The Vista Feb. 15, 2011

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Campus Quotes

Economy

Campus Life

Hockey

How far would you go for an A?

Obama’s proposes 2012 budget cuts.

UCO to form a Hogwarts chapter.

Bedlam series set for this weekend.

student voice since 1903.

Staff Writer

The state of New Hampshire is at odds with HB 176, a bill that sets out to alter one word that will cast out many voters, primarily college students.

Supporters of the bill are focused on changing the definition of the controversial word “domicile.” The bill was introduced on Jan. 6, and is due out of committee on March 10.

Currently, the election law states that students of age have the right to vote at meetings and elections. It also states that any resident’s domicile for voting purposes shall be the most recent place where he or she is an adult or where his or her parents or legal guardians with whom he or she resided as a minor established a physical presence manifesting an intention to maintain that place as his, her, or their principal and continuous place of physical presence for domestic, social and civic purposes. Therefore, to register to vote at this moment, there is no minimum period of time individuals are required to live in the state of New Hampshire before being registered. People can register as soon as they move into their new district. However, residents must be 18 years or older on Election Day, a United States citizen, and must register 10 days before any election.

“I would argue this interest falls short of compelling, and the restriction imposed by this law is quite severe and not narrowly tailored,” UCO political science professor Keith Eakins said.

UCOSA APPROVES LEGISLATION TO INCREASE STUDENT ACTIVITY FEES PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

By Nicole Ford

uco360.com twitter.com/uco360

THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S

NEW HAMPSHIRE BILL COULD LIMIT STUDENT VOTING

FEB. 15, 2011

UCOSA presiding officer Thomas Lewis II (center) instructs the opposing side of the HJR 10201 debate over the proper debate procedures for the UCOSA session. Opposing and supporting sides had ten minutes each to debate the issue.

By Kory Oswald / Senior Staff Writer The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association approved legislation on Monday, Feb. 14 that could increase the Student Activity Fees by more than $10.

House Joint Resolution 10201, passed 100-29, with three abstentions, and will next go to a campus wide student body vote.

If students approve the increase, the SAF will increase from its current $8.25 per credit hour, to $19.00 per student, per credit hour.

The UCOSA vote was held after 20 minutes of debate from both opposing and supporting sides of the SAF increase. However, at the beginning of the UCOSA meeting, a question and answer session with David Jenkins, UCOSA president pro tempore and the bill’s author, was denied a five-minute

extension, even though many were in favor of the motion.

The student body vote on the SAF increase is scheduled for March 1. Students will be able to vote via UCONNECT. Voting times will be announced later this week.

If students approve the increase, the board of regents will decide whether of not to increase the SAF sometime in April.

Transportation & Parking

UCO PROPOSES PARKING REBATE

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WEATHER TODAY

H 66° L 49°

TOMORROW H 74° L 53°

More weather at www.uco360.com

DID YOU KNOW? The aorta of a blue whale is large enough for a human to crawl through.

UCO is considering offering students a chance to save money on parking decals.

A recent survey issued by the UCO Transportation and Parking Services asked commuting students if they would be open to parking only in Lots 1, 2 and 3 if they were given a rebate on the cost of their parking decal. Lots 1, 2 and 3 are all located east of Wantland Stadium along Chowning Avenue on the northeast side of campus.

The results of the survey, according to Mike Sokoff, director of Transportation and Parking Services at UCO, showed 50 percent of the 386 participants were against the proposal while the other 50 percent were either in favor of the proposal or waiting to hear how much the rebate would be.

The program in question has not yet been finalized, and would be voluntary. No more than 421 rebates would be offered, equal to the amount of parking spaces in Lots 1, 2 and 3. The amount of the proposed rebate has yet to be determined, but it could be anywhere from half to full price, as long as the student follows a few expectations.

“You would basically sign a contract with us that says, ‘O.K., I’m going to park in one of these three lots for the fall semester and if I don’t get a ticket for parking any place else on campus, then at the end of the semes-

provided and the meeting is free to all.

“This meeting is a chance for [Transportation and Parking Services] to present a few new proposals they have been working on to students and get their feedback,” Parks said. “After their presentation, they will open up the floor for a Q&A session about the new proposals or anything else they may be concerned about that is transportation or parking related. The main focus of this event is to get student feedback.”

Sokoff said that this proposed rebate was inspired by the parking problems experienced last year, which can be attributed to UCO’s rising enrollment. According to Sokoff, many students complained when Students will be given an opportunity to ask questions during the Feb. they were forced to use Lots 1, 2 and 23 symposium in the Carl Albert Room in the Nigh University Center 3 after other lots had been filled. The regarding the proposition of a parking permit rebate. rebate is designed to be an incentive ter I could receive, say, $50,’” Sokoff symposium through commuter stu- to use the lots, which Sokoff says are said. dent services to discuss this issue consistently underutilized.

Though Transportation and ParkIf a student were given a ticket for with students and explain the proing Services has also received comparking outside of the assigned lots, posal more completely,” Sokoff said. plaints from students over the sugtheir rebate would then become null “There is nothing that’s concrete, gested rebate, Sokoff said this stems and void, according to Sokoff. How- there is no definite plan in place at from a lack of understanding. ever, students who sign up for the re- this point in time to do anything, “Based on the survey results,” Sobate in the fall would also be allowed we’re just trying to get feedback and koff said, “there were some people to sign up for another rebate in the input from the students.” who didn’t understand that it was a spring semester without buying a The symposium is scheduled for voluntary program, who didn’t unnew decal.

Feb. 23 in the Carl Albert room in derstand that it was something you Students will be given an opportu- the Nigh University Center from 1-2 could opt into.

They felt like maybe it nity to ask questions and express any p.m., according to Rachel Parks, cowas just a restrictive measure that we concerns on the proposition. ordinator of Commuter Student Serwere going to take.”

“We are going to host a parking vices at UCO. Refreshments will be PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

By Ben Luschen / Contributing Writer

THE VISTA 100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034 (405)974-5549 editorial@uco360.com

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. 15, 2011

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CAMPUS QUOTES How far would you go for an “A”?

QUE COBURN

JACOB NEWTON

MATT BLUBAUGH

Junior-Public Relations

Senior-Business Education

Junior-Political Science and Geography

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

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

Circulation

“How far would I need to go, “I would stay within ethical sir?” boundries.”

“I would work within the best of my ability and within the ethical and honorable means, but there are loopholes there for a reason.”

DEMARCO GUILLORY

JENNIFER JOHNSON

RACHEL DUNN

Sophomore-Political Science

Senior-Theater Communications

Freshman-Nursing

Photography Garett Fisbeck, Photo Editor Kathleen Wells

Bill Southard

Editorial Comic

Adviser

Prakriti Adhikari

Mr. Teddy Burch

Administrative Assistant Tresa Berlemann

Editorial

THANK YOU, UCO PHYSICAL PLANT

By Ryan Costello / Managing Editor The annual violent winter storm for 2011 seems to have come and gone.

Well deserving of its litany of pet names “snowpocolypse,” “snowmageddon” and others, the storm that the Associated Press referred to simply as a “monster” lumbered across the nation, and was followed shortly by its younger brother only days later.

More than a foot of snow gathered on the Oklahoma plains, leading to nearly a week of classes lost at UCO. Also among the casualties were three issues of The Vista and just about every syllabus on campus.

Students were at home, enjoying their second winter break.

Ditto professors. The typically bustling food court, bookstore and other facilities in the Nigh University Center were eerily silent.

The campus was essentially a Siberian ghost town. At least it would have been.

The sole reason the campus still had some life, and likely the only reason it was safe to navigate when classes resumed despite some still-sputtering snowfall, was the work done by the university’s Physical Plant services.

Some were warm at home, others were on makeshift sleds or enjoying other forms of leisure, some more wholesome than others, but some people still had to come to work.

A symphony of shovels and fun-sized dozer engines rang through the otherwise empty campus as waves of snow were shoved aside to make way for students.

It was, of course, still cold.

Wind chills ducked into the negatives, temperatures rarely hurdled 20 degrees, and what did one Physical Plant worker say?

“It was colder in Germany.”

Sure, some will argue that applauding the campus’ laborers for a good, if frigid, day’s work is praising a group only for doing what they are paid to do.

Just a thought: It’s one thing to do your job on a daily basis.

It’s a completely separate, and more admirable achievement to do your job when the rest of the city around you has shut down.

The folks that populate the campus when no one else will deserve a pat on the back.

So maybe, just for a little while, pick up the trash you’d usually leave, refrain from walking on the grass even if you’re in a hurry, and above all, just say “thanks.”

“Dude, I would damn near “Not very far... actually sell my soul.” study.”

“Not that far.”

By Pakriti Adhikari / Cartoonist

NEWS

FEB. 15, 2011

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THE PROPOSED 2012 FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS PLANS TO SAVE $75 BILLION Approximately $22 billion would come from a five percent cut in discretionary spending at non-security agencies. Departments that will be hit the hardest are Health and Human Services, Transportation, Education, Housing and Urban Development and Justice. The bulk of the potential 2012 cuts-$54 billion- would come from eliminating or trimming progrmas that are performing poorly and unnecessary, including youth mentoring programs.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ($4.1 BILLION)

TRANSPORTATION ($4.0 BILLION)

EDUCATION ($2.5 BILLION)

HOUSING & DEVELOPMANT ($2.1 BILLION)

JUSTICE

($1.4 BILLION)

The Office of Management and Budget said agencies will: • Shed excess properties and facilities.

• Improve productivity through greater reliance on information technology.

• Streamline operations, such as by consolidating expensive data centers.

• Cut or reduce programs contributing little to their agencies’ missions.

• Reduce improper payments.

• Consolidate contracts to achieve better bulk discounts on popular goods and services.

• Reorganize staffs to be more efficient.

FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS

Campus Activities

By Cody Bromley / Staff Writer After a day of chocolates, teddy bears and other symbols synonymous with Valentine’s Day the feeling of love on campus will not stop there. Campus Activities and Events is sponsoring “Paint the Campus Pink” to benefit women living with breast cancer throughout Oklahoma.

The week kicks off Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. with the Big Pink Rally near Broncho Lake. At the rally will be music, volleyball and breast cancer education.

“We didn’t want it to be overcast by Valentine’s Day,” Courtney James, assistant director of Campus Activities and Event and Big Pink advisor, said.

On Wednesday, faculty and staff are invited to dress down into jeans and pink with a $5 sticker to celebrate “Pink Day.” James said that dress down is modeled after United Way dress down days that faculty and staff are invited to participate in, but students are invited to wear pink all during the week. Wednesday evening, the UCO community is invited to “Paint the Stands Pink” as UCO’s Women’s Basketball team takes on Texas Women’s University at 6:30 p.m. in Hamilton Field House. The game is also a “pink zone” game women’s basketball team, and throughout the game there will also be breast cancer in-

formation and giveaways.

The last event of the week is “Paint the Mic Pink” in the Nigh University Center Starbucks during Student Programming Board’s regular Open Mic Night on 7 p.m.

Feb. 17. Performers will have jars to collect money for breast cancer charities, and the performer with the most money at the end of the night will open for Renee Yohe of To Write Love on Her Arms when she comes to campus later this April along with music artist Howie Day. Next week, pink spirit continues with the 1st Annual Big Pink Volleyball tournament. Also sponsored by campus activities and events, teams will play volleyball with a four-foot wide pink volleyball to raise money for breast cancer charities. The excitement around the tournament begins with a kick-off event by the clock tower on Feb. 24 featuring free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and a Susan G. Komen for the Cure representative.

The registration deadline for teams is Feb. 24 at the kick-off event, or in the Campus Activities and Events office by 5 p.m. that day. Teams will be organized into different divisions (Greek, Faculty/ Staff, Club, Residence Hall, UCO Sports and Independent) and they may be as small as four people, or as big as ten people, with only a maximum of six people on the court at a time. The registration fee is $5 per

P H O T O B Y R YA N C O S T E L L O

CAMPUS GOING PINK FOR CANCER AWARENESS

Students walk past pink ribbons Monday. The ribbons are on display as part of “Paint the Campus Pink” week. Events are scheduled all week to raise money and awareness for breast cancer charities.

person, and shirts are $10. All the money raised from the event will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and additional donations will also be accepted.

The rules of the game are very much like that of regular volleyball, with only three hits per side, no person hitting the ball twice in a row, and no hitting the net or stepping over the middle line during a play.

The single elimination tournament begins Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and will go until March 3. As the event is being held in the Wellness Center, participants and spectators will need a valid UCO

I.D. to enter. Registration packets are available at www.uco.edu/bigpink as well as in the Campus Activities and Events office NUC 424.

James and her office have been planning both “Paint the Campus Pink” week and the 1st Annual Big Pink Volleyball tournament since October. She said she felt it was important because statistically one out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. That statistic applied to UCO means that 1,172 of UCO’s female students could potentially be diagnosed with breast cancer.

“When you go into a room, or

you go to a sorority meeting, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. That is why we wanted to bring it to UCO,” James said.

To get more information on the first annual Big Pink Volleyball tournament, scan this tag

Download the app at gettag.mobi

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NEWS

FEB. 15, 2011

Campus Events

By Christie Southern / Staff Writer The laundry is piled high and one miniature pink sock is left behind on the carpet that has Cheerios spread like sprinkles on a cupcake.

The vacuum cleaner stands in the corner as a reminder of something that will not be possible to do today; not when the dishes need cleaning, the trash needs to be taken out and the college algebra homework that is due tomorrow morning sits unfinished on the couch.

“It’s just not possible,” junior Carmen Jimenez, education major, said as she picks up scattered toys around her living room. “I sit there and think ‘there are just not enough hours in the day.’ How am I ever going to finish everything I have to do and still get a decent amount of sleep?”

Household chores, homework and the ups and downs of motherhood are only a sneak preview to the plight that many single mothers attending a university face today.

Senior Elizabeth Pritchett agreed.

“I get whatever I can get done whenever,” Pritchett said. “It affects my schoolwork but my child comes first.”

Pritchett has a seven-year-old son with special needs. She is also a full-time student and full-time employee in addition to her job as a full-time mom.

The Shawnee resident, who commutes to UCO, said that having a child with special needs adds more complications due to the delicacy of her child’s condition.

“It’s hard because I have to do everything,” she said. “There’s no one to rely on, it’s just me. If he’s sick, I can’t come to class…even if it’s something small.”

Pritchett hopes to one day become a special education teacher but in the meantime, she will continue to work on her degree and cater to her young son.

There is no “How To” guide on Google on how to navigate motherhood and college, so many mothers and fathers have to do everything they can to develop their own gameplan.

“Keeping organized is the only way I can make it through the week,” Jimenez said. The oversized calendar hanging on the wall shows proof to her organizational skills. Appointments, homework assignments and bill dates are neatly written down and highlighted, purple sticky notes line the opposite wall with to do’s and reminders.

“I also heavily rely on coffee,” she added.

As a new mother to a four-month-old girl, Jimenez’s tired eyes and continuous yawns tell stories about many sleepless nights.

“You know, actually, I should be sleeping right now…but there’s that algebra homework and being tired is not an excuse. Some kids show up tired from being hung-over, I show up tired from staying up all night cleaning baby spit up.”

It is no doubt that the road to parenthood in college can often feel hard to navigate alone.

“It’s hard to relate to other students,” Ji-

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

COMMUNTER SERVICE REACHES OUT TO UCO MOTHERS AT LUNCHEON

Coordinator of Commuter Service Rachel Parks hopes the mother’s lunch is the initial step in a series of events they hope to provide non-traditional students in the future.

menez said.

“As a single mom I can’t really participate in the out of class activities,” Pritchett said, who admits the only time she gets to socialize with other moms is through Facebook.

Senior Ashley Combs, psychology major admits that having other mothers in her situation is very comforting. Combs is a motherto-be who will be graduating soon but hopes to continue her education and work in the field of sociology. “[Having a child] is going to make it a little more difficult but I think I can do it,” Combs said. Combs said she is very well adjusted since she is used to taking care of her sister’s children.

But making that paycheck stretch for one more is easier said than done. Combs, who currently lives off paychecks and financial aid, admits that she hasn’t quite allotted money for baby expenses.

“I think it hasn’t became real to me because I don’t look very pregnant and I don’t feel pregnant other than being tired,” Combs said.

Comb’s boyfriend will be joining the Air Force soon to help with expenses, meaning that although their finances will become a little more stable, Combs will have to face a lot of parenthood’s challenges on her own.

Coordinator of Commuter Services Rachel Parks hopes to alleviate some of these mothers’ preoccupations by making these connections easier. The office hosted a single mothers’ luncheon Wednesday, Jan. 26 in the Heritage Ballroom in the Nigh University

Center.

Parks said the lunch was hosted as part of research to find out what UCO parents need and how Commuter Services can help.

More importantly, having this lunch will provide some research to help with a proposal for the Single Mothers Academic Resource Team (SMART) grant.

With this research, Parks hopes to be able to provide Broncho parents childcare on campus, counseling for students and their families, as well as financial aid targeting parents specifically.

Parks said the single mother’s lunch is the initial step in a series of events they hope to provide non-traditional students in the future.

“We want to do more programming that focuses on single parents or non-traditional students,” Parks said.

“We are looking into scholarships or tuition waivers,” she said.

Parks plans on having more events like the luncheon throughout the year, all depending on the turnout received and feedback.

Twenty-seven parents attended the lunch where they ate pizza, chips and other snacks as they chatted with other parents. During this time, students were able to fill surveys asking them questions about their living, financial and emotional situations.

Some ideas being formulated are plans for a daycare. Parks said these plans are all still in the making but she hopes to be able to team up with early childhood education majors for practicum hours, similar to UCO’s childcare

provider in the HES building. However, this daycare would include younger babies (less than three years of age) and would ideally be offered for free or at an extremely low cost.

Other ideas included hiring a full-time licensed degree holding teacher to run this facility. Locations could be an off-campus building or a shared classroom with one of the university buildings.

“We are in the beginning stages of this, so we’re looking into how it would work and what we would need to make it functional,” Parks said.

Currently, the office of Commuter Services provides parents with a Baby Broncho Book.

The book offers different childcare providers around Edmond and Oklahoma City as well as tips on selecting the right daycare. The book also provides rainy day activities and easy-to-make recipes.

Additionally, Commuter Services also offers students and their children the opportunity to attend a Family Fun Day at the Oklahoma City Zoo on Halloween where children can go trick or treating. All these services are provided for free.

In the past, Commuter Services has also hosted a Parents’ Night Out on Valentine’s Day, where parents can drop off their children for a few hours and enjoy themselves.

The office also hosts non-traditional student orientations, geared toward students who are 25 years and older.

“It’s all that you would get with a traditional orientation without all the catering to a younger crowd,” Parks said.

“We are working on providing more opportunities for non-traditional students and this is just a baby step toward that,” Parks said.

Other plans for the future include Red Hawk game visits for the family.

Time management is always enforced to all college students but for single mothers who go to school, time is at a premium.

“As a mother, sometimes, you can never do right,” Jimenez said. “The world always seems stacked against you…too many expectations and responsibilities and others will never understand that until they become a parent themselves.”

Jimenez said she often gets questioned at work about her choice to remain in college.

“They always want to know why I don’t just quit school and be with my child,” she said.

“I wish I could,” she added.

Jimenez relies on her mother to take care of her daughter while she is running from work to school.

“When you’re a single mom you have to sacrifice a lot,” she said. “And sometimes, what gets sacrificed is time with the children.”

Despite, the lack of quality time, Jimenez said the tradeoff means she can get higherpaying job, which will help her better provide for her daughter in the future.

“I’m going to school to better my life so I can provide a better life for my kids,” she said.

NEWS WITH A FLASH

Speaker of the House Kris Steele speaks as Gov. Mary Fallin looks on at a news conference about reforms to programs such as workers compensation and malpractice insurance at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Paul B. Southerland)

The Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley, center, is installed as the fourth archbishop of the Oklahoma City Archdiocese in a ceremony at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 in Edmond, Okla. Behind Coakley are the two living former archbishops of the Oklahoma City diocese. (AP Photo/Daily Oklahoman, Jim Beckel)

Celebrants chant during a rally celebrating the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/The Tulsa World , Mike Simons)

NEWS

FEB. 15, 2011 Campus Life

w

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Opinion

POTTER INSPIRES STUDENT CHAPTER OPINION LACED

The Harry Potter series has inspired some UCO students to start a new student organization: a Hogwarts Chapter.

By Brittany Dalton / Contributing Writer The books that captured a generation’s heart have inspired some UCO students to start a new student organization: a Hogwarts chapter.

The Harry Potter series, authored by J.K. Rowling, was released over the time span between 1998 and 2007. Though they address weighty themes such as death and good versus evil, it is one of the more light-hearted aspects of the novels that these students hope to incorporate.

“The club is for everyone at UCO that likes to play Quidditch or even those who have an interest in Harry Potter,” Liza Grosch said. Grosch is the president of the organization. The Vice President is Morgan Stratton, and Amanda Johnson is secretary.

However, the club does not have official meeting times, because they are not yet an officially recognized organization at the university.

“We are actually still in the process of becoming a club,” Stratton said. “We called the first meeting to make sure we actually had people at UCO who would be interested, and we do.”

Grosch finished the constitution, to be submitted by approval by the university.

“We hope to be up and running by the coming fall,” Grosch said.

Stratton explained that there can be some difficulty as an unrecognized organization.

“We mainly contact each other through our Facebook page and e-mail,” Stratton said. “We are not an official club yet, so we can’t meet under that name as a group on campus.”

Grosch explains that in no way is UCO the first university in the nation to have the idea. Nor is UCO the only university in the state of Oklahoma to organize a so-called “Hogwarts branch.” Both OSU and OU have already organized Quidditch clubs.

“My friend from Occidental in California talked about his school having one,” Stratton said. “It was just something we thought would be really fun.”

The team will practice and play Quidditch under the rules outlined by the International Quidditch Association. They also hope to play against the other teams in the state.

“Once we get approved by UCOSA, we want to join the International Quidditch Association and play other schools, then maybe even go on to the World Cup,” Stratton said. “We are very excited with how this is going.”

Though a completely accurate count of members is not possible, being based only off the number of members in the Facebook group, the group currently has 76 members and is still growing. Many of the members have already chosen a Hogwarts house to play for.

“We had so many people interested that we divided into the four actual houses of Hogwarts,” Grosch explained. “Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff all have ten members each, and there are more people in the club who are interested.”

How does Quidditch in the “Muggle world” work?

“The complete rules are found on the International Quidditch Association’s website,” Grosch said. “But basically everything works similar, without the flying.”

The players will run with brooms between their legs, and will assume the positions of Quidditch. For the Quaffle, a volleyball is used; soccer balls are Bludgers.

But in Muggle Quidditch, the Snitch is an actual person. A game of Quidditch, as Harry Potter fans know, ends when the Snitch is caught.

“The Snitch needs to be a good runner,” Grosch said. “Because he or she has to run away and try not to get caught throughout the game.”

For the moment, the members will await approval and continue to organize. Grosch added that the “Hogwarts Chapter of UCO” is in the process of making shirts, and hopes to be able to build their equipment: brooms, goal posts and Snitch costumes included.

“We encourage people who like Harry Potter but don’t want to play, to still come out and maybe fill a position as a referee or help organize things,” Grosch said. “We want it to be fun and there are many different positions for everyone.”

For more information, use your smartphone and tag this scan:

Continued from page 1

VOTING If the bill is to pass, it will state, “the domicile for voting purposes of a person attending an institution of learning shall be the state, or the town, city, ward, or unincorporated place in New Hampshire, in which such person had his or her domicile immediately prior to matriculation, even though such person may no longer reside in said state, town, city, ward, or unincorporated place, and even though his or her intent to return thereto is uncertain.”

Eakins said that the bill was “mean spirited,” and sends the wrong message to student voters.

“What kind of a message does that send to them about the political process? Students are often maligned for being politically apathetic, and here we have a concerted attempt to prevent their political participation,” Eakins said.

The sponsor of the bill is Rep. Gregory Sorg (R), who at the same time introduced HB 223 set out to eliminate Election Day voter registration. Sorg said, “This bill would prevent transient college students from being able to claim NH as their domicile on the basis of residing in NH while attending school here. Under the law of long-standing, one’s previous domicile is not lost until a new one is acquired. Since they would not have acquired a new one here, they would retain their preexisting domicile. No one would be disfranchised.”

Many students are upset, along with Attorney Paul Twomey, who has won awards for his work in criminal law and laws relating to elections.

Twomey said, “The two bills go hand in hand in an effort to discourage people including students from voting. They are actually part of a very intense and coordinated effort to make it difficult for people to vote. Other prominent examples are a bill that requires a state issued I.D. to vote. I have seen a figure that 11 percent of citizens don’t have a picture I.D… Similarly, there is a bill that requires fairly elaborate proof of citizenship that will be difficult and perhaps impossible for some people to comply with in time to vote. As I said, these are all parts of an effort to make it harder for American citizens to exercise their right to vote. On the I.D. part, the Republicans say they do it to prevent voter fraud—in 2005 NH passed a statute that required the state to contact every single person who registered to vote without a picture I.D. on them. Since then, the

AG [attorney general] in NH has contacted and investigated every single person—and every single one of them was shown to be a person who was a valid voter and who lived where they said they lived.”

Twomey added, “I am fairly certain that the bill is unconstitutional in several respects. The 1972 case, Newburger v.

“What kind of a message does that send to them about the political process? Students are often maligned for being politically apathetic, and here we have a concerted attempt to prevent their political participation,” - Keith Eakins Peterson, involved a Dartmouth college student. In that case, a three judge federal panel ruled that students could not be blocked from voting because they were not planning to stay for an indefinite time or permanently. The current bill goes even further and bans such students from voting, so it’s unconstitutional to a greater extent because it violates the 26th Amendment rights of even more students. Students who do plan on living in NH after graduation are still banned from voting. By the way, it isn’t limited to undergraduates—post doctoral students in their thirties with children in local schools would also not be able to vote. There is a provision of the NH state constitution that says that everyone shall have an equal right to vote and to hold office – this provision violates that as well.”

Loren Gatch, also a UCO political professor, had a similar outlook, he stated, “This bill seems unconstitutional, because of the 26th Amendment. Of course, states can have residency requirements, as does Oklahoma, but these only require that students who don’t meet them vote in the jurisdiction where they were previously domiciled.”

Eakins said that the legislation could have more than just legal implications.

“The burden arguably violates the spirit of the many laws guaranteeing the right to vote,” He said.

WITH

FACT

BY

A.J. BLACK Corrupting the minds of the young is a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. I never imagined that I would one day step into a classroom as an instructor, and yet there I was. My memories of high school flashed before my eyes as I entered the double doors and gingerly stepped through the metal detectors at Fredrick Douglas High on MLK and N.E. 10th street.

It was my first assignment as a substitute teacher within the Oklahoma City Public Schools system. I had to wake up before the sun had risen, fueled by one hour of solid sleep and four espressos later, I found the classroom I would be in charge of for the day: Room 104s, a Biology class.

The day officially began before 8 a.m. and as the students begrudgingly filed in wearing their school uniforms, cell phones, and earbuds, they silently sized me up and then quickly forgot about me. All I could think about was how to get through the day without smoking a cigarette, and the possibility of making a positive impact on these kids’ lives.

I immediately made a mistake when I asked them all to move closer to the front of the classroom. Many of them laughed at me and one of the bolder young men said, “Naw man, we’re cool. These are our assigned seats.” I nearly lost control of the room when another student just got up and walked out of the door. He quickly returned with an escort and I was scorned and told that there were no hall passes that day. I was impressed with his disregard for authority, and it was at that point that I knew I was right where I wanted to be.

So, since they wouldn’t come to me, I decided to go to them, and I found a seat at one of the square tables near the middle of the classroom. I placed my hands behind my head, put my feet upon the table, and then leaned back in my chair; and as if thinking out loud, announced my disbelief that they would agree to come to school so early. I told them that I don’t have any classes until noon and that maybe they should form some kind of union and demand better hours. They looked at me like I might be crazy, but at least I had their attention.

I then asked how many of them hated school, and as you could imagine almost all them agreed that school was boring and they would rather be somewhere else.

They listened attentively as I explained to them how a person’s attitudes are shaped and connected like a spider web, and that often times a negative attitude toward one thing can affect the attitude of a related subject. For instance, developed negative feelings about school will most likely correlate to negative feelings about learning, because those two things are associated with each other.

Most of them seemed to agree that school seemed more like a form of punishment then an environment of preparation and education for the real world. I noticed that I was surrounded by a group of highly intelligent and frustrated kids that were justified in their distaste for a failing system.

Oklahoma City Public Schools and other districts within the state are on academic probation. They are among the lowest ranked schools in the nation, but it is self-evident that there is nothing wrong with the children that attend these schools. In fact, the young adults I met on Friday are among some of the brightest I have ever encountered, and the experience was worth every penny of the $60 in compensation I received for my time.

I learned a few things that day, and I cannot wait to go back, but above all I learned that I am the “dopest white-boy sub” a new friend of mine named so-dope Turner has ever had, and that is good enough for me.

-Light it up, A.J. Black

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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 In home daycare needs sub/ improved TOEFL program. assistant afternoon help Mon- Enjoy small classes and the day-Friday. Please call Valerie campus facilities. Contact us 388-7034 at (405) 341 - 2125 or www. thelanguagecompany.com Looking for a person to pickup daughter from school.

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1. 252 wine gallons 4. Mozart’s “L’___ del Cairo” 7. Hazardous and frightening (slang) 12. “Two Years Before the Mast” writer 13. Neon, e.g.

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22. Center 25. “Iliad” warrior 26. Henry ___ 27. Durable fabric 29. Severe depression 31. It holds water 34. Center 35. Rivalry 39. Complain 40. Masked critter 41. Thai currency 45. Publicity (slang) 46. Victuals 47. Jazz player, for example 48. Ornamental facade 51. Star in Aquila 54. State of existing only in the mind 55. Scattershot 56. After expenses 57. Egyptian fertility goddess 58. Bach composition 59. Fed. construction overseer 60. “Yadda, yadda, yadda”

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SPORTS

FEB. 15, 2011 WHERE DO THEY STAND NOW? UCO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Broncho women’s basketball team is right in the thick of things for the Lone Star North regular season title.

Currently they are 13-7 with a 6-2 conference mark. Sitting atop the LSC North is Northeastern State who is 7-1 in conference play, followed by Texas Women’s University who is sporting a 7-2 record.

As a college athlete the only thing that you can ask for is a chance to write your own destiny and for these ladies, they will certainly get their chance. They will face Texas Women’s University Feb. 16 at home and will play Northeastern State also at home Feb. 21. Both games could be huge determining factors on who gets

the top spot at the Conference Tournament.

In the LSC South Division, it looks like Tarleton State has a secure lead.

They are currently sitting at 9-0 in conference play and have a three game lead on West Texas A&M who are 7-3.

The Bronchos recently suffered a heart breaker to Southeastern Oklahoma State, a game that saw a last second three-point shot beat them at the buzzer.

The toughest part about the loss is that it brought the Savage Storm one win closer to the Bronchos in the standings, now just one game back.

With five games remaining on their schedule, the Bronchos will have to pull it back together to win the LSC North

MEN’S BASKETBALL

By Michael Collins / Sports Writer

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

By Michael Collins / Sports Writer

7

Crown. After riding a season high seven game winning streak, back-to-back losses surely hurt the confidence of the streaking Bronchos.

With just a few games remaining on the schedule for the UCO men’s basketball team, it is time to look at where they stand in terms of conference play.

The Bronchos currently sit atop the Lone Star North Division with a 7-0 conference record, their overall 21-2 record is best in the league. They are also riding an 11-game winning streak and hitting on all cylinders.

The closest completion for the top spot in the LSC North is Texas A&M Commerce who is only two games back of the Bronchos. Although their overall record is 15-6, their 5-2 conference mark has left them a glimmer of hope in case the Bronchos falter down the stretch.

As of Feb. 8, the Bronchos held the eighth spot in the polls and only had 16 wins at that time, so they should be on the move once again when the new rankings are released. Incarnate Word of the South division held the 21 spot in the most recent polls, but back-toback losses will surely knock them out of the top 25.

The LSC South will be fun to watch coming down the stretch. Tarleton State currently has a two game advantage over Midwestern State of Wichita Falls, Texas.

Their matchup Feb. 21 could go a long way to determine who will be crowned king in the south.

Although it is always a bad thing to crown a champ until the final whistle blows, the Bronchos should be able to keep their top spot in the conference. One key note is if they win their final two home games vs.

Northeastern State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the Bronchos will have completed an entire season undefeated at home.

PLAYER NOTES:

PLAYER NOTES: Senior Forward Ashley Beckley has led the Bronchos all season in scoring 19.1 points per game, she also has a team leading 8.2 rebounds per game.

Courtney Allen who is averaging just over 10 points per game has been the team’s sharp shooter all season. Her 49 three pointers lead the team. Junior center Alex Richardson has a team high 25 blocked shots on the season.

Dauntae Williams continues to lead the team in scoring at 21.2 points per game, to go along with his team leading 6.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore Tucker Phillips recently hit a career high of five three pointers in route to 21 points against Southeastern. Junior forward June Carter currently leads the team with 22 blocked shots. In terms of overall field goal percentage, that award so far goes to Brent Friday, as his outstanding 60 percent from the field has been a key to the Broncho run.

BRONCHOS DROP 2 OF 3

By Trey Hunter / Sports Writer UCO lost two of three games to West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, this past Saturday and Sunday.

The Bronchos lost in a blowout 19-6 in the series opener on Saturday. Fielding mishaps played a part as the West Texas A&M lineup jumped all over starting pitcher Stephen Spirlock who gave up eight earned runs over third and a third innings. The Central lineup battled with the Buffs in the early innings as they were the first to score with a five run frame in the top of the third. However, the Buffs scored 12 runs in the next two innings and went on to win the game 19-6 in six innings.

“The game just got out of hand,” head coach Dax Leone said. “It was close for the first part of the game but errors and pitching really didn’t help us much. If it weren’t for a couple plays here and there we could have had a chance in the first game.”

The second game of the series was the complete opposite of the first. Central’s Jordan Stern was able to hold West Texas A&M to three earned runs as he pitched his first complete game of the season. Stern also struck out six batters in the effort. However, it was not enough. West Texas A&M capitalized on a misplayed ball in the outfield and was able to come up with the victory in walk-off fashion 3-2. Austin Rycroft produced Central’s only runs in the game with a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning.

“Sometimes it’s just how baseball goes,” Leone said. “One day you come out and get runruled and the next day you come out and put together a complete effort.”

The series finale ended with a blow-out win for the Bronchos. They won 13-2 thanks to plenty of hitting and a great pitching performance from Josh Rolan. Rolan went five and two-thirds innings and only gave up one run while striking out three. The offense was the key to the game as Rycroft stayed hot at the plate with his second homer in as many games and first baseman Derrick Grimes hit a bomb well. The lineup combined for 18 hits, 11 of which were good for extra bases.

“It felt great to get a win against West Texas,” Leone said. “They are a very good team and we were a fly ball away from taking two of three from them. I’m proud of the way our guys bounced back from the Saturday loss.”

“I’m really happy with the lineup and their productivity right now,” Leone said. “The pitching staff will come around once everybody has had plenty of reps and plenty of practice. I’m excited about the rest of the season.

The Bronchos are scheduled to play Oklahoma Christian at Broncho Field today at 2 p.m. They go on the road for a matchup against the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, before continuing their conference schedule against Cameron University in Lawton

PITTSBURG, Kan. (Feb. 11) -- Jasmere Love captured one title and was runner-up in another race to pace Central Oklahoma at the Pittsburg State Invitational here Friday.

Love sprinted to the 200-meter dash championship with a 26.84 clocking and was a close second in the 55-meter dash at 7.52 as the Bronchos finished with 12 topeight placers in the all-day meet.

UCO also got gold medal efforts from Lacey Rhodes in the high jump (5-4 1/2) and Sanee Harris in the 400-meter dash (1:03.53).

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Madison Berryman came in third in the 200 with a 28.23 clocking, while Hannah Gibson was fourth in the pole vault with a 10-6 effort.

Also providing top-eight finishes for the Bronchos were Rhodes in the 55-meter hurdles (fifth, 8.96), Heather Smith in the 600-yard run (fifth, 1:38.04), Alicia Crigler in the 55 dash (sixth, 7.69), Abigail Morrison in the shot put (seventh, 38-7), Janesha Young in the triple jump (eighth, 29-10) and Sharonda Law in the shot put (eighth, 38-4).

UCO returns to action next Saturday at the Sooner Open in Norman

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SPORTS

FEB. 15, 2011

READY, SET, BEDLAM UCO

OU

15-17-4 27-14-1 HEAD-TO-HEAD Overall: 3-16 Regular Season: 2-16 Playoffs: 1-0

BRONCHOS ATTEMPT TO UPSET RIVAL SOONERS

By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor The series began on Dec. 8, 2006. An upstart Central Oklahoma team was in their first year of existence and took on a tough Oklahoma Sooner squad. The young, underdog Bronchos took out the mighty Sooners 3-2 marking their first signature win in a soon-tobe storied rivalry.

Since that date the OU Sooners have been dominant in the series between these two schools. The Sooners own a 16-2 record against the Bronchos since that UCO win in 2006. UCO’s biggest win since that rivalry opener was in the first round of last year’s playoffs, when the Bronchos shocked the tournament with a 5-4 double overtime win against the favorite Sooners.

The final rankings of the 2010/2011 regular season will be released Friday and it is almost a certainty that UCO will be on the outside

of the playoffs looking in for the first time in three seasons. The Sooners however are poised for another playoff berth.

No. 16 UCO hosts No. 9 OU Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Arctic Edge Arena in Edmond. On Saturday, the Bronchos travel to Blazers Ice Centre in Oklahoma City for a 4 p.m. showdown. But how do the Bronchos maintain focus knowing that their playoff hopes were shattered by two losses to No. 15 Liberty over the weekend?

“We have two games left against our rivals,” Team captain Nick Novak said.

“We all need to play as hard as we can for our seniors because we will all be in their shoes one day.”

Friday night will be the last home game for UCO seniors: Casey Smith, Hayden Scolaro, Mike Haszto, Casey Lehmann, Jonathan Cannizzo, Brent Block, Erik Jansen and Greg Mas-

ters. Upsetting the Sooners and tampering with their momentum would be big for UCO. “It would be awesome to sweep OU before their playoff run starts,” Novak said.

Fans generally pack the stands and the series has a history of being standing room only at Arctic Edge Arena. The games bring together a rare mix of increased competitiveness and high riding emotions.

“There is always a lot of emotion running in the games between us and OU,” Novak said.

“We just really want to go out and win.”

“Fans should expect fast, physical and intense games this weekend.”

In the last home meeting between the two teams, there was controversy regarding a series of events leading up to an OU player using his stick as a bat and striking the knee of the Bronchos’ Casey Lehmann. Both teams played scrappy hockey in that showdown and

pushes and shoves went in both directions resulting in a heated set up for this weekend.

The OU player in question received a suspension for the hit and several other minor suspensions and game misconducts were handed out to both teams.

Despite the history of this year’s Bedlam hockey series, the Bronchos are focused on ending the season on a high note.

“Honestly, I haven’t even thought about (the Lehmann incident). We have better things to worry about and that is to end the season with two wins against OU,” Novak said.

“We would like to (end the season) on a high note and hopefully carry that onto next season.”

UCO’s series against OU has set up to be what it was at the beginning. Just like in 2006, the Bronchos will play the underdog card against their ultimate rival.

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