The Vista April 3, 2017 by The Vista

“UCO Tennis” on 15 Volume 114, Issue 10

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Musicians perform during the 2016 Metro music Fest in Bricktown hosted by ACM@UCO. The 2017 Metro Music Fest will take place on April, 8, hosting more than 60 bands. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services).

ACM Metro Music Fest

Hits Bricktown This Weekend

Jessica Phillips @TheJessPhillips Reporter

The Metro Music Fest will hit Bricktown again this year on April 8 with more than 60 bands performing, including indie rock band Guided by Voices. The event is free and open to the public. Student bands and national artists are set to perform on nine different stages from noon to midnight. A variety of genres will be represented, including hip hop, indie folk, rock and electronic. Guided by Voices will take the stage at The Criterion at 10:30 p.m. This is the eighth year the festival has been hosted by UCO’s Academy of Contemporary Music. “I think music and art creates a better quality of life for everyone,” ACM CEO Scott Booker said. Hundreds of ACM students will be performing, assisting with pro-

duction and volunteering for the event. Booker said performing at the festival gives artists an experience to point back to later on in their careers. “It adds to the story of what they’re doing as an artist,” Booker said. Ciara Reese is a Music Production major with a minor in Music Performance. This is her first time to perform at the Metro Music Fest. She will sing songs from her self-produced EP, “Unpredictable,” which is set to release in May under her artist name, Ciara Brooke. “I’m most looking forward to sharing all my new songs,” Reese said. “It’s pretty much just five of my favorite songs that I’ve written.” A single from the EP, “Can You Handle Me,” will be available on online music services, including iTunes and Google Play, in a few weeks. See”ACM” on 8

Zachary Robbins speaks during the UCOSA Presidential Debate in Constitution Hall on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Elections for UCOSA President and Vice President will be held on April 12-13, 2017, on campus and through UConnect, with three slates on the ticket. (Cara Johnson/ The Vista).

Tis the Season for Student Body Elections Kateleigh Mills @KateleighSuz Editor in Chief

The UCO Student Association hosted their Presidential Debate last Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Constitution Hall for the three slates running for UCOSA president. The event began with UCOSA Election Commissioner, Caleb Power, welcoming the moderator, Kory Atcuson on stage. Atcuson was the

former Chair of UCO Student Congress, but is currently the chief diversity and equity officer for Edmond. Atcuson then welcomed the three candidates - Elsa Ruiz, Stockton Duvall and Zach Robbins - on stage to begin the debate. Atcuson asked the candidates questions were compiled with the Election Commission from a variety of student sources. See “UCOSA” on 8

The Vista

April 3, 2017

CONTENTS

Baptist Collegiate Ministry member Drew Veselak reads from 2 Kings under the Blue Tent on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Members of BCM read through the entirety of the Holy Bible on campus, inviting students to sit and listen to the readings. Members of BCM took shifts of reading so it could continue non-stop until the book was completed. (Cara Johnson/ The Vista).

CONTENTS

UCO News.....................................................3

Column.........................................................11

Around Campus..........................................4-5

UCO Football...............................................12

State News.....................................................6

Bucking Broncho.........................................13

UCOSA/ACM................................................8

Sports Feature...............................................14

National....................................................9

UCO Tennis..................................................15

STAFF NAME AND POSITION

Kateleigh Mills Megan Prather Peter Agnitsch Cara Johnson M i r a n d a Va n M e t e r Elizabeth Spence Victor Quezada Jessica Phillips A . Suave Francisco Ryan Naeve Te d d y B u r c h

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Re p o r t e r Re p o r t e r Re p o r t e r S p o r t s Re p o r t e r Photographer Advisor

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The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both classified, online and print ads. Email your questions to: ucovista.advertising@gmail.com 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 thevista1903@gmail.com.

UCO NEWS

April 3, 2017

The Vista

UCO Takes Home Tenth in NDT Sarah Southerland @heyaimsarah Contributing Writer

A team representing the University of Central Oklahoma took home the ranking of tenth overall form the 71st Annual National Debate Tournament on March 27, hosted by the University of Kansas, in Overland Park. The team of Jasmine Stidham and Derek Hilligoss made history by having the best performance by a UCO team at the National Debate Tournament (NDT) in over 30 years. Stidham and Hilligoss went on to defeat top teams from around the nation including the top-seeded Harvard, Dartmouth College, the University of West Georgia and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This is the second time this season UCO debate has been recognized on a national championship level after two teams earned the program a top 13 finish in this year’s sweepstakesawards at the Cross Examination Debate Association’s (CEDA) National Championship Tournament March 19, at Jonson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas.

“This was the best performance at the CEDA National Tournament by UCO teams in over a decade,” Matthew Moore Director of UCO’s debate program, said. Of the all the programs represented by colleges and universities from across the country, all four UCO students who participated in both tournaments earned individual awards for their academic excellence. Debaters Jasmine Stidham, Derek Hilligoss, and L. Moore were all added to the CEDA All–American Team for outstanding achievement in the classroom and in debate. UCO was also well represented in final placings for best tournament speakers with Kris Colen finishing at 25th, along with Hilligoss and Stidman completing their last CEDA tournament with a 13th and 8th ranking for best speakers over all. Stidman was also recognized at the National Debate Tournament as the 19th best speaker overall. The team of Moore and Colen finished CEDA with a record of six

UCO Debate Team members L Moore, left, and Kris Colen, compete at the CEDA National Championship Tournament.(Provided/ Joe A. Getto)

wins and two losses and advanced to elimination rounds as the 14th seed. The performance by the team of Hilligoss and Stidham allowed them to advance to elimination rounds in CEDA as well as the NDT. Hilligoss and Stidham closed their season by making appearances in the Sweet 16 of both tournaments and eventually ending their NDT run by losing to the number three team in the country from the University of California, Berkeley.

“My experience at CEDA was one of the most phenomenal experiences of my life. I couldn’t have done it without the support of UCO administration, coaches and staff. I am beyond honored to be able to represent UCO at the national debate level,” L. Moore said. The coaches and members of the debate squad have already begun preparing to keep up with a new bar of excellence they have set for themselves in the next season.

UCO Students Talk Internet User Privacy

Victor Quezada @VicQ87 Reporter

A new provision to the current internet privacy law could be revoked, but the final step of the process awaits the signature of President Donald Trump, according to CNET. com. The removal of the internet privacy law was brought up by new Federal Communications Commission director Ajit Pai, as this would help internet service providers compete with free database market companies like Facebook and Google. “It is definitely unjust when you consider the effects of this rule that once protected the U.S. citizens' private information from big companies, big brother for sure.” UCO student David Marshall, who is minoring in computer science, said. The Internet Privacy Law was instated by former president Barack Obama in mid-October of 2016 he left his post, according to the New York Times. This protected consumers from having their personal infor-

mation being sold by ISPs for profit. Information that could be given away by the ISPs includes personal medical records, browsing Internet history and previous apps used from the consumers of the companies. The companies impacted are AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, who would be able to share the information to whoever wishes to purchase them. According to BBC News, the passing of the bill on March 28 outraged Democrats, who deemed the bill “unjust” and “limiting freedom” because of its provisions that allow the sharing of clients' personal information strictly for profit. This was deemed by Pai as a fair advantage for the telecommunication companies to advertise as well as their zero-rating policy being renewed, according to The Verge. Zero rating provides free data for broadband streaming services for Comcast, Verizon and AT&T. Chair of UCO's Association for Computing Machinery, Caleb Power, offers an alternative to the predicament of the Internet Privacy Law

This June 19, 2015, file photo, shows the Federal Communications Commission building in Washington. Republicans in the House have followed the Senate in overturning an Obama-era broadband privacy regulation that set tough restrictions on what companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T could do with customers’ personal information. It still needs President Donald Trump’s signature. Consumer advocates and Democrats have slammed Republicans for gutting the Federal Communications Commission’s regulation, saying it will leave Americans online unprotected; Republicans and industry groups counter that spiking the rule just maintains the status quo. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

being revoked. "Students can use VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access websites so that they do not feel like they are tracked for where they go to," Power said. "They could also use the recommended site of OpenVPN to

hide their Internet activities as long as it does not interfere with illegal activities." The law will be revoked as soon as President Donald Trump signs it in the coming weeks.

The Vista

April 3, 2017

AROUND CAMPUS

AROUND THE CAMPUS Monday, April 3, 2017 Non-Traditional Student Support Group: Beginning at 11 a.m. in the Nigh

University Center’s Room 415, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will offer a support group for students who are having issues balancing school, work and family.

American Democracy Project Meeting: At 12:00 p.m. in Thatcher Hall

Room 121, the American Democracy Project will be preparing for civic engagement opportunities on campus.

UCOSA Congress Meetings: At 1

p.m. in the Will Rogers Room on the fourth floor of the Nigh University Center, UCOSA Congress members will have their weekly congress meeting.

Edmond Hope Donations and Service: Tabling Event: At 11 a.m. in the

Nigh University Center, there will be a tabling event to collect donations for the Edmond Hope Center. Volunteers will donate their time to the center on April 14 and April 28. Volunteers who help at the tabling event or at the center will also receive STLR credit. The tenet for this event is the Service Learning & Civic Engagement. For more information contact event host Susan Scott at sscott@uco.edu.

Got Stress Workshop: The Center for

Counseling and Well-Being will hold a class on learning how to manage stress and college life in NUC Room 402 from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Life Skills Around Eating: At 3:30

p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will be holding a free and confidential support group for those who suffer from eating disorders and symptoms that suggest eating disorders.

Dining in the Dark: At 5:30 p.m. in

the Nigh University Center Ballrooms, there will be aSTLR-tagged “Dining in the Dark” event for students who will wear blindfolds as they dine. This allows attendees to experience first-hand what someone with visual disabilities experiences when dining. For more information contact event host Angela Page at apage4@uco.edu. The STLR-tenets for this event include Global & Cultural Competency; Service Learning & Civic Engagement.

ADSA Bake Sale: From 10 a.m. to 12

p.m., the CFAD Arts and Design Student Association will be holding a bake sale to fund the organizations marketing on campus. The event will be held at a table in the Nigh University Center across from the food court.

Raising Hope Donations: The Amer-

ican Democracy Project will be in Thatcher Hall 121-C, accepting donations of new and/ or gently used clothing (shirts, pants, dresses, belts, bags, shoes, etc.) for children and adults to be used in their Pop-Up Thrift Shop. The Thrift Shop will be held from April 17th to 21st to benefit the Edmond Hope Center, helping families in the area who are in crisis. Donations can be made anytime between the 5th and 14th of April.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017 This Month with SPB: At 11 a.m. at the activity table by the Nigh University Center food court, SPB will be letting students know about what’s happening on campus for the month of April, as well as handing out promo items for students that follow SPB on social media. SMART Recovery: At noon in the Nigh

University Center’s Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will have a SMART Recovery meeting for those in recovery to learn skills to stay balanced and motivated in staying healthy.

Anger Tamers: At 1 p.m. in the Nigh

University Center’s Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will give confidential and free support for those who struggle with controlling anger.

QPR Training: Starting at 2 p.m. in

Education 302, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will be hosting a suicide prevention education course to recognize warning signs and how to give hope and help.

Desi Night: At 6 p.m. in Plunkett Park,

the Indian Student Association will be hosting a night of dancing, food, and India history to show the students at UCO different aspects of the Indian culture.

Raising Hope Donations: The Amer-

Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Blood Drive: At 11 a.m. in the Nigh Uni-

versity Ballroom B, the UCOSA will be hosting the Spring Blood Drive, inviting students to come in and donate blood.

Wednesday Bible Study: Christians

on Campus will be holding a bi-weekly Bible study to gather and read at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Night University Center.

Seeking Strength: At 1 p.m. in the Nigh

University Center’s Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will hold a free and confidential group for those dealing with trauma or substance abuse symptoms. The groups work on skills such as how to set boundaries in relationships, understanding triggers and learning how to self-care.

BGLTQ+ Support: From 2 p.m. in the NUC Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will offer a support group for individuals thinking about coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or for people who have recently come out and are seeking support. These groups are free and confidential. Globalizing Sexuality: From 6 to 7 p.m., the UCO Peer Health Leaders will be partnering with other organizations on campus, as well as professors to share hitory on sexual health and reproductive justice in countries such as Puerto Rico and Guatemala. For more information, call 405-974-2320. Design Movie Night: Sign Painters: At 7 p.m. in the CTL - Radke Fine Arts

Theatre, the Student Trnsformative Learning Record will host another Design Movie night, featuring design related documentary Sign Painters. For more information, contact event host Mandy Horton at ahorton4@uco.edu.

AROUND CAMPUS Raising Hope Donations: The Amer-

Thursday, April 6, 2017 Blood Drive: At 11 a.m. in the Nigh University Ballroom B, the UCOSA will be hosting the Spring Blood Drive, inviting students to come in and donate blood. SPB Release Your Inner Child: At 11

a.m. until 1 p.m., the Campus Activities Council will have play-doh, a ball pit and games to test childhood memory at the Broncho Lake Clock Tower,

Seeking Strength: At 2 p.m. in the Nigh

Central Improv Weekly Meeting: At

3 p.m. in the Nigh University Center, Central Improv will have their weekly meeting to practice and improve their improv skills. The meetings are open to the UCO community.

Stress Paws: From 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will have therapy dogs to help students relieve stress every Thursday. Thursday Bible Study: Christians on Campus will be holding a bi-weekly Bible study to gather and read at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Night University Center. F.T.K. Final Tour: At 5:00 p.m. at 700 N. Chowning Ave., Sigma Alpha Epsilon will be hosting an event in with teams of four members will be playing games of basketball, veolleyball, foursquare, and pingpong. As each team advances they will play a different game. The event will be benefitting BronchoThon and the Children’s Miracle Network.

April 3, 2017 SMART Recovery: At 5:30 p.m. at the

International House, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will have a SMART Recovery meeting for those in recovery to learn skills to stay balanced and motivated in staying healthy.

Raising Hope Donations: The Amer-

Friday, April 7, 2017 Anger Tamers: From 9 a.m. in the Nigh

University Center’s Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will give confidential and free support for those who struggle with controlling anger.

Grief Group: Beginning at 11 a.m. in the Nigh University Center’s Room 402, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will offer a grief group to individuals who are experiencing grief. GYT at UCO: STI Testing: From 9:00

a.m. to 12:00 p.m.in the Wellness Center, Lab Room 125, the Center for Counseling and Well-Being will by offering confidential STI testing, provided by nurses from the OKC County Health Department. The testing will have a fee of $20, but students will not be turned away if they cannot pay.

Lunch and Learn - Officer Training: In the Nigh University Center, room 202, from 12 to 1 p.m., the Student Organizations office will be hosting their monthly Lunch and Learn on how to be a better leader. Spots must be reserved. Students can register through OrgSync under the Student Organizations Office page.

Raising Hope Donations: The Amer-

Information gathered for ‘Around the Campus’ can be found on UCO’s OrgSync page, uco.edu, blasts.uco.edu, Campus Activities and from other organizations across campus.

The Vista

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS

TUESDAY: - The Lady Bronchos softball team will be playing at UCO at 1 p.m., and again at 3 p.m. vs. Cameron University. - The Bronchos Baseball team will be playing at 3 p.m. at UCO against Missouri Southern.

FRIDAY: - The Lady Bronchos softball team will be playing at UCO at 2 p.m., and again at 4 p.m. vs. Southwest Baptist University.

SATURDAY: - The UCO Women’s Tennis Team will be playing in Edmond at 10 a.m. vs. Northwest Missouri. - The Lady Bronchos softball team will be playing at UCO at 12 p.m., and again at 2 p.m. vs. Central Missouri.

Check

ucentralmedia.com

for more news stories, updates, features, reviews and more.

The Vista

April 3, 2017

STATE NEWS

Heaven May Be Closer Than You Think Local Store Supplies Board Games Elizabeth Hamlin Contributing Writer

Board games have been a part of college life for decades and now there is a new store in Edmond specifically for them. Storm Brew Games is a locally owned business that specializes in board games. When people think of board games, they usually go back to their childhood and think about games like Monopoly and Sorry. Storm Brew Games dives much deeper into the board game world and many of the games they sell are geared towards an older age range, including college students. The store was opened early this year by Storm Fisher, a young entrepreneur and board game enthusiast, and his business partner. “I had a stable job. I had a career that I completely dropped to come start this up because it was something I enjoyed, something I was passionate about, as opposed to something I was going into day in and day out and doing monotonously,” Fisher said. Before opening Storm Brew, Fisher was a general manager for a corporate pizza chain. “There’s not really a difference between GMing and running a business and I didn’t realize that until after I started the business,” Fisher said. The store hosts events for popular games on a weekly basis. Some of the more elaborate games that the store sells and hosts events for are Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer, and Magic the Gathering.

Local store, Storm Brew Games, carries almost any board game imaginable. The store is specifically designated for board games, and is located off 2nd and Kelly. (Provided/ Pixabay.com).

“Magic the Gathering is extremely popular. It’s probably the most well-known card game out there,” Fisher said. “It’s not even fair to compare it to other things.” They also have some more casual games that are designed to be played with friends and family like Ticket to Ride, Smash Up and Betrayal at the House on the Hill. Storm Brew also has an area in the back of the store where customers can sit down to play their own game or use one from the store’s “game library.” The store is constantly working to bring something new to the table for gamers. Their latest endeavor is in the world of D&D. “We’re working on a Dungeons and Dragons over-world. We’re going to have four or more Dungeon Masters with one shared world. It will have a centralized capital city and quests and people can split off with different DM’s, depending on which adventure they want to take for the day,” Fisher said. “Instead of people that you already know, you are literally meeting new people throughout this world.” The store is open every day and is located off of Kelly and 2nd Street, making it the closest store of it’s kind to UCO. To keep up with Storm Brew’s events you can check out their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/stormbrewgames/.

UCO Alumna Helps Open Museum in Oklahoma Cara Johnson @cara_johnson_ Photo Editor

(Graphic Provided/ Rachel Whitney).

BRISTOW, Okla. – After being closed since 2013, the Bristow Historical Museum will reopen its doors on Saturday, April 22, 2017 with the help of a University of Central Oklahoma alumna. Rachel Whitney, 28, is graduate from UCO in 2015 with a degree in Museum Studies. Two weeks later, she was hired at the Sapulpa, Okla. Historical Museum, and after six months, was contacted by the Bristow Historical Society for advice on reopening. Soon after, Whitney became the Collections Manager for the new museum. “The [Bristow] Historical Society didn’t dissolve, but evolved,” Whitney said, speaking of their resiliency in reopening. The duty of Collections Manager involves caring for historical artifacts, preservation, record keeping, and digitizing all the information. “We have set up the museum as a part pictorial and half artifact exhibits to show the growth of the town and museum,” Whitney said. The new museum is located inside Bristow’s retired Train Depot along with the Bristow Chamber of Commerce. The opening will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

The Vista

Kateleigh Mills @kateleighsuz Editor-in-Chief

(Continued from cover) The topics ranged from why the candidates decided to run and how they would represent the variety of students on campus, to what they would like their legacy to be if elected and if they considered themselves lucky. The night began with a three-minute opening statement, having each of the candidates introduce themselves and their campaign to the audience. Ruiz began by introducing herself as a junior, majoring in professional media with a minor in leadership. Ruiz said she met her running mate, Thomas Patterson, when she was a freshman. Their platform is to promote diversity on campus, having more communication between UCOSA and students and improve relations with Faculty and Staff Senate. “Thomas and I are very passionate about the students here at UCO...we would like for there to be better communication between UCOSA and the students,” Ruiz said. Ruiz was also the senator who worked with the Black Student Association and wrote the legislation for the Clara Luper Room, the first conference room in the Nigh University Center to be named after an African American. Ruiz said that she and Patterson want to work with organizations under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to encourage and create more projects like the Clara Luper Room. Robbins, a business administration major, followed Ruiz, introducing himself and stating that he and his running mate, Caleb Shaw, have been involved in President’s Leadership Council and other organizations on campus together. Robbins stated that he and Shaw decided to run when they discovered they shared the same vision for UCO - to enhance the college experience by getting more people involved on campus. “Our three kind of main ideas for our platform are be involved, be aware and be heard,” Robbins said. Both Robbins and Shaw are in the

UCOSA Dates April 10: Nominations for Congressional Leadership April 12-13: UCO Student Association Election for President and Vice-President. April 17: Congressional Leadership Election

April 3, 2017

UCO Student Congress. Robbins is a senator that helps on the Public Relations committee, while Shaw is the current chair of student congress. Both also want to work to improve projects such as the ShopCentral app and focus on working with more non-traditional students on campus to get them more involved. Following Robbins, Duvall, a business management major, said that both him and his running mate, Madison Richard, wanted to run on a different approach than the other candidates - what they have accomplished rather than what they plan to accomplish. “We are very excited to be running on experience, and that is something that I hope that you will consider voting myself and Maddy for in the future,” Duvall said. Duvall and Richard are running on a platform to get student voices heard at the administration level while also improving accountability and pushing legislation to save students more money. Duvall also recently wrote legislation to combat access code costs and also increasing fees without student input. After the debate all candidates felt that they did a good job during the debate and that they are like they had a chance to get their platforms heard. The election will be on April 12-13, 2017 where students can vote in person in the Nigh University Center by the food courts or online on OrgSync. The UCO Presidential debate was live-streamed through Periscope on the UCOSA twitter account, @ UCOSANews. To learn more about each slate, follow their Twitter accounts at @ruiz_patterson, @RobbinsShaw17 and @DuvallRichard17.

UCOSA/ACM

Performers sing at the 2016 ACM@UCO Metro Music Fest in Bricktown, Oklahoma City . The 2017 Metro Music Fest will take place on April, 8, hosting more than 60 bands. (Provided/ UCO Photo Services).

Jessica Phillips @TheJessPhillips Reporter

(Continued from cover) Reese will take the Lower Bricktown Fountain Stage outside of Harkins Bricktown Cinemas at 1 p.m. Some new features added this year are food trucks and children’s activities. The children’s festival will be from noon to 4 p.m. with a Disney’s Frozen-themed sing-a-long and meet and greet at 1 p.m. The Spaghetti Eddie will perform for the children at 2:45 p.m. These

activities will be at the AT&T Main Stage east of Zio’s Italian Kitchen. “Film and Music: How The Industries Connect” is a panel designed to connect musicians to filmmakers. The panel will be presented by the Oklahoma Film and Music Office and the deadCENTER Film Festival from noon to 2 p.m. in ACM’s Songwriting Room. The full line-up of performances, activities and locations can be found on ACM’s website, acm.uco.edu.

NATIONAL Emily Smith

@eaasmith Contributing Writer

In 2015, economist researchers Anne Case and Angus Deaton discovered that the death rate for middle-aged white Americans had increased exponentially since 1999. Now, in 2017, the husband and wife team have published their study on these “deaths of despair” linked to suicide, drugs and alcohol. In their study, published March 23, in the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Case and Deaton said that the lack of well-paying and steady job options for white Americans without a college degree has built up over time to create feelings of pain, distress and social dysfunction. The mortality rate of white people aged 45 to 54 has increased by half a percent each year since 1999. White people with college degrees have not seen the same reduction in life expectancy because they do not suffer the same lack of economic opportunities. In an interview with NPR’s David Greene, Case and Deaton, who both work at Princeton University, spoke on what they believe are the driving factors in the rise of these deaths. When asked about the about the

April 3, 2017

The Vista

Study Shows Increase in Deaths for Middle-Aged White Americans original discovery of rising death rates for middle-aged white people, Deaton explained that for the past 100 years there has been a reverse in the number of deaths for all age groups. Life expectancy has been increasing in the past years, so to suddenly have a group (white Americans aged 45-54) move in reverse and lose life expectancy, Deaton and Case assumed something must be wrong. Deaton further explained that he and Case went back and double checked the numbers and were shocked to find no one else had picked up on this unexpected trend. They knew what the proximate causes were -suicide rates were increasing rapidly, mostly overdoses from prescription drugs and alcoholic liver disease is increasing as well. The more important question was why this is happening. Both Case and Deaton went on the describe what they discovered was driving these early deaths. Case explained that most of the deaths are deaths of despair that cor-

relate with the “reduced labor force participation, reduced marriage rates, increases in reports of poor health and poor mental health.” She explained that all the deaths are consistent with the collapse of the labor market for those without a college degree. In turn, this is causing the people in this group to be less likely to form a stable marriage, which effects the social and economic support people need to succeed. In the past, the longer you worked in the labor force, the more you were paid, “in part because you understand your job better and you’re more efficient at your job, you’ve had on-thejob training, you belong to a union, and so your wages go up with age,” Case said. However, this trend is happening less and less the later someone is born and the later they enter the labor force. Deaton added that they are “thinking of this in terms of something that’s been going on for a long time, something that’s emerged as the

iceberg has risen out of the water. We think of this as part of the decline of the white working class.” Back in the ‘70s there were many “blue-collar aristocrats,” but those jobs have been crumbling away, leaving mainly men to find themselves looking for jobs in a very hostile labor market with lower wages, lower quality and semi-permanent jobs. Because of this, they find it harder to get married and never get to know their own kids, which has caused social dysfunction to rise over time. These people have lost their sense of status and belonging, which are classic precursors to suicide. “The rates of suicide are much higher among men [than women] and drug overdoses and alcohol-related liver death are higher among men, too,” Case said. However, the mortality trends are the same among men and women, so they are either quickly killing themselves with a gun or slowly over time with drugs and alcohol.

COLUMN

April 3, 2017

The Vista

Flynn’s Inquiries of Immunity

Should Flynn be Granted Immunity in Exchange of a Testimony?

In this Feb. 10, 2017 file photo, then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn sits in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Former CIA Director James Woolsey has accused former Trump administration National Security Adviser Michael Flynn of participating in a discussion with Turkish officials in which the possibility of subverting the U.S. extradition process to remove a Turkish cleric from the U.S. The Wall Street Journal first reported Woolsey’s comments and posted a video interview with him late Friday. A Flynn spokesman said Friday that Woolsey’s claims were “false” and that “no such discussion occurred.” (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Megan Prather @meganthefeline Managing Editor

On March 20th, FBI Director James Comey announced that they would be investigating potential links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Thursday, President Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn requested immunity in exchange for testifying on this alleged connection. The Senate Intelligence Committee turned down this request on Friday stating that immunity is “not on the table” at the moment. Immunity is granted so that the person in question can speak openly without fear of being prosecuted. This doesn’t necessarily mean the party requesting immunity committed a crime, but that they want to protect themselves from potential repercussions. However, the question still stands, should the Senate Intelligence Committee grant Flynn immunity? Flynn’s lawyer Robert Kelner released a statement in regards to his immunity request: “He is now the target of unsubstantiated public demands by Members of Congress and other political critics that he be criminally investigated. No reasonable person, who has the

benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution.” The concerns presented by Flynn and his attorney could be valid. However, this is in stark contrast to Flynn’s stance on immunity in September when he stated that “when you’re given immunity, that means you’ve probably committed a crime” in regards to Hilary Clinton’s aides being granted immunity in order to talk openly during the investigation bout her private email server. Some don’t think so. Trump tweeted his support of Flynn’s request for immunity Friday morning: “Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!” However, there is also the belief that the information that could come out of Flynn’s testimony is worth granting immunity, considering the fact that the case involves illegal communications with Russian officials. Some also believe that the information about these communications could lead to Trumps impeachment or legal action towards others involved to be taken.

The Vista

April 3, 2017

UCO FOOTBALL

Are You Ready for Some Football?

UCO Bronchos Start Spring Practice

Jonathan Goudeau @goudeau_jdg Sports Writer

Spring football kicked off this past Saturday and the Bronchos are looking to build off of a strong off-season. “We had a really good off-season, probably the best one we’ve had” head coach Nick Bobeck said. “This is the biggest, strongest, fastest team that we’ve had, as well.” The Bronchos come into spring practice a little banged up, but that allowed younger players to get more reps. “Spring, to me, is about seeing continued development” Bobeck said. “Seeing those guys who red shirted and who didn’t get to play a lot start to step into more prominent roles.” Defensively, the Bronchos are seeking improvement along all three levels, the defensive line, linebackers and secondary. “We have some young guys that are talented at the defensive end position,” Bobeck said. “We have some young kids in the secondary that we are excited to see and we also added some guys mid-year at the linebacker position.” On offense, the Bronchos will look to find a replacement for quarterback T.J. Eckert, who has exhausted his eligibility.

Junior running back Jake Gardara, 24, runs the ball during a Fall 2016 football game at Hamilton Field. The Bronchos have begun spring practice in preparation of the fall season. (Provided/ Vista Archives).

“Chas Stallard, we’ll see if he can step into it. We got two young guys, one of them being a transfer and the other one a red shirt freshman” Bobeck said. Stallard has the most experience of the candidates after starting all of 2014, the first half of 2015 and see-

ing action this past season. Red shirt freshman Keats Calhoon and Wyoming transfer Chandler Garrett will be up against Stallard for the job. There are also jobs along the offensive line up for grabs as well, with the Bronchos graduating three seniors: Brandon Waggoner, Micah

Goodman and Mason McLaughlin. “The left guard position is a big need. We have guys that are taking reps that are not used to taking reps due to injuries” Bobeck said. The Bronchos are breaking in two new coaches on the offensive side of the ball, wide receivers coach Jarrail Jackson and H-back/special teams coach Tyler Holland. While there will not be a whole lot of changes, Bobeck likes what they bring to the team. “Fresh eyes and a new perspective,” Bobeck said. “I’m going to end up calling it (plays) and coordinating it so there’s not going to be a whole lot of changes. We’ll probably pull back on some things and make sure we are functioning at a high level.” Along with starting positions and overall improvement, the Bronchos are also looking for their identity as well. “We’ve got to make sure that we are developing our brand and identity. That’s going to be a big part of spring” Bobeck said.

University of Central Oklahoma’s Josh Crockett reaches for the ball during a Fall 2016 football game at Hamilton Field. The Bronchos have begun spring practice in preparation of the fall season. (Provided/ Vista Archives).

BUCKING BRONCHO

April 3, 2017

The Vista

The Bucking Broncho

“Andre the Giant” Problem for the Thunder’s Offense

Orlando Magic’s Evan Fournier, center, goes after a loose ball between Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook, left, and Andre Roberson (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Peter Agnitsch @Peteypete33 Sports Reporter

When you think about this season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook’s multiple record-breaking offensive performances first come to mind, but he’s not the only Thunder player doing things on the offensive side of the court that are unbelievable. Starting small forward Andre Roberson has been horrendous - shooting the basketball so badly that from past five feet he is 49-195. The famous argument for Oklahoma City fans is that Roberson’s defense is so good that his lackluster offense is something that the Thunder just have to put up with if they want to win. That’s simply not true. The Thunder will have to be able to have someone on the wing for Westbrook to kick it out to and if Roberson is out there, that will be his job. He is currently shooting 25 percent from the three-point area. The Rockets and Warriors are both averaging 115 points per game and are two foes of the Thunder. The Thunder have already proven that they can’t slow down the Warriors or the Rockets. Roberson’s big problem is he can’t score well enough to be able to play in games like these, but

they don’t have anyone who can play defense well enough, which forces them to play Roberson. In the blooming new style of the NBA game, most wing-players now must be able to shoot three-pointers and guard the other team’s best player. Increasing the value of the “three-and-D guy” has shown in the past two off-seasons, for example, DeMarre Carroll signing a four year $58 million-dollar deal with the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 2015 and Kent Bazemore signing a four year $70 million-dollar contract in the summer of 2016. Those two guys aren’t even close to being in the top echelon of the craft. A guy who can fill that role is rare, with teams willing to give big opportunities to players showing promise in the role. The future of the NBA is becoming such that if an NBA team does not have a player like this on their team, then they have no chance of competing. The new style of the NBA pretty much only allows teams to have one player on the court who can’t shoot from beyond the arc. The Spurs, Cavaliers and Warriors are the three teams who have the best records in the NBA, leading the NBA in three-point percentage, while

the Rockets, who are third in the west, lead the NBA in three-pointers made. The Thunder’s lack of ability to shoot the three-point shots has them 25th in shots made and 28th in percentage. The NBA’s new motto is pretty much “if this team doesn’t put points on the board, I don’t see how they can win,” NFL Hall of Fame Coach John Madden said. Roberson’s shooting isn’t the only major flaw to his game. He struggles with being able to create his own shot, only making 19 percent of his unassisted shots. The Thunder don’t necessarily need him to be a shot-creating forward like that one guy who used to play here. Even when Roberson can make a great play by getting into the lane by drawing a foul and going to the free throw line, the Thunder still have to put up with his team-worst 42 percent free throw shooting. When the playoffs, start don’t be surprised when teams use the “Hacka-Shaq” strategy against Roberson to try and ruin the pace of the game. Last year, Roberson had some of his best career moments playing in the playoffs, especially in their smallball lineup of Westbrook, Waiters,

Durant, Roberson and Ibaka. Now with three of those guys gone, the Thunder’s small-ball lineup has lost most of its shooting, eliminating most of Roberson’s offensive rebounding opportunities and ability to be the main player screening for the ball handler. The small-ball lineup for most of this year is Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, Roberson, Jerami Grant and Adams. There are some bright spots to having Roberson on offense. He is terrific at cutting down the baseline and catching a back-door lob or pass finishing in the paint. In those situations, though, he’s pretty much hoping his defender is lazy and forgets about him on the wing so he can sneak past him. His one major talent that has followed him from college into the NBA is the ability to get offense rebounds. That is a great quality to have, but the Thunder don’t really need it from him in the starting lineup with Steven Adams averaging 3.4 offensive rebounds. The Thunder will have to figure out this offensive problem if they want any chance at winning a championship this season.

The Vista

April 3, 2017

SPORTS FEATURE

UCO Basketball’s Outstanding Backcourt Guards Josh Holliday and Marquis Johnson

Marquis Johnson, 13, dribbles the ball during a Spring 2017 playoff game in Hamilton Field House. (Elizabeth Roberts/ The Vista).

Josh Holliday, 11, blocks his opponent from the ball during a Spring 2017 playoff game in Hamilton Fieldhouse. (Elizabeth Roberts/ The Vista).

Austin Moseley

Broken Arrow, where he averaged 16.7 points per game as a senior while leading his team to the Class 6A quarterfinals. Fast-forward a few years later, the duo is transferring their high school success to the collegiate level. “We can go to nationals, go deep in conference and win a lot of games,” Johnson said. Neither had started a game at the collegiate level entering this season, but now they are experienced players ready to help their team take the next step.

@Austin_Moseley Sports Writer

Marquis Johnson and Josh Holliday are two standout guards for the UCO men’s basketball team who are looking to help lead UCO next season, following a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) quarterfinals run. Johnson and Holliday made significant strides during the 2016-17 season. A year after losing their top six scorers, the Bronchos needed a scoring punch and Johnson and Holliday were able to make up for the loss. With both Holliday and Johnson each scoring more than ten points, the team had an 8-2 record and in all other games were 8-10. Holliday saw his minutes per game jump from 13 to 25.8 and the team reaped the benefits. The guard from Broken Arrow, who came off a freshman season averaging 6.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game, exploded during his sophomore year to lead the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game. Holliday also broke a longstanding UCO men’s basketball free throw percentage record. The knockdown shooter only missed nine free throws

on the year, shooting 91 percent from the foul line, which was a full five percentage points above the second-best percentage in the conference. Holliday earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors for his season. Johnson, on the other hand, just finished his freshman year. Though Johnson is only a freshman, he played the most minutes of any player on UCO’s team and was on the top ten of the MIAA conference in minutes per game. The freshman guard out of Putnam City West started in 27 games for the Bronchos and averaged 10.5 points per game. Where Johnson really shined was on the defensive end, racking up 1.6 steals per contest, which is the fourth best average in the MIAA. “He just does whatever needs to be done,” sophomore guard Josh Holliday said. Both Johnson and Holliday played high school basketball in Oklahoma, where they both earned All-State selections their senior year. Johnson averaged 25.1 points, six assists and five rebounds per game in his last season for Putnam City West, where he led the team to their first-ever state championship. Holliday went to high school in

“We can go to nationals, go deep in conference and win a lot of games,” Johnson said.

UCO TENNIS

April 3, 2017

The Vista

UCO Tennis Backhands Competition Bronchos Ranked Third in MIAA Conference

Nate Baldwin @nbaldwin05 Sports Writer

The Lady Broncho Tennis team (11-7) are sitting in the third ranked spot at the moment in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association with the conference tournament around the corner. “We’re getting better every game,” first year Head Coach Jaron Maestas said. The UCO season began with a four-match winning streak in league play, gaining confidence in the young team. During the middle stretch of the long season the Lady Bronchos suffered a minor slump when dropping three consecutive matches. “We faced some top nationally ranked teams,” Maestas stated. “But we kept getting better as a team.” Just like any great team they picked themselves up and corrected the issues at hand. Bouncing back just in time for conference play, beating Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hayes in back-to-back days. “We need to give ourselves a chance to win,” Maestas stated. “If we can just get the opportunity it would be huge.” UCO has been led this year by sophomore Alli Hodges, who has put up a 19-5 record including a 4-2 record against regionally ranked opponents. “She’s been consistent for us all year, she’s put up an All-American season,” Maestas said about the young star. More important to Coach Maestas is the team as a whole. “Our team has grown and improved as a whole,” Maestas said. “They’ve bought in.” The tennis team has seen its fair share of improvements this year, growing and learning more from match to match. Players like Kirtana Bhat and Alix Williams have also put up some respectable numbers this season. The number two and three spots on the team have been one of the keys to the performance of the team. Staying in the top three spots in the conference will be key for the Lady Bronchos moving forward. During the course of the MIAA conference tournament, the top three teams will have an easier path to success. Allowing UCO to make a better case for the national tournament.

Sophmore Kirtana Bhat waits for the ball to be served during the doubles match at the UCO vs. Southern Nazarene Women’s Tennis match at the UCO Tennis Court on February 10, 2017.

“Our team has grown and improved as a whole,” Maestas said.

With only two more matches before the MIAA conference tournament, Coach Maestas expects the team to finish strong. “I think we will come out better and stronger,” he said. “If we have effort we’ll be fine.”

The Lady Bronchos tennis team will face a back-to-back April eighth and ninth against the number one seed Northwest Missouri State University and then Missouri Western University.