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Campus Quotes
Health
Basketball
Wrestling
Why did you get out of bed this morning?
The National College Health Assessment reported that 48.7 percent of college students get 3-5 days of rest per week.
UCO’s men’s basketball won their 19th win.
The UCO wrestling team was trounced by the No. 1 ranked University of Nebraska-Omaha last Friday in Omaha.
student voice since 1903.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A mammoth winter storm bigger than some Midwest cities have seen in years slogged toward the nation’s midsection Monday as the region geared up its defenses against a potentially deadly mix of sleet, snow and ice that could affect a third of the nation. While record snowfalls have pounded the Northeast in what’s shaping up to be one of that region’s most brutal winters, the Midwest has been comparatively unscathed. Not this time: Up to two feet of snow was forecast for some cities, and the storm was expected to carve a frigid path from Colorado to New England by week’s end. For now, officials are urging residents in the storm’s path to stay put. The Oklahoma Blood Institute sought immediate blood donations, saying while its current supply is adequate, it could run low if the storm results in a significant slowdown in donations for a couple days. Freezing drizzle coated roadways across the Plains. A school bus slid off the road in a south Kansas City, Mo., school district, slightly injuring two students. A Wisconsin state trooper was struck and seriously injured while directing traffic around another accident, while the Minnesota State Patrol reported more than 200 crashes statewide. Forecasters predicted between 12 inches and 16 inches of snowfall in Columbia, where the university’s men’s basketball team prepared to leave a day early for a road game at Oklahoma State University scheduled for Wednesday night in Stillwater. After burying the Midwest, the storm was expected to sweep into the Northeast, parts of which already are on track for record snowfall this winter.
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DID YOU KNOW? Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn’t added until 5 years later.
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FEB. 1, 2011
FEBRUARY STARTS WITH FREEDOM By Nicole Ford / Staff Writer Tuesday is the observance of a day set aside for Americans to reflect on the liberation of slaves, equality for the unequal, the reuniting of relatives and freedom for all. Feb. 1 is National Freedom Day, which commemorates the day President Abraham Lincoln signed a resolution proposing the 13th Amendment in 1865. The amendment states, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States…” During the time Harry Truman was president he signed a bill, making the first day of February the official National Freedom Day in the United States.
“It’s a day for everyone to come together and realize that the United States is a place of freedom,” Brittany Martin said. She also mentioned that it was a great day to encompass everyone’s feeling of freedom, and not just a certain race or ethnicity. Martin is the President of the Diversity Roundtable at UCO. “I think what he did was very courageous, during that time specifically. With all that was going on, with slavery being such a hot issue at the time, it took a very courageous and mature person to realize that everyone needed to be treated equal. And he realized that he had the power to make something of that sort happen and I’m happy that he did that,” Martin said. According to the America’s Library
website, “The purpose of this day is to promote good feelings, harmony, and equal opportunity among all citizens and to remember that the United States is a nation dedicated to the ideal of freedom.”
Black History Month Event Highlights • “Black in America” panel Wed Feb. 3 12pm - NUC 300 • NPHC Black Faculty / Staff Appreciation Day Thur Feb. 4 8:30am - NUC 202 • NAACP Super Bowl Party Sun Feb. 7 5:00pm - Commons Clubhouse • Black History Month - Keynote Address Wed Feb. 10 2:00pm - NUC Will Rogers • NAACP Health Care Forum Thur Feb. 18 7:00pm - NUC Will Rogers • 34th Annual Big XII Conference on Black Student Government Feb. 24 through 27 - Columbia, MO AP PHOTO
International Students
A COMMUNITY OF MANY COUNTRIES Every Thursday, students from various home nations get together to share in a community that reaches beyond borders. The event gives American students a chance to expand their view of the world, and for international students a chance to learn from their local peers. By Chantal Robatteux / Staff Writer “Conversation Café” is a weekly event where a group of International students, American students, and people from the community gather over food for conversations, and sometimes to play games. “Conversation Café” takes place every Thursday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Nigh University Center cafeteria. Kerby Goff and Kathryn Spurgeon had the idea for “Conversation Café.” Goff said they wanted to create a setting on campus that was neutral and a place where students can meet and International students can practice their English. “It’s essentially a place for people to meet other cultures, to improve conversational skills and to connect to the community.” Goff said. He added anybody who is friendly, wants to make friends, and likes people from other countries can attend “Conversation Café.” Goff helps to coordinate with people from the community, to advertise, and he also coordinates the Thursday night activities. Ryan Watson, an International Business major from Owasso, Okla., said he found out about “Conversation Café” through Goff last year. “Kerby told me about people of different cultures getting together on Thursdays and I went to it,” Watson said. Watson decided to continue going because he made a lot of new friends and built relationships. “I like seeing them every week and it’s a good time to relax and chill and hang out with people from other countries and to learn about cultures and languages; you can learn everything about the students here. It’s just an environment to hang out and have a good time,” Watson said. He added he can’t remember how many people he met through “Conversation Café.”
Watson said, “Oh wow, I met, oh, a couple hundred by going Thursday nights, and I still talk to a lot of them, to some who have moved back to their country, and to those who are still studying here. I kept in touch with as many as I can through facebook and Skype.”
“It was a great chance to meet new people and another way to improve my English with a native speaker.” Watson said those who are interested can join them in playing games, or just sit and talk. “We sometimes play games with those who are interested, such as catch phrase, and Yahtzee, today we did a picture telephone game; there are different games we play each week, and sometimes we do karaoke.” Watson has also spent time with some of these students outside of “Conversation Café.” “[…] With these students, I have actually done something outside of the actual “Conversation Café,” for example we take them to our house, have dinner, show them around, we go to coffee shops, just different things with different students; just show them they have a friend here and that people care about them,” he said. One of the International students attending “Conversation Café” is Ali Alfaraj, a student from Saudi Arabia. Alfaraj said he found out about the “Conversation Café” through a friend in Edmond who always talked about it and told him he should go as well. Alfaraj said, “It was a great chance to meet new people and another way to improve my English with a native speaker.”
He added he attends the “Conversation Café” every week. “I come here weekly every week and it [lasts] about two hours. I think it’s not enough, one day and two hours, I’d like to have it every day instead of every week.” He has been going to “Conversation Café” since last year, and has been in Oklahoma for one year and one month. “[Conversation Café] helps me a lot, it helps me find people from all over the world and it helps [me] improve the language, and you also learn about the cultures from the new students.” He has met more than 20 people, and also tries to keep in touch with them via facebook and Skype. Alfaraj said, “I recommend this to all the students, whether they are from Edmond or not, they have to come and meet new friends so they can build relationships and get to know a lot of things about other cultures.” Goff said there are also some outside activities […] and every winter they go to an International Student Conference, the next one will be in Washington, DC.
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The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, semi-weekly during the academic year except exam and holiday periods, and only on Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained. EDITORIALS Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO.
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OPINION
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FEB .1, 2011
‘‘
CAMPUS QUOTES
Why did you get out of bed this morning?
KELSEY HERBERT
KAILEN SANDERS
LEE RUNNELS
Senior-Psychology
Sophomore-Family Consumer Science
Chic-Fil-A Employee
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“The diversity on campus and “I don’t know, just whatevmy sorority Zeta Phi Beta.” er.”
“Came to work to make some money to feed my kids so I don’t have to pay child support. And that’s what’s up, and I’m gonna need you to understand that.”
MICHAEL SANCHEZ
DAVID JENKINS
JESSICA WILSON
Freshman-Kinesiology
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Editorial
DESPITE CRITICS, POLLS SAY STATE OF THE UNION IS A HIT By Josh Hutton / Staff Writer Throughout the State of the Union address, amid courteous applause and formal reverence, inevitably the camera would find the rolling eyes and furrowed brow of John Boehner, speaker of the House. Despite President Obama’s message of sensible pragmatism and general optimism, Boehner made his discontent drip tangible from the television screen. As the speech grew closer to conclusion, the Speaker’s irritation festered. After the final cluster of claps, Boehner took only moments to reinforce his visual disagreement with verbal disdain, criticizing Obama for having “accelerated the job-destroying spending spree in Washington.” The staunch criticism was not echoed by polls conducted by CNN and CBS. CNN’s poll (made up of 39 percent Democrats, 19 percent Republicans and 42 percent Independents) found 84 percent of its participants had a positive reaction to the address. Similarly, CBS’s survey uncovered 91 percent of watchers viewed the speech favorably (consisting of 44 percent Democrats, 25 percent Republicans and the 31 percent Independents). Boehner was joined at the reins by several party members, including Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee and Tea Party sympathizer, Rep. Michelle Bachmann. Ryan focused primarily on the issue of health care and spending, claiming, “We are at a moment, where if government’s growth is left unchecked and unchallenged, America’s best century will be considered our past century.” Bachmann also attacked economic policy, calling the status quo a time of “exploding debt unlike anything seen in American history.” Bachmann talked the government down, and encouraged a proclamation of liberty from the citizens of this country. Though economic concerns are vital, the timeliness of these criticisms seems misplaced. Obama did make the economy a major point in his speech, proposing a federal freeze of discretionary funds for five years, a refocus of infrastructure, and continuation of clean energy, but the theme of the speech was America’s need to “Race to the Top.” Obama spent the bulk of his address on improvement for educational systems, proposing a replacement of No Child Left Behind, and replacing annual adequate progress checks with career and college-ready evaluations. By establishing a naysayer frontline, popular Republican party members have only fueled the ever-growing us-versusthem mentality debasing political and societal progression. The doomsday depictions the three Republicans employed are far removed from the vision of President Obama. Due to globalization, the world stage is constantly evolving, demanding a nation to push education and technology if it wishes to remain a dominant player.
“Because there are so many “To improve UCO and go to girls and only so much Regulation and Antitrust.” time. Pi K A.”
“Because Sigma Kappa made macaroni and cheese for lunch, and it’s like Christmas.”
By Pakriti Adhikari / Cartoonist
NEWS
FEB .1, 2011 Health
3
Opinion
PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK
REST RECHARGES MIND, BODY
ASK NDREW BY
A.J. BLACK Ashley Nelson: How much do you love me? Enough to justify being crucified. Alan Chaple: Jeeves, where’s the valet parking? In the rear. Watch your back ;)
The spring 2010 National College Health Assessment reported that 48.7 percent of students only get enough sleep 3-5 days a week.
By Cody Bromely / Staff Writer The start of a new semester means getting back into the old routines. One of the routines college students are known for not keeping up with is sleeping. Studies by the National Institute of Health, the National Sleep Foundation, and other groups have shown that sleep has a direct influence on the body in several ways. Dr. Diane Rudebock, associate professor and wellness management health studies coordinator, said sleep is necessary for survival. “If we don’t stop our bodies, our bodies will stop,” Rudebock said. The necessity of sleep has many reasons and among them is the body’s ability to normalize itself. Rudebock said essential hormones are produced during sleep that regulates the body. Depriving the body of these can have short and long term effects, some of which can be fixed with a change in sleep patterns. The National Institute of Health’s guide of sleep said that problem sleepiness can have serious consequences. Last year, Discovery Channel’s MythBusters set out to test the effects of sleep deprivation versus that of alcohol intoxication. Two of the show’s co-hosts drank enough alcohol to get their blood alcohol content to 0.08 percent, the legal
limit, and then took driving tests. Then after staying awake for 30 hours straight, they retested. After the tests, the hosts came to the conclusion that sleep deprivation had a more dangerous effect on a person’s driving abilities than alcohol. Beyond driving abilities, sleep deprivation has been shown to lead to problems with critical thinking, learning, and memory, all of which that affect the success of a student. UCO’s Healthy Campus Initiative puts out a report on student’s healthy behaviors as determined though self-assessments. The 2008-2010 health report says that the average UCO student has a 78 percent chance of not getting the right amount of sleep five nights out of the week. The American College Health Association pairs the effects felt at UCO with national data from their spring 2010 National College Health Assessment. That report found that 48.7 percent of students polled said they were only getting enough sleep to feel rested 3-5 days a week. The national assessment also asked students to name the things that impacted their grades. Ranked the highest in total percent was stress, followed by sleep difficulties, anxiety, cold/flu/sore throat and relationship difficulties. Rudebock said that it is not a coinci-
dence that sleep deprivation, stress and the other items are high on the list. “What we know now about lack of sleep is that it causes stress, anxiety, there’s some research now looking into your immune system being diminished because of lack of sleep, and relationships because it affects your mood,” Rudebock said. Fixing sleep deprivation may only require a small change to a person’s current routine. A 2003 study found that women who exercised for 30 minutes in the morning had an easier time sleeping at night than those that did not. Rudebock recommended cutting afternoon caffeine as well as doing lighter activities in the evening as a way to tell the body it was time for bed. Rudebock said that even she, a self-proclaimed night owl forced to live in a “day world,” has had to adapt her sleep cycle to meet her schedule. Fixing a broken sleep cycle takes time, and the National Institute of Health says that the best way for a person to adjust is by changing the hour of their bedtime by one or two hours a night until back on a normal cycle. NIH says that humans work best on a cycle where they sleep at night and act during the day, and fixing a sleep cycle can stop a decrease in cognitive and motor skills.
Health
TRENTA TO TRUMP VENTI After losing customers to convenience stores and fast-food chains who offer larger drinks, Starbucks is fighting back with the introduction of its new “trenta” size. For fifty cents more, customers in select states now have the option to upgrade their drinks (cold drinks only) to the 31-ounce size. The trenta is seven ounces larger than the venti, which was the previous largest size. The trenta made its January debut in fourteen states, mostly in the South: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and Oklahoma. The “super size” drink had been introduced in test markets located in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Tampa. It will make its nationwide debut on May 3. Questions are being raised, however, about the caloric value the drink is sure to contain. The now-extinct Supersize soft drinks at McDonalds were over 410 calories, while most venti size drinks have already outstripped that number. Starbucks claims that the trenta size in unsweetened drinks will be below 100 calories, and that sweetened will only be around 200 calories. This is despite the fact that venti sizes exceed this amount. The Canadian National Post also reports that the trenta size, 325 milliliters larger than the venti, may be too large. It reports that at 916 milliliters, it is actually larger than the average stomach capacity. An average person’s stomach capacity is 900 milliliters. “It’s America and it’s constant need to super-size everything,” Allie Laske said. Laske is a freshman majoring in music education. “That much coffee at once can’t be good for you.” Laske generally buys a grande size, which is 16 ounces. She notes that a grande size coffee is sufficient. She also said that price can be a major factor. “With the prices already high on a grande, I wouldn’t get that large a size. I think I would only buy a venti. The venti is more than sufficient.” Another point for consideration is that Mississippi, one of the states in which the trenta makes its early debut, topped the
Anish Peringol: How do you do it? Let me tell you a little something I have picked up about doing your thing. If you want to have a chance at happiness, then you have to follow through with the things that you want to do or accomplish with your life. You don’t start out smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, and you aren’t going to be Jimi Hendrix if you never make a point to practice, and learn how to play the guitar consistently over a prolonged period of time. With anything we want to master it is necessary to begin by imitating and learning the basic lessons and intricacies of whatever venture we seek. Whether it is a musical instrument, or the instrumentation of the English language, it is the same concept. After figuring out what you’re not, you may be that much closer to being an individual and finding your own voice. If you are willing to do your own thing, then you will have to realize that you can’t please everybody. Self-affirmation is power. Experience is power. And finally, with no apologies, you may do it the way you do it, and if they can’t handle it, then they can go do it elsewhere… Facebook: What’s on your mind? You’re beautiful, but someday you’ll die. 405.293.3ASK
www.facebook.com/askandrew
P H OTO BY K AT H L EEN WEL L S
By Brittany Dalton / Staff Writer
Ashley Nelson: Are humans the cancer of the world? Yes and no. Humans aren’t born bad or good, they are born with needs. I am not certain that there is such a thing as human nature; at least not in the way that it is carelessly thrown around to explain many social norms. If you have never heard of a “feral” child, then you should look it up. A human, when completely cut off from communication with society will grow into something very different than what we would consider normal. The evidence shows that after a certain point of isolation from the civilized world the feral child will always remain something only vaguely recognizable as a human being. I was not raised by wolves, but I can be somewhat of an animal. However, war, crime, competition and sin are not necessarily natural. They may merely be symptoms of a means that fill the needs of beings, from the most basic to the most extremely extravagant. Whether you think that the human race is unique and separate from other species or not, doesn’t change the fact that we are the only living creatures, which we know of, that can either positively or negatively impact our environment directly. So, if you consider exploiting the earth for all of its resources, leaving trash lying around, poisoning the water, air, and crust a bad thing, then maybe we are a cancer. Either way, there may be a cure, but then what fun would that be. Then again, maybe we have underestimated the Earth.
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Kimber Watson sips on a cup of coffee Monday morning in between classes.
list of fattest states in 2010. It has been ranked first in the nation in obesity for the past six years in a row. Alabama, another “early debut” state, had tied for second fattest state. Four other states on the “early debut” list for the trenta have high rankings on the obesity list: Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Oklahoma. Laske said the push for a larger drink may not be wise, and that people should be careful with their calorie intake. “That’s a lot of coffee,” she says. “It’s a lot of coffee, and it’s a lot of money.”
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CLASSIFIED
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
Server Positions Available
Help Wanted
FEB .1, 2011 CROSSWORDS
Near UCO, Walking distance, 2 bed, 1 bath, pool. Hefner Grill, Hiring all po- $540.00. 340-8147 sitions. Apply within.
Shogun’s Steak House Of Japan
Help Wanted
Student to clean small office, General housecleaning. Afternoons. Near UCO. Must Hiring for waitstaff, busers, be dependable, trustworthy, dishwashers, host, bar tender. do quality work. Call ConnieApply in person at Northpark 641-0712 Mall (NW 127nd N. May) after 5:30 pm. 749-0120
Help Wanted
Housekeeping Openings, Bed and Breakfast across from Now hiring part-time serv- UCO. Also need couple/team ers at Ron’s in Edmond. Sat- for B&B cottages in country urdays are a MUST! Come in south of Guthrie. Mid-day to apply, 216 S Santa Fe Ave. hours. Must work all weekends and school breaks. Apply in person/ 328 East First
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Sells 15+ hours per week. Outgoing with retail or customer experience. Work around school schedule. Call Tim 751-1745 Tuxedo Junction Quail Springs Mall
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Edmond answer service operator, type 45 wpm, parttime evening positions available. $11 per hour. call for information 285-4316
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In home daycare needs sub/ assistant afternoon help Monday-Friday. Please call Valerie 388-7034
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Edmond Wine Shop has part-time positions available for AM and PM shifts. Heavy lifting required. Some Saturday shifts required. Must be 21. Apply in person @ 1520 S. Boulevard. No phone calls please.
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SERVICES
The Language Down Across Company - Ed1. Gone 1. “i” lid mond 5. Golden Horde member 2. “-zoic” things Conveniently located on the UCO campus, offers English as a second language classes for international students/individuals. NOW FEATURING a specially designed program with: Strong emphasis in listening/ speaking, highly interactive classes, and a new and improved TOEFL program. Enjoy small classes and the campus facilities. Contact us at (405) 341 - 2125 or www. thelanguagecompany.com
ELC English Language Center
Prepares International Students for University Programs TOEFL GMAT. Located next to the UCO Plaza 1015 “C” Waterwood PKWY infro@elcok.com and www.elcok.com 348-7602
RENT
Counseling agency seeking dependable part-time and full-time support staff. Must be able to work evenings until 8pm and Saturday mornings. Rent a bedroom. $325 inPlease email resume to zran- cluding utilities. No Pets. dall@teampathways.com or 1812 Raquell Road, Edmond. contact (405) 605.8282 for 990-2920 additional information.
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10. “Minimum” amount 14. Sundae topper, perhaps 15. Any detergent plant 16. Way, way off 17. Hawaiian tuber 18. Used for engraving 19. Bluenose 20. Practices of investing things with symbolic meaning 23. ___ gin fizz 24. “Thanks ___!” 25. Organic†compound containing CONH2 28. Toni Morrison’s “___ Baby” 30. Something unspecified 34. Bow 36. Back talk 38. Stop on a crawl 39. Political†entity in Europe that began in 962 and lasted until 1806 43. “... ___ he drove out of sight” 44. Cap 45. Bookstore section 46. Femme fatale 49. Employment 51. Ashes, e.g. 52. “I, Claudius” role 54. Air force heroes 56. Culture with values opposed to those of the established culture 62. Artificial bait 63. “The Hobbit” hero Baggins 64. Boosts 66. Fishing, perhaps 67. “Enchanted April” setting 68. Birdbrain 69. “Beowulf” beverage 70. Force units 71. And others, for short
3. Ethereal 4. Unpleasant or disastrous destiny 5. Ban 6. Charm 7. Spelling of “Beverly Hills 90210” 8. Orange-red crystalline compound used in dyeing 9. Kidney-related 10. Yellowstone sight 11. ___-American 12. Acquire 13. Units of work 21. Bedim 22. Deck (out) 25. Contents of some urns 26. Native New Zealander 27. More distressing 29. “Remember the ___!” 31. Ill will 32. Black-and-white diving bird 33. Doesn’t ignore 35. Bon ___ 37. Dash 40. More†than half of the votes 41. Bach composition 42. Win approval or support for 47. The Muses, e.g. 48. After expenses 50. Mock scepter carried by a court jester 53. Bid again 55. Supplies or feeds to surfeit 56. Chowder morsel 57. Yorkshire river 58. Used as fertilizer 59. The Kennedys, e.g. 60. Brawl 61. Icelandic epic 65. Costa del ___
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SPORTS
FEB. 1, 2011
5
UCO Men’s Basketball
19 WINS AND COUNTING By Michael Collins / Sports Writer The UCO men’s basketball team added another blow-out to their record, with a 94-56 win over East Central University for their 19th win on the season. The Bronchos came into their game this past Saturday riding an eight-game winning streak, and with the struggling Tigers looking to right their ship, UCO brought their A-game. The game could not have started out any better for the Bronchos as they went on a 20-2 run right off the back. After missing their first three shots from the field, UCO caught fire. Junior guard Tyler Phillips knocked down a couple of trey’s during the game opening run. After UCO’s initial push, East Central actually clawed their way to within striking distance before the first- half buzzer sounded. Although UCO led at halftime by the score of 31-22, ECU actually outshot the Bronchos 33 percent to 27 percent. “We came out and played some great defense early to get a big lead and then really didn’t do much the rest of the half, especially offensively,” head coach Terry Evans said. “We did a better job in the second half and hit a lot of shots we missed early.” The Bronchos came out after halftime and completely throttled the Tigers. After scoring just 31 points in the first half, UCO put up 63 points in the second half. ECU only managed 34 points in the second half, which was an improvement from the first half but not nearly enough to keep up with the Bronchos.
UCO hit 60 percent of their shots in the second half including 43 percent from downtown. UCO completely dominated inside the paint as they scored 40 points from down low while ECU was only able to manage 28 points. The Bronchos also got 30 points off turnovers which kept the Tigers from being able to garner any consistent attack. All-American Dauntae Williams once again led the Broncho’s in scoring with 22 points. Williams shot 50 percent from the three-point range, and also was able to grab 10 rebounds, and added four assists for good measure. Williams became the 38th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau for his career, including just the 10th to accomplish that in two years. Phillips also lit the Tigers up, scoring 18 points in just 23 minutes worth of playing time. Phillips went 3-6 from behind the arc, and was perfect from the free throw line. Brent Friday and June Carter added 10 points apiece, While Carter led all bench players in scoring, the Bronchos actually got 35 points out of their bench. The Bronchos will be in action again Wednesday night against Northeastern State University. This will be the last game on the Bronchos current home stand before they play four straight on the road. If you have not checked out the Bronchos yet, you only have two games left to do it as that is all the home games they have left.
UCO Baseball
RYCROFT ADDS POWER
Broncho right fielder Austin Rycroft #17
By Trey Hunter / Sports Writer The UCO baseball program has made numerous key additions over the offseason. They hired a new head coach (Dax Leone) and added former Tuttle High School standout Trent Scrivner. However, the biggest impact could come from the right field spot rather than pitcher or coach. Former Edmond Santa Fe standout Austin Rycroft is returning home to play for Central after spending the past two seasons at Seminole State. Rycroft spent the past two seasons at a perennial powerhouse junior college where he showed just what kind of power he can deliver to an offense. In 2010 he hit .300 with eight homeruns and 21 runs batted in. If he can have the same success at Central as he did as a Trojan, the Bronchos lineup should be very tough on opposing pitchers. “Austin will definitely provide some power for us in the middle of the lineup,” Leone said. “He will find himself either in the three hole
or the cleanup spot. He can really swing the stick and I’m excited to see him at the plate this year.” Rycroft will more than likely be patrolling right field this season. His arm strength and fielding abilities could have an impact for Central’s defense. The Bronchos pitching staff will be able to work on the inside part of the plate because a base hit to right field might not score a run from second base with Rycroft’s arm strength. Advancing a runner from second to third will be a challenge as well because like most right fielders, he can make that throw with ease. “He’s a great athlete and coming from Seminole really gave him a lot of experience,” Leone said. “There’s no secret that Seminole State is a powerhouse junior college. He’s got a very strong arm and a really great bat. He will definitely be a star for us.” Rycroft played high school baseball at state powerhouse Edmond Santa Fe. As a Wolf, he displayed plenty of power and athletic ability which landed him at Seminole. Playing close to home could be at Rycoft’s advantage. His family will be able to travel to more games and he will have a lot of friends from Edmond as well. Sometimes when players are more comfortable with their overall surroundings, they are more comfortable on the field. Leone has brought in plenty of potential with players like Rycroft. He will be teamed with guys like Scrivner, Taylor Brown and Arrow Cunningham who are all players that can really provide a lot of flexibility with a team. He can move guys around in his lineup and make position adjustments if necessary. There is a lot of talent spread around the diamond at Broncho Field. Central hosts Eastern New Mexico in the first three-game series of the year. It will be the first conference matchup of the year as UCO plays 36 of their 50 games against Lone Star opponents. The Bronchos and Greyhounds get the season under way at 2 p.m. on Friday then again at 1 p.m. Saturday as part of a double header.
LADY BRONCHOS SNEAK BY EAST CENTRAL BOX SCORE: Central Oklahoma..... 35 46 81 East Central............... 36 40 76 Leading Scorer: Heather Davis (UCO) 21 points 6 assist 4 rebounds Indhira Ramirez (ECU) 12 points 0 assists 3 rebounds
Game NotesUCO outscored ECU 28-14 in the paint. Ashley Beckley scored 12 points in 22 minutes of play. There were 10 lead changes during the game. UCO won its 7th straight game, and they maintained thier North Division lead.
All-American Dauntae Williams has continued to dominate throughout this entire season. His 20-plus point average will most likely carry the Bronchos to the playoffs.
6
SPORTS
FEB. 1, 2011
UCO Wrestling
P H O T O B Y VA L E R I E S E B E S T Y I E N
IT’S WORTH THE PRICE TO PAY By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor James Price is a 22 year-old from Edmond who is like any other sports fanatic. He enjoys cheering on his team, is quick to offer a few select words to the players when they’re down and is always looking to help out. Price is currently working with the UCO wrestling team. He holds a manager position with the Bronchos, helping with equipment and any other needs the team might have. “He’ll come in and he’ll help our manager Kevin Davis out with stuff,” UCO head wrestling coach David James said. “If we need to get equipment, towels, different things, whatever needs to be done in our wrestling facility he’ll help and administrate with that.” James said Price goes beyond any ordinary manager in his support of the Bronchos. “He’ll help sometimes with just comments and he’ll listen to the coaches a lot and he’ll throw some instructions and coaching tips out there to our wrestlers.” “He’s just… a motivator. He wants to see our wrestlers do well and he’s a joy.” Price was diagnosed with autism when he was about two-and-a-half years old. He has difficulty communicating his wants and needs and has trouble with his speech. Price’s mother Margo Price considers her son to have a very high functioning form of autism. Price can read and write and take care of himself. But his mother said he will never be able to live on his own or drive a car. But he looks past his autism and is very friendly and very sociable. Price may have trouble communicating, but when I met him, it was clear to me that he had no problem being a polite young man. He shook my hand when I met him, and told me to have a nice day as I left. If anything, Mr. Price showed me that he was even more cordial than the average 22 year-old. It is his friendly attitude that has drawn people to him like moths to the light. “There might be a day when one of our wrestlers or even one of our coaches come in James Price watches as the matmen wrestle in a home match earlier this year. Price and we may be a little bit down,” James said. was diagnosed with autism nearly 20 years ago and continues to work with UCO “(Price’s) smile, or one comment from him kind of brings you back to, ‘hey, I feel pretty sports. good.”
“James rubs off on you that way, it’s just… instant.” Price has a long history of being around sports teams. In high school at Edmond North, Price worked with the UCO baseball and wrestling teams and has worked with the UCO baseball and wrestling teams in college. He is also very active in playing sports and participating in activities himself. “He’s on a baseball team, so he plays ball,” Margo said. “He’s on a basketball team for Special Olympics, he bowls with the Special Olympics bowling team, he swims with the swimming team so he’s very actively involved. He sings in a choir, plays drums and he’s won all kinds of gold medals in the Special Olympics and such. He went to the national Olympics this past summer in Lincoln, Neb., with bowling and won the gold medal. Two gold medals and a silver up in Lincoln.” Price takes his life in stride and pours his heart and soul into everything he does. The UCO wrestling team is very appreciative of him and the team considers him more than just a manager. They consider him a friend. “In those moments in wrestling practice when you think it’s hard or it might get too tough, James always has something to say,” former UCO wrestler Colby Robinson said. “He just keeps going and just keeps you on your toes. There’s been many, many James Price stories since I’ve been here and he’s one of my good friends and one of my buddies.” “He’s excited about life, there’s really not one word that can explain James. If James doesn’t touch your heart, then nobody will. He’s a special person, and there’s a special place in the kingdom for him.” “He’s always there to cheer us up when we’re down,” UCO wrestler Cody Dauphin said. “He brings the bright and the life into the wrestling room. Everybody is pulling weight and tired and he’s always there to cheer everybody up and giving us a hard time. James is really fun to have around.” The Bronchos are one of the top teams in the nation and have a long tradition of excellence. James Price is just another chapter in the storied history of UCO athletics and hopefully, the chapter is just beginning.
UCO Wrestling
By Trey Hunter / Sports Writer The UCO wrestling team was trounced by the No. 1 ranked University of NebraskaOmaha last Friday in Omaha. The Bronchos were out-worked on the mat and suffered a 33-7 loss and only managed two wins. The loss is coming on the heels of a 21-15 loss to No. 15 Nebraska-Kearney University on Thursday. The Bronchos had won 10 straight duels before receiving two losses in a row. Sophomore standouts Trison Graham (133 lbs.), ranked No. 7, and Derrick Adkins (165 lbs.), ranked No. 8, were the only wrestlers to capture victory for head coach David James’ squad. Graham won the second match of the night and Adkins won after Nebraska-Omaha
opened up a 14 point lead. The Bronchos were pinned in two of the 10 matches and freshman Cory Dauphin ended his 13-match winning streak as he lost to top-ranked George Ivanov. Kelly Henderson, Nathan Sigman and Jarrett Edison lost in close matches by a total of four points. The Bronchos also lost a match by forfeit at 141 pounds. The No.1 ranked Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks improve to 6-1 while the fifth-ranked Bronchos fall to 12-4. Central finishes off its Nebraska-Missouri swing as they face the University of Central Missouri on Thursday in Warrensburg, Mo., before traveling to Marshall, Mo., to compete in the Missouri Valley Open on Saturday.
125 – Cody Tyler, UNO, pinned Zach Housley, 133 – Trison Graham, UCO, major dec. Trent Cox, 11-3. 141 – Mario Morgan, UNO, won by forfeit. 149 – Esai Dominguez, UNO, dec. Austin Standage, 14-7. 157 – George Ivanov, UNO, dec. Cory Dauphin, 5-3. 165 – Derrick Adkins, UCO, dec. Nathan Sigman, 3-2. 174 – Ryan Pankoke, UNO, dec. Kelly Henderson, 3-2. 184 – Aaron Denson, UNO, pinned Tanner Keck, 197 – Matt Baker, UNO, dec. Jarrett Edison, 3-1. Hvy – Taylor Escamilla, UNO, dec. Cody Da
PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK
BRONCHOS PINNED BY NO. 1 NEBRASKA-OMAHA
UCO wrestling fell to No. 1 ranked University of Nebraska-Omaha last Friday. Central travels to Warrensburg, Mo. on Thursday to compete against Central Missouri.