The Vista April 6, 2021

the

Volume 118, Issue 22

VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”

vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Remembering Candice McDonald

INSIDE

UCO to Allow Guests UCO’s pivot to allow guests at the upcoming May graduation at Wantland Stadium.

See Pg. 5

UCO Softball Recap

Contributing writer Rudy Barnes breaks down UCO softball’s most recent competition.

See Pg. 6

Order-Ahead Dining Ty Wallace explains UCO’s new mobile ordering app for dining options on campus.

See Pg. 5

A funeral is held for Candice McDonald in Eleuthera, the Bahamas, April 3. Purple was McDonald’s favorite color. McDonald died in a boating accident in the Bahamas March 14. McDonald was an international student at UCO in 2018-2019. (Provided/Melina Gallegos)

Amanda Siew

@amandasiewyk Contributing Writer

These were some of the words friends and family used to describe Candice Michelle McDonald.

McDonald was born in New Providence, the Bahamas, on Nov. 30, 2000. Her parents, Mekal McDonald and Latoya Saunders, were “extremely excited they now had a princess,” according to a memorial booklet obtained by The Vista.

McDonald died in a boating accident that killed three people and

Senators aim law at social media Shaoren Chuah Contributing Writer

Around Campus A week of drama-related events headline this week on UCO’s campus.

See Pg. 2

An Oklahoma bill that would allow people to sue social media companies has been passed by the Oklahoma Senate and is sitting in the House technology committee. However, there’s some question if it will stand up to First Amendment scrutiny in the courts.

Loren Gatch, a political science proContinued on Pg. 4

injured two others in the Bahamas on March 14, according to Bahamas Press and Eyewitness News. Gallegos was the first to find out about her death after receiving a message from McDonald’s friend in the Bahamas.

McDonald grew up and spent most of her life in Eleuthera, an island in the Bahamas. She would then travel to the University of Central Oklahoma in August 2018 to study for two semesters as an international student.

It was here that she would meet her best friend, Melina Gallegos.

It was Gallegos’ first day at UCO.

She had just moved into West Hall when she saw McDonald and asked if they could hang out. From that point on, McDonald became Gallegos’ first ever college friend, and the pair became “insanely close.”

“Opposites attract,” Gallegos said of their relationship. “I was more mellow, and she was more bubbly.

“She’s the reason why I have so many friends at UCO. She got me out of my shell, and I was the one she could just chill with.”

Continued on Pg. 3

UCO COVID-19 DASHBOARD Active UCO COVID-19 Cases:

6

Recoveries: 854 Total Cases: 860

Self-Reported COVID-19 Vaccinations:

855 Students: 387, Faculty: 223, Staff: 245

Statistics are based on information via the UCO online COVID-19 dashboard as of Monday, April 5. COVID-19 vaccinations can be self-reported following a community member’s final dose of the vaccine. Community members can also self-report intent to NOT receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

All self-reports can be made via the UCO Vaccine Clinic webpage. COVID-19 infection reports can be made via the UCO COVID-19 self-reporting tool on the online dashboard.

2 | The Vista

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Sexual Assault Awareness Month - Day of Action: All day, UCO asks that students wear teal and take a selfie tagging @ucohealthpromo on social media to promote sexual assault awareness. The gesture is intended to show support to survivors of sexual assault.

Career Doctor - The Art of Negotiation: From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. students can learn the process of negotiation for salaries, benefits, etc. after they’ve been offered a job.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 Slide Into Sliders: Ayers Kitchen will serve various sliders to commemorate baseball's opening day.

Sliders will be available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Lunch at the Lab: From noon to 1 p.m. the UCO Jazz Lab will begin performing every Wednesday outside of the Lab. Tables will be set up and socially distanced so that students may bring their lunch and watch the live performance.

India Student Association Desi Night: At 7 p.m. in Constitution

April 6, 2021

Hall, ISA will hotst Desi Night: Bollywood though the Ages. Make sure to RSVP through the link on the organizations Facebook page.

Thursday, April 8, 2021 Filmmaker's Panel Discussion: From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the Melton Gallery hosts a discussion in collaboration with the OKCine Latino Film Festival. Filmmakers of short films will be present at the discussion to discuss their work and the filmmaking process. An RSVP is required to attend.

UCO Dept. of Theatre Arts - Everybody: At 7:30 p.m. the UCO Department of Theatre Arts will host a livestream for the event hosted by Brandon Jacobs Jenkins. The link to can be found on UCO’s event calendar.

Suicide Prevention Training: From 4 to 5 p.m., UCO community members can virtually attend the Bronchos Got Your Back Training.

Friday, April 9, 2021 2021 Prospective Teacher Academy: At 8 a.m. the Prospective Teacher Academy allows young students to ask questions to experienced members of the education career field about their work and career

Around Campus

path. Participation is free. Register through the PTA website.

Young Filmmaker's Night: From 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Melton Gallery, young filmmakers will be given the opportunity to show off their work from the OKCine Latino Youth Film Institute. Three student films will be shown during the event, along with a Q&A to follow. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

UCO International Pageant: From 6 to 9 p.m. in Constitution Hall, the International Pageant will highlight the talent, culture and diversity of UCO's international students.

Musical Theatre - Rock of Ages: This performance, a Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Jazz Lab. For more information about tickets, visit the UCO event calendar.

ISC - ASEAN Movie Night: At 7 p.m., the International House will be hosting a movie night virtually, screening Raya and the Last Dragon.

Saturday, April 10, 2021 Musical Theatre - Rock of Ages: This performance, a Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Jazz Lab. For more information about tickets, visit

To submit events for next week’s Around Campus, please email thevista@ucentralmedia.com. Include the title of your event, time and place, and a brief description. Descriptions are subject to editing.

the

VISTA

Staff

Jacob Silva Cory Bryce McKinnis Tanner Johnson Lyric Peterson Tanner Laws Rudy Barnes Shaoren Chuah Kourtney Hall Lilli Meyers Amanda Siew Ty Wallace Cynthia Faulkner

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the UCO event calendar.

UCO Depart. of Theatre Arts - Everybody: At 7:30 p.m. the UCO Department of Theatre Arts will host a livestream for the event hosted by Brandon Jacobs Jenkins. The link to can be found on UCO’s event calenSunday, April 11, 2021 Musical Theatre - Rock of Ages: This performance, a Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Jazz Lab. For more information about tickets, visit the uco event calendar.

Monday, April 12, 2021 Major Monday: Several departments across campus will host Major Monday to give students the opportunity to interact with faculty and learn about the unique experiences they will find in each one. See the UCO events calendar for individual department schedules.

Front Pg. Teaser Photos, from top: Provided/Pixabay Provided/BronchoSports Provided/Pixabay Provided/Vista Archives

UCO’s Student Voice Since 1903 The Vista is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, at the University of Central Oklahoma.

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Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO.

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Remembrance

April 6, 2021

The Vista | 3

Remembering Candice McDonald

Continued from pg. 1

The two of them moved into Murdaugh Hall the semester after. Gallegos said she didn’t have any sisters and that McDonald would be “the closest thing she had ever had,” especially with the way the two bickered and borrowed each other’s clothes.

Gallegos said one of her favorite memories she shared with McDonald was when they both went ice skating, which was an unfamiliar activity for McDonald as she grew up in a tropical country.

“We probably fell down like thirty times that one night,” Gallegos said.

“At one point, she had picked up some snow and threw it in my face.

“I got so mad, but I just couldn’t stay mad at her.”

During her time at UCO, Gallegos said McDonald was involved in several campus clubs and societies, including the Black Student Association and S.I.S.T.A.S (Sisters Inspiring Sisters Through Academic Success), which was a mentorship program focused for African American women. McDonald’s campus involvement would just leave so many more people impacted by her joyful spirit.

“She just lit up the room everywhere she went,” Gallegos said. “Everyone felt included around her.

“You could be a stranger walking by her, and she would just say hi.”

The pair would continue to keep in touch regularly through Snapchat even after McDonald left UCO in May 2019 to return home to the Bahamas.

UCO junior Austin Markham met McDonald through Gallegos. He de-

Lighted candles and purple and white flowers are arranged next to printed photos of Candice McDonald during a candlelight vigil held on March 14. McDonald’s friends held the vigil Old North shortly after learning about her death. (Provided/Melina Gallegos)

scribed his relationship with McDonald as “fast-paced,” going from newly meeting her on a weekday to hanging out with her by the weekend.

“I saw her eating in the cafeteria and had to figure out who this pretty girl was,” Markham said of his first time seeing her. “She kind of gave me this look, but she would deny it if she were reading this.”

During the period of their friendship, Markham said he had connected with McDonald on a deeper level. He said she “saw him and supported him”

While at UCO, Candice McDonald (far left), Joscelyn, Jada and Vincenta were involved with the UCO S.I.S.T.A.S, a mentorship program focused for African American women.

(Provided/@ucosistas Instagram)

and recalled a time when she and Gallegos had surprised him at his first concert as a vocal performance minor, which is a memory he will cherish forever.

“Candice always had a way of knowing how others were feeling, and she knew what she could do to make you feel better, which is not something many can do,” Markham said, adding that McDonald was “the core of her friends.”

McDonald’s faith was also a big part of her upbringing and life, according to her memorial booklet. While studying at UCO, she attended a weekly Bible study group for international students nearby campus.

“My husband, Bill, and I were having a weekly meal and Bible study at our house, and Candice came with some friends,” said Kathryn Spurgeon, who hosted the study group with the Henderson Hills Baptist Church for over twenty years. “She continued to come, and we got to know her.”

Spurgeon said she was shocked after hearing about McDonald’s passing from Gallegos.

“She was a joy and always had a smile,” Spurgeon said. “I feel like we lost a person with a lot of potential.

“We will miss her a lot.”

“I never thought I would be getting a message like that,” Gallegos said as she recalled plans for her to visit McDonald in her home country one day.

“I had to read it for a solid minute before it kicked in.

“I never thought I would lose a lifelong friend.”

Gallegos and several friends at UCO held a candlelight vigil to honor her that same evening at Old North. They laid out photos of McDonald, lit candles, played songs that she would listen to and released purple balloons, which were in her favorite color.

Markham was out of state when he received news of McDonald’s death from Gallegos and was unable to attend the in-person vigil.

“She texted me, and I remember just placing my phone down on my bed in disbelief,” Markham said. “It was an emotional few days but seeing how her friends honored her at the vigil was very uplifting.”

A funeral was held for McDonald in Eleuthera, the Bahamas, Saturday.

Her purple and pink-themed memorial booklet, titled “Our Princess,” notes her as “a young, beautiful soul, in her prime, a happy young lady, who always displayed a smile with a pleasant attitude and a humble spirit. The Lord saw fit to loan her to us for just a short while.”

“The lesson I have learned is that we must take advantage of the time we are given,” Markham said. “We never know when we may not wake up here on this earth.

“I know Candice is in a better place making someone feel special today.”

McDonald leaves behind not only her friends and family in the Bahamas and Oklahoma but also her legacy to be remembered as a loving daughter, a supportive friend and a joyful person. As her memorial booklet states: “a princess has left her glass slippers.”

4 | The Vista

April 6, 2021

Media/Art

Senators aim bill at social media companies Continued from pg. 1

essor at the University of Central Oklahoma, states that the bill was introduced as a response to the banning of former president Donald Trump from social media and that conservatives believe that social media has a bias against them.

“The people who proposed this bill know full well that it will be challenged under the Constitution’s free speech provisions. This is really just a gesture to their supporters that they’re angry,” Gatch stated.

The bill, SB 383, was introduced by Republican Sen. Rob Standrige on Feb. 1 and will allow social media users to sue social media companies if their religious or political speech has been censored, deleted or suppressed by an algorithm.

Standrige stated that while social media companies are given blanket immunity by the federal government to protect them from bad speech, with the agreement that these companies would allow free speech, they have been seen censoring conservatives

“It doesn’t guarantee a victory, but it allows a civil action to sue them,” said Standridge in a video on the Oklahoma State Senate YouTube page.

Oklahoma Senate Press Releases states: “Users above the age 18 could seek damages of a minimum of $75,000 per intentional deletion or censoring of that user’s speech,

In wake of the most recent presidential election cycle, social media served to be a platform for many politicians. Most notably, former President Donald Trump was banned by Twitter after spreading misinformation about the election. (Provided/Pixabay)

along with actual damages and punitive damages if aggravating factors are present. The prevailing party may also be awarded costs and reasonable attorney fees.”

The Bill states it will go into effect Nov. 1, if passed by the house and signed into law by the governor.

“It is not the responsibility of states to regulate the internet in the way the bill envisions,” Gatch stated.

The states are limited in what they can do about regulating internet providers as the Interstate Commerce Clause gives that responsibility to the federal government, Gatch stated.

“States can intervene for reasons having to do with civil law, damages or when they are in a position where they can regulate it to some degree.

But fundamentally, the kind of thing that’s asked for in that senate bill is not something that the Oklahoma government can really do,” he stated.

LGBTQ+ artists express themselves with visual art Kourtney Hall Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Women’s Research Center and LBGTQ+ Center will be hosting its first Visual Visibility Art Show and fundraiser at Thatcher Hall and Broncho Lake on April 7.

The walk through art show begins at 10 a.m. at Thatcher Hall, with music playing throughout the day, and an open mic beginning at 6 p.m. at Broncho Lake. Attendees will be able to buy art from local LGBTQ artists, listen to live music, donate to The Center, and take photos at a photo glam station.

“I’m hoping to have people come up and do spoken word. So, it’s not just about the visual aspect, but it’s also about the abstract part of us that expresses something more”, event coordinator Mordikai Hornpetrie said about the different aspects of the show.

Live music will include a perfor-

mance by UCO alumnus Abi Goodin as well as other local artists Dylan Anderson, Alexis McKernan, Andrew Hedges, and Monica Hernandez.

A silent auction will be held to fundraise for The Center since the typical fundraiser was canceled because of COVID-19. Attendees can also donate at the event or support by purchasing art. The Center is a nonprofit that uses contributions to provide contraceptives, STI testing, HPV vaccines, and menstrual products to UCO students for free.

The theme of the Visual Visibility show is Queer Futurism and is inspired by historical LGBTQ and female figures. The idea for the show came after The Center’s Director Dr. Churchill received a grant in December 2020 to fund art supplies for LGBTQ artists.

“She (Dr. Churchill) got this funding to fund these queer artists who maybe haven’t had the opportunity display their art ever. So that’s where the idea

Broncho Lake will host a portion of the Visual Visibility Art show on April 7 at the University of Central Oklahoma. The lake performance begins at 6 p.m. (Photo/Vista Archives)

started, and it just sprung out into all these different branches because we wanted to be able to capture everybody who fits under the umbrella of queer, and even go back into the past and involve other historical figures who represent queer”, event coordinator GP said, “Futurism was really open, because it’s hard to predict the

future especially with the changing times we live in. So just trying to integrate queerness into the future I guess was the loose theme.”

The art will be displayed until the end of the semester at The Center located in Thatcher Hall room 106. The Center accepts donations year round.

The Vista | 5

April 6, 2021

Graduation/mobile ordering

UCO announces outdoor graduation Amanda Siew

Contributing Writer

The University of Central Oklahoma announced Thursday that the in-person spring commencement ceremonies will be held outdoors to accommodate guests.

In a campus-wide email, UCO said they would host multiple ceremonies May 7-8 in Wantland Stadium instead of Hamilton Field House, which was their initial location. Each graduating student would be allowed up to four guests to attend the ceremonies.

“We are excited to be able to adapt our commencement plans in a way that allows guests to attend and celebrate our graduates,” said Adrienne Nobles, UCO’s Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs. “We haven’t done commencement outside at the stadium in many years, so there are still some logistics to finalize.”

Students who want to attend the commencement ceremonies must register in advance. Those who previously opted out of attending will receive another registration link. UCO has extended the deadline to register to April 11 due to the change of plans.

Another registration message will be emailed to eligible students in the coming days.

Guests will also need a ticket to attend, UCO said.

Students who have registered for the ceremonies will receive a link to download the tickets later this month. UCO faculty members will be allowed to attend the ceremonies. Class of 2020 graduates are invited to participate as well.

Face masks will be required for in-person attendees. Guests will be seated in blocks of four with space between each block. The university will also livestream the ceremonies for those who are unable to attend.

With the ceremonies being held at Wantland Stadium, Nobles said graduates must wear flat-soled shoes, as shoes with heels can damage the football turf. She also said campus police and volunteer staff will be prepared to enforce COVID-19 safety protocols, but “doesn’t anticipate that it will necessarily be more difficult” to enforce the protocols at the sta

UCO graduate celebrates at Old North. Spring 2021 graduates are allowed up to four guests. (Provided/UCO).

dium, which is bigger than the originally planned Hamilton Field House.

The university’s biggest concern with holding the commencement ceremonies outdoors is the weather, Nobles said, adding that she hopes “rain and severe weather bypass the weekend.”

According to the email announcement, the university said they have developed contingency plans for severe weather. For now, they said affected ceremonies will be rescheduled for May 9 depending on availability. Otherwise, the affected ceremonies will be canceled.

The university’s announcement comes after discussions with the UCOSA executive board, who brought up students’ concerns about graduation to university leadership last week. The board worked with UCO nursing program senior Brooklynn Wigington to create their response to the university.

Wigington was the creator of a Change.org petition that asked the university to allow limited guests at the ceremonies.

The executive board sent a three-page document

addressing UCO’s Feb. 24 decision to host commencement ceremonies in person without guests or faculty attending. The board asked the UCO administration and graduation committee to reconsider the decision, citing the significant response from Wigington’s Change.org petition. The petition collected 943 signatures since its creation last month.

The executive board also listed some supporting facts, which included statistics over the improving COVID-19 trends in Oklahoma and how other major Oklahoma universities were planning for in-person commencement ceremonies with guests.

In the document, UCOSA said in part: “A 2021 commencement ceremony is vital for the longevity of having engaged Alumni here at UCO. We want students to leave with a good memory of their time on campus - not frustrated at how it ended.”

“UCOSA and other students who voiced opinions and made suggestions certainly played a role in developing the revised plan,” Nobles said. “It’s always great to work with our students, and they are encouraged to use their voices to impact change.”

New app offers order-ahead service to speed up campus dining options Ty Wallace Contributing Writer

UCO has brought a new mobile food ordering service called “UCO 2 Go” to campus for anyone to use. The app is called “Transact Mobile Ordering” and users can place their dining orders ahead of time at several locations around campus.

Currently, the app supports ordering at Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, 1890 Metropolitan Café, Sidelines Sports Grill and Ayers Kitchen. Users with a campus meal plan will be able to use their Dining Dollars and meal swipes at participating locations. The app also supports debit and credit card entry as another form of payment.

“Mobile ordering will enable students to order ahead and pick up a meal in the time they would have spent waiting in line. This completely changes the dining experience for students with tight schedules who eat on the go,” said Scott Monetti, director of Housing and Dining at Central.

According to Chelsea Ratterman, Marketing Coordinator for UCO, the service was being looked into, but the pandemic and the changes in student behaviors with shopping in the pandemic made it more necessary.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this service and meet students where they are in their daily life around campus,” she said.

Ratterman also recommends sched-

The UCO 2 Go service started on April 1. To find the app, go to your app store and search “Transact Mobile order”. To get more information on the dining services available at UCO, visit dining.uco. edu. (Provided/Pixabay)

uling orders ahead of time if your time between classes is short.

“I heartily encourage pairing the app with a meal plan to save time and money when you avoid those sales tax charges.”

The average order time with the app is 19 minutes, including the ordering process. The meal preparation time itself is much shorter, and orders sched-

uled ahead of time will be ready by the scheduled time. In places like the Nigh cafeteria, users will need to show a QR code generated from the app or a proof-of-purchase sticker on their bag when checking out self-serve items like snacks or drinks.

The app also has other features, such as the ability to view the current day’s menu at Ayers Kitchen.

6 | The Vista

Sports

April 6, 2021

Hazel Puempel swings at a pitch at Broncho Softball Stadium. The Bronchos dropped their first match since March 28 on Friday. (Provided/BronchoSports)

Costly error severs Broncho’s win-streak

Mishandled pop fly leads to MIAA loss; Chos rally to win second game Rudy Barnes Contributing Writer

An error in the bottom of the seventh inning snapped the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos women’s softball team’s win streak Friday. The Bronchos lost their first game 8-7 to Newman University , but the Bronchos would answer by winning the second game 7-1.

Game 1 The No. 17 ranked Bronchos entered on a seven-game winning streak. The Bronchos were previously ranked at No. 25. The Bronchos recorded three errors in the first game compared to just a single error in their last eight games. The Bronchos entered the game with a .983 fielding percentage.

“We’re not good enough to just show up and win,” Bronchos head coach Cody White said. “We weren’t ready to play and it showed. It was tough with the wind, but we had more mental mistakes than physical ones.”

The Bronchos started the first inning with one run, but it was quickly answered by the Jets with three runs of their own to finish the first inning.

Central came back in the second

with a scoring single by Tarin Dubler in a two-run scoring second inning to tie it up 3-3.

UCO broke the tie in the third to go up 4-3, and in the fifth inning, Jacee Minter hit a home run to right field with two outs to go up 5-3.

The Jets answered back in the fifth with a three-run inning taking the lead 6-5.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Bronchos tied the game at 7. The final error for the Bronchos happened in the bottom of the seventh when Anissa Ramos hit a pop fly to the infield.

The ball was dropped by the Bronchos, which allowed the Jets Shanda Cox to score the walk-off run from second base.

This is the Jets first win against a ranked opponent since joining the MIAA in 2020.

Game 2 The Bronchos avenged their Game 1 loss with a 7-1 victory with two home runs by Shayla Harper and Minter.

“I was proud of the way we bounced back after the first game to earn a split today, but we still didn’t play very well,” head coach Cody White said. “I didn’t do a good enough job prepar-

Shayla Harper knocked a pair of home runs that helped UCO avenge its Game 1 loss to Newman Friday. (Provided/BronchoSports)

ing them this week and that’s on me. I have to be better.”

The Bronchos opened the scoring in the second inning with doubles by Mikayla Rutland and Lexy Dobson to go up 1-0.

MIAA Hitter of the Week award winner Harper had two homers for the game, a solo in the third and another in the seventh inning.

Freshman Minter hit a two-run shot

over right field to record her second home run for the doubleheader.

MIAA Pitcher of the Week award winner Corrina Rivas pitched a complete game with eight hits, three strikeouts and a walk. The performance improves Rivas record to 11-3 for the season.

The Bronchos will play next in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Friday at Northwest Missouri State University.

Education

April 6, 2021

The Vista | 7

Students motivated by in-person learning Lilli Meyers Contributing Writer

The Spring 2021 semester at UCO started out online.

While many classes still offer an extended classroom online, students are happy to be back in person.

Casey Thompson is finishing up her last semester as a psychology major at UCO. Thompson is feeling good about seeing her peers face-to-face again.

“Being back on campus has been awesome,” Thompson said. “It’s been so cool to see my peers in the classroom and work on projects together again. “Professors have been doing their best to make the online classes as effective as possible and students are appreciative of the

“

“I’ve had so many friends struggling with anxiety and depression.”

“

-Casey Thompson

hard work they’ve put in.

Thompson said that her professors have made it as easy as possible being available whenever students have questions or need help.

“The professors have had technical difficulties as we all have,” Thompson stated. “Working through those together and open communication has been great.”

While the university decided it was the safest option for students and faculty to start the spring semester online, it took a toll on many students who were isolated.

Thompson said: “It was really hard for me to focus in on my classwork. Not seeing a professor in person was really weird. There was definitely a disconnect there for me.”

Some students have struggled more than others with being isolated.

“I know with this pandemic and especially being online I’ve had so many friends struggling with anxiety and depression,” Thompson said.

UCO has free resources to help students maintain their mental health during these hard times.

Allison Bahrenburg is the administrative assistant for UCO’s Counseling and Well-being Center.

“The mental health counseling is the core of the services we provide to students,” Bahrenburg said. “Since March of last year, the counseling services that we do provide to students have primarily been via telehealth.”

The Counseling and Well-being Center would like to be able to socially distance and have in-person appointments, but often the offices are not large enough to accommodate that.

Although mental health counseling services are the main attraction to the center, they also offer other services to help students during hard times.

“We have student groups ranging from students who

Students at UCO have studied remotely at varying times of the year since April, 2020. (Provided/Pixabay)

have experienced sexual assault, to substance abuse, to LGBTQ plus groups,” Bahrenburg said.

Health promotion is also a part of the Counseling and Well-being department. Health promotion puts on a majority of the center’s training. These trainings include bystander trainings and suicide prevention trainings.

Bahrenburg said, “They are amazing in bringing students together and bringing knowledge and awareness to students.”

The Counseling and Well-being Center also has “Calming Central” which is a room for students to go and decompress from a stressful day.

The calming central has massage chairs, books, and computers where students can do biofeedback.

“Biofeedback is a way for students to work on mindfully lowering their heart rate,” Bahrenburg said.

UCO offers resources to students who are struggling with the semester.

8 | The Vista

April 6, 2021

Park/Vaccines

Where can you go for vaccines or tests for COVID-19 Jacob Silva

@jdsilva_ Editor-In-Chief

A blooming tree stands in E.C. Hafer Park. Students on UCO campus are worried about the impact commercial construction may have on the park. 7,269 people have signed a petition to protect the park from this construction. (Photo/Lyric Peterson)

Construction threatens local park Lyric Peterson Copy Editor

A proposal was brought to Edmond City Council to build “Mansion Block Luxury Homes” next to E.C. Hafer Park, but some students are concerned that the new construction will change the park.

According to the Planned Unit Development Design Statement, City of Edmond, the development was approved on Dec. 11, 2017 for “Restricted Commercial Retail” and “Retail General Commercial.”

Some students are concerned about the affects the building will have on the park.

Hannah Morrison, a UCO student, said laying in her hammock at Hafer Park after a long day studying is her favorite activity.

“I go there to find peace and quiet and to watch much of the sunset as I can,” Morrison said. “If homes were to be built so close to the park, I think the peace and quiet would be lost and views obstructed.”

Anthony Neuendorf, a student at UCO said, “If the development affects the park like the open trails or serenity of the park, I do not think they should be allowed to build.”

“There are plenty of places to build a new complex like in the open fields by ShowBiz cinemas.”

Mansion Block Luxury Homes property will be approximately 20.10 acres, “more or less.”

Morrison said, “Depending on where the homes are built, it could take away a lot more of the area where animals are free to roam…”

According to the City of Edmond PUD Design Statement, the developers are not planning to zone in Hafer Park and there are special conditions to this plan like “Sensitive Border” and “Landscaping Regulations,” but the special conditions did not mention wildlife that surround the park.

The PUD states: “Sensitive Border: The west, north and northeast boundaries of the Property are adjacent to Spring Creek and E.C Hafer Park (“Hafer Park”). Developer intends to observe the City’s 100- and 500-year flood zone line along Spring Creek.

Hafer Park abuts the Property’s north border. The Developer shall maintain a fifty foot (50’) tree lined buffer between the Project and Hafer Park along the north border of the Project. The east boundary abuts a densely wooded area of Hafer Park, which is not readily accessed by the public,

and which will not contain setbacks beyond requirement of the City of Edmond.”

“Landscaping Regulations: The Project shall comply with City of Edmond ordinances without variance.

Developer is committed to work with City of Edmond arborists to preserve and maintain existing trees on the Property where possible and plant new trees that will be strategically positioned to provide for permanence and continuity within the Project. The Developer will also perform a Tree Resource Evaluation to verify potential impacts and identify candidates for tree preservation prior to site plan application.”

The PUD Design Statement also states that the special conditions could change.

“Except as specifically set forth herein, the Project will meet City requirements, as may be amended from time to time.”

The development is set to build towards the South East end of the E.C. Hafer Park according to Edmond City Hafer Park Trail Map. An online petition to “Save Hafer Park” has reached 7,269 of the 7,500 signatures as of Monday.

The University of Central Oklahoma is offering on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics and nearby testing for the virus each week. This week the university has urged students to visit the Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma’s website to schedule a COVID-19 test. Their testing site is located nearby at Boulevard south of 33rd Street.

The university is also partnering with Passport Health to provide opportunites to receive a vaccine near campus this week. The site located at 312 E. Main Street at St. Mary’s Church has appointments available at varying times on April 6 and announces new time slots throughout each week.

Oklahoma has entered Phase 4 of its vaccine administration plan, meaning that all adults are eligible to receive the vaccine.

On Monday, UCO reported via its COVID-19 Dashboard that 855 people including students, faculty and staff have been fully vaccinated on its campus. The university urges those who have been vaccinated to fill out a self-reporting form on its website in order to continue to update those numbers.

Passport Health has partnered with the University of Central Oklahoma to administer vaccines to those on campus who wish to receive them.

(Provided/WikiCommons)