compete in the Southeastern Oklahoma Classic where they will play six games over the course of three days. From Durant, they head to Canyon, Texas, where they are entered in the West Texas A&M Triangular with West Texas A&M and Texas A&M International.

The last of four tournaments to begin the season will be in Joplin, Mo. UCO will compete in the Teri Zenner Classic against Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern State.

March 15 will be the first home contest for the ladies as they host Missouri Western State after competing on the road for nearly a month. The game against Missouri Western State will be the first of seven straight home contests, which includes a doubleheader against rival Fort Hays State.

The Lady Bronchos will open up the month of April in the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament in San Angelo, Texas. They will compete against six different teams from the state of Texas during the LSC tournament.

The team will head home after the Crossover to finish the season with a two-day contest with rival Southwestern Oklahoma State before preparing for postseason play.

UCO should be able to improve their 3221 record from last season as they enter the season with two seniors and eight juniors.

Stidham is in her fourteenth season with UCO and has led the program to two Lone Star Conference championships as well as a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series in 2006.

Her record with the school is 342-246-2 and she has made the Lady Bronchos a contender for the conference title year in and year out.

Senior outfielder Megan Bentley will be one of the veterans on the young team and should be the starting leftfielder. Her teammates will look for her to be the team leader as well. The other senior on the team is a transfer who should help bring power to the offense. Infielder Brooke Walters hit nine home runs last season with the Southwestern Oklahoma State Lady Bulldogs and was an All-American pick as a freshman at Seminole State University where she hit .381 with 16 home runs.

She will be looked upon to provide the same power as she did at her two previous schools.

Junior pitcher Rachel Steverson is one of the best pitchers in the Lone Star Conference and should post big numbers in the 2011 season. The 2010 All-LSC North Division standout will be counted on as the staff ace this season and will be looked upon for leadership as well. If the Lady Bronchos can make it through the brutal start to the season, the team should be able to make a run at the Lone Star Conference championship and at the Division II World Series.

8

SPORTS

JAN. 11, 2011

UCO Basketball

FIGHT TO THE FINISH

By Michael Collins / Sports Writer This past Saturday, UCO men’s basketball team took on Midwestern State in a game that came right down to the wire. Leading by only four at the break, the Bronchos were able to hold off a late charge and sink some clutch free throws in a 68-61 win.

With only two losses on the season thus far, the Bronchos entered Saturday’s game riding a three-game winning streak. On the other side, Midwestern State had won their last 12 games.

The first half was back and forth as neither team led by more than four points, and as always, they were led by Dauntae Williams.

Williams had nine points and seven boards, both first-half team highs. The Bronchos also got help from their bench with Shane Carroll and Tucker Phillips adding eight and seven points respectively.

Both teams were having trouble hitting the bottom of the net in the first half, with each squad shooting an anemic 37 percent. And while the Bronchos did not help their cause at the free throw stripe (12-21), they were able to take a four-point lead into half time thanks to a late bucket by Carroll that put the Bronchos up 34-30.

The Bronchos came out after halftime and wasted no time in building on their lead, as Williams took a pass from Brent Friday and knocked in a layup just five seconds into the half. Williams ended the game with 24 total points, and a career-high 15 rebounds. He also was the only Broncho to reach the double-digit mark.

The Bronchos biggest lead of the game came when Williams sank a floater and pushed the lead to 11. Midwestern State was able to battle back to within six and with the score 59-53,

that would be the closest they would get for the rest of the game.

Thanks to some good free throw shooting by an unlikely source, Jarrod McDaniel, he was able to sink 7 of 8 to help preserve the win.

“It was a tough, physical game between two teams who weren’t going to back down from each other,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “I thought we played hard the whole game and did a good job defensively in getting them out of what they were trying to do.”

Thanks to the defensive win, UCO brought its record to an outstanding 14-2, and will be looking towards a Lone Star North Conference battle with Southwestern Oklahoma State this Wednesday. Southwestern was only able to manage 38 points in the loss to Angelo State this past Saturday. They are 11-7 overall, but should still provide a tough test for the Bronchos.

GAME NOTES UCO brought its home winning streak to 17... Midwestern State’s 12 game winning streak ended Saturday... Dauntae Williams brought his season average up to 22.7 points... UCO is scoring 82.8 points per game while holding their opponents to 68.9 points per game...

BOX SCORE: Central Oklahoma..... 34 34 68 Midwestern State...... 30 31 61 Leading Scorer: Dauntae Williams (UCO) 24 points 1 assist 15 rebounds Chris Hagan (MSU) 18 points 6 assists 3 rebounds

BACK ON WINNING TRACK

By Michael Collins / Sports Writer Coming off two straight home losses, the UCO women’s basketball team got back to winning this past Saturday against Midwestern State. Their 74-67 win was hard-earned and was not without its tight moments.

With a 6-5 record coming into the game, UCO was desperately looking for answers.

They found three. Ashley Beckley, Courtney Allen and Britney Morgan decided it was time to take charge, and that is just what they did.

Coming into the game averaging a team leading 20 points per game, Beckley scored 20 points on 7-16 shooting, and also adding 11 rebounds.

Coming off one of her worst games of the season, Courtney Allen poured in an astounding 23 points, which just happens to be a new career high. She was spot on all night from downtown, hitting 5-7 shots from three-point range. She also added some clutch free throws down the stretch and ended the game shooting 6-7 from the charity stripe. Allen had been averaging just over 10 points per game this season.

“Courtney had a great game and really carried us,” UCO coach Guy Hardaker said.

“That was a big win for us and one we really needed. We made some big plays and got help from a lot of different players.”

Morgan also decided to light it up from behind the arc. She finished the game shooting 4-5 from 3-point range, in route to scoring 15 minutes in 36 minutes of play. Morgan tied a season high for points.

While the Bronchos were led by their big

3, the game was never really in hand until the final minutes. UCO led by 11 at halftime but Midwestern State kept battling. Led by Kirsti Degelia who scored 20 points, and Nolisha Markham who added 16, both helped keep the game from reaching blowout status.

With just 46 seconds to go in the game, Degelia put in a layup to bring Midwestern State within four at 69-65. That would be the closest they would get as UCO knocked down their free throws to seal the deal.

Midwestern fell to 4-8 on the season and extended their losing streak to three games, while the Bronchos sure looked like they finally found their rhythm.

The Bronchos will take on Southwestern Oklahoma State this Wednesday, in a game that will pit the 8-4 Bulldogs against our 7-5 Bronchos. Southwestern is coming off a tough loss to Angelo State, a game that saw the Bulldogs get rocked by 19 points.

While only 3-3 at home, the Bronchos are actually 3-1 on the road this season, a stat that could favor UCO in their matchup in Weatherford. SWOSU is only 2-2 in their last four home games.

BOX SCORE: Central Oklahoma..... 39 35 74 Midwestern State...... 28 39 67 Leading Scorer: Courtney Allen (UCO) 23 points 1 assist 6 rebounds Kirsti Degelia (MSU) 20 points 2 assists 4 rebounds

UCO Softball

SOFTBALL SCHEDULE SET

By Trey Hunter / Sports Writer The UCO softball program released their schedule for the 2011 season on Dec. 23, which should be a challenge for the Lady Bronchos.

The schedule is loaded with away games and tough rivalry matchups. The team, led by head coach Genny Stidham, will have to open the season up with 21 consecutive road

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

BRONCHO SWEEP

games, which will prove to be the toughest stretch of the season. They open up in Tahlequah, where they will compete in the RiverHawks Classic hosted by Northeastern State. They have two contests against the University of Nebraska at Omaha followed by two contests against Northwest Missouri State to finish the tournament.

Continued on page 7

Tucker Phillips (5) leaps up to block a layup attempt by Midwestern State’s Charlie Logan (23) in UCO’s 68-61 win on Saturday.