The Vista April 2, 2019 by The Vista

Volume 117, Issue 9

the VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”

ucentralmedia.com vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

UCOSA Prepares for Student Body Elections Vy Luong

@vy169 Online Editor

UCOSA Presidential Candidate Ethan Clark (left) and Vice Presidential Candidate Madison Stueve pose for a photo outside of Old North. The pair are running on a ticket focused on increasing the sense of community on campus. (Provided/Clark and Stueve)

The University of Central Oklahoma Student Association will host their student body election from midnight to 5 p.m. on April 3 on UConnect for students to vote for the new student body president and vice president. “[President and vice president] are the only positions currently voted by the student body,” said Congressional Chair Tate Atkinson. Atkinson said only around 200 people voted last year because only one pair of candidates was qualified to run. Normally, he said there are around 400 to 500 people voting in the election. “It really varies a lot depending upon how competitive the race

is or how many people are running,” Atkinson said. “We usually get less people voting for the student body election that we do for Homecoming king and queen.” The president and vice president head the UCOSA executive board and are the voices to the administrators. They meet weekly with administrators to discuss the projects they are working on and students’ concerns. They also work with the UCO presidential cabinet and administrators to oversee the distribution of student activity fees. The link to vote will be highlighted on the top of the website. Results will be reviewed by the UCOSA Election Committee that evening. “We have done something new this year. We asked that each of the canContinued on Pg. 6

UCOSA Presidential Candidate Emily Grim (right) and Vice Presidential Candidate Christian Coleman pose for a photo outside of Old North. The candidates’ platform is centered on increasing transparency and inclusivity in UCOSA. (Provided/Grim and Coleman)

Oklahoma Missing Persons Scott Booker Recognized for Day to be Hosted at UCO Music Industry Contributions Katie Standlee

Madison Bolton

@katiestandlee Managing Editor

@TheVista1903 Reporter

Oklahoma Missing Persons Day will be held at the Forensic Science Institute at the University of Central Oklahoma on April 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for families to be able to connect with law enforcement, report a missing person, help identify unidentified bodies that have been recovered and receive additional resources. “Pictures are often helpful, any medical records such as x-rays or dental records are also useful, but, more, this is an effort to educate the Continued on Pg. 11

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Forensic Science Institute will host the 2019 Missing Persons Day event. The annual event provides familes, authorities and others the opportunity to network and connect to resources. (Vista Archive)

Scott Booker, director of the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma, was named as one of 17 honorees for the 2019 Governor’s Arts Awards. (Provided/UCO Photo Services)

The Oklahoma Arts Council recently named Scott Booker as one of 17 Governor’s Arts Awards honorees for 2019. The Vista's Madison Bolton interviewed with Booker in his office at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma to talk with him about his thoughts on winning this award, his life and, most importantly, music. "I honestly don't know what trigContinued on Pg. 5

OKLAHOMA NEWS

BRONCHO SPORTS

See Pg. 3

See Pg. 12

Authorities Continue to Investigate Vandalism

Bronchos Football Kick Off Spring Practice

the

April 2, 2019

VISTA w

CONTENTS Vandalism/Scott Booker........................................................3 Around Campus ...................................................................4 Work-Study/Women............................................................5 Elections................................................................6 Headphones...........................................................7 India......................................................................10 Missing Persons/ Lawsuit......................................................11 Dominate................................................................12 Kick..............................................................................13 Unsystemic......................................................................14 Bucking Broncho.................................................................15

THE VISTA

is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, 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 and must include the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s printed name, major, classification and phone number. Phone numbers are included for contacting purposes only. 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 73034-5209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be emailed to thevista.ads@gmail.com.

On the Cover: Left: Bystanders look on as volunteers clean up graffiti in the vandalization of the Oklahoma Democratic Party headquarters. The building was vandalized last week with racist and white supremecist language. (Elsa Ruiz/For the Vista)

Right: University of Central Oklahoma football team is pictured during the Sept. 6 home game against University of Nebraska-Kerney. Spring practice opened on March 27 and will run through April 20. (Gerald Leong/The Vista)

Contents

STAFF Christian Tabak Katie Standlee Jonathan Goudeau Tanner Laws Megan Thele Skyler Baldwin Vy Luong Michelle Pennza Yi Wen Wong Lauren Morris Madison Bolton James Jackson Derek Parker Samantha Karbelk Gerald Leong Teddy Burch Alex Brown

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Co-Copy Editor Online Editor Design Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Sports Reporter Sports Reporter Photographer Photographer Adviser Advertising Specialist

Advertise with us! The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer and fall semesters. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both digital, online and print ads. For information or questions contact: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@gmail.com

Vandalism/Scott Booker

April 2, 2019

Vandalism Investigation Continues in Oklahoma Christian Tabak @CaffeineWallace Editor-In-Chief

Authorities are still searching for the suspect in last week’s vandalization of the Oklahoma Democratic Party headquarters and the Chickasaw Nation’s Oklahoma City Area Office after a lead with one suspect led to a dead end. Oklahoma City police released photos of a potential female suspect Thursday that they were seeking to identify and additional photos Saturday. However, they released a statement Sunday that the woman identified in the later photos is unrelated to the crime and that they are still searching. “Investigators are still trying to ID and locate the female shown in the original photos we released Thursday in connection with the graffiti left at two OKC businesses, one on Lincoln [Boulevard] and the other on Classen [Boulevard],” said MSgt. Gary Knight, OKCPD assistant public information officer. The vandalism occurred early Thursday morning, with racist graffiti defacing the Democratic headquarters and the surrounding sidewalks. The graffiti included references to

Nazis and messages such as “Gas the Jews” and “White planet only,” as well as swastikas and derogatory terms for African Americans, Asian Americans, transgender individuals and Democrats. “This is a big deal. This is disgusting and horrifying and it is a symptom of how divided our country has become under the leadership of President Donald Trump,” said Anna Langthorn, chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. Langthorn said that a maintenance worker discovered the graffiti and informed the building’s owner, former Gov. David Walters. While the building houses several other offices, Langthorn said the specific references to the Democratic party made it clear that this was a direct attack on the party. Additional graffiti was discovered at the Chickasaw Nation office located two miles from the Democratic headquarters, which included the same Nazi references, as well as messages targeting Native Americans such as “Indians will be gassed.” “It is very disheartening to see our building defaced by this type of hateful message, which is so out of place for Oklahoma,” said Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation. “We believe it is important to move

Oklahoma City crime scene investigators examine the scene at the Oklahoma Democratic Party headquarters, where an unknown suspect vandalized the building with racist graffiti and white supremecist language. (Elsa Ruiz/For the Vista)

past this isolated incident and focus our attention on the important work we do.” It was at the Chickasaw Nation office that security cameras captured the image of the woman that the OKCPD have identified as a person of interest to the case. Due to the similar nature of both incidents, the police are conducting their investigation as if both incidents are directly connected, according to Bo Matthews,

OKCPD’s public information officer. “The FBI was out there at the scene with our criminal intelligence officers,” Matthews said. “They work closely together, so there will be some assistance if we need that.” Police are asking for anyone with information related to the incident or who are able to identify the woman in the photos they have released to contact them at 405-235-7300 or www. okccrimetips.com.

Scott Booker Recognized for Music Industry Contributions Continued from Pg. 1 gered this passion for music," Booker said. At 10-years-old, Booker said he was involved heavily in comic books. But, while neither of his parents were musicians, at a young age he said he can remember listening to KKNG, a radio station his parents would play frequently. "[It] was basically elevator music, it was like Beatles songs redone by other people as instrumentals," Booker said. Growing up in Midwest City, he received what he calls his first job in "the entertainment business" selling a newspaper called Grit. "This job taught me how to go talk to people about this thing that they might not know they want, that would entertain them for a little while and make their lives just a little bit better," Booker said. He sold enough magazines to where he could buy one record a week from the Sound Warehouse. When he turned 15, he was immediately offered a job at the record store, where he worked all throughout high

school. He said his social skills and knowledge of music landed him a job later on at Rainbow Records on 23rd Street and Classen Boulevard. During his time at Rainbow Records, he attended Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma), where he received a degree in education, planning on becoming a history teacher some day. "I was working at the record store and the starting salary for being a teacher that year when I graduated was $16,000 a year," Booker said. "This was the late 80's, and working at the record store I made $20,000 a year." With his decision made to stay at Rainbow, it was there that he met the Flaming Lips' bassist, Michael Ivins. "The Flaming Lips were my favorite band, even before I managed them," Booker said. He has managed the three-time Grammy award-winning band the Flaming Lips ever since, but he said education was always in the back of his mind. Fast forward to 2019 and Booker is now using his teaching degree. However, the subject he is teaching is not

history, instead, it is on how to manage the business of performing arts. According to Booker ACM@UCO was up and going in less than a year. They opened their doors in the fall of 2009 to 160 students and this year it will be the 10th anniversary of the school there are roughly 400 students attending now. "ACM is not a fine arts program; we're an entrepreneurial program that just happens to be about music," Booker said. According to Booker, ACM offers a variety of paths in the music industry for students, offering two year degrees, bachelors degrees and minors in music business, production or performance. Every student attending ACM is required to take music business courses. Booker said there was never any hesitation to open ACM in Oklahoma and believes Oklahoma City can be the next Nashville or Austin. "I never had a doubt that we would be serving a real need for a huge number of people here, that it was the right place to do it," Booker said. His next 10 year plan is to focus on the growth of the music industry here,

which has already started to evolve, although he said we need to formalize it here. "We are a perfect place for artists to hub themselves out of and do things all throughout the U.S. [because] we're right smack in the middle of the country," Booker said. "I have a lot of ideas for the next decade." With a passion for education and art, Booker said he's proud to win the award. "Education has always been important to me. It's never ending, I'm always learning," Booker said. "And anyone that feels like they have nothing left to learn might as well realize there's nothing left to live for." He said he feels ACM is winning this award, he has just been chosen as the person to receive it. "To me what's exciting about it is the fact that this is an arts and education award [and] that it's not simply a program that's about art, but its about how to make a living from art, how to exploit art to make yourself and the world a better place," Booker said, "The fact that our program is being recognized for that is very important and I'm super excited about it."

April 2, 2019

Around Campus

Ben Link, a member of the indie-folk band, Dawson Hollow, performs on stage with his guitar on March 28 at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Life Skills Around Eating: This free and confidential group meets from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Thatcher Hall Room 328. The group will discuss and focus on the affect regulation approach to eating disorders and will teach how to handle stress triggered by food. ISA’s Holi: The Indian American Student Association is hosting their annual Holi celebration from 3-5 p.m. in Plunkett Park. Known as the festival of colors, the attendees will be able to celebrate the festival with colored powder as well as Indian dance music during the proceedings. Election Town Hall: The UCO Student Association will be hosting an election town hall from 5-6 p.m. in Grand Ballroom A of the Nigh University Center. With Student Body Elections taking place from 12 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, the UCOSA town hall will allow the student body to hear from the candidates running for president about their goals, platforms and more. SPB Thunder Up: The Student Programming Board is offering students the opportunity to attend the Oklahoma City Thunder vs the Los Angeles Lakers game taking place from 7-10 p.m. at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in OKC. The first 75 students to sign up on the group’s Orgsync page will be able to attend for free.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Student Sustainability Summit: Students for Sustainability will host their annual Student Sustainability

Summit from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Nigh University Center. The group’s goal for this year’s conference is to begin establishing a regional coalition of universities advocating for change across their campuses and communities. The event will feature speakers and presentations throughout the day. 2019 College of Liberal Arts Student Symposium: The College of Liberal Arts’ annual student symposium will be hosted 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Building;. Students will be part of presentations panels, discussions tables, poster and photography presentations where they showcase their research, explain it and discuss it with their peers. Transitioning to the Professional World: The Career Development Center will host a workshop, “Transitioning to the Professional World,” from 3-4 p.m. in Old North Room 208. Alumni Kyle Thompson from Mass Mutual Oklahoma will be presenting on tips necessary for students to transition from college life to a career following graduation. African Student Association General Meeting: The African Student Association will host a general meeting from 4-6 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 314.

Thursday, April 4 2019 Mr. Central: UCO’s annual Mr. Central competition will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Constitution Hall. The event will allow competitors to show off their talents, physical fitness and ac-

ademic achievements for a chance to win over $1,000 in scholarships and tuition waivers, as well as to represent UCO. ISA’s Mehendi Madness: The Indian Student Association will host Mehendi Madness from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Room 320C. ISA will provide attendees with henna tattoos and other activities. Contemporary China - Changing Political, Technological and Natural Environments: Dr. Jennifer Turner from the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., will present a lecture from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Center for Transformative Learning’s Radke Recital Hall. Her lecture will focus on the changing environmental issues in China and the steps China’s leadership is taking to address pollution. The lecture also meets STLR’s Global and Cultural Competency and Civic Engagement tenets for students interested in STLR credit. Domestic Abuse and Sexual Consent Workshop: UCO’s chapter of the Omega Delta Phi fraternity will host a workshop on domestic abuse and sexual consent from 2-3 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Carl Albert Room. Breaking BarrierZ Diabetes Ball: Breaking BarrierZ will host a Diabetes Ball from 6-10 p.m. in the International House Ballrooms located in the International House at 930 E. 2nd Street. The soul-train-themed ball is free to the public and will provide attendees with information about diabetes, food and will feature a DJ.

UCO Housing Slam Poetry: The Golden Ponies Creative Writers Guild will host a slam poetry event from 6-8 p.m. in the West Hall courtyard. The event will be led by creative writer and resident assistant, K.K. Patton, and sign-up for the event will begin at 5:45.

Friday, April 5, 2019 Chill Skills: This group works to reduce conflict in your life; identify triggers, patterns and purpose of anger; gather more tools for enhancing communication, boundaries and healthy relationships. The group meets from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Nigh University Center Room 322. LGBTQ Support: From 1-2 p.m. in Nigh University Center Room 322, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will host a support group for those considering coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, and those who have recently come out. Anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, is questioning or unsure can meet and talk about various topics. A Life Worth Living: This group works on skills for improving boundaries and strengthening healthy relationships, enhancing sense of self and ways to manage distress. The group meets from 2-3 p.m. in Thatcher Hall Room 328. Music Business Workshop: The Electronic Dance Music at the University of Central Oklahoma will host their first ever music business workshop from 5-7 p.m. in Center for Transformative Learning Room 101.

Work-Study/Women

April 2, 2019

UCO Ranked Second for Federal Work-Study

Jorge Gil

@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma is ranked second out of 409 universities across the United States in helping their students pay for their education. Students have several options to pay for their tuition in college. Depending on the student’s situation, they may receive federal student aid, federal work-study and private or public scholarships. Other students, such as DACA students, have to pay out of pocket unless they receive a private scholarship. “Students should take advantage of all the opportunities they can get to help them pay for college,” said Raquel Bernabe, a UCO graduate. “As a DACA recipient, I was ineligible for many federal grants, such as Oklahoma’s Promise and FAFSA, and wish these types of opportunities were available for Dreamers too.” According to a report from LendEDU, UCO ranked number two in

The University of Central Oklahoma was ranked 2nd place in a national study of federal work-study opportunities and federal financial aid programs. The study ranked colleges based on the number of jobs available to students and the amount of money students are able to make while being a federal work-study participant. (Vista Archives)

federal work-study opportunities for students. The study was based on the number of jobs available to students on- and off-campus and the amount of money students are able to make

UCO has a salary range for all students, with the work-study salary being dependent on when the student applies, the level of financial need and the amount of funding available at the university. (Vista Archives)

while being a federal work-study participant. “Federal work-study provides parttime jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses,” said Abigail Okoe, assistant director of UCO work-study and scholarships. “The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.” Students can apply for federal work-study when they apply for FAFSA. The university then decides which applicants get accepted into the program. While a student is in the federal work-study program, they are at least going to make the federal minimum

wage; however, a student may earn more depending on the type of work they are in and the skills they bring to the job. UCO has a salary range for all students; the total federal work-study award depends on when the student applies, the level of financial need and the university’s funding level. The benefits of accepting federal work-study jobs are incentives for students to take these jobs. Students are making money for education and living expenses, employers are usually flexible with students and they are making connections with others. However, one drawback to this program is that students can only work a maximum of 25 hours and students could possibly make more money with another employer.

Oklahoma Ranked 46th for Women to Live In Yi Wen Wong @TheVista1903 Reporter

In a recent study, Oklahoma was ranked the 46th best state for women to live in and 49th for uninsured rate and for women’s life expectancy at birth. “Women’s health and status does not seem to be a priority here in Oklahoma,” said Lindsey Churchill, director of the University of Central Oklahoma’s Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center. “In our economy, often women choose where they live based on where they can get a job. Most don’t have the luxury to choose, unfortunately.” According to the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, a

higher percentage of women have bachelor’s degrees and women are more likely to work in managerial or professional occupations. Yet, women in Oklahoma are less likely than men to be in the labor force and are more likely to live in poverty. Women also continue to be underrepresented in the state legislature. “[The] best way to improve these statistics is to become educated, informed and united with other women working to create change,” said Liz Tabak, coordinator for UCO’s Women’s Outreach Center. “Knowing what is going on helps us to get to the why and that allows us to change things.” Tabak also said that for women, in particular, educating themselves about things like gender pay equity and connecting with mentors and

networking opportunities really can make the difference between changing these statistics or being stuck in a bad cycle. In 2015, Oklahoma women who work full-time year-round earn 80 cents on the dollar compared with similarly employed men. Later in 2017, the American Association of University Women claimed that median annual earnings in the U.S. for men working full time, yearround were $52,146, compared to $41,977 for women. This equates to women being paid 80 percent of men’s earnings. “I see a divergence between states when it comes to reproductive rights,” Churchill said. “However, the information given from the Status of Women Data said most states made

little progress in access to affordable contraception, abortion rights, family planning, fertility and infant health.” Tabak said women’s rights are human rights so in that, a state-level public policy that would allow women to thrive would include the very basic factors of access to healthcare, including mental health care, well-woman, pregnancy and infant care, affordable and reliable childcare, access to and representation in education and equal representation at the local and state level in government. “If a woman does have a choice in selecting where she lives, some things to consider are crime rates, particularly rape and domestic violence rates, average cost of living in comparison to the average pay and the political climate for women,” Tabak said.

April 2, 2019

Elections

UCOSA Prepares for Student Body Elections Continued from Pg. 1

didates provide their biography and other stuff so we can have good information about the candidates,” Atkinson said. “Whenever you get on the website, you will actually see there will be an area that explains what their platforms are and what they are running for.” UCOSA statues state that president

and vice president candidates need to run together as a slate, as opposed to individually. They must have an average GPA of at least 3.0 and maintain their full-time student status. Candidates also need to meet some extra requirement, such as being involved in UCOSA for a specific amount of time or passing a test. Emily Grim, a sophomore mass communication and political science

major, and Ethan Clark, a sophomore biomedical sciences major and leadership minor, are running for president this year. Christian Coleman, an international business major, is running for vice president with Grim while Madison Sueve, an interpersonal communications major, is running with Clark. Grim and Coleman’s campaign focuses on three goals: transparen-

cy, community and inclusivity. On the other side, Clark and Stueve’s goals are unity, community and opportunity. UCOSA will host a Candidate Town Hall meeting Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Ballroom A to allow students the opportunity to learn more about the candidates and their platforms, as well as ask questions.

Get to Know the Candidates’ Platforms

Emily Grim, Presidential Candidate Sophormore, mass communication and political science major UCOSA Congressional Secrectary, President’s Leadership Council, Alpha Delta Pi, Orientation Leader

Christian Coleman, Vice Presidential Candidate Freshman, International Business major

Ethan Clark, Presidential Candidate Sophomore, Biomedical Sciences major and Leadership minor

UCOSA Human Diversity Chair, Black Male Initiative, Black Student Association, UCO Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Leaders of Tomorrow

UCOSA Sergeant at Arms, Leaders of Tomorrow, Homecoming Activites Board, Interfraternity Council, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity

FOR THE PEOPLE

Madison Stueve, Vice Presidential Candidate Junior, Interpersonal Communications major BronchoThon, Panhellenic Executive Councils, Leaders of Tomorrow, Alpha Xi Delta.

YOUR CAMPUS YOUR VOICE

Transperency - Community - Inclusivity Grim: We want to build up the community and build the stronger Broncho community. But you can’t do that if you don’t have the transparent student government. Also if our student government isn’t inclusive and intentional inviting student to the table so we can’t help all of the student. Coleman: Big thing is representing all the people. 17,000 people, break up really differently – we see that we want to produce a community for every student here so they can be success in academic study and have a good time. We want to be approachable and open so any students young or old feel comfortable to approach us and the body we represent.

Unity - Communty - Opportunity Clark: Our voices are those the biggest thing we have. If we can use those voices and come together, we can in a change and such a large scale. There’s such a great community here at UCO being such a small campus so amny different individual Communities within those and so kind of create like uniting those communities together and the diversifying them Stueve: We think of this campus just has so many incredible learning opportunities of future job opportunities and network building opportunities and we just really wanna to highlight that and bring that opportunity and the touch of all students

Why do you want to run in this election? Grim: I have been wanting to do this since my freshman convocation. I just remember it was [UCOSA President] Stockton at the time [and he] said something about like how UCO felt like home. I came from a really small town to here and being able to make a campus of 17,000 people feel like home for individuals, that is something that is super, super important to me. Coleman: I’ve always been someone who likes to get my hands dirty and interact with people. I like to live around my philosophy: ‘Create better perspective and opportunity.’ Working as a vice president, obviously, I need to interact with people, hear their perspectives and make sure their voices are heard. How to raise awareness about UCOSA? Coleman: I understand that everyone doesn’t belong to an organization, but most people either come to the Nigh, study in the library or are in some buildings at some point. The really big thing is reaching people where they are, not where you want them to be. We need to go to the library for a lunch with UCOSA or tabling in the Nigh.

Why do you want to run in this election? Clark: I wanted to run for president ever since I came to UCO on this kind of in the driving force with a lot of the things that I’ve done. The opportunity to represent the students is really the driving force behind that. Stueve: I’ve been a big fan since my freshman year of trying very hard this past four semesters to be an active member on campus, to be actively making my organizations and people around me better and building them up. I just really care about UCO and how we can serve students around us better as a whole. How to raise awareness about UCOSA? Stueve: We send out emails and things about UCOSA for people that don’t have the opportunity to be an organization, or won’t be there at the meeting. We’re both very outgoing and friendly people on campus who have the opportunity to sit next to students every day. A lot of it does have to come from wordof-mouth almost between UCOSA to the student body because there would not be a way to outreach if they don’t read the email.

Headphones

April 2, 2019

The Day I Lost Headphones I Never Had There’s no secret that the Apple AirPods were a big phenomenon over the past three years. According to digitaltrends.com Apple has sold over 44 million AirPods and now there is a second generation of Apple’s most popular headphones, AirPods 2. “AirPods delivered a magical wireless experience and have become one of the most beloved products we’ve ever made,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “They connect easily with all of your devices, and provide crystal clear sound and intuitive, innovative control of your music and audio.” As someone who is interested in many forms of technology, I decided to finally join in on the Bluetooth headphone frenzy. But as we all know — or maybe it’s just me — earbud headphones are not the easiest to keep up with. Embarrassingly enough, I have made many trips to the Apple Store to replace my old-fashioned wired headphones. So for someone who considers themselves a fiscally responsible college student, to spend $149.99 on new AirPods was a painful task. Consequently, as a precaution, I

AirPods are a Bluetooth Apple accessory that were released on Dec. 13, 2016 as Apple’s first wireless earbuds. The second version of AirPods, AirPods 2, was released on March 20, 2019. (Tanner Laws/The Vista)

traveled to Walmart, not the Apple store, and picked up a pair of Bluetooth headphones called SoundMates for just $29.99. A lot easier on the wallet and a less stressful purchase. I would henceforth proceed through a trial run with the less expensive headphones, just to see how things went. The trial was simple: all I had to do was keep up with the headphones for one week and then I would cave

in, and allow myself to indulge in the AirPods phenomenon. But throughout my time with the SoundMates, I could not shake the thought of why I needed to spend $120 more for AirPods. The AirPods and the SoundMates were very much the same in looks and in functionality. Like the AirPods, the SoundMates were white with a long stem that would be visibly seen hanging from

my ears. Multiple times throughout the week, many of my fellow classmates said, “Wow, I thought you were wearing AirPods from a distance.” Then I would give the smug answer, “They pretty much do the same thing too, for a lot cheaper!” The SoundMates connected with my Apple Watch Series 3 via Bluetooth, as I’m 99.9 percent sure because you can never be 100 percent sure with science, the AirPods also connect to my Apple Watch. The sound quality of the SoundMates was tolerable and tolerable is all that is needed for podcasts and music. There was even a wireless charging case for the SoundMates. The only difference between the two headphones, which is very slight, is when removing one earbud from my ear, the music I was listening to did not stop playing like with the AirPods. I would say this feature would be very helpful in casual hallway conversations with classmates and professors. However, the two seconds it takes me to look at my watch and hit pause does not scream “spend $120 more for such an inconvenience.” So, with all this being said, I enjoyed my time with my SoundMate headphones. But, as I knew I would, I have recently misplaced them and am currently without AirPods or my SoundMates. So there’s that…trial over, mission failed.

April 2, 2019

India

Students and Faculty Return from Seminar in India Madison Bolton @TheVista1903 Reporter

The Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center at the University of Central Oklahoma recently attended a seminar in Varanasi, India to spread awareness on Gender Issues in the New Millennium. “Everything about this trip was a humbling experience, to be around so many like-minded people and to realize for us and them that there are people all around the world who share the same passions and are actively fighting for a voice in their world,” Jennifer Phillips graduate student at UCO said. Lindsey Churchill, director of the Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center, and seven students each presented a different topic at Vasanta College for Women and D.A.V. Post Graduate College. However, the first stop for the organization was Delhi, India, where they toured different temples and took a day trip to the Taj Mahal. Churchill said she had been to the Taj Mahal in 2010, but this time around she said seeing her students experience the breathtaking beauty was one of her favorite parts. “Just to see their faces when they first viewed it was incredible,” Churchill said. “And just how they comported themselves and interacted with others made me so proud, they represented UCO so well. They have such good research and have such a good heart for it, I was definitely a proud mama.” Up next was Varnasi, India, where the conference they co-hosted was located. “I have to say it was one of the best days of my life,” Churchill said. “We were driven to get on a bus with a bunch of students from Vasanta Women’s College, which was the first

place that hosted us.” Everyone connected right away, according to Churchill. However, the group had no idea the greeting that awaited them at the university. “We walked up to Vasanta Women’s College and they were all waiting to greet us,” Churchill said. “They greeted us by throwing flowers on us, presenting us with scarves. It was the most beautiful welcoming, it was so kind.” Churchill said the way the universities welcomed them gave her a different outlook on greetings and sparked new ideas on how to welcome international participants to the 4th Annual Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference hosted by the Center in October. “The seminars were an incredible opportunity to teach and be taught,” said AnaMarie Lopez, one of the students on the trip. “I was blown away by the grace of the presenters and the topics they discussed such as gender issues within classic works of literature.” Middleton described feeling a sense of freedom during the trip. “What was most surprising to me was the freedom I felt while in India,” Middleton said. “As Americans, we feel the need to always be busy to be productive, and having those pressures lifted off of me was so relaxing. The people seemed to have their values more aligned with what’s important, and it was beautiful to be able to experience that firsthand.” Jake Reavis, a student that attended, said he made a significant amount of academic and professional connections while he was there. “I am still currently talking to university students and answering questions related to gender and sexuality and helping them be more inclusive and open with themselves with these topics,” Reavis said. Churchill said she hopes to continue similar opportunities like this for

In Delhi, India at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib the Students and faculty from the University of Central Oklahoma Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center pose for a photo. (Lindsey Churchill/Provided)

Students and faculty from the University of Central Oklahoma Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center visited the Taj Mahal while in India to raise awareness on Gender Issues in the New Millennium. (Lindsey Churchill/Provided)

students in the future. “It’s so important that we continue to fund students going to conferences and things like this,” Churchill said, “It’s an experience you cannot get in a classroom.” All students and professors that at-

tended the seminar in Varsani, India have been invited to the 4th Annual Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference held at UCO in October and Churchill said she hopes they all can attend.

Missing Persons/Lawsuit

April 2, 2019

Oklahoma Missing Persons Day to be Hosted at UCO Continued from Pg. 1 more, this is an effort to educate the family members of missing persons and to show them how they can get involved in the solution,” said Dwight Adams, director of the FSI at UCO. This is a free event and is for families of missing persons and law enforcement agencies to attend. If families have yet to report a missing person, they are encouraged to bring photos and medical or dental records of their missing person. Family members can also provide their own DNA sample at no cost during the event. Oklahoma Missing Persons Day is hosted by UCO, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Fran-

cine Frost’s family. According to the NamUs, 600,000 individuals go missing every year and 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year, which NamUs is calling the nation’s silent mass disaster. For open cases, in Oklahoma there are currently 260 missing persons and 116 unidentified persons. Nationwide there are 15,793 missing persons and 12,638 unidentified persons, according to NamUs. Francine’s Law, one of the topics that will be discussed at the event, is a law that would require law enforcement agencies to enter missing person information into the NamUs missing persons database. Recently, Francine’s Law passed on the floor of the State House and the Oklahoma state legislature has now gone to Senate committees. “One of the reasons Francine’s Law is needed so badly is there are

approximately 1,000 missing persons entered into the FBI’s national crime information center but only 259 are entered into NamUs,” said Michael Nance, regional program specialist for NamUs. “So we know that there is a crucial need to address this problem in Oklahoma to help locate them.” Through this event, families can learn about ambiguous loss, the Oklahoma Unsolved Homicides and Missing Persons Playing Cards Initiative and Francine’s Law. To speak more on some of these aspects, Attorney General Mike Hunter and OSBI Director Ricky Adams will be speaking at 1:00 p.m. during the event. Families will also be able to meet with both Hunter and Adams after their presentations. “Ambiguous loss is a condition that families suffer whenever a loved one is missing,” Nance said. “We hope to be able to provide information to

them about their situation as a family member of a missing loved one so that they can better cope with their condition and not have health problems of their own due to stress or other emotional issues.” The event will also provide networking opportunities for family members and law enforcement agencies for resources and social needs. “The Forensic Science Institute here at UCO is committed not only to providing a great education for our students but also assisting the community, the state, the nation in solving crimes, increasing technology and then, in this case, bringing family members with law enforcement together,” Adams said. Families of missing persons, law enforcement and medical examiners and coroners can enter missing person information into the NamUs database system on their website.

Opioid Manufacturer Settles Oklahoma Lawsuit Jeff Elkins

@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription painkiller Oxycontin settled a lawsuit brought on by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter for $270 million. Purdue is one of 13 defendants in lawsuits in which Hunter alleges opioid manufacturers engaged in deceptive marketing campaigns that led to thousands of cases of addictions and overdose-related deaths. “The opioid epidemic has damaged lives, cost billions in taxer payer dollars and been destructive to our economy,” Hunter said. “Last year alone, out of the more than 3,000 Oklahomans admitted to the hospital for a non-fatal overdose, 80 percent involved a prescription opioid medication.” According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 47,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2017 alone. The death toll for drug overdoses, at over 72,000, is higher than yearly totals from car crashes or gun deaths. Mark Woodward, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, said all areas of society have been affected by this epidemic in one way or another. “In the last 15 years, we have seen a steady increase in prescription drug fraud,” Woodward said. “At the same time, we are seeing drug overdose deaths go up.”

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency. HHS reported that over 130 people died every day from opioid-related drug overdoses. For Edmond resident and former University of Central Oklahoma student Scott McDonald, opioids have been accessible since high school. “From friends inside and outside of school, to doctors, it was easy to get carried away,” McDonald said. “It affected my relationships and job performance as I spiraled into every day use. The crazy thing is, once I switched to a pain management doctor for an alternative, I was given Subaxone, which I was still able to get high off of by stacking doses, essentially switching one habit for another.” McDonald said he hopes this settlement opens the door for better treatment opportunities. “As the reality of this epidemic garners more attention, we can get treatment and resources out to people quicker, not to mention these medications can be better regulated,” McDonald said. A National Center for Addiction Studies and Treatment is set to be housed at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. The center will be funded by $102.5 million from Purdue Pharma and $75 million from the company owners, the Sackler family. “We appreciate that Purdue Pharma and its owners chose to work constructively with us to resolve this

This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. Oklahoma’s attorney general will announce a settlement Tuesday, March 26, 2019, with Purdue Pharma, one of the drug manufacturers named in a state lawsuit that accuses them of fueling the opioid epidemic. (AP Photo/ Toby Talbot, File)

litigation in a way that will bring to life a new and unique national center with the goal of creating breakthrough innovations in the prevention

and treatment of addiction,” Hunter said. The remaining defendants in the lawsuits face trial May 28.

April. 2, 2019

Trots

SPORTS

Football Trots Into Spring Practice

University of Central Oklahoma quarterback Will Collins runs during an Oct.6 home game against the University of Central Missouri at Wantland Stadium. Collins is in the middle of three-man quarterback competition heading into spring practice. (Gerald Leong/The Vista)

Jonathan Goudeau @Goudeau_jdg Sports Editor

The University of Central Oklahoma football team opens spring practice looking to find the one thing that eluded last seasons 8-4 team: consistency. “It’s time for us to find consistency,” said head coach Nick Bobeck. “That’s the biggest thing we have to find within our football program.” No position exemplified that the most than quarterback, where injuries forced the Bronchos to use three different players in Keats Calhoon, Chandler Garrett and Will Collins. All three won games, with Garrett leading an upset over the number four Northwest Missouri State University and Collins leading a 19-point comeback win over Angelo State University in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl. Calhoon was the day one starter last season and threw for nearly 600 yards and five touchdowns before facing an injury. “You’ve just got to chart it all,” Bobeck said. “It’s going to be a great competition and they all have different skill sets.” The position may not be decided until fall camp due to the nature of spring football. “It’s hard out here in spring practice because you’re throwing the entire playbook at your football team

and telling them to go execute,” Bobeck said. “When you go into a game you only go in with about 40 plays, but spring gets a little muddy. We have to do a good job of scripting practice so that those guys are getting the looks that can help them function.” Whoever emerges at quarterback will be protected by an experienced line that returns four starters including two all-conference performers in guard Tyler Stilwell and center Nick George. A question mark a year ago, the unit only has to replace one starter in tackle Noah Hammons, an all-conference performer as well. The two leading candidates are senior Ben Raulston, who filled in at both center and guard last season, and redshirt freshman Jacob Sitsler. “Ben Raulston won’t go through spring so it’ll be difficult for him,” Bobeck said. “Sitsler is another young kid who is a huge human at 6’7, 330 pounds. He has a knack for the position and I’m really excited to see how he functions in the spring.” Another tackle to watch is redshirt freshman Adam Brazell from Bentonville, Arkansas. He gained 10 pounds this offseason and is another name that Bobeck mentioned is in the mix. “He came in really light,” Bobeck said. “He’s a really talented kid.” Out wide at receiver, the Bronchos return Dustin Basks and Mekail Hall

who finished first and second respectively in receptions and yards. Basks had a breakout season after missing much of the previous season with an injury, leading the team with 67 catches for 909 yards and seven touchdowns, earning second team all-conference. Hall, who earned honorable mention all-conference, finished with 37 catches for 698 yards and three touchdowns. He had a 200-yard game against Northeastern State University and the game-winning touchdown in the bowl game. “Those kids are really talented,” Bobeck said. Coaches are looking for a third option to emerge after projected starter L’liott Curry was removed from the team. Two names to look for are sophomores Johnny Bizzell and Tyrone Howell who combined for 21 catches, 370 yards and two touchdowns. Junior college transfers Josh Moore and Amonte “Preach” Phillips are already on campus and in the mix as well. “We have some young kids we feel good about,” Bobeck said. “Johnny Bizzell really came on late in the season and played well. We signed a couple of mid-year kids that are talented. The two we’ve signed have flashed the most so far in the spring. It’s probably the most talented unit that we’ve maybe ever had.” The biggest question mark on of-

fense is running back, where both leading rushers Clay McKenzie and Justin Curry depart, leaving sophomore Saboor Daniels and his 16 carries for 71 yards as the leader of the group. “We’ve got some talented kids on campus,” Bobeck said. “Saboor Daniels is our leader in terms of carries and yards. We have some young guys like Payton Scott and Jae’Vion Robinson. We feel good about the group, it’s just a matter of those guys stepping forward.” Two more backs in the race are Tyriq French and junior college transfer TJ Roberts from Mesa Community College in Arizona where he ran for 846 yards and eight touchdowns in six games. “Tyriq had a really good spring last year but really didn’t materialize during the season,” Bobeck said. “It’s a really important spring for him.” On defense, the Bronchos lose numerous starters to graduation. The position that lost the most was the linebacker core where all three starters along with backup Langston Underwood depart. “We feel good about the unit,” Bobeck said. “It’s hard to replace Colton Lindsey and Alex Figueroa. It’s going to be who can step in and be consistent at those positions.” Continued on Pg. 14

Clips

April. 2, 2019

Baseball Clips Griffons In Weekend Series

University of Central Oklahoma pitcher Josh Rutland throws during a home game earlier this season at Wendell Simmons Field. Rutland struck out one in the bottom of the ninth inning to get his eighth save of the season. His 19 career saves is a school record. (Provided/BronchoSports)

Marcus Powell @TheVista1903 Reporter

The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team had to play catchup for most of their game on Saturday as they faced Missouri Western State University in a three-game series. Missouri Western scored two in the bottom of the first, one home run and one unearned run, both with two outs, to take a 2-0 lead. The Griffons led 3-0 after three innings due to another two-out rally. “We didn’t have much of anything going at the plate for most of the game, but we just kept battling,” said head coach John Martin. “Fortunately, our pitching staff kept us close and we got it done. That’s a good start to the series, and now we need to come out tomorrow and keep it going.” Brock Ruminer’s two-RBI triple in the top of the ninth lifted the Bronchos to a 5-3 win over Missouri Western in the first of a three-game Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association series. Dylan Hall worked his way through a slow start, but it turned into another strong beginning. The Broncho pitching staff matched the effort from the Griffons.

UCO struck out 12 and allowed four hits. Central’s bullpen didn’t allow a hit in three innings. Sunday’s game different from Saturday’s performance. “Today’s win was a good performance all around for us, and we needed that,” Martin said. “We got a good start on the mound and a solid outing from our guys in the bullpen. We hit the ball well and moved the guys around the bases.”

“We didn’t have much going at the plate for most of the game but we just kept battling. Fortunately, our pitching staff kept us close.” John Martin Brayden Nelson made the start for the Bronchos, his first of the year. Nelson would strike out three batters

over five innings of work. He allowed five hits and one walk-in, picking up the win. He is now 2-0 on the season. Landon Bond came on in relief of Nelson in the bottom of the sixth and threw two quality innings for the Bronchos. Bond also struck out three batters. Junior Obeso came on in the eighth, and after allowing a leadoff single, struck out two to keep Central ahead 2-1 heading to the final frame. UCO added a pair of runs in the ninth. Brock Schaffer led off with a single through the right side before Paul Kropf hit an RBI double to left center to make it 3-1 in favor of the Bronchos. Dru Barrier then hit a sacrifice bunt to get Kropf to third. TJ Black managed a single after that to score Kropf and make it 4-1. The Bronchos and the Griffons wrapped up their three-game MIAA series Monday with UCO failing to complete the sweep loosing 7-6. Griffons infielder Brooks Day hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give them their only win in the series. Despite the loss UCO won the series 2-1 and falls to 18-11 on the season. They are back in action Tuesday hosting East Central University at Wendell Simmons Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

University of Central Oklahoma outfielder Brock Ruminer fields a hit during a home game earlier this season. Ruminer’s two-RBI triple in the top of the ninth inning helped UCO beat Missouri Western State University 5-3. (Provided/ BronchoSports)

April. 2, 2019

Trots/Win

Football Trots Into Spring Practice Continued from Pg. 12

One linebacker that Bobeck singled out was Jeremiah Hill. A late enrollee last year, he appeared in 11 of the team’s 12 games, making 16 tackles and 1.5 for loss. “I’m really excited to see what he does this spring,” Bobeck said. “He made a lot of football plays for us last year but he kind of moved around trying to find a place to get him on the field.” Two more linebackers in the mix are redshirt freshman Marlo Hughes Jr. from Enid and Jason Harris from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa that Bobeck said have had good offseasons so far. The defensive line is another position that lost a lot to graduation, as the top four ends have departed. “We’re probably more talented then we’ve been at that unit,” Bo-

beck said. “The question mark is who is going to step up and be a leader?” Interior is the strength of the unit, where the Bronchos return starters Mike Rios and Kahewai Kaaiawaawa, along with backups Joseph Roque and Stephon Starks. The unit also adds in junior college transfer Corey Brown Jr., a big nose guard from Arizona Western Community College. “If we can stay solid in the middle, we’re going to be pretty good,” Bobeck said. “If we can figure out what we are on the line, I think that’s going to be really important for us.” At end, Bobeck is likes junior college transfer Devon Bajek from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and redshirt freshman Steven Krager from Jenks. “Devon had a really good winter

conditioning,” Bobeck said. “He’s a big physical kid and is what we want. We have a redshirt freshman by the name of Steven Krager that we feel strong about as well.” Another end that is expected to step forward is Kaelin Murray. The redshirt sophomore from Denton, Texas did not record any stats last season but is someone Bobeck singled out. “He could’ve played last year if it wasn’t for the depth we had at the position,” Bobeck said. “He’s been here for a couple of years and does a great job in the weight room. [I’m] excited to see what he does within a bigger role.” Rounding out the unit is the secondary which returns two starters at safety in Second Team All-American O’Shay Harris and honorable mention all-conference Jakarri Hunt. Harris finished second on the

team in tackles with 74 and tied for forced fumbles, and finished second on the team in interceptions with two. Hunt only appeared in nine games due to injury finished with 35 tackles and is known for his hard hits. “We feel good about the two safety kids in O’Shay and Jakarri,” Bobeck said. The unit must replace third team all-conference corner Malik Walker. Sophomore Kolby Underwood, who tied for the team lead in interceptions with two, is expected to start at one corner. One player to keep an eye on is Justin Ewen a transfer from Arizona Eastern Community College. The annual spring game is scheduled for April 20 at 1 p.m. in Wantland Stadium.

100 Thieves Ahead In League of Legends Playoffs

Comcast Spectacor and The Cordish Companies Announce $50 Million, Next-Generation Esports Arena in the Heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex An interior rendering of Fusion Arena, a 3500-seat esports venue coming to the Philadelphia Sports Complex. Credit: Comcast Spectacor/The Cordish Companies/Populou

Billy Katsigiannis

@TheVista1903 Contributing Writer

The League of Legends Championship season has ended with 18 games played by 10 teams with the following standings: 100 Thieves (100) 4-14, Clutch Gaming (CG) 5-13, OpTic Gaming (OpTic) & Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) 7-11, Echo Fox (FOX) 8-10, Golden Guardians (GGS) 9-10, FlyQuest (FLY) 10-9, TSM (13-5), Cloud9 (C9) 14-4, Team Liquid (TL) 14-4. Moving to day one in the first week of the playoffs was FLY and GGS in a best of five for a spot in the semifinals. GGS dominated the first game af-

ter an early-game play by Contractz, securing GGS two kills and Dragon. GGS continued their lead, ending with a 15,000 Gold lead at 29 minutes. Game two went to FLY with a decisive play at 25 minutes by top-side river and securing three kills and Baron, allowing them to end the game at 28 minutes. A slower-paced game three was won by GGS, who secured Baron at 22 and 31 minutes, allowing them to siege FLY’s base for a second time and ending the game at 33 minutes. Game four was a long-fought game for FLY, taking the win at 45 minutes with a 4,000 Gold lead. What seemed to be a close final

game with GGS taking ahold of Baron and FLY with a significate Gold lead, FLY pushed in for one more siege in the bottom lane. Ending the game at 30 minutes with a 12,000 Gold lead secured FLY’s spot in the semifinals against TL. With day one wrapped up, LCS moved to day two, where TSM played FOX in a best of five to secure a spot in the semifinals. The first game ended with FOX destroying TSM’s Nexus at 37 minutes. TSM taking two kills and Dragon at 10 minutes. At 22 minutes, TSM had eight kills and a 5,000 Gold lead. With oppressive pressure and a Baron play, TSM finishes the game at 32 minutes.

TSM started game three with a three-minute first blood. TSM held the lead with a 4,400 Gold advantage at 17 minutes. TSM won by securing Baron and four more kills before pushing to end the game at 28 minutes. FOX starts off game four with first blood. TSM ended up collecting four kills, a turret and Dragon at 16 minutes, putting them ahead. TSM went for the final push, ending the game at 41 minutes and securing TSM’s spot in the semifinals to play against C9. Starting next week, on April 6 and 7, TSM will be playing C9 at 4 p.m. and FLY will be playing against TL at 2 p.m.

Bucking Broncho

April. 2, 2019

Tigers Maul Their Way to Championship After another exciting end to March, only Auburn University, Texas Tech University, Michigan State University and the University of Virginia remain in the NCAA tournament. It’s safe to say these four weren’t picked by anyone to be the last four teams, but each have a unique set of strengths that have carried them this far. Here’s what each team has used to make their tournament push, and what they need to do to win the coveted National Championship. Auburn Tigers: Auburn is are arguably the hottest team in the tournament right now. The fifth-seeded Tigers have taken down the University of Kansas, University of North Carolina, and the University of Kentucky on their way to their Final Four matchup with Virginia. Auburn has one of the best backcourts in the nation in upperclassmen Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. The two combined for 50 of the Tigers’ 77 points in the overtime win against Kentucky on Sunday. Harper is averaging 15.2 points and 5.8 assists in his Junior season, while Brown is averaging 15.8 points in his senior year. In order to take down Virginia and continue their historic tournament run, the Tigers will need to continue to rely on their veteran guard play. Virginia Cavaliers: The number one seed’s claim to fame this year has been defense. This year, the Cavaliers have held their opponents to an average of 55.4 points per game, the lowest in the country. Plenty of good teams has struggled to shoot the ball against the them, but the Cavaliers defense struggled against Purdue University in the Sweet Sixteen, allowing the Boilermakers to score 75 points. Virginia is well-balanced on offense, with several players who have the ability

to make plays. If Virginia can get back to their defensive roots and continue their consistent offensive play, they may have a chance against white-hot Auburn. Michigan State: Tom Izzo and the Spartans did what few did this season; took down Zion Williamson and the Duke University Blue Devils. In one of the more impressive wins of the tournament, MSU took down Duke 68-67, leaving the question, who can’t they beat? The Spartans have relied heavily on Big 10 Player of the Year candidate Cassius Winston, who’s averaging 18.8 points and 7.6 assists on the year. He posted 20 points and 10 assists against the Blue Devils, and will need to continue to play well if the two-seeded Spartans are going to get past the Red Raiders. Texas Tech: Perhaps the most surprising of the finalists is Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have been a solid squad all year long, relying on their scoring defense and sharpshooters. But Tech has turned up the intensity during March, notching impressive wins against No. 2 University of Michigan and No. 1 Gonzaga University. TTU may have the best player left in the tournament in Jarrett Culver, who’s averaging 18.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists on the year, and is sitting in good position to win Big 12 Player of the Year. This is the first time Tech has made the Final Four, and just might make it to the title game if they can stay hot. All four teams are loaded with talent and have excellent coaches, but only two will be meeting in Minneapolis for the title game. I’m picking Auburn’s hot streak to continue with a win over the Cavs, and Michigan State to have a slight edge in coaching and experience over Tech.

Texas Tech- I’m already surprised that the Raiders are in this deep of the Tournament so I don’t have a big argument for them. But if Jarrett Culver gets hot, anything could happen.

Texas Tech- The Red Raiders have had a banner year wining the BIG 12 Championship and knocking off No. 1 seed Gonzaga. No reason the momentum can’t continue.

Auburn- The Tigers have defeated the toughest opponents throughout the Tournament. They’ve knocked off known basketball powerhouses like Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. I would not be shocked if they were able to also take out Virginia.

Auburn- Playing for an injured teammate always adds extra motivation and after overcoming arguably the toughest path they are battle tested too.

Virgina- They have had an easier path to the finals and that matters in a long, mentally exhausting tournament like March Madness. Michigan State- The Spartans are always playing late in the Tournament. With so much experience they can use that to their advantage. Virginia and Michigan State will be in the Final. They are the better teams compared to their matchups and both programs have an abundance of Final Four experience. Both Auburn and Texas Tech are in their first Final Four appearances in program history. While the Michigan State Spartans will be in their 10th Final Four appearance, their eighth under head coach Tom Izzo and Virginia in their second. However, out of Michigan State and Virginia, I’m going to pick the Cavaliers.

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl celebrates with his team after the Midwest Regional final game against Kentucky in the NCAA men’s College basketball tournament Sunday, March 31, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Virgina- Ever heard of the saying defense wins championships? Virgina lives by that motto and has led them to a 33-3 record. No reason it can’t lead them to a championship. Michigan State- Tom Izzo picked up a huge win against a loaded Duke team. However, does that prove they’re the real deal or was it just a fluke? Auburn and Texas Tech will be in the Final. I’m going bold and picking the upset special. Both Auburn and Tech are riding a wave of momentum that will take them to the championship. Auburn will be National Champions. I really think that playing for their injured teammate coupled with the fact that they’ve survived tough tests and are playing great basketball will be too much for Texas Tech to overcome. This team reminds me a lot of the 2011 University of Connecticut championship team that had an improbably run themselves.