The Vista July 14, 2010

Campus Quotes

Robotics

Water Resources

Local Athletes

What do you think of Durant’s contract extension?

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UCO Robotics Club prepares to debut robotics class in the fall.

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Superintendant of Edmond’s water resource claims the city’s water is safe and clean.

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Former Edmond high school football players prepare for the NFL. Page 7

JULY 14, 2010

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THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.

FAMILY TRADITION LEADS TO CAREER Reyes Flamenco dancing keeps audiences

By Jenefar De Leon / Staff Writer

E

rika Reyes knew her future would somehow involve music at a very young age. She was surrounded with music and performance all her life, and knew she would follow in the family tradition in the future.

Not many can say they knew exactly what they wanted to do at a young age, but Reyes began dancing at an early age, and she used her passion for music and performance to lead her to a career in dance education.

Reyes is a senior here at UCO. Her major is dance education, and she hopes to inspire others as did her family when she was young.

Her mother played the piano, and her aunt was involved in dance. Her uncle was involved in a popular music group, Color Me Bad. And her father loved to dance salsa and have music playing in her household.

She started to dance at the age of three, taking ballet at Everything Goes Dance Studio, which her aunt, Shannon Calderon Primeau, took ownership of.

Primeau helped train her in ballet, hip-hop, tap, jazz and even flamenco before the age of 10.

Her younger sister, now 10 years old, is following her older sister’s and aunt’s footsteps. Reyes is very proud her younger sister is following in her footsteps.

“We are not forced to do it,” she said. “We do it because we love it.”

She loves every aspect of dance, but she has an extra special talent to perform flamenco.

Flamenco is a passionate and expressive form of dance, descendent of Spain. It involves beautiful costumes, elaborate flowers and a majority of stomping and clapping.

She fell in love with flamenco at the age of eight. She was involved in a flamenco workshop, and she fell in love with the culture, the history and the passion of flamenco dancers.

“I love it. ... You can stomp your feet, wear beautiful costumes and have pretty flowers in your hair,” she said. The music is beautiful, and the culture is beautiful, and I just fell in love with it.”

Her performance is well-known in the dance world. She has been praised and won several talent competitions for her flamenco dancing throughout her career.

“I turn into a different character [when I perform],” she said. “I imagine myself I am in Spain performing for a queen.”

She not only is involved in dancing, but also enjoys UCO’s campus activities and opportunities.

She has been Miss Hispanic UCO 2008 and Miss Latina Oklahoma in 2009. She is involved in teaching at Everything Goes Dance Studio, as well as being involved in UCO’s campus activities, performing and at the same time having a full-time student workload.

She also performs flamenco with her sister, aunt and cousin every Friday night at Zorba’s Mediterranean Cuisine at 6014 North May Avenue in Oklahoma City.

S h e

Hair and Accessories

DID YOU KNOW? The planet Saturn has a density lower than water.

So, if placed in water it would float.

With the hair pulled back in a bun, a round or square neck made the wearer’s neck appear thinner. The flowers added to the flirty style of the entire look.

likes to think it is a major part of her family and chance for everyone to come together for support. It is also an opportunity to share the unique performance with other Oklahomans.

“I don’t see any of it as work, or hard or stressful. I enjoy it,” she said. “I enjoy every second of it. I love going to ‘work,’ which is going to see my five-year-old and teaching them to dance. ...

I am getting to do what I want to do in the future. It doesn’t seem like work because I get to do what I love.”

I love it. ... You can stomp your feet, wear beautiful costumes and have pretty flowers in your hair,” she said. The music is beautiful, and the culture is beautiful, and I just fell in love with it.

Flamenco Facts Shoes

Shoes are crucial to the performance. The material and heel can significantly affect the performance. Most Flamenco shoes have nails at the bottom of the heel and at the tip of the toes to enhance the stomping.

Dress Shape

The dress was designed to enhance a woman’s figure and hide flaws. The original dress had a guitar-shaped body.

The frills are meant to enhance the way a woman walks, and various accessories, such as scarves and flowers, added to the flirty style.

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OPINION

JULY 14, 2010

THE VISTA 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. 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

Kory Oswald, Editor Elina Golshani, Copy Editor Chris Wescott, Sports Editor

Samantha Maloy, Staff Writer Jack Chancey, Staff Writer Ethan Larsh, Staff Writer Jenefar De Leon, Staff Writer

Advertising Steven Hyde

Cartoon Prakriti Adhikari

Circulation Stephen Hughes

Photography Garett Fisbeck

Adviser Mr. Teddy Burch

Administrative Assistant Tresa Berlemann

By Pakriti Adhikari / Cartoonist

Editorial

ARIZONA LAW STIRS UP IMMIGRATION DEBATE A recent Arizona law has kicked up a storm of controversy in the immigration reform debate. The Obama administration’s decision to prepare a lawsuit against Arizona has created a rift down both political party lines and the parties themselves.

“This is an issue that divides us politically, and I’m hopeful that their strategy doesn’t do that in a way that makes it more difficult for candidates to get elected, particularly in the West,” Bill Ritter, Democratic governor of Colorado, told the Times, Constitutionally, immigration is a federal issue, not state. However, with Arizona stepping up to the plate and enacting a potentially harm-

ful bill that could single out millions of Americans, a fresh look needs to be taken at immigration reform.

The last two presidents, and now Obama, have all had to deal with the issue of immigration on a level that has not been seen for nearly five generations. The advent of large-scale factory farming and low-wage service jobs has created an economic niche that is being filled by hardworking men and women from the South and abroad. To curb the influx of immigrants, many Americans want the government to erect a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border in the same vein as the Great Wall of China. The issue with building a fence is that according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which recently released a study on immigra-

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tion, nearly 45 percent of illegal immigrants have overstayed their visas. Simply building a fence will not keep all unwanted people out.

“The 19 terrorists who attacked our country on 9/11 all entered the United States through ports of entry.” Mike Cutler, a former Immigration and Naturalization Service agent, said in an interview with NPR. In immigration reform there are no clear-cut answers. Democrats and Republicans cannot get bipartisan support on any important legislation. The Department of Justice’s recent lawsuit against Arizona only makes matters worse. The federal government suing a state is a bold statement for an administration to make.

Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl released a statement that said, “The American

CAMPUS QUOTES

people must wonder whether the Obama administration is really committed to securing the border when it sues a state that is simply trying to protect its people by enforcing immigration law.”

The Republican Party points center around getting illegal immigrants out of the U.S. What they do not realize is that immigrants make up an important part of our economy. Jobs in agriculture and construction are hotbeds for migrant workers and keep prices low for products and services Americans depend on. Saying goodbye to all illegal immigrants in America might make some sleep better at night, but the economic impacts that would undoubtedly tear through our recessionary economy would make any recovery we expect to have impossible.

‘‘

By Jack Chancey / Staff Writer

What do you think of Kevin Durant’s contact extension?

ANNIE DAVIS

Graduate Student-Instructional Media

“I think it’s awesome. It is cool to have a Big 12 player in the area.”

DEOREN ROBINSON

Junior-Advertising

“Stick with him. The Thunder has had all the support.

They need to keep any player that will help them go far.”

TOMMY DE LA ROSA

ROSIE RIOS

Junior-Chemistry

Junior-Biology

“It’s great. It is a young team.”

“If he is good, then we should keep him on the team.”

NEWS

JULY 14, 2010

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Gay Pride

UCO GATE CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY UCO Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality celebrated its 20th anniversary during last month’s Gay Pride Parade.

UCO G.A.T.E. celebrates 20th anniversary at June’s Gay Pride Parade in Oklahoma City.

By Andy Snow / Staff Writer Being in college can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. Careers, stress, friends, parties, or a complete lack of any of these for the slackers among us. But one thing that most anyone can agree with is that college is a learning experience in more ways than one. College is a time when most people fall into their own, become comfortable with themselves and one another, and arguably the most important, learn to express themselves.

At UCO, most students know there’s always somewhere they can be welcome among the university’s many groups and clubs. These groups seek to make their members feel welcomed as individuals. One such group is G.A.T.E., or the Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality. UCO junior Brandon White serves as the president for G.A.T.E. “G.A.T.E was originally formed to empower the gay community and make sure that gay people at UCO felt safe,” White said. “We really

want to give people a place to go, if they feel White said the parade was largely the only that they should need a place to go. event that G.A.T.E. participated in this summer.

“As our name suggests, we as a group really “It can be difficult to organize things during stress tolerance and equality,” White said. “In the summer,” White said. “We just made a float line with that is the commemorating the fact that our group 20th anniversary, and doesn’t consist of only also our 20th time to “G.A.T.E was originally formed float gay people. We actualin the parade.” ly have a lot of straight to empower the gay community G.A.T.E. has many people that are part of and make sure that gay people plans for the future, acthis group, who really cording to White. want to stress equal- at UCO felt safe. We really want “We have a lot comity between those who to give people a place to go, if ing up for the group,” are gay and those who says. “We will they feel that they should need a White aren’t. In fact, a majorbe having a fundraiser ity of our group offi- place to go.” at Applebee’s, a pool cers are straight.” party and Stampede According to White, Week.”

G.A.T.E has been active for 20 years, and to According to White, Stampede Week has commemorate the 20th anniversary of the or- been crucial to the success of the group, as it ganization, the group led a float in last month’s is the outlet that many UCO students are inOKC Gay Pride Parade, which took place be- formed about and exposed to the group and its tween Penn and Classen in Oklahoma City. views. White said the group has experienced its

biggest growth during the last year.

“G.A.T.E. is the biggest it’s ever been as of right now,” White said. “Even a year ago, before myself or any of the other officers were involved, there would be meetings where four or five people would be present. Now it’s common for us to have over 30 people or so. Sometimes we’re so over capacity that we have to ask people to stand outside the room at some places.”

The organization’s growth over the last year is certainly an indicator of the group’s future growth, as well as the attention that it is certain to garner with UCO’s upcoming Stampede Week.

It’s always very important to remember the role that just a few people can play in making a difference within an institution such as UCO, and G.A.T.E. seems to be keen on making the university a more comfortable environment for students who choose to participate in the organization’s activities and future endeavors.

Robotics

PHOTO BY GARETT FISBECK

ROBOTICS CLUB PREPS BOT CLASS FOR FALL

Kooroush Azartash-Namin, left, and Grant Armstrong, president and vice president of the Robotics Club, are working on a robotics class to be open to students for the fall.

By Samantha Maloy / Staff Writer UCO offers its students many clubs and organizations to help them get connected to campus and to other students with similar interests and abilities. One of those clubs, the UCO Robotics Club, is forging ahead to make robotics more accessible to students. Kooroush Azartash-Namin and Grant Armstrong, president and vice president, respectively, of the Robotics club, discussed current projects the club is working on and what they think about engineering and science majors. Armstrong, 22, and Namin, 26, are both Engineering Physics-Mechanical Systems majors.

For starters, the Robotics Club is working through a trial run of the class it will offer in the fall. The summer class is just for the officers, but will be open to all students in the fall.

“The goal of [the class] is to get people interested in robotics and be able to actually build

a robot,” Armstrong said. “We start out with teaching the basics of our design tools and design software, and then we move on to how to use the components. ... At the very end of the class, the final project is to build and program a robot.

“In the fall we’re going to be doing that again for anyone who wants to come. They don’t have to be in our department or our major; if they’re interested, they can come and be a part of it.”

Armstrong clarified the class would bypass all the technical details that are a part of the major and, “make it as easy as possible for the people who haven’t had our background to understand it and know how to use it.”

Namin reiterated that the class and the Robotics Club are truly not limited to those with just engineering or science majors.

“It doesn’t matter what your major is, or what your career goal is going to be. ... You’re more than welcome to join. Robotics is a multidiscipline field anyway. You need the engineers,

but you need people who can do computer science, you need people who are involved with art,” Namin said.

“You don’t just want a big bunch of metal lying on the ground and it functions but doesn’t look attractive. We need to have people who are involved with business, budgeting, promotions, etc.”

Also a part of the Robotics’ agenda is an assortment of volunteer efforts, on the campus as well as in the community. “We’re ... doing a volunteer effort [in the fall] with the Edmond Santa Fe High School Robotics Club, and they’re competing in the First Robotics Competition, which is a nationwide competition,” Armstrong said.

The group’s volunteering doesn’t stop there.

“We’re also involved with the OU Medical Center. A lot of times we’ll go to their Children’s Ward and bring the robots for them to play with,” Namin said.

The club hosts RoboFun in the fall, which is open to the campus. Students can enter the competition or just display their projects.

A recent TIME magazine article by Bryan Walsh reported there was “a 31 percent share of U.S. bachelor’s degrees awarded in science or engineering, compared with 63 percent in Japan.” It also said “China’s investments in [research and development] grew more than 20 percent a year between 1996-2007, compared with less than 6 percent annual growth in the U.S.” The U.S. has definitely lost its place at the front of research and development in the global community. Why? Why the lack of interest in the science and engineering fields among students?

Armstrong and Namin agreed there were roadblocks on the journey to obtaining an engineering degree.

“It’s a really difficult major;” Armstrong said.

“[There are] a lot of high-stress things, a lot of classes and a lot of tough information to learn in the first two years and ... people get overwhelmed.

[They] aren’t really expecting it to be that difficult, and so they go into other majors.”

“Sometimes they look at just trying to find a major that will give them a high-paying job. In the end, they’re looking at the dollar, not really what they want to do or that inspires them,” he said.

“Another problem across the nation is that students go in and some professors have the mentality they need to weed out students, so they make life difficult for students, instead of encouraging them that they can keep going, which is kind of a different attitude that this school has. There’s some [at UCO] that still make it challenging, but they try to push the fact that if you really want to do this, if you put in the effort, you can make it,” Namin said.

Currently, the Robotics Club has around 30-40 members, with 15 active members. For those interested in the Robotics Club, send an email to ucoroboticsclub@gmail.com, or visit http://www.ucorc.org. The club is looking to meet once a week in the fall.

Check out video of the Robotics Club

Get the free mobile app at

http:/ / gettag.mobi

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NEWS

JULY 14, 2010

Water Resources

EDMOND AND CITY COUNCIL IMPLEMENT 5O-YEAR WATER PLAN Edmond Water Resources superintendent says No. 1 priority is to provide safe and clean water.

Edmond’s infamous Arcadia Lake, Garber-Wellington aquifer, and 56 wells will provide more than 3.6 billion gallons of water to Edmond citizens this year. Managing quality control on this scale is a massive undertaking that is essential to the growth of the region.

“Our No. 1 priority, and consequently what our customers expect, is to provide safe and clean drinking water,” Fred Rice, superintendent of Edmond Water Resources, said.

Rice has been working in the water industry for the better part of 30 years and said Edmond’s water distribution system is one of the most efficient and safe he has seen. He credits the action of Edmond’s City Council with recognizing that water is essential to the growth of a city, which is all Edmond seems to be doing these days. The City Council recently worked with a consulting agency on designing and implementing a 50-year plan that will sustainably provide water for the projected growth in coming years.

“You cannot have a healthy community without healthy drinking water, and Edmond is working to make sure that we can handle any growth that’s expected in the area,” Rice said.

To ensure the best in water quality, lab technicians process more than 70,000 water samples a year. Samples are taken from all 56 of the wells, water towers, Lake Arcadia, and from piping in the distribution system.

“These tests make sure that our water is within federal regulations, which all of Edmond’s water is at this time,” Augustus Jaja, chief chemist for Edmond Water Resources, said.

In the past years Edmond has been exemplary in its water quality. Edmond’s Water Resources has been the winner of several state awards, an attribute to the fine work of the Edmond Water Resources staff.

“I have a real crackerjack crew out here,” Rice said.

“They’re all highly trained and know their business.”

A knowledgeable staff is absolutely necessary to run the

complex operations of managing water levels and water quality. Edmond’s water distribution is controlled by a single operating room at Edmond’s water treatment plant where the water is watched in real time. While sitting behind a computer in an air-conditioned room, a licensed operator can control the flow of Edmond’s water with the click of a mouse. Operators can monitor how much water is being used down to a gallon. Advances in technology in the last 15 years have made people like Fred Rice’s job much easier.

“The changes in technology and advances in science allow us to more accurately test for contaminants and manage our water with better control and efficiency,” Rice said.

However, with advances in science comes more responsibility for the Water Resources crew. The Environmental Protection Agency is routinely changing the federal guidelines when new information comes out about certain contaminants that can harm humans. In 2005 for example, the EPA changed the legal limits for arsenic which forced Edmond to shut down one of its wells. In 2005 and again in 2008, Water Resources staff tested a well that showed illegal limits of uranium which they immediately took offline. Situations like these demonstrate why it is important for the city to constantly be checking the water supply for any harmful contaminants.

The reliability and quality of Edmond’s water system is second to none. Mike Langley, a resident of Edmond for 30 years, said he has never had trouble with Edmond’s water.

“I use a well in my backyard for my irrigation, but as far as drinking water is concerned, Edmond has done a fine job for over 30 years now,” Langley said.

The technology advancements implemented by Edmond make for a key aspect of why the water here routinely meets the strict federal guidelines. The Water Resources staff of Edmond and the City Council have done their part in making sure Edmond can grow sustainably To ensure the best water quality for Edmond and its citizens, techicians and for many years to come.

PHOTO BY GARET FISBECK

By Jack Chancey / Staff Writer

process more than 70,000 water sample a year from Arcadia Lake.

Transformative Learning Center

TRANSFORMATIVE CENTER FACULTY PLAN TO MOVE TO NEW BUILDING BY NEXT WEEK The Transformative Center provides student alternative forms of education outside the classroom.

By Bethany Scott / Staff Writer Most UCO students have noticed the massive building being constructed on the east side of campus. This impressive building is known as the Center for Transformative Learning.

The CTL has been in development for the last 22 months. It is right on schedule for being completed in the 24-month timeline the construction team created, according to David Stapleton, director of architectural and engineering services for UCO. Only some exterior work has yet to be completed due to unexpected rains.

Nearing completion, it is now time for various offices to be moved into the CTL. One department is being completely transferred to new offices located in the building.

Most of the offices in the CTL will be filled with various departments within the College of Education and Professional Studies, according to Dr. James Machell, the dean. The Department of Professional Teacher Education is shifting from its current location on the third floor of the library to the second floor of the CTL. “They’re fired up about it,” Machell said.

Many of the faculty members within the PTE department have already started packing and organizing their materials in preparation for the move. Professor Susan Scott has been packing up office supplies as well as supplies she has for the Student Oklahoma Education Association.

“I’m excited about the opportunities we are going to have on that side of campus,” Scott said.

Not all of the faculty members have prepared to move yet. Bryan Duke, an associate professor, has been busy teaching classes this summer, so he hasn’t given himself the time to pack things up yet.

The new building will have a plethora of modern amenities available to faculty, staff and students. There will be several outdoor spaces available for student study, as well as an outdoor classroom.

“The CTL will have extensive landscaping ... to provide enhanced areas for student use, seating, study and interaction,” Stapleton said.

However, there will be some things faculty members will miss about being located in the library.

“It’s nice to see so many students on an informal basis,” Duke said. He enjoys running into students while they are studying in the library; he believes it provides the opportunity for students to ask questions they might not feel comfortable asking in a formal setting. However, the design for the new building is set up to encourage communication between students and staff.

Many people are excited for the move to the CTL. “It’s fun being in a brand-new building, especially one that represents transformative learning,” Scott said.

Faculty members are projected to be Dr. James Machell, dean of the UCO College of Education and Professional Studies, stands in front able to move into the new building start- of the Center for Transformative Learning located on campus, plans to move to new office. ing on July 19, 2010. Classes will be conducted in the building starting in the fall semester.

The UCO Transformative Learning Center Education Philosophy

“The CTL will have extensive landscaping ... to provide enhanced areas for student use, seating, study and interaction,”

Student–Faculty Contact and Interaction. Learning is enhanced by frequent studentfaculty contact in and out of classes.

This is an important factor in student motivation, involvement and success. Knowing a few faculty members well enhances students’ intellectual commitment and encourages them to think about their own values and future plans. A faculty member's interest, availability and responsiveness are critical in fostering these changes in students.

Cooperation and Collaboration.

Learning is enhanced when students are engaged in cooperative and collaborative activities. Good learning, like good work, is collaborative and social, not competitive and isolated.

Working with others often increases involvement in learning. Sharing one’s own ideas and responding to others’ reaction improves critical thinking and deepens understanding. Learning to work well with peers of diverse background through team activities and projects develops in students the necessary set of skills required for success in life, the workplace, and in global societies.

Active Learning. Learning is enhanced when students are required to become mentally active participants in the learning process. Examples of active learning include requiring students to talk and write about what they are learning, what it means to them, how it relates to past experiences, and how they can apply it to their lives. The ability to reflect about learning and experiences enables students to make what they learn part of themselves.

NEWS

JULY 14, 2010

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Journey to Africa

A JOURNEY TO AFRICA AND BACK

By Jack Chancey / Staff Writer I had no expectations of what I wanted Africa to be, specifically Tanzania. As I stepped off my airplane, my senses were instantly bombarded with a sticky humidity much like Oklahoma, and the smell of a campfire permeated the air.

One could not prepare for the sun, which felt like it was 10 feet above my head and was the most oppressive thing in nature I have experienced.

The first thing in order for my trip was meeting with Pastor Umba, a United Methodist preacher, who would be the guide for our grape of six, and help us through the transition of life in Africa. Umba was a very jovial man, but he had only rudimentary knowledge of English, which made communication difficult at best.

“Karibu Tanzania rafiki,” was the first thing Umba said to me. It can be translated as “Welcome to Tanzania friend.” Quite a welcome indeed, we had waited in a sweltering outdoor customs line for more than an hour. Nonetheless, Umba hailed us two taxis to take my group to our hotel.

I quickly learned there is a pecking order on African roads. In a town of approximately 3 million, of which it feels like they’re all out on the streets at once, I witnessed one traffic light.

Once you start driving, a clear order of right of way manifests itself. First it’s the trucks, then mini buses, then cars, then motorcycles, then bicycles, then pedestrians. This ranking might seem obvious, but one must realize there are no traffic cops, and drivers take full advantage of this. The first issue with driving in Tanzania is the fact you’re driving on the wrong side of the road, British style. Drivers seem to be big fans of NASCAR because they will take highspeed dangerous passes without batting an eyelash. There were times where I could have reached out and grabbed a carton of eggs off a bicycle while our driver’s side mirror was scrap-

ing down the side of a bus coming the opposite way. We finally did make it to our location safely and would wake up early the next morning to continue our travels deeper into the rural heart of Tanzania.

To get to our location of Morogoro, which is where we were headed to build a church, we had to take a bus. The bus was packed to the hilt with crying babies, clucking chickens, and merchants selling suspect cashews. The trip took about three hours and led us into the central mountainous region that makes up Tanzania. For a mountainous region it still felt very tropical. Banana and papaya trees littered the sides of the main highway, and fields of corn appeared in patches by houses. Tanzania relies on its agriculture, and it is its biggest industry.

The staple food was rice, beans and a corn flour paste called ugali.

Once in Morogoro we set up at a Catholic seminary operated by an American. The grounds were surrounded with 1,000-year-old baobab trees that made America’s redwoods look thin. This would be our home for the next 12 days. From there we would wake up to a Children from Morogoro show enthusiasm for getting theit photos taken. breakfast of toast, a bean puree, and some type I quickly picked up easy construction words: fulfilled in the work I had done. The things I of fruit, just barely enough food to prepare us “kokoto” or rocks, “zaidi” or more, “mechoka” accomplished had been some of the most real for our hard days’ work we came for. Mornings or tired, and “umependeza” or beautiful, which things I have done in my life. The last night in Tanzania start early. We were out on the road I used to describe the mountains and make of our stay, the church gathered for a send-off at 8 a.m. each day, joined by thousands of other women laugh at me. Our work site was set to that cannot be described with words. Emotions Tanzanians riding bikes to market or walking the “umependeza” mountains of the Ulugulu were flowing for our group as the church choir to jobs. range. This made for a surreal landscape that performed songs of worship for the last time, Once at our work site, it quickly became ap- made the tiring work worthwhile. When I which sent chills done my spine. As a gift for parent the African standards for construction would get tired I could simply step back and our help, each of us was hand-stitched a shirt are far different than America’s. Even the sim- take in the sites of a country so foreign to me. or dress in true African tradition. The experiplest of tasks, getting water to make concrete, Despite all the work we did, our real reason for ence was almost too overwhelming and ended took the work of six women constantly filling being in Morogoro was to build relationships. way too soon. The next morning we left our up buckets of water and pouring them over the It was enlightening to build real relationships new home to travel back to the states, a trip I concrete mixture. Upon meeting, the crew re- with people we could not fully communicate did not want to make. lationships were quickly built. No one spoke with. Whether they were the cheerful neighborAs we waited at the departure gate, Pastor much English, but there is something to be said hood kids or Charles the Maasai warrior who Umba graciously grabbed my hand and said to about a smile and simple hand gestures. converted to Christianity, I came away feeling me, “Karibu rafiki, come back and see us.”

A Closer Look Inside Jacks Journey to

Africa!

Neighborhood kids line up for a refreshing drink of water.

The camera became an object of fascination they just had to touch.

Want a chance to win a new

Kodak Zi8?

Maasai woman poses for a rare photo in her village.

Scavenger Hunt coming August 2010

Stay connected with your friends at the Vista

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CLASSIFIED

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

Server Positions Available

Language Company: Edmond

Pearls Lakeside. within. 748-6113

Apply

Shogun’s Steak House Of Japan

Hiring for waitstaff, busers, dishwashers, host, bar tender. Apply in person at Northpark Mall (NW 127nd N. May) after 5:30 pm. 7490120

JULY 14, 2010 CROSSWORDS

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 new and improved TOEFL program. Enjoy small classes and the campus facilities. Contact us at (405) 341-2125 or www.thelanguagecompany.com

Teacher Needed Immediately For W i n d o w Edmond Daycare Cleaner Needed FT/PT experience preMust have vailid driver’s ferred. Competitive wages. license. Bilingual perferred.

Apply in person @ 24 NW Will train 405-340-3914 146th or call Camelot CDC @ 749-2262

Part-Time Jobs

Senior Services of Oklahoma is looking for students to fill part time positions.

Several from 9a.m.-1p.m. shifts and1:30p.m.-5:30p.m. shifts are available for Monday- Friday. We pay $10.00 per hour for energetic phone work educating senior citizens on healthcare issues.

No experience is needed; We will train. Business is located at 1417 N.W. 150th St. in Edmond. Call 879-1888 to set up interview. Ask for Megan Parris.

Tutoring Needed

Tutoring needed for 4 year -old. Early childhood major preferred. Approximately 5 hours per week. 919-8019

Baby sitter/nanny needed Babysitter/ nanny needed. Must speak Mandarin.

Approximately 10 hours per week. 919-8019

Part-Time Jobs

Job Description – Part Time Graphics Designer DM Mailing Services, Inc. is taking applications for a part time Graphic Designer and is looking for a candidate who can plan, analyze and create visual marketing and branding solutions for our clients. Duties Include: • Develop and refine logos, taglines and graphics.

• Assist team members with on going projects utilizing Adobe InDesign CS2, Illustrator CS2, PhotoShop CS2, PageMaker and Microsoft Software. Job Requirements: • 2 to 5 years of design experience or actively pursuing a degree in design, marketing or related field.

• Outstanding communication and organizational skills with a strong attention to detail.

• Demonstrated experience with Adobe Creative Suite. Please send your cover letter and resume to: DM Mailing Services, Inc. 237 South Coltrane, Edmond, OK 73034.

Or fax: 405.348.8966 attention to detail.

• Demonstrated experience with Adobe Creative Suite. Please send your cover letter and resume to: DM Mailing Services, Inc. 237 South Coltrane, Edmond, OK 73034. Or fax: 405.348.8966.

Nanny for Infant/ Light Housekeeping Mon-Fri. Summer and Fall semester. Call Sheryl 863-7937

FOR RENT

House for Rent

1 bedroom $350 + utilities. No Pets No smoking. 31 1/2 West Hurd Edmond. Call Patty 408-8765

Nearly New

Walking distance to UCO. 3 bed/2 bath w/ washer and dryer $750. 2 bed/1 bath w pool $540. 340-8147

FUN FACTS The Port of Catoosa, just north of Tulsa, is the nation’s largest inland port.

Across 1. ___ carotene 5. Insect appendage 9. Heroic tales 14. Bit 15. ___-friendly 16. Bumper sticker word 17. Deaden 18. Perlman of “Cheers” 19. ___-gritty 20. Withdrawing investment funds 23. Conceited 24. Nine equal parts 28. Decadent 31. “Check this out!”

33. Abbr. after a name 34. Vessels for narrow waterways 36. Anger 37. Coin opening 38. Arctic bird

39. “... happily ___ after” 40. “___ say!”

41. Moral instruction 45. “Fantasy Island” prop 46. “Darn it!”

47. Some Russians 48. Bivouac 50. Sundae topper, perhaps 51. Romaine lettuce salads 57. Looks out for, maybe 60. ___ fruit 61. Bypass 62. Prom rides 63. Sweet treat, for short 64. Circular course 65. Blue hue 66. Coil 67. Initial substance of the universe

28. Store, as corn 29. Overthrown 30. Play 31. High headdresses 32. “The Open Window” writer 35. Can of worms?

39. Study of causation 41. All together 42. Copy 43. Ill during travel 44. Fishing, perhaps 49. Gibson, e.g.

50. Acrylic fiber 52. Quite 53. Eastern pooh-bah 54. ___ nitrate 55. Acute 56. Check 57. ___ grecque 58. Show ___ 59. Australian runner

WORD SEARCH Act Africa Aim Air Ants Art Ate Boat Box Bunny Busyt Cap Cash Charm Die Eagle Earn Engage Even Everywhere Exposed

Okmulgee owns the world record for largest pecan pie, pecan cookie, pecan brownie, and biggest ice cream and cookie party.

The aerosol can was invented in Bartlesville; the parking meter in Oklahoma; and the shopping cart in Ardmore.

Osage, Kiowa, Arapaho, Wichita, and Caddo tribes lived in the Oklahoma region. They hunted the buffalo herds and grew corn, beans, and squash.

In 1541, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado reached Oklahoma. In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier explored the Mississippi River and claimed the land around it, including Oklahoma, for France.

In 1803, France sold “Louisiana” (including Oklahoma) to the United States. During the early 1800s, only a few fur traders settled in Oklahoma. The first permanent American settlement was a trading post established at present-day Salina in 1823.

Down 1. Boston or Chicago, e.g.

2. Small, decorative case 3. ___ of Maine (toothpaste brand) 4. Not an introvert or extrovert 5. Range of operation 6. Bloodless 7. Bottom of the barrel 8. Duff 9. Flat, braided cordage 10. Adjust, in a way 11. “___ lost!”

12. Appear 13. Chester White’s home 21. Alliance acronym 22. Acad.

25. Hecate 26. From this point on 27. Rears

ANSWERS FROM JULY 7

Fall Fan Fear Fed Flame Flats Fog Fond Gas Get Haul Haze Hens Herself Hurts Jury Lip Nut Nylon Oath Opens

Paths Policy Product Pure Ran Safer Saves Sea Sew Sigh Ski Slow Stove Throws Toy Urban Vets Voted Was Way Zip

7

SPORTS

JULY 14, 2010

NFL Football

HOME GROWN TALENT PHOTO BY GARET FISBECK

PHOTO BY GARET FISBECK

Former Edmond high school stars, Reggie Smith and Marquis Hamilton, prepare for this upcoming NFL season.

Reggie Smith works out with personal trainer in Edmond, Okla., at Tirey’s Training with trainer and fellow Edmond native, Marquis Hamilton.

have my brother, I can help him out. Also, I get to see my family, and then guys like Luke (Tirey) give me a reason to come back and help me out a lot.”

Smith has a lot of memories from his time playing in Edmond, but his favorite is Santa Fe’s state championship appearance.

“I was pretty fortunate to come in with a good group of guys. I won a lot of games while I was there at Santa Fe. I came in, got lucky and had an opportunity to start as a freshman and ran with it. The thing I remember that stays close to me is that state championship game we had, even though we lost. Just be able to get there and be the first Edmond team to get there for a while, was big for me.”

The two Edmond natives will leave home to attend their respective team’s training camps at the end of the month. Smith will be attempting to break the starting lineup, after spending his first two seasons playing mostly special teams. Hamilton will be trying hard to make a stacked Vikings squad.

Luckily for him, their special teams and wide receiver situations are somewhat favorable.

The two may be off doing bigger and better things elsewhere, but they will always call Edmond home.

Marquis Hamilton working with dumbbells in the weight room.

PHOTO BY GARET FISBECK

As a senior in high school, Reggie Smith was the talk of the town. The football allstar was running over the competition offensively, and making them pay defensively.

Smith ran the ball 122 times for 935 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. He also caught 47 passes for 607 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, he has 63 tackles and six interceptions. It’s no wonder Smith made his way to one of the top college football programs in the nation and eventually the NFL. Marquis Hamilton was a top wide receiver prospect in his state headed into a productive senior season. Hamilton totaled 36 receptions, 602 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. In his final high school season, Hamilton netted 750 reception yards and four touchdowns. The physical wide receiver’s talents earned him a spot on a division I college football team and eventually, a place in the NFL. What the players also have in common, besides having successful careers in high school and having both made it to the NFL, is where they’re from. Smith and Hamilton were both raised right here in Edmond, Okla.

Smith played for the Edmond Santa Fe Wolves, and Marquis Hamilton, for the Edmond North Huskies. Despite being from rival schools, the two work out together in the off-season at Tirey’s Training in Edmond.

Despite their past allegiances, Hamilton says the two work out together rather well, and there really isn’t a rivalry between them.

“No, not really,” Hamilton said. “Because at the same time we’re thinking about business. We know we’ve got to be professional, we’ve got to be ready for our teams respectively. So no rivalry. But, every now and then we get to that ‘jawing’ back and forth but no rivalry.”

Smith played cornerback for the Oklahoma Sooners in college and now plays safety for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League. Hamilton recently signed as a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings after playing out his college career at Iowa State.

Smith has been training with Luke Tirey at Tirey’s Training in Edmond for two offseasons now. He said that coming home to Edmond in his time off of work is a nobrainer when you factor in the family element. (Smith’s younger brother plays at Edmond Santa Fe.) “This is my home,” Smith said. “I know I

Reggie Smith talks about the upcoming season.

PHOTO BY GARET FISBECK

By Chris Wescott / Sports Editor

UCO Women’s Basketball

Marquis Hamilton talking about his new team, the Vikings.

UCO women’s basketball player Kasey Tweed will miss this upcoming season.

By Michael Collins / Sports Writer The University of Central Oklahoma’s women’s basketball team has an amazing guard in Kasey Tweed. The problem is, she will not be able to compete in this upcoming season. Tweed injured her knee this past season in a game vs. Eastern New Mexico and had surgery June 14. This will be the third time Tweed will be rehabbing from a serious knee injury.

“I just had an ACL tear and a little bit of meniscus damage, and they replaced it by using my patellar tendon,” Tweed said. “It [expected recovery] will be about six to seven months from my surgery date, which was June 14, so probably the middle of December to January.”

Knee injuries are always tricky because there are three different surgeries that can be performed. The doctors can use the hamstring, patellar tendon or a cadaver tendon to fix the knee. This is not Tweed’s first surgery. “Well I used a cadaver last surgery, and it only lasted about 10 months before I tore it again,” Tweed said. “So it was more of a I don’t trust it to do the same surgery again, and

they say this is probably the best ACL surgery. The patellar surgery is more difficult than the others with rehab and pain, so with my doctor it’s usually not his first choice.”

Many players today are encouraged to think more about their bodies and the future when they encounter these types of injuries. Worrying about walking later in life or playing with their kids always seems to be part of the discussion when the doctors and team trainers give their two cents. “My coaches are awesome,” Tweed said. “They actually didn’t want me to play again because they didn’t want anything to happen to my knee again, but they offered to let me stay on and help coach and be a part of the team still. But I decided to play again, and they supported my decision. They told me I could redshirt this year so I could spend a whole year rehabbing and working on stuff, and of course all my teammates have been supportive.”

Tweed’s shooting ability will certainly be missed this next season. She shot the ball at almost a 50 percent clip this past season, before injuring her knee. Tweed

has also played in 81 games through three seasons.

One thing that is common in a player who returns from a knee injury is trust in that knee. It is bad enough to blow the knee out once, but three times? Tweed is a gritty competitor.

“People say I’m crazy, but oh well,” Tweed said. “I don’t want to quit playing while I still have a chance to.”

With only one season left of eligibility, no one can blame her for at least trying.

The worst that could happen would be another blowout, but let’s all pray that doesn’t happen.

If she can return to form, this will undoubtedly be one of the best stories in Broncho sports history. The guts and determination to never give up, and to keep fighting when everyone else says give up, is amazing. You can call her crazy all you want, but the word heart should come to mind when you think about Kasey Tweed for now on. If all the collegiate players in America had this attitude, this country would be a much better place.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PHOT

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Kasey Tweed playing with an injured knee, dives to the basket .

SPORTS

JULY 14, 2010

8

Opinion

LEBRON JAMES DISAPPOINTS LeBron James leaving Cleveland and signing with the Miami Heat causes huge stir across the NBA.

By Michael Collins / Sports Writer

James and go straight to Durant. With Bryant only having a few more years, and the Thunder positioning themselves to overtake the Lakers as soon as Bryant Leaves, Durant will be the new “king.” There is no question James is the most athletic player to play the game of basketball since Magic Johnson. But he will never live up to the hype everyone game him.

This past season, Durant became the youngest player ever to lead the league in scoring at just more than 30 points a game. Durant has averaged 25 points per game for his first three seasons and has the Thunder primed for a playoff run. He didn’t have to team up and conspire with his buddies to try and buy a few championships. Sam Presti has put Durant in a situation where he has players around him, but at the same time there will be no question when the Thunder hoists their first banner

that Durant was the reason. Unlike James, Wade and Bosh, if they win a ring, people will always question who actually led them there.

This by default puts Durant as the game’s best.

No one ever questioned MJ, Johnson or Bryant when they won their rings. That’s because there was no question it was their team.

I would love to see James never get a ring, because I don’t think he deserves it, but that’s probably not going to happen. He will eventually get a ring, but he won’t match MJ or Bryant. Durant on the other hand has plenty of years to get a few rings under his belt, before he even reaches James’ age now. Hopefully Durant proves me right and goes down in history as the greater player.

A P P H O T O /J . P AT C A R T E R

A P P H O T O /J . P AT C A R T E R

Have you ever heard the song “I Wanna Talk About Me,” by country music star Toby Keith? Well, if you have been paying attention to the circus that is LeBron James, then you probably know what I am talking about.

On the other hand, a simple tweet from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s star, Kevin Durant, did the exact same thing James’s one-hour television show did, except he didn’t have all the world watching.

The announcement that James would be leaving Cleveland and joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami came as no surprise to most people. But the way James went about it was wrong. No matter what decision he made, he would have been ridiculed; either he was abandoning his hometown, or he was just

in it for the money.

While all this was going on, the Thunder inked Durant for the max deal. His new contract will keep him in Oklahoma City till the year 2016, and will earn him between $85 million to $86 million. That’s pretty big news, yet he only needed 140 characters to say it.

This is the problem with sports today, “It’s all about me.” The funny thing is the teams that have those kinds of players hardly ever seem to win. The New England Patriots, the New York Yankees, the Boston Celtics and even the Lakers wanted to win, and yes they had players who were “superstars,” but it was more about the game and not them. I don’t see James ever being that type of player.

James has been widely considered the heir apparent to Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, but after all this, I think that torch will bypass

LeBron James (6), Dwyane Wade (3) and Chris Bosh (1) show off their Miami Heat jerseys at the American Airlines Arena in Miami Friday July 9, 2010. To the right is Miami Heat owner Micky Arison. (AP Photo/J.Pat Carter)

From left, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James acknowledge the cheers during a fan event at the American Airlines Arena in Miami Friday, July 9, 2010. (AP Photo/J.Pat Carter)